Former ONWARD, GODLESS RISING guitarist Toby Knapp has returned to Shredguy Records.
Pre-production has begun for the second album from death metallers SEEKING OBSCURE, on which Knapp will be providing all lead guitar work. Experimentation with different guitars and amps to achieve the perfect guitar tone is underway.

This album will be issued through the Metalbolic label in 2013. Knapp is also putting together his own recording system and is soon to begin pre-production on his fifth solo album, which will be entirely instrumental and will see a 2013 release through Shredguy Records.

Stay tuned for updates.

Swedish newcomers TOXICROSE have announced the release of their new video for the track ‘A Song For The Weak’. The video was directed by Patric Ullaeus (DIMMU BORGIR, IN FLAMES) at Revolver Film Company. Check it out below:



‘A Song For The Weak’ comes off the band’s forthcoming self-titled debut album.

The CD was co-produced by Martin Sweet of CRASHDÏËT and will be released via City Of Lights Records (a division of Rock It Up Records).



ToxicRose are:
Goran - bass
Michael (ex-LIPSTIXX N'BULLETZ) - drums
Andy (ex-Lipstixx N'Bulleetz) - lead vocals
Tom (Gemini Five) - guitars

To get a taste of the new disc, check out the video below:

Swedish industrial metallers 8TH SIN will be releasing the final edition of their trilogy entitled Cosmogenesis on November 23rd in Europe and February 3rd, in the US via Soulseller Records. The album will be available on CD as well as digital download.

The album contains 15 tracks, six of which are bonus tracks. Among them are two covers of DEPECHE MODE's ‘Walking In My Shoes’ and VENOM's ‘Black Metal’.

The opening track, ‘Teonanacatl (Flesh Of The Gods)’ can be heard below:
The album is produced by Michael Bohlin and includes guest appearances by:

Joacim Thenander - The Mobhead remixes.
Pontus Norgren - Guitar solo on ‘Teonanacatl (Flesh Of The Gods)’.
PM Saari - Guitar solo on ‘Walking In My Shoes’.
Anders Olsson - Guitar solo on ‘Walking In My Shoes’.
Martin Boman - Guitar solo on ‘Walking In My Shoes’.
Eric Rivers - Guitar solo on ‘Walking In My Shoes’.
Magnus Lundkvist - Additional backing vocals and guitar solo on ‘Walking in my shoes’.
Joacim Cans - Additional backing vocals on ‘Walking In My Shoes’.
Catherine Forsberg - Additional backing vocals.
Ira Keelyn - Additional backing vocals and female words on ‘Presession Of The Equinoxe’.
Alexandra Balogh - Additional backing vocals.
Kimmy Bohlin - Co-lead vocals on ‘Safety Exit’.
Peter Tägtgren - Co-lead vocals on ‘Black Metal’.
Joacim Lundberg - Co-lead vocals on ‘Walking in my shoes’.
Tracklisting is as follows:
‘Teonanacatl (Flesh Of The Gods)’
‘Perfectly Wrong’
‘Precession Of The Equinoxes’
‘ID Zero’
‘Safety Exit’
‘Plumed Serpent Rise’
‘Ekpyrosis’
'Cosmogenesis’
‘The Eight Sins - Part III’
Bonus tracks:
‘Walking In My Shoes’
‘Black Metal’
‘Irreligious’ - Mobhead 12 Mix
‘A Sleepover At The Feeling Of Death’ - Mobhead 12 Mix
‘Irreligious’ - Rectifier Club Mix 135
‘The 11th Commandment’

A rare live video of DEEP PURPLE performing 'The Well Dressed Guitar', an instrumental featured on the 2CD limited edition of the album Rapture Of The Deep, can be seen below. The footage was used in 2005 for the promotion of the album and it's never been released on DVD.

Watch below:
Deep Purple and JOURNEY have announced more shows on their Australasian tour, which commences at the Vector Arena in Auckland on Sunday, February 24th, 2013.

Complete dates include:

February
24 - Vector Arena, Auckland, New Zealand
26 - Brisbane Entertainment Centre - Brisbane, Australia

March
1 - Rod Laver Arena - Melbourne, Australia
2 - Sydney Entertainment Centre - Sydney, Australia
4 - Adelaide Entertainment Centre - Adelaide, Australia
7 - Perth Arena - Perth, Australia
Deep Purple fan-site The Highway Star reported recently that bassist Roger Glover spoke to ITAR-TASS and revealed that there are 14 tracks ready for the new album, probably 11 or 12 of them will pass the final selection and end up being released. A tentative release date is somewhere in mid-February 2013 and the band are still deciding on an album title.
Journey are currently touring in support of their latest album, 2011's Eclipse.

Under-rated UK-based heavy rockers WOLFSBANE - featuring former IRON MAIDEN singer Blaze Bayley - have finally remastered two vital pieces of their catalog: Live Fast, Die Fast (1989) and the EP All Hell's Breaking Loose Down at Little Kathy Wilson's Place (1990). Wolfsbane were hotly-tipped as the next big thing when they signed to Def American records and Rick Rubin produced their first album. The band supported Iron Maiden on their No Prayer On The Road tour in 1990.
Guitarist Jason Edwards remarks: "Great news!!! The remastered versions of Live Fast Die Fast and Kathy Wilson are now available in the web shop at Wolfsbanehms.com. So they live in hard copy again!!! Personally I think they're worth getting wether you have the original or not! Either way....... Enjoy! Remastered means that the new versions are a lot louder, more shinny sounding and a bit fuller than the originals. They are not remixed."

Romanian metallers DORDEDUH have released a live clip for the track 'Flacararii', featured on the group's new album, Dar De Duh, released on September 28th via Prophecy Productions. The footage was taken at Brutal Assault festival in the summer of 2011, check it out below:
Dar De Duh tracklisting:

'Jind De Tronuri'
'Flacararii'
'E-an-na'
'Calea Rotilor De Foc'
'Pandarul'
'Zuh'
'Cumpat'
'Dojana'
The video, for the track 'Dojana', was visualized by the musicians and director Costin Chioreanu inimitably, and the outcome once more emphasises Dordeduh's artistic uniqueness. Watch the video below:

AEROSMITH will release their new album, Music From Another Dimension!, on November 6th via Columbia Records. It marks the band’s 15th studio album and their first studio album of all-new material in 11 years.
RollingStone.com are premiering the album, one track at a time, in the weeks leading up to the release.

The initial spark behind the mid-tempo track 'Closer' started with Aerosmith drummer Joey Kramer. He had an idea that he wanted to explore and dove into it during a 90-minute jam session with longtime band collaborator Marti Frederiksen.

"He's one of the few guys who has the patience to hear out my ideas, because I'm not musical that way. I wanted to do something at that particular tempo, so Marti and I started jamming together," Kramer says of songwriting with the producer-composer. "You always come out with something at the end of the day. Always. There's never a blank day."

Read more and hear 'Closer' at this location.

Commentary and audio of other tracks from the album can be found via the links below:

- 'Freedom Fighter'
- 'We All Fall Down'
- 'Lover Alot'
- 'Can't Stop Loving You'
- 'Street Jesus'
- 'What Could Have Been Love'
- 'Legendary Child'
- 'Out Go The Lights'
- 'Tell Me'
- 'Beautiful
- 'Oh Yeah'

Billboard is reporting that Aerosmith has it's first Adult Contemporary chart hit since 1998, when 'I Don't Want To Miss A Thing' reached #13. 'What Could Have Been Love' from the band's 15th studio album, Music From Another Dimension!, debuts at #28.

Aerosmith recently released the video for 'What Could Have Been Love'. The clip can be seen below:
A deluxe version of Music From Another Dimension! will include:

- Four live performance videos: 'Rats In The Cellar', 'Train Kept A Rollin'', 'Oh Yeah' and 'Same Old Song and Dance'
- Exclusive interviews with the members of Aerosmith band members
- Three exclusive new bonus tracks: 'Up On A Mountain', 'Oasis' and 'Sunny Side of Love'
Music From Another Dimension! tracklisting is as follows:

'LUV XXX'
'Oh Yeah'
'Beautiful'
'Tell Me'
'Out Go The Lights'
'Legendary Child'
'What Could Have Been Love'
'Street Jesus'
'Can’t Stop Loving You' (with CARRIE UNDERWOOD)
'Lover A Lot'
'We All Fall Down'
'Freedom Fighter' (with JOHNNY DEPP)
'Closer'
'Something'
'Another Last Goodbye'

Check out BraveWords.com scribe Martin Popoff's new Aerosmith feature, in which Brad Whitford talks about the band's new album, at this location.

Aerosmith are known for throwing a helluva party, and they’ve got a special one planned for their beloved hometown, Boston, on the day before Election Day, Monday, November 5th.

They’re planning to show up somewhere in the city, around noon, and play on the streets. That’s all the band are telling us for now. Well, they would like to tell us more, but they’re cooperating with authorities who will let them reveal the location the morning of November 5th.

Says Joe Perry, "People, get out and vote! For whomever you like. Just do it. Be a 'Freedom Fighter'”, to quote a song title from the band's new album. “Anyone who votes is a Freedom Fighter.”
Aerosmith recently announced the second leg of The Global Warming Tour, which will include support act CHEAP TRICK. Tickets are on sale now at LiveNation.com. For VIP ticket packages, including opportunities to meet band members, backstage tours, great tickets and more, visit Aeroforceone.com.

Dates:

November
8 - Oklahoma City, OK - Chesapeake Energy Arena
11 - Wichita, KS - INTRUST Bank Arena
14 - Kansas City, MO - Spring Center
16 - Austin, TX - Frank Erwin Center
20 - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden
23 - Atlantic City, NJ - Revel Resorts – Ovation Hall
25 - Columbus, OH - Nationwide Arena
27 - Toronto, ON - Air Canada Centre

December
1 - Las Vegas, NV - MGM Grand Garden Arena
3 - Los Angeles, CA - STAPLES Center
6 - New Orleans, LA - New Orleans Arena
9 - Fort Lauderdale, FL - BB&T Center
11 - Tampa, FL - Tampa Bay Times Forum
13 - Nashville, TN - Bridgestone Arena

On November 1st, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry were guests on CBS's Late Night With David Letterman. During their appearance, the former Toxic Twins talked about sex, drugs and rock and roll; see for yourself:

NoiseArt Records and Rock The Nation announce the signing of Pagan Metal warriors WOLFCHANT.

Wolfchant has established itself in the German and internationalen Viking/Pagan metal scene within the last years and has acquired a big fan base due to their energetic live shows and killer performances. The band will release its fifth studio album, Embraced By Fire, via NoiseArt Records on March 1st 2013.
Commented the band: "We are very delighted and are looking forward to the cooperation with Noiseart Records / Rock The Nation. We are very proud to have the possibility to release our new album together with such a reliable and professional partner."

NoiseArt Records: "We are very glad that we have, with Wolfchant, catched the next big fish and that we`ve got the chance to extend the NAR roster with another high calibre band. We have big plans with Wolfchant and are looking forward to a successful future."

Wolfchant lineup:

Mario "Lokhi" Möginger (vocals)
Michael "Nortwin" Seifert (clean vocals)
Mario "Skaahl" Liebl (guitar)
Ragnar (guitar)
Sarolv (bass)
Daniel "Norgahd" Liebl (drums, accordion, keyboard, vocals)
Dieter "Gvern" Kasberger (keyboard)

More on Wolfchant at this location.

New York, NY thrash metallers PIROSAINT have announced the addition of Nicolas Scandiffio (INSIDE OUT N.Y.C.) as its new permanent singer.
Scandiffio commented: "I'm happy. I have finally found my match; Pirosaint is exactly what I have been searching for… my admiration for all genres of heavy metal music made me land on the ideal situation.”

Drummer Ignacio Orellana also commented: "We had to move fast after the last bad experience with the singer, So, as soon as we knew that Nicolas was our guy, we decided to do a song and see what we could get from that mix and here it is!… It's ‘a new yesterday’ for me personally, Pirosaint has released brand new material after 15 years of being asleep. So, now we are working on a mini album which we have already recorded half way … we hope to have it finished by the end of these year, and release it on CD format via Digmetalworld Records, by March of the next year.”

The band have uploaded a brand new track titled ‘I'd rather see them bleed’ featuring its new line up.

The track was recorded and mixed by Ignacio Orellana at Oily Sound Studios in New Windsor, NY and Mastered at SoundLab, New Jersey. Check it out below:
The band has been confirmed as supporting act for SOULFLY/CAVALERA CONSPIRACY’s Marc Rizzo on the following dates:

November

23 – Bogies - Albany NY

December
15 - The Loft - Poughkeepsie, NY
Pirosaint is:
Nicolas Scandiffio - vocals
Bill Smith - guitars
Ron Buckner – bass
Ignacio Orellana - drums/backing vocals

Saskatoon based thrash/death metal band UNTIMELY DEMISE, who recently recorded their sophomore album at ex-MEGADETH guitarist Glen Drover's Eclipse Studios, have premiered the new song 'Spiritual Embezzlement' with a lyric video. CHeck it out below:
The group has had a eventful year so far including support shows for death metal legends SUFFOCATION and MASSACRE, a SiriusXM Canadian Independent Music Award nomination for Metal Group of the Year, a tour of Western Canada, and shows with SKELETONWITCH and ANVIL. Following the critical success of their City Of Steel album, Sonic Unyon and War On Music have released a special vinyl edition of the album (with a bonus track) which is available through both labels and the band direct.

For information on Untimely Demise go to this location.

Illinois-based viking thrashers THE HORDE has officially added drummer Travis Scudder to their lineup. The 20-year-old skin-basher has stepped in to replace the recently departed James Whitehurst, who left the band for personal reasons. Scudder also plays with Illinois black metal outfit SEPT OF MEMNON.
The Horde are currently working on material for their next slab of viking thrash to be released in CD and vinyl formats in the fall of 2013 by Abyss Records.

Catch The Horde live at the following shows:

December
7 - Ribco - Rock Island, IL
8 - 1st St Armoury - Monmouth, IL
15 - Whiteys - Burlington, IA

Swedish death metallers DEMONICAL recently completed a headlining tour through Russia, supported by Sweden’s SPASMODIC. The band now check in with an update:
"The highly successful tour through Russia officially closed the Death Infernal touring cycle. We would hereby like to thank each and everyone of you who supported us in a way or another during the past 17 months at all our memorable shows in Europe, north-America and Russia. It was a truly awesome and significant ride.

We hope to see you all again in April/May 2013 when we return to the live scene with full force and a new album under our belt.

As of now we will fully concentrate on new dominating material and the realization of our upcoming fourth full-length, a process which will take place at Necromorbus Studios in Stockholm between late November and late January 2013.

Further news, studio updates and more detailed info will of course be posted during the path so keep checking back. Until then - Bang or be banged!!"

Updates to follow. More on Demonical at this location.

ARTISTdirect.com editor-in-chief Rick Florino recently conducted an interview with vocalist Ville Valo of Finnish love metallers HIM. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

ARTISTdirect.com: With [the new HIM greatest-hits album] "XX - Two Decades of Love Metal" and [upcoming studio CD] "Tears On Tape", do you feel like you're in a particularly creative place?

Valo: "Tears On Tape" is going to be really organic, straight-in-your-face, super melancholy bullshit. [laughs] It's going to be something nobody's heard before. I'm really happy about it. It sounds great. Remember the soundtrack for "Twin Peaks" that Angelo Badalamenti did? It's got that similar forlorn, melancholy quality but mixed up with MOTÖRHEAD. That's where we're at! We're really happy. It's got that dreamlike quality. It's like ROY ORBISON meeting METALLICA.

ARTISTdirect.com: What's it like to reach the point where you can make a compilation of hits? Is it almost like compiling a photo album?

Valo: It makes us feel really fucking old. [laughs] At the end of the day, we're proud of what we've done, and there's an opportunity to do something like this. I belong to the BLACK SABBATH school that albums are albums. You have your bad tracks. You have your good tracks. You have your sentimental tracks. You have your heavy metal tracks. You have to have that yin and yang going on. With a compilation, it's really tough. It's a reminder that we do exist. I think that was the most important thing with the compilation, per se. Nine out of ten bands don't get this far. I'm not talking about success. I'm talking about the fact bands actually stay together. It's a long time to be in a band and still appreciate everybody you're playing the music with. It's crazy. It's something where if you pick up your tarot card, it won't fucking work. [laughs]

ARTISTdirect.com: Where did "Tears On Tape" come from?

Valo: The point behind that is I grew up with music so music has been my safehaven in good and bad situations. Those tears that the artists put on tape are the ones that carry us on. The "Tape" in the title is symbolic. It's about the fact you actually put your heart out. When you pour your heart into whatever you're doing, it's valid. Nobody can take that away. It's so tough to start writing. When you get the flow, it revitalizes you and gives you the opportunity to feel you do have the reason to exist.

Read the entire interview from ARTISTdirect.com.

Drummer MIKE PORTNOY (ex-DREAM THEATER) is currently on the road with his PSMS project (PORTNOY / SHEEHAN / MACALPINE / SHERINIAN) and has checked in with the following update:
"The two PSMS shows in China were great, but I was going through social media withdrawals because Twitter, Facebook and YouTube are not allowed there. No wonder China is so overpopulated - they're not wasting hours upon hours a day on social media like the rest of us...hahaha! We're now Taipei and look forward to playing here tonight and then onto Manilla, Bangkok, Singapore, Jakarta and then over to Japan.

Not having social media access while in China made it very difficult for me to keep track of all of the hurricane damage, so I'm only now catching up with all of everybody's reports and it's absolutely incredible what I'm seeing and reading. My heart goes out to all my family and friends on the East Coast, especially in my hometown Long Beach, NY which seems to have suffered tremendously. I hope everybody is OK and on the road to recovery."
The virtuoso band featuring Portnoy, Billy Sheehan, Tony MacAlpine and Derek Sherinian are playing an all-instrumental set consisting of material from each of their solo records and their previous collaborations as well as classic instrumental covers and extended solo spots. Mike Portnoy formed the lineup to perfom at two drum events at the NAMM show last January. Due to overwhelming response that band has decided to take their show on tour.

"I knew when assembling this lineup that it would be a magical musical experience that would be a blast for us as well as the fans! I can't wait to play again with these tremendous musicians and share the experience with you all at these special shows!" says Portnoy.

Tour dates are now as follows:

November
4 - Hwa Sha Auditorium - Taipei, Taiwan
6 - SM Sky Dome - Manila, Philippines
7 - BKK Convention Center- Bangkok, Thailand
10 - TAB Live Music Bar - Orchard, Singapore
11 - Senayan Lapangan D - Jakarta, Indonesia

The band recently posted a promo clip for their new InstruMENTAL Inspirations DVD, which offers an inside look at the project and is available on tour. Check it out below:

Eric Blair of "The Blairing Out With Eric Blair Show" conducted an interview with Wendy Dio, the widow of legendary heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio (DIO, BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW, HEAVEN & HELL), at the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund's second awards gala, which was held on October 31 at the Avalon nightclub in Hollywood, California. You can watch the chat below.

Asked what her reaction was when she found out that Ronnie's BLACK SABBATH and HEAVEN & HELL bandmate Tony Iommi was diagnosed with lymphoma, Wendy said, "I cried. And I'm so, so happy he's making it. He's gonna be here tonight and he's gonna be here tonight and he's just a wonderful person. He was a very friend of Ronnie's — him and Geezer [BLACK SABBATH and HEAVEN & HELL bassist Terry 'Geezer' Butler] both — and we're so, so happy. It is fantastic."

On the topic of whether Iommi asked for any advice after he was first diagnosed with lymphoma, Wendy said, "Not really. We didn't talk about that. He lives in England and I live here. But I saw him a few weeks ago and I sent hm lots of encouragement and letters and things."

Ronnie James Dio died of stomach cancer on May 16, 2010 at the age of 67.

Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund is a charity organization founded by Wendy Dio which is dedicated to cancer prevention, research and education.

Wendy Dio married her boyfriend of the past two decades, Omar Gimenez, on September 9 in a private ceremony among family and friends in Montecito, California.

Limited quantities of the vinyl re-issues of the Terria and Ocean Machine albums are now available at the official DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT merch store. Terria is available in green or black, and Ocean Machine available in blue or black. Go to this location for details and to purchase.
On October 27th, Devin Townsend (ex-STRAPPING YOUNG LAD) launched his biggest accomplishments to date: The Retinal Circus. Taking place at London's historic Roundhouse venue, this one-night only extravaganza was sold out for over a year. It was filmed for both DVD and Blu-Ray, and is likely to be released sometime in the second quarter 2013 via InsideOutMusic.

Drummer Ryan Van Poederooyen issued the following comment with regards to fan-filmed video of the song 'Grace' from the set:

"The most epic ending to any show I have EVER played in my life. What a night at Retinal Circus..... 'Grace' live. The end of the song gives me goosebumps every time."
Townsend's long time tour manager Paul Collis has issued the following recap of the event:

"It has taken a few days to sink in and I'm not normally overwhelmed easily, and I don't normally wear my heart on my sleeve so to speak, but here is a picture of possibly the proudest moment of my life so far. As the confetti went off at the end of Devin Townsend's Retinal Circus penultimate song 'Grace' and the incredible spectacle that it was had been pulled off I was in awe of everyone who had made it happen. The task was basically impossible but with a sheer will to make it work over 100 people came together for two days and made it happen. It was nothing but an idea and a script on paper at 10:00am on Friday morning and by 8:00pm on Saturday night it was performed in its 3 hour entirety, I cannot emphasise enough how vulnerable that made this show and how easy it would have been for it to be a complete fail, but Devin is not afraid to put himself out there and take that risk, and with that lead all cast and crew came together with the same incredible passion, commitment and hard work and created The Retinal Circus!"

The complete setlist on the night was as follows:

'Effervescent'
'True North'
'Lucky Animals'
'Planet Of The Apes'
'Truth'
'War'
'Planet Smasher'
'Babysong'
'Vampolka'
'Vampira'
'Addicted'
'Colour Your World'
'The Greys'

(15 minute intermission)

'Hyperdrive!' (acoustic)
'Ih-Ah!'
'Where We Belong'
'Detox'
'Bend It Like Bender'
'Life'
'Kingdom'
'Juular'
'Love?
'Wild Colonial Boy'
'Grace'
'Little Pig'

Bay area thrashers BLEED THE FREAKS, the band composed of ex-MISERY guitarist Mike Roberts and ex-TYRANT SIN (pre-CANNIBAL CORPSE) vocalist Will Rule, have just released their debut CD All Is Lost. Produced by Juan Urteaga (TESTAMENT, MACHINE HEAD), the album is "an eight song slab of aggression seasoned with memorable guitar hooks and vocal melodies," according to a press release.
Check out the first single/video from the album 'All Is Lost' below:
Bleed The Freaks are completed by drummer Kenny Urrea, bassist Jamey Knight (also of the band Misery), and guitarist Zak Edwardz.

For more information about Bleed The Freaks visit Facebook.

Classic US metallers EXXPLORER will see their second album, A Recipe For Power, released on a vinyl LP edition (400 black, 100 clear), on November 16th via Pure Steel Records.

A Recipe For Power vinyl edition comes with a top-quality gatefold cover. The production is warm and authentic (not very typical for the mid-90s) and the album offers 43 minutes of power metal with a bit of prog added.

You will hear once again Lenny Rizzo’s touching and magical voice, melodic and simply unique. 'One' is a cover song, recorded as a tribute to the late songwriter HARRY NILSSON.
Tracklisting;

Side A
'Rockin’ Bound'
'Life’s Seduction'
'One'
'Bible Black'
'Smelling The Roses'

Side B
'Rock The Nation'
'Beg, Borrow And Steel'
'Just A Dream'
'Ride The Storm'

Pre-order at the links below:

- Black Vinyl
- Clear Vinyl

On November 5th, Switzerland-based hard rockers SILVER DIRT will release their third album, entitled Payback Time. With their new album recorded and produced by the legendary Beau Hill (ALICE COOPER, RATT, WARRANT, etc.), Silver Dirt is back with a collection of hard rock songs and unbeatable melodies.

Payback Time tracklisting:

'The Stand'
'Spread Your Wings'
'Spinning The Wheel'
'Place In The Sun'
'Here They Come'
'Never Give Up'
'Beautiful Day'
'R.I.P. (The Earth)'
'No More'
'Mata Kuru Ze'
'Beautiful Day' (Bonus Track, Slide Version)

A video trailer can be seen below:
Silver Dirt lineup:

Steff Perrone - Vocals
Chris Savourey - Guitars
Stéfano ''Béorn'' Ongarello - Bass
V.G Richardson - Drums
More on Silver Dirt at this location.

ANNIHILATOR guitarist/founder Jeff Waters has posted more rare live footage online:

"Annihilator 'Brief Reunion Tour 1999' Belgium!

Got all the Alice In Hell line-up back for a record and a few tours... all but bassist Wayne Darley who could not make it due to ongoing 'health' issues. This was a warm-up gig at the famous Biebob club in Belgium! Owner Bob rocks!"
Footage from the band's Japanese tour in 1993 was posted earlier. The clip below features 'Set The World On Fire' and 'W.T.Y.D.'

"This short tour had Jeff Waters on guitar, Randy Black on drums, Aaron Randall on vocals but with a twist! Rhythm guitarist Dave Davis had to move over to bass guitar with three days notice (two of those days being travel days!) as then bassist Wayne Darley could not make it to Japan (and that was the last time Wayne played with the band). Dave Davis did a fantastic job all things considered and Jeff had his own hell to deal with; he had to figure out which of the usual two guitar parts he should play. Annihilator is not a band where only one guitar player can do... the music is written for two guitar players. Despite this, the tour was a huge success and only topped by the King Of The Kill tour 1995. This is raw board audio and an in-house auto camera system."

French metallers DARKNESS DYNAMITE have released the following update:

“During our last show at Sequedin Rock Festival (Lille), as you may have not noticed, our lead Singer Junior Rodriguez performed with his rib broken. The injury unfortunately got worst leading him to be admitted to the hospital few days after the show.

He's now staying home for the next three weeks taking care of himself; Don't hesitate to show him some support!”

Reunited Florida-based "nu metal" act TWISTED METHOD played its first show in nearly eight years on October 28 at Dixie Roadhouse in Cape Coral, Florida. Original members Derrick "Tripp" Tribbett (vocals) and Derek DeSantis (bass) were joined by Tony Elchert (EKOTREN) on drums and Virus (DOPE) on guitar.

Fan-filmed video footage of the concert can be see below. Photos are available at this location.

According to The News-Press, TWISTED METHOD was one of only two rock acts to originate in Lee County, Florida and go on to sign national recording contracts. The band were signed to MCA in 2002 and released "Escape From Cape Coma" the following year. In 2003, the band was tapped to perform on the second stage at Ozzfest.

Over the two years that followed, TWISTED METHOD continued to tour and and bring new "inmates" (as they called their fans) to their asylum of sound. Their first show back home after Ozzfest at the defunct Neptune's was sold out and their performance at radio station 99X's X-Fest stole the show from more popular bands such as PUDDLE OF MUDD and TRAPT.

Following TWISTED METHOD's split in June 2005, the Tribbett formed a new project called MAKESHIFT ROMEO with DeSantis. The group also included ex-MOTOGRATER bassist Jonny Nailz and former SLITHERYN drummer Tom "T-Bone" Burke.

Former TWISTED METHOD guitarist Andy Howard died in September 2005 at the age of 23. The cause of death was not revealed.

"I felt numb about it at first, but then it hit me like a ton of bricks. Andy was a very bright mind and a dynamite guy to be around," DeSantis told NaplesNews.com. But, he added, "I never thought for a second about quitting music. None of us did."

Vocalist Aleksi Sihvonen (MEDICATED, NORTHER, IMPERANON) joined Finnish metallers on stage this past Friday, November 2 at Kerubi in Joensuu, Finland to perform a cover version of STRAPPING YOUNG LAD's "Love?" Video footage of his appearance can be seen below.

NORTHER announced its decision to disband in July, citing the bandmembers' inability to "tour or do shows as much as we would want to, this being due to members' complicated and time-consuming life situations." The group added, "We simply cannot act as an active and working band and it is clear that these issues are not solved in the future."

Currently unsigned, NERVE END is a four-piece metal act from Joensuu, Finland. The band's aim is "to deliver high-quality, high-energy music," according to their official bio.

Austrian symphonic melodic metallers SERENITY have released the following statement:

"With great mourning we have to tell you all that [Mario Hirzinger], our dear friend, keyboardist, song and lyrics writer as well as founder of SERENITY leaves the band as of now...

"We already knew his decision for quite some time and fully understand Mario's wish for something new. Though we hoped to change his mind especially with such a great experience like ProgPower USA, which was always planned as Mario's last appearance with SERENITY. Well — we made him change his mind twice already — but not this time (more on that in his statement).

"The departure of Mario is a fact now and as a result we've been reconstructing SERENITY throughout the year already. We also have fixed arrangements with Mario's successor who will be announced at a later date.

"Mario, we honestly thank you for a great, never forgettable time, lots of cool and funny tour stories, lots of (great) work too,... We will see us for a drink or two."

Mario has released the following statment regarding his departure from SERENITY:

"Dear friends and fans! It took me a long time to think about it and now it's on me to explain my decision.

"Well, to sum it up, even if it may sound strange, I've got to move on. At very first, let me tell you it's got nothing to do with any personal issues, the guys still are and always will be some of my closest friends; I'm very thankful for every single minute I could spend with them in the recent years on stage, on tour, in the rehearsal room, visiting great places all over Europe as well as here in Austria! Of course, there sometimes had been moments of tension and serious discussions, every band knows that, but most of the time we just had great, occasionally quite silly fun, knowing we were a strong team of different characters working together and spending times off work in a meaningful way.

"The main point is, symphonic metal is not my favourite genre — never has been — and my music taste in general has changed in recent times. This year there had been a couple of happenings showing me I've got to seriously change some things in my life and leaving SERENITY is the first one. To be honest, it was not the first time I thought about that. The moment feels right to me now. I will continue creating music and lyrics on my own, also with other people, but without any business pressure or other limitations. Just for fun, just to see what's there 'hidden' in me and waiting to be set free.

"Even if I liked touring and being on stage with SERENITY a lot, I cannot carry on pretending I totally dig this sound and the whole business. I want to be an honest guy and don't want to back something if I'm not really into it. And everyone, especially the fans, deserves honesty here.

"I will move and most probably, if everything works out well, I will begin to study something — at least that's my plan so far, I have the strong feeling that I'm not at the end of my possibilities in life. Leaving the band will also give me some 'space' for all that. Yes, I'm one of the founding members, I gave the band its name back in 2001 and yes, it had been an absolutely great time. But somehow I think I've seen it all now and that chapter should be closed to give way for another one.

"With all those remarkable impressions and great memories — our September gig in Atlanta as 'climax' — I don't quit with a bad feeling. And I won't miss things like driving vans hundreds of kilometres by night and day, fast food on the road, broken backstage showers and toilets, half-full beer cans left behind on a table in the nightliner, dropping off on bumpy roads, all those strange unwritten 'business laws' and the … hm, let's say not really exemplary behaviour of some people in that business. The adrenaline rush right before a show, the cheering of the crowd, the first cold beer after the show, great backstage dinners with all the crew, funny and interesting conversations, getting to know new, sympathetic people, seeing a lot of impressive places especially on off days, the 'wall of sound' when the onstage sound mix is just awesome, the cozy tourbus bunk and feeling like in a cradle in there when travelling by night … these are things I certainly will miss. But one thing I won't have to miss is the friendship with Clèmentine, Georg, Tom, Fabio and Andi, which is highly important for me! And I know I'm very lucky to have these great people in my life.

"So, my dear gooooiiiis ;-), I wish you all the best for the future of SERENITY and all your upcoming plans – hold on to your dreams! I'm already looking forward to some crazy tour stories being told while having a beer or a coffee together!"

The Age Of Metal conducted an interview with SERENITY before their September 14 performance at the ProgPower USA XIII festival in Atlanta, Georgia. You can now watch the chat below.

SERENITY's third album, "Death & Legacy", was released in February 2011 via Napalm Records. The CD was produced by Oliver Philipps, Jan Vacik, Thomas Buchberger and Georg Neuhauser and it features guest appearances by Ailyn (SIRENIA), Amanda Somerville (AVANTASIA, EPICA, KISKE/SOMERVILLE) and Charlotte Wessels (DELAIN). The album was mixed and mastered by Jan Vacik at Dreamsound Studios in Munich, Germany. The artwork was created by Stefan Heilemann (LEAVES' EYES, ATROCITY, SONS OF SEASONS) and it "represents the historical based concept dealing with famous characters such as Galileo Galilei, Sir Francis Drake, Marco Polo and many more," acording to the band. "An angel of of death holding the book of time, symbolizing their legacy."

BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION released its third album, "Afterglow", on Tuesday (October 30) amid a public feud between singer Glenn Hughes and guitarist Joe Bonamassa. In a new interview with Ultimate Classic Rock, the axeman commented on Hughes' recent statement that this could be the group's final album, telling the site, "Never say never."

The war of words goes back to early September, when Hughes began telling journalists that Bonamassa's solo touring schedule was preventing BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION from touring and fulfilling its potential. He stated that if the situation didn't change, "Afterglow" could be the group's last recording project.

Asked if there is going to be more touring for BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION, Bonamassa states flatly, "Probably not. At least, not with me. You know, the deal was, three years ago when this thing started, everybody had day jobs. Everybody has a good day job. I tour the spring and the fall, religiously. And I'm not gonna be bullied into doing something. Whether Glenn wants to do more touring or not, that's for him to decide. But it's not for him to decide for me." The guitarist adds that he's not opposed to future recording work with the group, saying he's proud of the new album despite all the drama surrounding it. "I think it's a good record that's unfortunately been tainted by all this amateur-hour type of interview skills," he says. "I think Glenn will come to . . . he needs to have a little reality check, and that's fine. We all love him, and we'll forgive him. And it doesn't diminish the fact that he's a world-class singer, a world-class writer and a world-class bass player."

Norwegian extreme avant-garde metal masters QUADRIVIUM return after a six year hiatus with a new intense album, Methocha, out via SoulSeller Records on November 23rd in Europe and February 3rd, 2013 in North America.
The self-produced extreme masterpiece was recorded at various studios all over the world. It was finally mixed in Tower Studio, France and mastered in Panic Room Studio, Sweden. The eight mind-blowing tracks feature members from RAGNAROK, AUGURY and DOLLS OF DISASTER, with a guest appearance by Carl August Tidemann (ex-member of ARCTURUS, WINDS).

Chief songwriter and keyboardist Erlend Antonsen states: "Four years after our first album we return with an expanded line-up, our strongest material to date and a production to match. Venturing ever deeper into the avant-garde side of metal and finding different atmospheres to explore, we have finally managed to put it on tape and present it to you in the form of the Methocha album. Expect everything from full-on metal, mystical atmospheres to dives into a much darker abyss."
Methocha tracklisting:

'Methocha'
'Deep Syphon Focus'
'Eye Of Mimas'
'Orbital'
'Destroyer'
'Phobos Anomaly'
'The Labyrinth Of Infinity'
'Blackbird Abiogenesis'

The online premiere of the track 'Methocha' can be heard below:
Quadrivium is:

Erlend Antonsen (Keyboards)
Etienne Gallo (Drums)
Attila Bakos (Clean Vocals)
Leif Johan Strode Godø (Raw Vocals)
Svein-Ivar Sarassen (Bass)
Thor-Axel Eriksen (Guitars)
Lars Jensen (Vocals)
More on Quadrivium at this location.

Audio samples of all the tracks that are set to appear on "Koi No Yokan", the seventh studio album from Sacramento, California's DEFTONES, can be streamed at Amazon.fr. The group worked again with producer Nick Raskulinecz, who helmed 2010's "Diamond Eyes" and has also worked on albums by RUSH and FOO FIGHTERS.

Due on November 13, "Koi No Yokan" will feature the following track listing:

01. Swerve City
02. Romantic Dreams
03. Leathers
04. Poltergeist
05. Entombed
06. Graphic Nature
07. Tempest
08. Gauze
09. Rosemary
10. Goon Squad
11. What Happened To You?

DEFTONES has tapped Christopher Mills (MODEST MOUSE, INTERPOL) to direct the video for "Tempest". The clip will make its online debut during the coming days.

Speaking to AOL's Noisecreep, DEFTONES frontman Chino Moreno stated about the songwriting process for "Koi No Yokan", "We were coming out of a tough time, obviously, and our goal was to kind of rebuild what we created over all the years. I felt like we had to prove ourselves. We'd taken so much time between records, had some inner turmoil, and our records were starting to get pieced together versus really being created together, so for us it was a chance to get back to basics. We didn't have an idea of what sort of style we wanted. We just came in fired up and motivated to do something great. It was all very positive. We had more songs than ever, tons of ideas."

Guitarist/vocalist Matt Heafy of Florida metallers TRIVIUM performed a short solo acoustic set this past Thursday, November 1 at the 2112 restaurant — which is co-owned by two members of the Swedish metal band IN FLAMES, Peter Iwers (bass) and Björn Gelotte (guitar) — in Gothenburg, Sweden. Fan-filmed video footage of his appearance can be seen below.

TRIVIUM is currently touring Europe with AS I LAY DYING, CALIBAN and UPON A BURNING BODY.

TRIVIUM's latest album, "In Waves", sold 22,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 13 on The Billboard 200 chart — the highest U.S. chart entry of the band's career. The group's previous CD, "Shogun", opened with just under 24,000 units back in October 2008 to debut at No. 23. The effort followed up "The Crusade", which registered a first-week tally of 31,000 copies in October 2006 to enter the chart at No. 25.

"In Waves" was recorded primarily at Paint It Black Studios in Orlando, Florida (with only the drums having been tracked at Audiohammer Studios in Sanford, Florida) with the production/mixing team of Colin Richardson (MACHINE HEAD, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE, SLIPKNOT, FEAR FACTORY) and Martin "Ginge" Ford, along with engineer Carl Bown.