After spending a very eventful and busy year 2012 promoting their latest album release, "Bilateral", Norwegian progsters LEPROUS have commenced the recording sessions for their as-yet-untitled new studio album, to be released in early 2013 via InsideOut Music.

Commented LEPROUS singer/synth player Einar Solberg: "As many of you already know, we’ve started recording our new album. The drums are finished, and we’re now focusing on the guitars. Also this time we’re using Vegard 'Ihsahn' Tveitan and Heidi 'StarOfAsh' S. Tveitan as our producers/technicians. The drums were recorded in the really cool and old school Juke Joint Studio, and we’re really satisfied with the result.

"As far as the new music, we can only remind you that LEPROUS will never be the kind of band to re-create the mood from previous works, and it’s very important for us that each album has its own strong character. We have great belief in this album and we promise something fresh, challenging and soulful! This album will also be mixed and mastered by Mr. Jens Bogren at Fascination Street Studios."

The first in a series of video clips featuring footage from the studio can be seen below.

After a successful run headlining the European Progressive Assault tour our all over Europe this past October, LEPROUS is not only already working on touring plans for 2013, but has also started confirming some prominent summer festival slots (Wacken Open Air, Hellfest, Tuska, etc.) as well as special international shows in countries like Serbia (making up for a cancelled show date on the past tour) as well as Israel in January.

New official merchandise based on the groundbreaking book "True Norwegian Black Metal" by Peter Beste along with the 208-page hardcover book will be available online at Forgotten Saints LA. The first items released will consist of shirts designed for Peter by Erik Danielsson of WATAIN. The shirts will feature exclusive images of Frost from SATYRICON and Ravn from the band 1349. Items will begin shipping on December 14.

American documentary photographer Peter Beste spent eight years working in the milieu of this insulated and secretive community. Beste's exclusive access and insight has resulted in an amazing photographic journey throughout the world of black metal.

Forgotten Saints has designed for artists including Marilyn Manson, Rob Zombie, IRON MAIDEN, Dee Snider, DIMMU BORGIR, Nikki Sixx, MÖTLEY CRÜE, GUNS N' ROSES, DJ Ashba, BLACK VEIL BRIDES and BUCKCHERRY. All of their items are 100% hand crafted and made in the U.S. The online store ships worldwide from their world renowned Melrose Avenue boutique, located in Hollywood, California.

For more information, check out www.forgottensaintsla.com.

KING DIAMOND has signed a new three-album worldwide deal with Metal Blade Records.

Commented the band's vocalist and namesake: "This is gonna be awesome! Another perfect piece of the puzzle. We have the full backup of Metal Blade, and there's an understanding between us that goes much, much deeper than before.

"Our new business setup will noticeably benefit the fans in so many ways. You must have already noticed some of all the cool new stuff that is happening. Now we can't wait to get out there and start touring again!"

After a six-year touring hiatus, KING DIAMOND triumphantly returned to the stage in 2012 for European festivals Hellfest and Sweden Rock.

In a March 2012 interview with the Swedish metal blog Bara Metal, King Diamond stated about what he did during his year-long break, "Well, we did keep up with people. A lot. We started a thing where… it's a Skype web site where people will sign up. And now and then I will call up fans and we talk. We have done that several times. We will call up three fans through that way, 'King Diamond is calling you,' and it could be one from Puerto Rico, one from Sweden, one from Scotland. We pick them randomly, but not the same person twice. Then we sit and talk for an hour. They can ask anything. They usually have a lot of question that are the same as the fans ask in the fan club, the Coven. So we get a lot of info out that way, and we upload it so other can listen to it. We are certainly in touch with our fans."

When asked if there are plans to release new music in 2013, King replied, "That is absolutely the plan. Something has to go totally wrong for us not to do that. We will write material this fall. Hopefully during the autumn, we might do something here in the U.S., after the festivals. But we will not be doing a long tour, it is still a test, we will see what happens. We do not want to take stupid chances, it has to be done properly. And we have a lot to do still, but things are looking good."

King, 56, underwent open-heart triple-bypass surgery in November 2010. He has since completed his cardiac rehabilitation program and has stopped smoking entirely, changed his diet and is getting regular exercise.

King Diamond made his long-anticipated return to the stage with his MERCYFUL FATE bandmates Hank Shermann, Timi Hansen and Michael Denner on December 7, 2011 at the second of four intimate shows at the Fillmore in San Francisco as part of METALLICA's week-long celebration of its 30th anniversary as a band for fan club members only.

KING DIAMOND received a Grammy nomination in the "Best Metal Performance" category for the track "Never Ending Hill" off the group's latest album, "Give Me Your Soul … Please".

"Give Me Your Soul ... Please" entered the Swedish national chart at position No. 28. The CD also landed at No. 58 on the Danish chart (the second highest new entry on the chart behind VELVET REVOLVER).

"Give Me Your Soul ... Please" sold 4,500 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 174 on The Billboard 200 chart.

According to the Czech news portal Novinky.cz, the State Attorney's Office in Prague, Czech Republic officially indicted LAMB OF GOD frontman Randy Blythe on a manslaughter charge Friday (November 30) related to the death of a fan in Prague two years ago. The court now has three months to set a date for the singer's trial or send the case back for further investigation.

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."

As BLABBERMOUTH.NET first reported last week, reactivated British extreme metal legends CARCASS are putting the finishing touches on their first studio album in 17 years with acclaimed producer Colin Richardson (FEAR FACTORY, MACHINE HEAD, NAPALM DEATH, SLIPKNOT, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE). The band has yet to secure a label home for the effort, which is expected in early 2013.

Guitarist Michael Amott and drummer Daniel Erlandsson, who have been touring with CARCASS since the band's reunion was announced in 2007, are no longer involved with the group due to scheduling conflicts with their main band, ARCH ENEMY. Joining guitarist Bill Steer and bassist/vocalist Jeff Walker in the studio for the new CD recording sessions is drummer Daniel Wilding (formerly of ABORTED). "For live, we'll obviously add another guitarist — we have someone in mind but we are not interested in a 'name' player," Walker tells Decibel magazine.

Regarding the sound of the forthcoming CARCASS album, Walker states: "We've taken stylistic cues from all the albums because it's in our blood, but it's no rehash or mess of ideas. I think it sounds almost like the missing link between the third and forth albums but with some groove in there. I've jokingly christened some parts 'trad blast' and some 'death sleaze'… don't think for a minute this is just some nostalgic throwback album — we're setting up another 17 years of ideas for other bands to copy and clean up on. [laughs]"

Asked if this means we'll be hearing some death metal vocals out of Bill for the first time since "Necroticism", Walker tells Decibel, "Yes, already in the can. It's more along the lines of how I envisioned him backing me up on 'Heartwork'. That said, my own vocals have a hell of a lot more range than they did in the past solely down to the luxury of having time to record them — I did all the vox for 'Heartwork' in two days and it shows! Also, (hopefully) [drummer] Ken [Owen] [who is not involved in the band's current reunion because he suffered a near-fatal brain hemorrhage in February 1999 and has had some rather serious health problems since then. — Ed.] will make an appearance — we just need to tidy a few loose ends before the mix."

CARCASS is in the process of booking a number of live shows for 2013, including appearances at next year's Maryland Deathfest and Chile's Metal Fest.

CARCASS' last album, 1996's "Swansong", was re-released in July 2008 via Earache Records. The reissue came fully remastered on a DualDisc (combined CD and DVD) in a deluxe digipak with extra artwork and a free sticker sheet featuring exclusive CARCASS designs, and included part 5 of a mini-documentary series entitled "The Pathologist's Report" as bonus video material, plus an exclusive bonus track, "Deathrider Da".

On December 10, METALLICA will release a live DVD called "Quebec Magnetic" through the band's newly launched Blackened Recordings label. The double DVD and single disc Blu-ray will be available for a price a "very METALLICA fan-friendly" price — suggested retail will be $15.98 for either format. Filmed by Wayne Isham during a two-night stand in October of 2009 in Quebec City, it will be METALLICA's first self-released project. "We just played two really phenomenal shows. They were outrageously great and the audience was great and we had a bunch of people filming it," METALLICA guitarist Kirk Hammett told Billboard.com. "We felt like we're really doing a disservice just sitting on this great live footage, so we decided to put it out."

"Quebec Magnetic" track listing:

01. That Was Just Your Life
02. The End Of The Line
03. The Four Horsemen
04. The Shortest Straw
05. One
06. Broken, Beat & Scarred
07. My Apocalypse
08. Sad But True
09. Welcome Home (Sanitarium)
10. The Judas Kiss
11. The Day That Never Comes
12. Master Of Puppets
13. Battery
14. Nothing Else Matters
15. Enter Sandman
16. Killing Time
17. Whiplash
18. Seek & Destroy

Bonus songs:

19. For Whom The Bell Tolls
20. Holier Than Thou
21. Cyanide
22. Turn The Page
23. All Nightmare Long
24. Damage, Inc.
25. Breadfan
26. Phantom Lord

The "The Day That Never Comes" performance clip from "Quebec Magnetic" can be seen below.

Wayne Isham, 54, is an American movie director who has directed music videos of many popular artists such as MÖTLEY CRÜE, SIMPLE PLAN, AVENGED SEVENFOLD, PANTERA, 'N SYNC, SHANIA TWAIN, GODSMACK, BRITNEY SPEARS, LEONA LEWIS, PINK FLOYD, SHERYL CROW, JOSS STONE, MADONNA, AVRIL LAVIGNE, DEF LEPPARD and BON JOVI, among others.

Previous METALLICA videos that were directed by Wayne Isham:

* "Enter Sandman"
* "Wherever I May Roam"
* "Sad But True"
* "Fuel"
* "No Leaf Clover"
* "Nothing Else Matters" (from "S&M")
* "I Disappear"
* "Frantic"
* "Broken, Beat And Scarred"

METALLICA announced on Friday (November 30) that it has taken ownership of all the band's master recordings and long-form videos under a provision of the band's 1994 joint venture agreement with the Warner Music Group. According to that provision — almost unheard of for acts signed to major label contracts — all the masters reverted back to the band as of Friday. Frontman James Hetfield said in a statement, "We would like to thank everyone at the Warner Music Group for 28 years of a fantastic relationship, particularly since 1994 where we truly felt we had partners in every aspect of our business in North America."

The band has also revealed that it is launching its own label, called Blackened Recordings, that will be the new home for all of their recordings and videos, as well as anything else that the band may come up with. All marketing and promotion will be handled by Blackened, with distribution through Rhino Entertainment in North America and the Universal Music Group internationally. Drummer Lars Ulrich said, "Forming Blackened Recordings is the ultimate in independence, giving us 100 percent control and putting us in the driver's seat of our own creative destiny."

Ulrich told The Pulse Of Radio a while back that METALLICA was long past the point where the band needed a corporate record label to support it. "The great thing about being in a band like us is that we're in a position to bypass the record company," he said. "Basically record companies act like banks. And when you don't need the bank element of a record company, then you can kind of do it yourself."

METALLICA is also working on a 3D feature film for release next summer, as well as a new studio album that should surface in early 2014.

Progressive metal giants DREAM THEATER have re-signed with Roadrunner Records. The group first signed with Roadrunner in January 2007 and has so far released three critically acclaimed albums with the label. Roadrunner first issued DREAM THEATER's ninth studio album, "Systematic Chaos", in 2007 and went on to release "Black Clouds & Silver Linings" in 2009 as well as their most recent album, "A Dramatic Turn Of Events", in September 2011. The band will soon begin recording a new album as part of the new agreement with Roadrunner.

Commented the band : "We are all very excited to be re-signing with Roadrunner Records! Over the past five years from the release of 'Systematic Chaos' to our latest, 'A Dramatic Turn Of Events', we've developed strong creative and professional bonds with everyone at Roadrunner as well as many great friendships along the way."

The group added: "Roadrunner's dedication and commitment to DREAM THEATER has been evident to all of us from the very beginning, and is consistent in all departments and on all levels, right on through to the top. Roadrunner is a record label that is not only great at what they do but who truly understand what DREAM THEATER is all about as well as the amazing people who support us all around the world whom we proudly call our fans. They are a record company we relate to as an organization firmly rooted in its ideals and mission, while always pushing the envelope in an effort to keep things moving ever forward. We've reached many career defining milestones while at Roadrunner and are all incredibly pumped in anticipation of our continued future together!"

DREAM THEATER's August 19 and August 20 concerts at Estadio Luna Park in Buenos Aires, Argentina were professionally filmed and recorded for the band's next live DVD, to be released sometime next year.

DREAM THEATER's 11th studio album, "A Dramatic Turn Of Events", had 14 Top 10 debuts around the world. It also produced the band's first-ever Grammy nomination for "On The Backs Of Angels" in the "Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance" category.

"A Dramatic Turn Of Events", sold 36,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to enter The Billboard 200 chart at position No. 8. The band's previous CD, 2009's "Black Clouds & Silver Linings", opened with 40,000 units to land at No. 6. This was roughly in line with the first-week tally registered by its predecessor, "Systematic Chaos", which shifted 36,000 copies in 2007 to enter the chart at No. 19. 2005's "Octavarium" premiered with 27,000 copies to debut at No. 36.

Former SKID ROW vocalist Sebastian Bach is working on a brand new DVD/live CD package, "ABachalypse Now", for a spring 2013 release via Frontiers Records. The DVD/CD includes never-before-seen footage from this year's Graspop Metal Meeting in Dessel, Belgium, the full Hellfest set from France and the fully remixed and remastered Club Nokia show from Los Angeles (originally broadcast on AXS TV). The exact track listing and table of contents is forthcoming.

Commented Bach: "I am so excited for all of you to witness and experience 'ABachalypse Now'. We have included three recent concerts and the footage is totally kickass! It's remixed and remastered for full audio and video quality. The performances and energy of the crowds are killer throughout the DVD and you really feel like you are at the shows. Prepare yourselves for the coming ABachalypse — now!"

Bach in July posted a letter on his Facebook page in which he said he was willing to reunite with SKID ROW. "For the fans, I would be willing to put my ego aside and do something that would be special for the people who put us where we are today," he wrote. "I do not personally want it myself. But it's not always about 'what I want.' If the fans really want to see us together, I would do it for the fans. Sometimes you can do things for people other than yourself."

Bach said he wanted to write the letter in response to current SKID ROW singer Johnny Solinger's interview in which Johnny said a recent tweet by Bach about a possible SKID ROW reunion was an attempt to "get attention."

Bach's most recent solo album, "Kicking & Screaming", sold 6,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 73 on The Billboard 200 chart. The singer's previous CD, "Angel Down", opened with 6,400 units back in November 2007 to debut at No. 190.

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

BABYJANE has thus far released one album, "Are You Listening?", which was mixed by Wagener in 2010.

BABYJANE is:

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

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

Currently putting the finishing touches to their second full length album, London's saviors of alternative metal THE DEFILED have released a video for the song "Blood Sells". Shot at London's Brixton Academy, the clip features footage from the band's set from the Jägermeister Music Tour.

Comments THE DEFILED frontman Stitch D: "When we got the call asking us to play at Brixton Academy as part of the Jägermeister Tour, we obviously jumped at the chance. Brixton has such a history and I've seen most of my favorite bands there and to get asked to play there on a bill including one of my childhood heroes THERAPY? as well as SKINDRED and BLACK SPIDERS was a dream come true. Obviously, we had to document it so we asked our good friend Aaron Shrimpton and his team to come and shoot it."

THE DEFILED will hit the road next March with GHOST and GOJIRA as part of the Jägermeister Music U.K. tour.

THE DEFILED's follow-up to last year's "Grave Times" album was funed by a campaign with Pledge Music. The recording sessions for the new CD took place at Audiohammer studios in Sanford, Florida with Jason Suecof, whose work with the likes of TRIVIUM, ALL THAT REMAINS, CHIMAIRA, DEVILDRIVER and THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER has made him one of the most sought-after producers in metal.

Legendary rock band LED ZEPPELIN was awarded America's greatest cultural honor, the Kennedy Award, by President Barack Obama at The White House in Washington on Sunday, December 2. Also honored at the event were comedian and television personality David Letterman, bluesman Buddy Guy, actor and director Dustin Hoffman and ballerina Natalia Makarova.

LED ZEPPELIN was introduced by FOO FIGHTERS' Dave Grohl, who called the band "his teachers."

"When Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones and John Bonham burst onto the musical scene in the late 1960s, the world never saw it coming," Obama said in his tribute.

"There was this singer with a mane like a lion and a voice like a banshee, a guitar prodigy who left people’s jaws on the floor, a versatile bassist who was equally at home on the keyboards, a drummer who played like his life depended on it," he continued.

He added: "It’s been said that a generation of young people survived teenage angst with a pair of headphones and a ZEPPELIN album ... but even now, 32 years after John Bonham’s passing — and we all I think appreciate the fact — the ZEPPELIN legacy lives on."

The president then thanked band for behaving themselves at the White House given their history of "hotel rooms being trashed and mayhem all around."

He finished his speech, saying: "We honor LED ZEPPELIN for making us all feel young, and for showing us that some guys who are not completely youthful can still rock!"

You can watch video footage of Obama's tribute ebelow.

ARMORED SAINT performed a number of cover songs with a variety of guest musicians — including AMON AMARTH's Johan Hegg and FATES WARNING/REDEMPTION's Ray Alder — at Metal Blade Records's 30-anniversary show, which took place this past Friday, November 30 at the House Of Blues in West Hollywood, California. The concert, which was hosted by "That Metal Show"'s Eddie Trunk and Don Jamieson, also included a short set by Arizona thrash metal veterans SACRED REICH in between GYPSYHAWK and ARMORED SAINT.

Added SACRED REICH vocalist/bassist Phil Rind: "Metal Blade were the first to offer us an opportunity on 'Metal Massacre 8', which led to a record deal and the release of 'Ignorance' and 'Surf Nicaragua'. Three of the best records ever — SLAYER's 'Hell Awaits', D.R.I.'s 'Dealing With It' and C.O.C.'s 'Animosity' — were all on Metal Blade. [Label honcho] Brian Slagel was and still is a huge fan and advocate for metal!"

In a 2007 interview, Slagel estimated that Metal Blade has released around 2,000 records. In addition to the "Metal Massacre" compilation he put together in 1982 while running the New Heavy Metal Revue fanzine — a local-band compilation that included METALLICA's first recorded release, BLACK N BLUE, MALICE, CIRITH UNGOL, DEMON FLIGHT, BITCH, AVATAR, and PANDEMONIUM — Slagel's fledgling record imprint released the early music by SLAYER and CORROSION OF CONFORMITY.

"It's been great to have worked with great bands at the beginnings of their careers and to help them develop those careers," Slagel said.

It was Slagel's enthusiasm for heavy metal as a fan that encouraged its humble beginnings and it is with that very same passion that Slagel has led Metal Blade Records to the forefront of the genre.

Metal Blade Records boasts one of the most comprehensive heavy metal catalogs in the world, including seminal releases by SLAYER, CANNIBAL CORPSE, GWAR, KING DIAMOND, SIX FEET UNDER, FATES WARNING, ARMORED SAINT, MERCYFUL FATE and many more.

"Vertikal", the new studio album from Swedish "art rockers" CULT OF LUNA, will be released in Europe on January 25 via Indie Recordings and in the U.S. on January 29, 2013 through Density Records. In addition to the regular CD, there will be released a limited edition of "Vertikal", including one bonus track. The vinyl will also be available through Back On Black.

"Vertikal" track listing:

01. The One (02:16)
02. I: The Weapon (09:24)
03. Vicarious Redemption (18:51)
04. The Sweep (03:09)
05. Synchronicity (07:13)
06. Mute Departure (09:08)
07. Disharmonia 00:45)
08. In Awe Of (09:56)
09. Passing Through (06:03)
10. The Flow Reversed (limited-edition bonus track)

The song "I: The Weapon" can now be streamed using the SoundCloud player below.

According to a press release, "Vertikal" marks a much-anticipated return for the band after five years spent cultivating the ideas and directing the influences that have helped form a concept for the album. Distilled throughout are themes of machinery, repetition and clear, linear structures honed to the visual imagery of Fritz Lang's classic expressionist science fiction film "Metropolis". The music broods, builds and boils as you may expect from CULT OF LUNA, but never overcomplicates itself or veers from its intentions; it is arguably their finest and most cohesive piece of work to date.

Commented the band: "Before we started writing, we were keen to find a theme that in a very direct way could be shown through the music, and we hope to have achieved this. We developed clear structures — very linear, refusing to over complicate the writing process.

"We realize fans have been waiting for what seems like an age for us to return to the live arena properly, but we were not keen on playing shows before we had the new material ready. There have been changes, and we wanted to come back on our own terms with something completely new. It is very important for us to transpose the idea of a new album into the live setting, to not tread water, and to include the fans in what we’ve been working on; you will be hearing this very soon."

CULT OF LUNA will return to the live arena for a full European tour, with a new set of dates just announced in April and May in addition to the previously announced period around the album's release in January and February. There are U.S. dates being planned and the band intend to tour further in late 2013.

CULT OF LUNA released a hardback book/audiobook called "Eviga Riket" on February 23, 2010 via C.O.L Press. According to the band, the book is "a short story covering the life and times of Mr. Holger Nilsson, the full story behind the 'Eternal Kingdom' [CULT OF LUNA's latest album] theme. The book will be bilingual, written in Swedish and translated into English. The narrated versions of this short story is accompanied by newly written CULT OF LUNA pieces and soundscapes."

CULT OF LUNA's DVD, "Fire Was Born", was released in April 2009 via Earache Records). Along with an epic live show recorded on July 1, 2008 at Scala in London, England, the disc — which was mixed, edited and designed by the band — features footage of mainman Johannes Persson and Anders Teglund (keyboards) answering questions from fans all around the world and the videos for "The Watchtower", "Leave Me Here" and "Back To Chapel Town".

The Todd La Torre-fronted version of QUEENSRŸCHE kicked off the recording sessions for its new album yesterday (Sunday, December 2) 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". La Torre — who is also a member of Florida melodic metallers CRIMSON GLORY — states, "Day one of recording the new QUEENSRŸCHE album went great! Great things on the horizon."

The new QUEENSRŸCHE CD is tentatively due in early 2013 via an as-yet-undetermined record label.

In a recent interview with Metal Assault, QUEENSRŸCHE drummer Scott Rockenfield stated about the band's renewed collaboration with Barton: "It's a great thing — we're really excited about it, he's really excited about it. We've wanted to work with him for a while, but for whatever reason, we just hadn't gone there yet. This is a great time for us to do that, though. We all discussed who we wanted to do the record with, and he was one of the first names that came up. It was easy for us to pick up the phone and call him. It was like our relationship picked up right where it left off, so it's gonna be a lot of fun. He's a very creative guy that did some great records with us in the past. I think that's one of the most important things when it comes to why we want to work with him."

Asked if fans will see a return to the progressive metal sound QUEENSRŸCHE had in the '80s, Scott said: "What we're trying to do, and what has been really interesting since Todd has jumped into the band, we're trying to revisit the old QUEENSRŸCHE catalog — stuff off of the EP and "The Warning". That's always been a part of what we are, so yeah, definitely! I think in my opinion, we're really revisiting that vibe of why that music was special back then for us. There will be a modern flair to it, though, just because we're in the modern age. The fun thing about Jimbo being a part of it is that he can help tie together the two sides. He does come from our past and some of the great records and some of the great sounds that we're known for, but he's also living in the modern age and doing some interesting things as well. I think it's going to be a really great QUEENSRŸCHE record. People are going to go, 'Wow, that's QUEENSRŸCHE! That sounds just like what we've known them to be, and what we would expect them to now be.' That's what I think peple will get out of it."

Regarding the songwriting process for the new QUEENSRŸCHE CD, Scott said: "One thing about this record, is that it's completely written and performed by us five in QUEENSRŸCHE, which for whatever it's worth, was not the case as of the last few records that we made. We're really excited. That was one of the things that we really needed to work on and change and that we weren't really happy with. The whole record is us doing our thing, and you're going to get the energy that comes out of that. It's been a lot of fun because we've been tossing some great ideas around. The results will be when it's finally done and you can listen to it, but we're really excited about it and I think everyone else is gonna have a good time once they hear it."

Pictured below: QUEENSRŸCHE in the studio with James "Jimbo" Barton (Photo credit: Savoia Photography Live)

Former NIGHTWISH singer Anette Olzon performed two solo tracks — "Like A Show Inside My Head" and "Watching Me From Afar" — at the opening gala for Sweden's Helsingborg Arena this past Friday, November 30. Also appearing at the event were SOILWORK/THE NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA members Björn Strid and David Andersson (guitar).

Fan-filmed video footage of Olzon's performance can be seen below. Photos of the ceremony are available at this location.

Prior to the event, Anette stated: "When I was asked to perform in the opening gala, I got so happy and proud but also really sad when it clashed with mine and NIGHTWISH South American tour. Now when me and NIGHTWISH have gone separate ways, the window again opened and I am so happy to stand in the arena in front of all dear people from Helsingborg. And for the very first time I will perform my own solo songs that has never been performed before, so it is a very special evening for me in every way."

Helsingborg Arena started to be built in 2009 and is Helsingborg's new main arena for indoor sports, concerts, events, meetings and other events. The location and the arenas multi-functionality has opened for it to be a new meeting place for the cities citizens and incoming guests. The arena holds up to 5,500 people.

A short video message from DISTURBED and DEVICE frontman David Draiman, taped earlier today (Sunday, December 2) at the Boston Music Awards at the Liberty Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts, can be seen below.

DEVICE, the new industrial-style project featuring Draiman and former FILTER guitarist Geno Lenardo, will release its first single, "Vilify", in early February. The band's full-length debut will follow in the beginning of April. Other songtitles set to appear on the CD include "You Think You Know", "Recover", "Hunted" and "War Of Lies".

Draiman revealed the existence of the project last March, saying it would be in the vein of industrial acts like NINE INCH NAILS and MINISTRY. He later announced that Lenardo was joining the group, although further members' identities have yet to be unveiled.

DISTURBED went on an open-ended hiatus last year, with Draiman saying at the time that all four members wanted some time to pursue other endeavors. "We've got other things that each of the band members wanted to pursue individually, outside of DISTURBED," he said. "There's other businesses we have, there's other interests. We've got futures hopefully to help cultivate for our families and our children, and they can't all revolve specifically around DISTURBED."

DISTURBED has not indicated when it plans to return, although all four members say they're likely to come back.

Aside from Draiman, DISTURBED bassist John Moyer has branched out recently by joining ADRENALINE MOB, a new group also featuring ex-DREAM THEATER and AVENGED SEVENFOLD drummer Mike Portnoy.

Acclaimed vocalist Tim "Ripper" Owens (DIO DISCIPLES, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, BEYOND FEAR, JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH) was interviewed prior to his November 29 solo concert in Buenos Aires, Argentina. You can now watch the chat below. Also available is fan-filmed video footage of the entire show.

Released in May 2009, Owens' first solo album, "Play My Game", landed at position No. 66 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200. The CD was released via SPV/Steamhammer. The offering consists of around a dozen brand-new tracks that Owens composed himself or together with renowned friends, such as Bob Kulick, Chris Caffery (SAVATAGE, TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA), Mike Callahan (ex-EARSHOT) and John Comprix (BEYOND FEAR, RINGWORM).

Owens is without doubt among the most important metal vocalists of the past 15 years. When he succeeded Rob Halford, joining JUDAS PRIEST in May 1996, the press rubbed their eyes, surprised as well as impressed: Owens had previously been a fairly unknown quantity to international music journalists and only a few new of him from the band WINTERS BANE, but he recorded his first PRIEST album, the Grammy-nominated "Jugulator" (1997) with more aplomb than even insiders had expected. Following successful tours with the British metal legends, the strong studio recording "Demolition" (2001), and the live recordings, "Meltdown - 98 Live" (1998) and "Live In London" (2003), and the movie "Rock Star" that was loosely based on Tim's experience with JUDAS PRIEST, Halford's return put an end to Owens' stint with JUDAS PRIEST. More or less immediately, he was enlisted by Jon Schaffer to team up with ICED EARTH and sang on "The Glorious Burden" in spring 2004. Three years later, Owens followed suit with the ICED EARTH album "Framing Armageddon (Something Wicked Pt. I)", which succeeded the self-titled highly praised debut by his own band BEYOND FEAR. Spring 2008 saw Owens move on to join one of the world's best guitar players Yngwie Malmsteen, debuting with a sensational vocal performance on "Perpetual Flame".

Interview:

Finnish extreme metallers RAWAGE will release their new EP, "Triumph Of Sin", as a digital download on December 14 via Violent Journey Records (physical copies will be available straight from the band).

The track listing for the effort is as follows:

01. Jesus Sodomized
02. Black Era
03. Triumph of Sin

Formed in 2009 in Loimaa, Finland, RAWAGE is musically influenced by black, thrash and death metal, following the footsteps of DESTRÖYER 666, DESASTER and GOSPEL OF THE HORNS.

RAWAGE is:

Matti Koivisto - Guitar
Lauri Osmonen - Guitar
Marko Ala-Kleme - Vocals
Janne Lukka - Drums
Kalle Lehtinen - Bass

"Junkyard Oblivion", the first-ever video from Norwegian black metallers ENDEZZMA, can be seen below. The clip was produced by the Effektor Film Company and was directed by ENDEZZMA frontman Morten Shax and R.M. Camera and editing are by R.M.

"Junkyard Oblivion" comes off ENDEZZMA's full-length debut, "Erotik Nekrosis", which was released on November 28 in Europe and will be made available February 5, 2013 in the U.S. via Agonia Records. The seven-track follow-up to 2008's MCD "Alone" features a lineup of musicians who between them can lay claim to decades of experience garnered in the earlier and darker recesses of the Norwegian black metal scene: Morten Shax on vocals, the late Trondr Nefas (URGEHAL, BEASTCRAFT, VULTURE LORD) and Mattis Malphas (BEASTCRAFT) on guitars, Sregroth (URGEHAL, ÅSMEGIN) on bass and Carl Balam (NATTEFROST, ASTAROTH, ex-INFERNAL) on drums. The CD was recorded at the Slaughterhaus Studio in Oslo and crafted by producer Robert Blix. Artwork is by the Kazakhstani artist Alexandr Balinets.

"Erotik Nekrosis" track listing:

01. Junkyard Oblivion
02. Enigma Of The Sullen
03. Against Them All
04. Swansong Of A Giant
05. Hollow
06. Krossing Rubikon
07. Soulcleansing

ENDEZZMA offers up the cold atmosphere that permeated the sounds that came out of the original Norwegian black metal scene and combines them with eerie, seductive compositions to form the epitome of nekro requiems. The ENDEZZMA of today can trace its roots back to 1992 with frontman Morten Shax's band DIM NAGEL, which, as is often the case with bands, went through the usual vicissitudes of bankrupt labels and states of hibernation. It wasn't until 2006 that Shax decided the time was right to start playing again and, recruiting URGEHAL's Trondr Nefas, set about transforming his old band. On the way to their first festival gig in 2007, Shax changed the name of the band to ENDEZZMA, and the transformation was well and truly underway.

Commenting on "Erotik Nekrosis" and the delays that dogged the album, including the tragic and untimely death of Trondr Nefas, Shax had this to say: "After delays that almost seem to have been a series of malicious and morbid curses conspiring against us, it is with understandable relief that we can finally get 'Erotik Nekrosis' out there.

"The reasons for the delay are legion, and it is probably best just to say that the path of darkness is a troubled and mysterious journey through life and there's an intensity to the sickness that accompanies it which can only be dealt with over short periods of time. Sadly, too, it is impossible to predict the season that death will gather its harvest, and we lost Trondr Nefas — our close friend, our brother and our guitarist, under tragic circumstances.

"It's been five years since we released 'Alone', so it's definitely time for ENDEZZMA to turn the page on what went before and move forward.

"I know many people have been waiting and waiting for this album, and some probably gave up along the way, but I hope we will not let down all of the patient morbid souls.

"This album is for all of the individuals that stayed true to the band, all of you who never stopped waiting. 'Erotik Nekrosis' is dedicated to death and to you, Trondr!"

MEDICATED, the Finnish metal band featuring former NORTHER vocalist Aleksi Sihvonen, has made its new EP, "Glasstrophobic", available for free download at this location.

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. The Verge
02. Fever
03. Glasstrophobic
04. Take It
05. Magnum For Amen

Former IMPERANON and current FINNTROLL keyboardist Aleksi Virta contributed a guest solo on the track "Take It".

Photos from the "Glasstrophobic" recording sessions can be found at this location.

MEDICATED's "Ways To Make You Fall" EP came out in 2010.

The band recently supported WINTERSUN at their "Time I" release concerts in Finland.

Formed in 2005, MEDICATED describes its music as "melodic thrash- and death-influenced metal with big choruses, screaming and clean vocals, versatile rhythms and fast guitar tunes."

MEDICATED is:

Aleksi Sihvonen (ASXX, ex-NORTHER) - Vocals
Samuli Hyttinen (SERAPHIEL) - Guitar
Dani Nuutinen - Guitar
Jani Kinnunen - Bass
Pertti Pätsi (SERAPHIEL) - Drums

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Horizont", the new video from MANNTRA, the Croatian industrial rock band featuring founding members of OMEGA LITHIUM, can be seen below. The song is the title track of MANNTRA's debut album, which was released this week via Spona/Kontra.

MANNTRA was created in the summer of 2011 by three people who decided to make music that combines hard and industrial rock with elements of national ethno music from their country.

According to a press release, the songs on "Horizont" tell the story of gritty life in their lands, but full of hope and joy of life. They tell the story of love, anger and survival. They create the omnibus that sounds like, and tells the story of life in their lands. Careful wording and background ethno music elements immerse the listener into the life of ordinary people who cope with everyday troubles and happiness they find in small things.

MANNTRA was recently chosen to create the main theme for the videogame "Legends of Dawn", which is being developed by Dreamatrix Studios.

"Horizont" track listing:

01. Gorki San
02. Manntra
03. Balkanska
04. Vjeruje Ponizno
05. Na Svijetlu
06. Kiša
07. Nebitna
08. Horizont
09. Monstrumi
10. Kalvaria (CD bonus track; "Legend Of Dawn" theme)

MANNTRA's first video, "Kiša" (English translation: Rain), was released in March and was viewed more than 100,000 times on YouTube in less than two weeks.

"Horizont" can be downloaded for free at Manntra.hr.

Brant Bjork, John Garcia and Nick Oliveri — formerly of KYUSS — have announced their new project: VISTA CHINO. The group, comprised of the three founding members of the legendary rock band and guitarist Bruno Fevery, is currently recording new material in anticipation of a 2013 worldwide release that will coincide with major touring plans.

The final live appearances of KYUSS LIVES! — featuring the same lineup as VISTA CHINO — will take place in early 2013 as part of Australia's Soundwave Festival. The guys are looking forward to playing their classic songs along with new material.

Ex-KYUSS members Josh Homme and Scott Reeder filed a lawsuit against their former bandmates in March, claiming that they "made every attempt to help [Garcia and Bjork] continue KYUSS LIVES! respectfully. Only to discover while they looked us in the eye, KYUSS LIVES! management and band had filed federal documents in 2011 in an attempt to steal the name KYUSS. This is desperately what we were trying to avoid."

In his August 2012 ruling, a federal judge said that the new band may not use "the 'Kyuss' mark in any capacity unless the word 'Lives' follows the word 'Kyuss' in equally prominent lettering," He also prohibited KYUSS LIVES! from using the name "in conjunction with any studio album, live album, or other audio recording." The judge also warned the members of KYUSS LIVES! that "future concerts under the 'Kyuss Lives' mark might continue to subject them to liability for trademark infringement" and suggested, "It may be in Defendants' best interest to begin re-branding under a new name."

In a May 2012 interview with RolllingStone.com, Bjork stated about Homme and Reeder's lawsuit, "They don't want to mention that they trademarked the name KYUSS after I left the band, assuring that I had no rights in KYUSS' future. They're both accusing John and I of doing something that they actually did themselves. Their inner conflict is this: both Josh and Scott want control and money from KYUSS LIVES!, but they don't want to participate and they ultimately don't want us to exist. The double standard is unbelievable."

He added, "Josh and I were the creative force within the band and after the completion of our second record, 'Blues For The Red Sun', we developed an opposing view on how the band should exist and operate. In 1992 Josh discovered publishing, which is the financial revenue stream for songwriting. After that, he wanted to write all the songs. As a drummer, I couldn't make him play my songs. I wasn't going to compromise my heart and soul and play drums for Josh to make money in a band I started. So I left the band. I was a confused, angry and sad 19-year-old idealist who sacrificed my love of my band for what I believed in. Two and a half years later, Josh would break up the band after John confronted him about the same thing; his need to control the band for personal gain."

Photo credit: K. Campbell

Redwood City, California's PICTURE ME BROKEN will release a new EP, "Mannequins", on December 18 via Standby Records. The CD was produced and recorded by David Bendeth (BREAKING BENJAMIN) and features the single "Torture", available for streaming below.

Led by Brooklyn Layla Allman, it hasn't taken PICTURE ME BROKEN long to convince fans worldwide that they are a breed of old school soul meets modern day turmoil to create a modern sound that will appeal to all that experience it. With Allman's father being the musical legend Gregg Allman, it would have been easy for this act to simply let his stigma dictate their career path and allow them somewhat immediate success. But Brooklyn and PICTURE ME BROKEN had different ideas; ideas of doing their work themselves, cutting their own niche out in a very tough active rock market, and slugging it out day by day on the road. They have proven themselves to be musically superior to any act they've toured with to date by showing not only hard work, but a willingness to connect with their audience...one fan at a time if necessary.

With Allman out in front of PICTURE ME BROKEN, this is a band that commands attention from even the first glance. Brooklyn Allman is clearly a beautiful woman, as is evidenced by her 2012 nomination in Revolver magazine's "Hottest Chicks In Metal." That, however, doesn't begin to portray the incredible talent that she has as a singer, a songwriter and a performer. Allman's voice showcases everything you could ever want from a vocalist; be it soft alluring pain on songs like "Beautiful Disease" or a much more guttural rage that she lets loose on songs like "Holy Drug".

"Mannequins" will be followed in early 2013 by PICTURE ME BROKEN's debut full-length release for Standby Records.

Oakland, California-based power trio HIGH ON FIRE will have its next two shows professionally recorded for the band's upcoming live album:

Nov. 30 - Bowery Ballroom - New York, NY
Dec. 01 - Music Hall Of Williamsburg - Brooklyn. NY

HIGH ON FIRE's latest album, "De Vermis Mysteriis", sold around 7,400 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 63 on The Billboard 200 chart. Released on April 3 via eOne Music, the CD was recorded in Salem, Massachusetts' GodCity Studios with producer and CONVERGE guitarist Kurt Ballou. The 10-song effort — touted as "direct, eye-opening and powerfully supernatural" — is the band's sixth studio recording and the follow-up to 2010's "Snakes For The Divine" which debuted at No. 62 on The Billboard 200 chart and has been called "wonderful" by The New York Times and "an exhilarating rush" by the Chicago Tribune.

"De Vermis Mysteriis" (or "Mysteries Of The Worm") takes its title from a fictional grimoire created by "Psycho" author Robert Bloch and incorporated by H. P. Lovecraft into the lore of the "Cthulhu Mythos" (Lovecraft mentioned "De Vermis Mysteriis" as one of the books that "repeat the most hellish secrets learnt by early man"). The album carries a deeply mystical undercurrent, incorporating fantastical themes and lyrics detailing, among other things, time travel, a serum called liao that is made out of a black lotus and "a Jesus twin who can see the past through his ancestors' eyes." And that's just scratching the surface!

Musically, "De Vermis Mysteriis" is absolutely explosive, showcasing the California power trio's thundering roar and expanded harmonic and rhythmic palettes while the songs move confidently through multiple riffs and movements. HIGH ON FIRE construct tough, burly stoner metal that is at once devastatingly epic and mercilessly metallic as superstar guitarist Matt Pike's sizzling ax and avenging-angel riffs fuse with Des Kensel's double-kick-drum onslaught and Jeff Matz's concrete crushing, Burton-esque bass guitar. Over the course of forty-five minutes, HIGH ON FIRE have created an amalgamation of fantastical lyrical ideas and brute force musicianship anchored in an endlessly captivating, punkishly frantic sound. Simply put, the band generates awesome on demand and has a virtual chokehold on monolithic-sounding, masterfully crafted epic music. HIGH ON FIRE is a savage bull in the china shop of modern metal.

"From Heroic To Depraved", the new rehearsal video from German death metallers OBSCENITY, can be seen below. The track comes off the band's eighth studio album, "Atrophied In Anguish", which was released on September 14 as a digipak and as a digital download via Apostasy Records. The CD was again recorded at Soundlodge Studio in Rhauderfehn with producer Jörg Uken.

Commented the band: "'Atrophied In Anguish' is the quintessence of diverse epoches of OBSCENITY. We combined typical '90s melodic parts and leads with modern blastparts. The new album is a mixture of 'The 3rd Chapter' and 'Cold Blooded Murder' with a giant sound that goes without Lego-Trigger and other technical stuff."

The cover artwork for "Atrophied in Anguish" was created by Remy of Headsplit Design (ARCH ENEMY, PSYCROPTIC, WHITECHAPEL) and can be seen below.

"Atrophied In Anguish" track listing:

01. Erase The Divine
02. All You Can Kill
03. Atrophied in Anguish
04. From Heroic To Depraved
05. Swine To The Slaughter
06. Perfect Pain
07. Neurotic Frenzy
08. Diary Of A Scapegoat
09. Monoistic Living
10. Hystarical Illusion

OBSCENITY last year announced the addition of bassist Jörg Pirch (ex-TEARS OF DECAY) and guitarist Christoph Weerts (ex-ASSASINATED) to the group's ranks. The band was also rejoined by drummer Sascha Knust (ex-THE AWAKENING, SETHNEFER).

OBSCENITY in 2010 recruited Tampa, Florida native Jeff Rudes as its new singer.

OBSCENITY's seventh CD, "Where Sinners Bleed", was released in 2006 through Armageddon Music. The follow-up to 2002's "Cold Blooded Murder" was recorded at Soundlodge studio in Rhauderfehn, Germany.

OBSCENITY was previously signed to Morbid Records, which issued four of the band's albums, ending with "Cold Blooded Murder".

OBSCENITY is:

Jeff Rudes - Vocals
Hendrik Bruns - Guitar
Christoph Weerts - Guitar
Jörg Pirch - Bass
Sascha Knust - Drums

Producer Ross Robinson (KORN, SLIPKNOT, SEPULTURA, SOULFLY, LIMP BIZKIT) met with Polish extreme metallers BEHEMOTH last weekend in Warsaw, presumably to discuss a possible collaboration with the band on their next studio album. BEHEMOTH frontman Adam "Nergal" Darski posted a photo on his Facebook page of him, BEHEMOTH bassist Tomasz " Orion" Wróblewski and Robinson, captioning the picture with just three words: "Things ARE happening…"

In a 2008 interview with Sevenstring.org, former EMPEROR vocalist/guitarist Ihsahn was asked if there was any truth to the rumor that Ross Robinson was in talks to produce the band's ill-fated fifth album. "There has been many rumors concerning that," Ihsahn replied. "[Ross] came backstage after a show in L.A. in 1999, together with Casey Chaos from AMEN, and said he would love to work with EMPEROR. However, we always liked doing the decision making on our own, so we said, 'No, thanks.' To this day, I've never worked with a producer, though I try to be one myself, I guess. Apparently, Ross got hate mail for even suggesting working with EMPEROR, which is kind of stupid, as in all black metal ideology fairness, I think, we were capable of deciding who and who not we wished to work with."

One of the most successful hard rock producers of the late '90s, Robinson began as a thrash metal guitarist (he was a member of MURDERCAR, which included future SACRED REICH and MACHINE HEAD drummer Dave McClain, and he played on DÉTENTE's classic 1986 LP, "Recognize No Authority"), before receiving his first studio credit, as an assistant engineer for W.A.S.P.'s 1993 concept album, "The Crimson Idol". He eventually hooked up with the then-up-and-coming alt-metal band by the name of KORN and produced the group's first two albums. Robinson also helmed the debut CD from LIMP BIZKIT, 1997's "Three Dollar Bill Y'All", before going on to work with such acts as SLIPKNOT, MACHINE HEAD, SEPULTURA (their RIAA-gold-certified release "Roots"), SOULFLY, AMEN, COLD, GLASSJAW, AT THE DRIVE-IN, THE CURE and VANILLA ICE's rap-metal makeover/comeback album, "Hard To Swallow".

EMI Label Services has set a March 4, 2013 release date for "Out Of The Darkness", the second album from British metallers SACRED MOTHER TONGUE. The eleven-track collection is "a truly stunning piece of work, showcasing the band's huge ambition and quantum leap forward in vision and scale," according to a press release. A fascinating and cohesive body of work, linked thematically by lead singer Darrin South's journey through depression into a new realisation of happiness, [the CD] is as bold and beautiful an example of superlative songwriting and epic drama as you're likely to hear in 2013."

Created by all four members of the band, "Out Of The Darkness" sees Darrin step to the fore as one of Britain's premier rock vocalists, replacing his screams of yore with a more melodic approach, perfectly complemented by the world-class guitar skills of Andy James. With Lee Newell and Josh Gurner's inventive powerhouse rhythm section underpinning each track, "Out Of The Darkness" is a masterclass showcase in creating an album of true light and shade.

Produced by Scott Atkins (BEHEMOTH, SYLOSIS, CRADLE OF FILTH), "Out Of The Darkness" hints at the power of METALLICA, the melody of ALTER BRIDGE, the darkness of ALICE IN CHAINS and the visceral edge of MACHINE HEAD, while bringing a uniquely British sensibility to these stadium-rocking influences.

"Out Of The Darkness" follows the massively acclaimed release of SACRED MOTHER TONGUE's EP, "A Light Shines", in September of this year.

"Out Of The Darkness" track listing:

01. Intro (Out Of The Darkness)
02. Demons
03. Bird In Hand
04. Seven
05. Pawn
06. Bleeding Out
07. A Light Will Shine
08. The City Is Crying
09. Just A Ride
10. Evolve/Become
11. Believe

Swedish metallers ENFORCER have inked a deal with Nuclear Blast Records. The band's new album, "Death By Fire", will be released on February 1, 2013.

Commented ENFORCER vocalist/guitarist Olof Wikstrand: "It feels great to finally have finished this long-awaited third ENFORCER record. Now with Nuclear Blast on board, we're gonna make sure to spread it to every corner of this planet. You can expect nothing but the total, self-defining ENFORCER record."

Added Nuclear Blast head of A&R Andy Siry: "We’ve been following the career of ENFORCER since their debut album, because from there on, they formed the spearhead of a new, young generation of traditionally influenced metal. We're impressed by the band's consequent and authentic appearance, whether on stage, concerning their sound, their image and so on. This reminds of the atmosphere of departure and the rebellion, heavy metal represented at the beginning of the '80s. ENFORCER have got that special something, represent their ideals and they know what they want. We're looking forward to the upcoming CD and a long successful cooperation."

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.

Photo credit: Gustav Öhman Spjuth