Jarkko Ahola (AHOLA, TERÄSBETONI, NORTHERN KINGS) will release a Christmas album, "Ave Maria - Joulun Klassikot" ("Ave Maria - Christmas Classics"), On November 9.

Commented Ahola: "The idea was to do a Christmas album that would sound majestic and grand, but yet still delicate and dynamic. It was clear that there would be no sample-based orchestrations, but a real symphony orchestra playing most of the songs. Even though sampled sound and midi programming can do pretty convincing results, the real thing just sounds like a… REAL THING! We also recorded a big sounding organ at church to make the package even more tangible."

He added, "The album was recorded in several locations, but my parts were done at Neomusic Studio in Helsinki with Janne Huttunen sitting behind the desk. Miikka Huttunen handled the mixing and Svante Försback did the mastering."

"Ave Maria - Joulun Klassikot" track listing:

01. Ave Maria
02. Sylvian Joululaulu
03. En Etsi Valtaa Loistoa
04. Mielenrauhaa
05. Varpunen Jouluaamuna
06. Sydämeeni Joulun Teen
07. Nessun Dorma
08. Tonttu
09. Jouluyö, Juhlayö
10. Adagio

French black metallers AOSOTH are working on the follow-up to 2011's "III" for a March/April 2013 release through Agonia Records. The as-yet-untitled CD will consist of seven new tracks with a running time of 55 minutes.

Commented AOSOTH guitarist BST: "We have entered the infamous Bst Studios once again to work on our fourth album, and we are confident that this will be our most elaborate, twisted, and sick release so far. Those who did not like the direction we took with the previous record probably will hate this one even more. We're on the second day of tracking guitars now, and things are going smoothly, so to speak."

Mark Phillips, former vocalist for BLESSED BY A BROKEN HEART (who was in the band in 2005) and current vocalist for IMMERSED, has joined Canadian technical death grind band, KILLITOROUS. Phillips is replacing former vocalist Luke McIsaac, who left the band due to personal differences.

Says the band: "We have parted ways with our vocalist Luke McIsaac. So without anymore waiting, we would love to welcome our new vocalist... We welcome Mark Phillips to the fold as our new permanent vocalist. Mark has toured and screamed with some amazing bands such as Blessed By A Broken Heart and Immersed.... so obviously we are stoked!"
The band is made up of a bunch of friendly, partyin' Canadian metal boys you may have seen such as Eric Morotti from BLIND WITNESS, Matt Milford from Immersed, Aaron Homma from Immersed and TODAY I CAUGHT THE PLAGUE, and guitar virtuoso Nick Miller.

Killitorous will be touring Canada in December, until they start recording their first full length release, entitled Party, Grind... More news about the album will be announced soon.

More on Killitorous at this location.

Relapse Records has announced the signing of the Boulder, Colorado quartet IRONHORSE. The band's debut album, "Dragged Down A Dead End Path", will be released in early 2013. The CD was recorded at the Boar's Nest in Salt Lake City with producer Andy Patterson.

The album's opening track, "Failure", can be downloaded for free via the "Relapse Records Winter 2012 Sampler" at this location.

Commented IRONHORSE: "We are honored to be a part of a label that not only puts out a lot of great new music, but also put out the music that inspired us to be musicians and play live."

IRONHORSE formed in late 2011 and quickly made a name for themselves in the local scene, playing shows with heavy hitters like GAZA, ELITIST and CATTLE DECAPITATION.

IRONHORSE plans to kick teeths in across the nation and tour heavily throughout 2013 in support of "Dragged Down A Dead End Path".

IRONHORSE is:

Gordon Koch - Drums
Alex Pace - Bass
Steve Vanica - Vocals
Patrick Alberts - Guitar

"Dustwalker", the third full-length album from U.K. progressive black metallers FEN, will be released on January 21, 2013 via Code666 Records. The effort will be made available in both CD format and as a limited-edition clambox, which will feature a bonus track and include a pendant with the band's distinctive logo. Artwork for the album was created by FEN bassist Grungyn.

"Dustwalker" track listing:

01. Consequence
02. Hands of Dust
03. Spectre
04. Reflections
05. Wolf Sun
06. The Black Sound
07. Walking the Crowpath
08. Epilogue (special edition bonus track)

"Dustwalker" will be FEN's third album for Code666, which previously released the band's debut full-length, "The Malediction Fields", in 2009 and "Epoch" in 2011.

FEN recently announced that it had re-signed with the Code666, a sublabel of Aural Music, for a further three albums after "Dustwalker".

Commenting on "Dustwalker", FEN frontman The Watcher had this to say: "If 'Epoch' embodies a lonely walk into the deepening twilight of the fens in autumn, then 'Dustwalker' represents the cold, sharp greys of a bleak winter's dawn. An expression of isolation, abandonment and a gradual detachment from the material realm, this album is a starker, more direct representation of the FEN sound."

Belgian blackened pagan metallers THEUDHO have released both a music video and a free digital single for the song "Niðr ok Norðr", which is featured on their latest album, "When Ice Crowns the Earth".

"Niðr ok Norðr" (Old Norse for "Downwards and Northwards") lyrically describes the mythical journey to the realm of the dead in Germanic traditions.

"When Ice Crowns the Earth" was mastered by Dan Swanö at Unisound in Sweden and was released earlier this year by the Australian label Aurora Australis Records.

On Tuesday, November 6, a benefit concert was held at The Bowery Electric in New York City for Amnesty International and the American Red Cross Hurricane Sandy relief fund. According to Roadrunner Records, the house band, led by guitarist Todd Youth, performed a set of BAD BRAINS covers, joined by a wide variety of guests, including legendary BAD BRAINS frontman H.R., country singer Steve Earle, John Joseph of the CRO-MAGS, Kyp Malone of TV ON THE RADIO, Vernon Reid of LIVING COLOUR and KILLSWITCH ENGAGE's Jesse Leach.

"Rock For Light" benefit setlist:

01. Pay to Cum (H.R. - BAD BRAINS)
02. I Luv I Jah (H.R. - BAD BRAINS)
03. Big Takeover (John Joseph - CRO-MAGS)
04. Attitude (John Joseph - CRO-MAGS)
05. I Against I (Jesse Leach - KILLSWITCH ENGAGE)
06. House Of Suffering (Kyp Malone - TV ON THE RADIO)
07. At The Movies (Drew Stone - ANTIDOTE)
08. The Regulator (Ralphie G. - THE MOB)
09. Sacred Love (Charlie Looker - EXTRA LIFE)
10. Don't Need It (Kelsey Byron - PILLOW THEORY)
11. I And I Survive (Felice Rosser)
12. We Will Not (Jesse Malin - D GENERATION)
13. FVK (Jesse Malin - D GENERATION)
14. Banned In DC (Pegasus Warning & Vernon Reid - LIVING COLOR)
15. Sailin' On (Jesse Quattro - SECRET CHIEFS 3)
16. Right Brigade (John Joseph - CRO-MAGS)
17. Rock For Light (John Joseph - CRO-MAGS)

Video footage of the event can be seen below.

Vocalist/guitarist Michael Sweet of Christian hard rockers STRYPER has posted "an unmastered, full-length version" of the song "Strong" from his forthcoming solo album as a tribute to millions people on the East Coast of the United States still affected by Hurricane Sandy's wrath.

Says Sweet: "I was watching CNN this morning and it truly was heartbreaking to see what those affected by Hurricane Sandy are facing. I want to encourage everyone to help, even if it's in the smallest of ways. Donate whatever you can afford to the Red Cross and continue to pray for the people of the Northeast."

He adds, "I hope that it's in some way a light in the dark. We ARE strong and no matter what we're faced with, we WILL rise above it through faith and determination. Much love and respect to all of you."

"Strong" audio stream:

ARTISTdirect.com editor-in-chief Rick Florino recently conducted an interview with MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

ARTISTdirect.com: What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think of "Countdown To Extinction" now?

Mustaine: It was very fun. [laughs] The world was different back then. There were some very peculiar moments like when the curfew happened after the Rodney King riots. Something like that happens once in a person's lifetime, and you have to live through it consistently. Those things are rare.

ARTISTdirect.com: What's your experience like listening to the record now?

Mustaine: Playing it is one thing. Listening to it is another. When I listen to it, I think, "What was I reading then? What were we going through?" Take the chorus of "Symphony Of Destruction". I found a martial arts instructor I liked, and I started training with him. I'd been with him for a while, and one day, I was driving to get lunch. For some reason, I wanted sushi. Maybe I thought I was David Carradine. [laughs] Who knows? You finish karate and go have sushi, right? I wrote on the back of the receipt from the sushi restaurant, "My head explodes. My brain corrodes." That's where it started. The feeling of this record reminds me of how meticulous we were doing it too. When we had the guitars patched into strobe tuners, we'd bend up until where the tuner would stop dead if we were doing any solos with bends in them. It was crazy stuff like that. We were doing it to tape too.

ARTISTdirect.com: That organic nature comes through.

Mustaine: I think so. There's the argument of analog versus digital. Digital definitely has a clarity to it, but there's a plasticness in the sound. I love the sound of tape. If tape had the same kind of post-EQ that digital presents, it would sound just as good. There wasn't that big of a difference when you'd listen to a really well-produced record. People just didn't know how to get stuff to sound really great analog-wise because tape is pretty finicky. Tape sticks together. I remember the first time they told me they had to bake the tapes when we wanted to do something with the old tapes. I thought, "How is that not going to melt? How is something disastrous not going to happen?" [laughs] It's totally real, and they do it all the time though.

Read the entire interview from ARTISTdirect.com.

In November, Cherry Red is reissuing three catalog titles from the MCAULEY SCHENKER GROUP: 1987's Perfect Timing, 1992’s M.S.G. and Unplugged Live. Details can be read below:
Perfect Timing:

After making his debut at a mere 17 years of age on the Scorpions first album in 1972, mad axe-man and guitar maestro Michael Schenker spent five years as lead guitarist with Brit rockers UFO, before forming the Michael Schenker Group (MSG for short) with singer Gary Barden in 1979. After four studio albums and two live records, released on Chrysalis between 1980 and 1984, Michael returned in 1987 for the Perfect Timing album, but now fronted by former Grand Prix and Far Corporation singer Robin McAuley, with a change of name to the McAuley Schenker Group, but still conveniently shortened to MSG.
M.S.G.:

1992’s M.S.G. is certainly a harder, grittier affair than the previous McAuley Schenker releases, and includes the single, ‘Never Ending Nightmare’.
The set features an expanded 16 page booklet with period memorabilia and rare photos, plus a new essay from journalist Malcolm Dome based on brand new interviews with Michael Schenker and Robin McAuley, conducted in 2012 especially for this release.
Unplugged Live:

This new look MSG recorded a total of four albums, the last of which was Unplugged Live (1992). As well as key McAuley Schenker songs, recorded live in Los Angeles in 1992, the album features three UFO classics; ‘Natural Thing’, ‘Doctor Doctor’ and ‘Lights Out’. The bonus tracks are unique acoustic studio versions of ‘Anytime’, ‘We Believe In Love’, ‘What Happens To Me’ and ‘Bad Boys’, all taken from the “unplugged in the studio” Japanese only mini-album Nightmare: The Acoustic MSG.

Cyclone Empire announce the signing of Maltese doom/death act VICTIMS OF CREATION.
The band describe their style as a very heavy, down-tuned sound, carrying both the old-school doom/death-metal and slow sludgey elements… be prepared to experience another underground pearl from this very cool and fertile Mediterranean doom Mecca. Victims Of Creation have already been announced for mighty Doom Shall Rise Festival 2013 and be sure, their debut album will be out in time before this great event… expect a release in late March or early April, 2013.

Says the band: “We are honoured to join such a prestigious label which supports new talent and promotes the true underground scene. We are certain that the collaboration between us will spawn some dark and heavy doom! Really looking forward to release our debut album in 2013!”
Victims Of Creation band lineup:

Rex - Bass, Vox
AJ Burd - Guitar
Daniel Bartolo - Guitar
Dino Mifsud Lepre - Drums

THE WHO, one of rock’s legendary and defining bands, kicked off their Quadrophenia And More tour last week in Sunrise, Florida, unveiling a dynamic new stage set and fast-paced video footage to accompany their iconic 1973 double album Quadrophenia which is being performed in its entirety along with a selection of Who classics.
The Who are performing on a sleek, stripped-down stage with 10 musicians on board, a sophisticated lighting rig and multiple screens that provide footage of world events from World War II to the present day, concentrating on popular culture and the history of the band, including live footage from throughout their storied career. The visuals tie in closely to the Quadrophenia album and movie, particularly the themes of disillusionment, teen angst and rebellion, plus social issues - both from the '60s and now - as well as the beach and ocean that are pivotal in Quadrophenia.

The Broward-Palm Beach New Times described the visuals as “denoting the new millennium, complete with visual references to Columbine, 9-11 and the Iraqi invasion.” The review of the opening night’s show goes on to say, “Townshend treated the audience to several of his patented windmill gestures, while Daltrey occasionally lassoed his mic in his rock god ways of old… by the time the Quadrophenia portion of the program wound its way to a conclusion, today's Who were in full throttle… when they concluded with the stirring ‘Love Reign O'er Me’, any doubts about whether the band was up to their task at hand quickly dissipated.”
Meanwhile, the Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel said the first show was “a well-executed resurrection of the Who’s 1973 rock opera Quadrophenia… Daltrey and Townshend stripped the years away and reminded fans why, on the cusp of the album’s 40th anniversary, Quadrophenia deserved to be dusted off and taken back out on the road… the show offered a near-perfect balance of spectacle and artistry.”

This past weekend, the tour went on to Orlando, FL, where the Orlando Sentinel said “…frontman Roger Daltrey and guitarist Pete Townshend tackled the ambitious 1973 concept album Quadrophenia with impressive gusto… Daltrey’s voice soared on the signature ‘Love Reign O’er Me’ and Townshend added slashing guitar…”

On the Quadrophenia And More tour the band - including founding members ROGER DALTREY and PETE TOWNSHEND - are being joined on tour by Zak Starkey (drums), Pino Palladino (bass), Simon Townshend (guitar/backing vocals), John Corey (keyboards/backing vocals), Frank Simes (musical director, keyboards/backing vocals) and Loren Gold (keyboards). They’ll embark on a second leg January 28th, 2013 in Anaheim, CA.
The AEG Live-promoted 37-date tour, the band’s first North American tour in four years, kicked off November 1st in Sunrise, FL with an initial six-week run. Tickets for the tour are available at www.aeglive.com.

Tour dates:

November
8 - Greenville, SC - Bi-Lo Center
9 - Greensboro, NC - Greensboro Coliseum
11 - Pittsburgh, PA - CONSOL Energy Arena
13 - Washington, DC - Verizon Center
14 - Brooklyn, NY - Barclays Center
16 - Boston, MA - TD Garden
20 - Montreal, QC - Bell Centre
21 - Ottawa, ON - Scotiabank Place
23 - Toronto, ON - Air Canada Centre
24 - Detroit, MI - Joe Louis Arena
27 - Minneapolis, MN - Target Center
29 - Chicago, IL - Allstate Arena

December
2 - Nashville, TN - Bridgestone Arena
5 - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden
6 - Newark, NJ - Prudential Center
8 - Philadelphia, PA - Wells Fargo Center
9 - Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun Arena

January
28 - Anaheim, CA - Honda Center
30 - Los Angeles, CA - Staples Center

February
1 - Oakland, CA - Oracle Arena
2 - Reno, NV - Reno Events Center
5 - San Diego, CA - Valley View Casino Center
6 - Glendale, AZ - Jobing.com Arena
8 - Las Vegas, NV - The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
12 - Denver, CO - Pepsi Center
14 - Tulsa, OK - BOK Center
16 - Louisville, KY - KFC Yum! Arena
17 - Columbus, OH - Schottenstein Center
19 - Hamilton, ON - Copps Coliseum
21 - Uniondale, NY - Nassau Coliseum
22 - Atlantic City, NJ - Boardwalk Hall
24 - Manchester, NH - Verizon Wireless Arena
26 - Providence, RI - Dunkin’ Donuts Center

Check out fan-filmed video from the tour below:

25 years after the DOGS D'AMOUR released their legendary "Dynamite Jet Saloon" album, the original members have reunited to raise money for a dear friend and fellow musician with cancer.

More than two decades have passed since the definitive lineup have shared a stage together and they are ready to kick over the graveyard of empty bottles and play their brand of raucous sonic sounds that inspired a cult-like following.

Frontman Tyla, drummer Bam, bassist Steve James and guitarist Jo Dog are gearing up from four corners of the globe to play together for the first time in 22 years. "It's good to have me old mates back," says Tyla.

The fans have been asking for the classic lineup in every form of social media and the DOGS have heard them.

In 1989, "The Satellite Kid" climbed the U.K. chart to No. 26 while the "Graveyard Of Empty Bottles" album made it to No. 16 on the U.K. album chart.

Their notorious reputation often preceded them but every one of their singles made it into the Top 100 of the U.K. chart.

The DOGS D'AMOUR will reunite for a select number of gigs and festivals in 2013 to perform all the DOGS hits and classic favorites along with several new songs they're currently recording.

The kickoff gig and fund raiser charity event will take place on February 22, 2013 at The Borderline in London, England.

SPIRITUAL BEGGARS — the Swedish band featuring ARCH ENEMY guitarist Michael Amott and bassist Sharlee D'Angelo, along with vocalist Apollo Papathanasio (FIREWIND) — is hard at work on its new studio album for a spring 2013 release via InsideOut Music.

In other news, SPIRITUAL BEGGARS will perform at next year's Roadburn festival on April 21, 2013 at 013 in Tilburg, Holland.

"Back in the early '90s, Roadburn founder Walter Hoeijmakers was one of the very first supporters SPIRITUAL BEGGARS had in Europe," says Amott. "His unbridled enthusiasm for our music back then when most people didn't 'get it' meant so much to us. It's a great feeling to now play his fantastic festival and celebrate the staying power of SPIRITUAL BEGGARS and the Roadburn concept together! We're releasing a new studio album and celebrating our 20th anniversary as a band in 2013, and I really can't think of a better way to start the party than at the esteemed Roadburn festival!"

SPIRITUAL BEGGARS last year released a live CD entitled "Return To Live: Loud Park 2010" in Japan via Trooper Entertainment. The disc features eight songs, capturing the bands high-energy performance at Loud Park 10 at Saitama Super Arena, Japan on October 17, 2010. The live recording was mixed in Sweden by Staffan Karlsson and Rickard Bengtsson at Studio Landgren 5.3 and The Sweet Spot Studio in December 2010. The artwork and design was handled by Hippograffix.

The new lineup of SPIRITUAL BEGGARS made its live debut on October 1, 2010 at Kyttaro club in Athens, Greece.

SPIRITUAL BEGGARS's seventh studio album, "Return To Zero", was released in Japan on August 25, 2010 via Trooper Entertainment Inc. — the label founded by legendary Japanese heavy metal music industry guru Tetsu Miyamoto. The Japanese special edition comes in a glossy paper box with a poster and a sticker of the CD front cover. The Japanese edition also features a bonus track, a thunderous cover of URIAH HEEP's "Time To Live" off the legendary U.K. band's 1971 "Salisbury" record.

"Return To Zero" was released in North America on October 12, 2010 via InsideOut Music. The follow-up to 2005's "Demons" was recorded at Sweetspot Studio with producer Rickard Bengtsson.

SPIRITUAL BEGGARS 2012 is:

Michael Amott (ARCH ENEMY, CARCASS) - Guitar
Ludwig Witt (FIREBIRD) - Drums
Per Wiberg (OPETH) - Keyboards
Sharlee D'Angelo (ARCH ENEMY, MERCYFUL FATE) - Bass
Apollo Papathanasio (FIREWIND) – Vocals

San Francisco Bay Area metal veterans VICIOUS RUMORS will release a new live album, "Live You To Death", on November 27 (one day earlier internationally) through SPV/Steamhammer. The CD was recorded by Pontus Norgren of HAMMERFALL, mixed by Juan Urteaga and produced by VICIOUS RUMORS guitarist Geoff Thorpe.

2011 was the year VICIOUS RUMORS stormed European stages with their highly acclaimed studio album, "Razorback Killers", playing 92 shows in 12 months.

"Live You To Death" was recorded last December on the band's European tour as the support act for Swedish metallers HAMMERFALL. It features 11 songs, including two very special studio recordings: cover versions of "Sign Of The Southern Cross" by BLACK SABBATH and "Running Wild" by JUDAS PRIEST.

"We wanted to do a few covers of our metal gods SABBATH and PRIEST as a tribute to where it all started," Thorpe said.

"Live You To Death" track listing:

01. Replicant / Digital Dictator
02. Minute To Kill
03. Murderball
04. Lady Took A Chance ( intro ) / Down To The Temple
05. Abandoned
06. Let The Garden Burn
07. Hellraiser
08. Soldiers Of The Night
09. Don't Wait For Me
10. Sign Of The Southern Cross (BLACK SABBATH cover) (studio recording)
11. Running Wild (JUDAS PRIEST cover) (studio recording)

Running time: approximately 56 minutes

A live version of "Abandoned", taken from "Live You To Death", can be streamed using the SoundCloud player below.

"Razorback Killers" was released in Europe in March 2011 and in the U.S. in April 2011 via SPV/Steamhammer. The CD was recorded at Trident Studios in Pacheco, California with producers Juan Urteaga and Geoff Thorpe.

VICIOUS RUMORS current touring lineup:

Larry Howe - Drums
Brian Allen (LAST EMPIRE, MALICE, WILD DOGS) - Vocals
Bob Capka - Guitar
Stephen Goodwin - Bass
Geoff Thorpe - Guitar

Fan-filmed video footage of NIGHTWISH's November 4 performance at O2 Apollo in Manchester, England can be seen below.

The band's setlist was as follows:

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

Dutch singer Floor Jansen (REVAMP, ex-AFTER FOREVER) made her live debut as the frontwoman of NIGHTWISH on October 1 at Showbox Sodo in Seattle, Washington.

Jansen is handling lead-vocal duties on all of NIGHTWISH's currently scheduled tour dates after the group parted ways with Anette Olzon at the end of September.

In a blog post on her official web site at FloorJansen.com, Floor said, "It is now 10 years ago I joined NIGHTWISH on tour with AFTER FOREVER as their support act. We stayed in touch ever since and that made the whole situation so much easier and smooth."

Olzon joined NIGHTWISH in 2007 as the replacement for Tarja Turunen after the latter was fired in 2005.

NIGHTWISH stated about the sudden singer switch, "In recent times it has become increasingly obvious that the direction and the needs of the band were in conflict, and this has led to a division from which we cannot recover."

They added, "We are all strongly committed to this journey, this vehicle of spirit, and we are sure that this will lead to a brighter future for everyone.

"We forever remain excited about the adventures to come, and we are extremely proud of the two beautiful albums and the wonderful shows we shared together."

NIGHTWISH's long-awaited "Imaginaerum" film — based on the band's album of the same name — will be released theatrically in Finland on November 23.

The official soundtrack of the movie, "Imaginaerum By Nightwish: The Score", will be released on the day before the premiere — Friday, November 9. The album features 13 grandiose, unreleased re-interpretations of "Imaginaerum" tracks by Petri Alanko.

The "Imaginaerum" album was released in the U.S. on January 10 via Roadrunner Records.

In an new interview with RollingStone.com, Trent Reznor was asked about the likelihood of new NINE INCH NAILS music. "All signs point to yes," he said. Pressed further, he added, "Yeah, there will be new music. There are some things in the works."

Those "things" could also include live performing again. "Yeah, if it feels right, it's a possibility," he said. "I never said that that wasn't going to happen, just that it couldn't go on as it was. Having a few years doing other things, I've enjoyed [them] and I'm enjoying doing HOW TO DESTROY ANGELS, and there will be a place for stuff that falls in the NINE INCH NAILS column of things. It's a different kind of work.

"Stay tuned," he added. "We'll see what happens here."

In early 2009, Reznor announced that NINE INCH NAILS was embarking on a 20th-anniversary farewell tour, after which he stayed busy recording with HOW TO DESTROY ANGELS, writing music for "Call of Duty: Black Ops 2" and scoring "The Social Network" and "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" with composer Atticus Ross.

HOW TO DESTROY ANGELS is the project featuring Reznor and his wife Mariqueen Maandig (ex-WEST INDIAN GIRL) along with Ross and NIN's longtime graphic designer Rob Sheridan.

HOW TO DESTROY ANGELS' second EP, "An Omen EP", will be made available on November 13 and will contain six songs, some of which will also appear on the band's upcoming LP, to be issued early next year via Columbia Records.

Guitarist JOE BONAMASSA (BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION) will perform four exclusive London concerts during March 2013.
Each concert will be specially filmed for DVD and will feature never-before performed live tracks. The four London concerts will chronicle Joe’s atmospheric rise from the intimate club atmosphere of The Borderline, to the prestigious Royal Albert Hall. The live in-concert DVDs will be released during fall 2013.
Hailed as The Guitar Event of the Year, Bonamassa will pay homage to the historic London venues he’s played by going back to his ten studio albums to perform songs for the very first time. The four London 2013 concerts will individually showcase a unique band configuration that will highlight diverse elements of Joe’s style. Each performance will be distinctive with different set lists. Collectively, there will be upwards of eighty new and old songs performed over the four nights that even the most die-hard Bonamassa fan will experience for the first time.

The London run will start at the intimate 200-capacity London Borderline on Tuesday, March 26th. Bonamassa will then play the 02 Shepherds Bush Empire and HMV Hammersmith Apollo on Wednesday, March 27th and Thursday, March 28th respectively, before finishing the week at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday, March 30th.

The Royal Albert Hall and Shepherds Bush concerts are currently sold out. Tickets are still available for the Hammersmith Apollo, as well as VIP tickets for the exclusive Borderline concert that also includes the best seats in the house for the remaining three concerts including the Royal Albert Hall, Shepherds Bush and the Hammersmith Apollo. For further information about the VIP tickets, head here.
“London is like my second home,” says Bonamassa. “I want to give the fans attending the London concerts a real treat – a thank you for their unwavering support. Over the years I’ve received requests for tracks we’ve never performed live. Now, it feels right that we delve into the back catalogue and dedicate London fans with unique versions of tracks they’ve never experienced live.”

(Photo: Arnie Goodman)

U.K. doomsters THE PROPHECY have revealed the cover art and track listing for their new album, entitled "Salvation", due on January 21, 2013 via Code666 Records. The follow-up to 2009's "Into the Light" was produced and mixed by Greg Chandler (ESOTERIC) at Priory Studio and mastered by James Plotkin (SUNN O))), ISIS, PELICAN).

"Salvation" track listing:

01. Salvation
02. Released
03. Reflections
04. In Silence
05. Redemption

Frontman Matt Lawson commented on the cover artwork: "The album cover is a departure from the style of the last three albums, but when Code666 announced we could package the disc in glorious digipak with a 12-page booklet, we couldnt help but go to town a little. The design fits the music perfectly and really captures the feel of the album. Sam at Dose Productions has done a fabulous job with the art and layout making this a product you'll really want to own."

To celebrate Black (Metal) Friday, Century Media Records will reissue two classic titles: BORKNAGAR's "The Olden Domain" and MAYHEM's "De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas". Limited to 1,000 copies each, these titles will be available only at your local independent music store starting on Friday, November 23. To find a participating store near you, please check out www.recordstoreday.com.

"The Olden Domain" is BORKNAGAR's second studio album, and their first to feature English lyrics. It also marks the beginning of the band's transition to their trademark progressive/folk/black metal sound featured on later records. This would be the band's last studio album to feature Garm (credited on this album as "Fiery G. Maelstrom") on vocals. It is also their first album to feature Kai K. Lie on bass, replacing Infernus.

Songwriting for "De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas" began as early as 1987, but due to the suicide of MAYHEM vocalist Per "Dead" Ohlin and murder of guitarist Øystein "Euronymous" Aarseth, the album's release was delayed until May of 1994. "De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas" is widely considered to be one of the most influential black metal albums of all time. Now available as a deluxe double LP in gatefold packaging with bonus poster, the darkness continues to bleed forth.

ANTHRAX has tapped former TESTAMENT/SLAYER and current ANIMETAL USA drummer Jon Dette (pictured below) to sit behind the kit for the veteran thrash metal band's current European tour as the support act for MOTÖRHEAD, which kicked off this past Monday night (November 5) in Wolverhampton, England. Dette is "kicking ass" as a temporary replacement for longtime ANTHRAX drummer Charlie Benante, who "is home taking care of personal stuff," according to ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian.

Said Dette: "I've been bestowed the great honor to fill in for Charlie while he takes care of some things back home."

Fan-filmed video footage of the second show of the tour — which took place last night (Tuesday, November 6) at Apollo in Manchester, England — can be seen below.

Dette joined SLAYER in 1996 when Paul Bostaph left to work on his side project, THE TRUTH ABOUT SEAFOOD. Dette performed with SLAYER at the 1996 Ozzfest to promote the band's covers album, "Undisputed Attitude".

Prior to joining SLAYER, Dette appeared on TESTAMENT's "Live At The Fillmore" album, which came out in 1995.

Benante and his wife were arrested on July 27 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Elkhart, Indiana for domestic battery in front of a child. The drummer later issued a statement through his attorney claiming that he "was assaulted several times during an altercation that sent him to the emergency room with a gash at the back of his head that required several staples to close."

Charlie and ANTHRAX bassist Frank Bello (who is Benante's nephew) missed several shows on ANTHRAX's North American tour in February in order to spend time with Charlie's mother, who was terminally ill. On February 4, Benante informed fans via his official web site that his mother passed away.

More recently, Benante was forced to miss a number of shows on this past summer's Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival while he was recovering from a minor hand injury. Filling in for him was SHADOWS FALL drummer Jason Bittner.

California metallers SUICIDE SILENCE have launched the official Mitch Lucker Memorial Fund to provide financial assistance to the family of their late singer, who died Thursday, November 1, after sustaining injuries in a motorcycle crash in Huntington Beach on Halloween night. All money donated will go toward the education fund for Mitch's five-year-old daughter, Kenadee Lucker. Those who donate $20 or more will receive a commemorative t-shirt.

If you donate $20 or more, please be sure to include a name, shipping address and shirt size (S-4XL) in the comment box at time of donation.

If you donate $1 or more, please be sure to include your full name as the band will add your name to a tribute page coming soon on SuicideSilence.net.

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

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

Some of the singer's friends gathered last Thursday night in Riverside, California, where the 28-year-old grew up, to celebrate his life. A separate vigil was held at the crash site in Huntington Beach that was attended by fans as well as some of Mitch's family members, including his wife of two years, Jolie, and his daughter.

Chicago's SOIL has launched an interactive pre-sale campaign on Kickstarter to enable fans to participate in the release of the band's forthcoming album. Fans will receive exclusive shirts, a chance to have dinner with the band, autographed merchandise, attend studio sessions, an exclusive new MP3 download of the first studio song with singer Ryan McCombs since 2004's "Redefine" album and more. They also will be the first to receive the new album when it's released.

Says McCombs says: "This Kickstarter project is allowing us to offer unique opportunities to our fans, who are the people who allow us to do what we do. It also allows us as a band to keep control over every aspect of the forthcoming SOIL album."

SOIL recently tapped Phoenix-based musician Mitch Gable (ECHOES THE FALL) as its new touring drummer.

Commented McCombs: "Our hope since Tim [King, bass], Adam [Zadel, guitar] and myself got back together was to keep the drummer position a revolving door. Mitch Gable is currently scheduled to do the U.K./Europe run, as well as he is also the drummer that did the last run with (HED)P.E. with us. [He's a] really good drummer and good guy to have on the road."

In a recent interview with Jake Serd and Ken Kirby of 94.9 K-Rock, McCombsspoke about SOIL's future plans, including the release of a new studio album, which is tentatively scheduled for next year. Several songs have already been written for te effort, which the singer says will "pick up where [2004's] 'Redefine' left off. I love the material that we're writing, and that's the feeling that I get from it," he said. "At the same time, ['Redefine' came out] seven years ago, so I'm sure there's gonna be some change."

He continued, "A lot of fans I ran into on the road just in the past few weeks made comments that they felt like, you had [2001's] 'Scars' and you had 'Redefine' and then really… I'm not dissing anything. The [other SOIL] guys, I think, put out two really good albums [with another singer] after I left. But it's just the way… Usually, when people listen to music, it's kind of the voice that catches people's ears. I'm not putting myself up on [a pedestal] by saying that, but at the same time, it's just kind of the reality of the business. So people were saying how it was kind of like those next two DROWNING POOL albums [with me on vocals] were… that was the follow-up to the first two SOIL records as far as that vocal sound. And I think this [new SOIL CD] is just gonna be the next one in line.

"I love the material we're doing and it's feeling good. I hope the people that loved 'Scars' and 'Redefine' see that natural progression."

SOIL will hit the road with FOZZY on a nine-date U.K. tour launching November 27 in Stoke, England and wrapping up December 6 in Brighton, England. The trek marks both bands' first return to the United Kingdom since highly successful appearances at this year's Download festival. The tour will also feature the U.K.'s own BREED 77.

SOIL released its first-ever DVD, entitled "Re-LIVE-Ing The Scars", on May 8 via Bieler Bros. Records. The two-disc set, which was recorded live on October 14, 2011 at Electric Ballroom in London, England, contains an audio CD version of the same concert. Also included is over one hour of backstage and behind-the-scenes bonus footage and photos.

SOIL's recording lineup for "Re-LIVE-Ing The Scars" consisted of founding members Ryan McCombs (vocals; ex-DROWNING POOL), Tim King (bass) and Adam Zadel (guitar) alongside former STAIND drummer Jon Wysocki.

Emerging Swedish modern rock outfit HER BRIGHT SKIES will release its third full-length album, "Rivals", on November 19 via Panic & Action Records. The CD's first single, "Lovekills", can be streamed now at this location and is available for purchase via iTunes.

Based in the small town of Jönköping, Sweden, HER BRIGHT SKIES is a red-hot rock band consisting of Johan Brolin (vocals), Niclas Sjostedt (guitar), Peter Nilsson (guitar/vocals), Jolie Karlsson (bass/vocals) and Jonas Gudmundsson (drums). The group got its start in 2005 and has released two EPs ("Beside Quiet Waters", "DJ Got Us Falling In Love") and two full-length albums ("A Sacrament; III City", "Causing A Scene"); sharing the stage with notable bands like ASKING ALEXANDRIA, BRING ME THE HORIZON, ...AND YOU WILL KNOW US BY THE TRAIL OF DEAD, 30 SECONDS TO MARS, PARAMORE and AUGUST BURNS RED, among many others along the way.

For their third studio album, HER BRIGHT SKIES paid a visit to New York City where they teamed up with highly regarded producers Shep Goodman (FOUR YEAR STRONG, BAYSIDE) and Aaron Accetta (FOREVER THE SICKEST KIDS, HE IS WE) and over the course of five weeks recorded eleven catchy rock anthems.

Featuring the contagious first single "Lovekills", "Rivals" is a collection of non-stop thrill ride of hard-hitting, melody-driven singles mixed by celebrated producer/mixer/engineer Mike Plotnikoff (THE ALL-AMERICAN REJECTS, MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE, BON JOVI).

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions has signed Finnish/Philadelphia black metal trio NIHILISTINEN BARBAARISUUS, and will release their debut album on February 19th, 2013.
Nihilistinen Barbaarisuus have released a two song promo to introduce people to the band, below is a description:

Forged out of the icy wilderness of the north, this Philadelphia trio composes several tracks of cold subsonics and frigid atmospheres. Inspired by Nihilistinen Barbaarisuus's founder Mika Mage’s Finnish heritage, the two tracks presented here showcase the bands ambient black metal techniques with the track 'Ylittäen Jäätyneen Pohjoisen (I)' and a more delicate side with the track 'Ketamiini'. Cold, grim and strangely uplifting a must have for fans of GRIS, PAYSAGE D’HIVER, BURZUM, VELVET CACOON, TRIST, and NEIGE ET NOIRCEUR. A frozen, ambient masterpiece...
Listen to the promo tracks below:
More details for the album will be revealed in the following months. More on Nihilistinen Barbaarisuus here.

Reunited Seattle grunge legends SOUNDGARDEN performed on this past Tuesday's edition of BBC's television show "Later... With Jools Holland".

The group played the its new single, “Been Away Too Long", as well as "Rusty Cage", a track from 1991's "Badmotorfinger" album.

Video footage of the performance can be seen below.

"Later…" began in October 1992 and is series produced by Alison Howe, executive-produced by Mark Cooper and directed by Janet Fraser Crook. It is now the longest-running music show in British TV history aside from "Top Of The Pops".

"King Animal", the first collection of all-new material in 16 years, and first since the group reunited in 2010, from SOUNDGARDEN, will be released on November 13 via Tom Whalley's new record label, a partnership between his Seven Four Entertainment and Republic Records.

Deluxe versions of "King Animal" include a box set, a deluxe CD, iTunes deluxe and 180-gram double vinyl. Many of the deluxe editions include album track demos recorded in singer Chris Cornell's home studio.

For details of the "King Animal" deluxe versions, visit SoundgardenWorld.com.

Professionally filmed video footage of Slash's November 2 concert at Fundição Progresso in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil can be seen below.

The setlist for the show was as follows:

01. Halo
02. Nightrain (GUNS N' ROSES song)
03. Ghost
04. Standing In The Sun
05. Back From Cali
06. Been There Lately (SLASH'S SNAKEPIT song)
07. My Michelle (GUNS N' ROSES song)
08. Rocket Queen (GUNS N' ROSES song)
09. Bad Rain
10. Not For Me
11. Doctor Alibi (Todd Kerns on lead vocals)
12. You're Crazy (GUNS N' ROSES song) (Todd Kerns on lead vocals)
13. No More Heroes
14. Starlight
15. Blues Jam
16. Anastasia
17. You're A Lie
18. Sweet Child O' Mine (GUNS N' ROSES song)
19. Slither (VELVET REVOLVER song)

Encore:

20. Welcome To The Jungle (GUNS N' ROSES song) (Todd Kerns on lead vocals)
21. Paradise City (GUNS N' ROSES song)

Slash's second solo album, "Apocalyptic Love", came out in May and was recently certified gold in Australia by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) for sales in excess of 35,000 copies.

"[The album has] been really well received and I was really pleased with the record in the first place; it's great," Slash said. "You never know what exactly is going to happen and I never have any what you'd call expectations, but once it's out there and people sort of dig it for the right reasons, it's always a good feeling."

Slash recently revealed that he and singer Myles Kennedy have already begun working on music for the guitarist's next album, to be recorded sometime next year.

"We are working on material, gathering ideas for another [record] at this point," Slash told Rapid City Journal. "We are sort of like in those early stages where I'm just recording different guitar ideas and I turn Myles on to it. He's thinking about his stuff and what he's going to do with it and so on."

Greece's Metalpaths recently conducted an interview with vocalist/bassist David Vincent of Florida-based death metal veterans MORBID ANGEL. You can now listen to the chat using the audio player below.

Asked how longtime MORBID ANGEL drummer Pedro "Pete" Sandoval is doing two years after undergoing surgery after a disc prolapse, Vincent said, "You know, he still has some challenges. Obviously it's our hope that he continues to get better, but at this point, Tim Yeung is the drummer of MORBID ANGEL and he's doing an excellent job."

Regarding whether MORBID ANGEL has left the door open for Pete to rejoin the band whenever he feels he can perform at 100 percent again, Vincent said, "Well, we really haven't discussed it because that has not been the case yet."

Interview (audio):

Pennsylvania rockers played a six-song set on October 31 at Sear Sound Studios in New York City as part of The Warner Sound's "The Live Room". The entire performance has now been released as an EP via iTunes. Entitled "In The Live Room", it can be purchased at this location.

"The Live Room" is an exclusive The Warner Sound original series that captures today's most innovative artists performing live recording sessions in the most iconic recording studios across America.

HALESTORM will embark on a late fall headlining U.S. tour sponsored by Jägermeister. The trek gets underway on November 8 in Mobile, Alabama, wrapping up on December 15 in Orlando, Florida. Special guests on the bill will be IN THIS MOMENT and EVE TO ADAM.

"I Miss The Misery", the second single from HALESTORM's current album "The Strange Case Of…" , was a Top Five track at Active Rock radio.

HALESTORM singer Lzzy Hale was named the "Hottest Chick in Hard Rock" in Revolver magazine's annual round-up of the sexiest female rockers, beating out contenders like Lee, IN THIS MOMENT's Maria Brink and LACUNA COIL's Cristina Scabbia.

Fan-filmed video footage of STEEL PANTHER's November 2 performance at Trix in Antwerp, Belgium can be seen below.

STEEL PANTHER's first-ever DVD, "British Invasion", finally saw the light of day domestically on October 30 via Guitar Anarchy Studios. Recorded with 16 cameras in pristine HD over a two-year period, the DVD chronicles STEEL PANTHER's legendary live show that the band has come to be known for. Beginning in March 2010 at the band's sold-out concert at Brixton Academy in London during their highly successful "Feel The Steel" tour, the DVD feaures some of the group's most memorable hits, including "Asian Hooker", "Community Property", "The Shocker" and "Stripper Girl", in a way never seen before. Included in the package is a laugh-out-loud documentary that follows the band backstage and on their tour that is not to be missed. The deluxe box set includes two DVDs — one with the full show and one with the documentary — deleted scenes and five songs from Download Festival 2012. The packaging also includes a 16-page color book. The DVD will also be available in Blu-ray at the same time.

"British Invasion" was directed and produced by award-winning director Daniel E. Catullo III (RUSH, NICKELBACK, GODSMACK) and was mixed by Jay Ruston, who worked with the band on both of their previous records.

STEEL PANTHER's second world tour of 2012 kicked off in Auckland, New Zealand on October 2 and is scheduled to wrap in London on November 15.

STEEL PANTHER was, for a long time, rock's best-kept secret: a cult legend on the L.A. scene. But in recent years due to the success of their albums (both debuted at #1 on the Billboard Comedy Album Charts) and live shows, the band has enjoyed huge acclaim from fans and peers alike. At sold-out shows in Hollywood and Las Vegas, STEEL PANTHER has been joined on stage by rock and roll icons such as Steven Tyler of AEROSMITH, Paul Stanley of KISS, Corey Taylor of SLIPKNOT, Tom Morello of RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE, and Chester Bennington of LINKIN PARK.