German despondent-rockers AUTUMNBLAZE recently tapped world-renowned introspect artist Travis Smith (DEATH, NEVERMORE, KATATONIA, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD) to work on the band's upcoming album, Every Sun Is Fragile.

The album artwork for Every Sun Is Fragile will feature two different formats; the normal jewel case CD version, and a limited edition slipcase CD version. The slipcase CD edition will feature an alternate artwork gracing the cover and will be made available in limited quantities.

Every Sun Is Fragile Jewel Case Cover:
Every Sun Is Fragile Slipcase Cover:
Every Sun Is Fragile Tracklisting:

'Opening'
'New Ghosts In Town'
'Invisible Fields'
'Im Spiegel'
'Mein Engel, Der Aus Augen Fließt'
'Every Sun Is Fragile'
'Cold Soul'
'How I Learned To Burn My Teardrops'
'A Place For Paper Diamonds'
'Verglimmt'

Mexico's SPLIT HEAVEN have parted ways with singer Eli Valenzuela. The band's statement reads as follows:

"Today ends a stage in our long journey. One of our pillars left the band, from today, Eli Valenzuela is no longer a member of Split Heaven. It's a cycle that closes to open new doors and explore unknown territories.

We want to thank Eli all shared moments and unforgettable experiences that we lived for more than six years, is a stage in which no longer we’ll work together, but it does not mean that our friendship will break.
For our part, we want to inform you that we will continue working on the composition of our third album, which will be released by Pure Steel Records in 2013.

Soon you will have more news.

Thanks a lot, long live to rock and roll!"

German metallers ROUGH SILK will release their new album, The Good, The Bad & The Undead, on November 2nd via Rebellion Records.

The Good, The Bad & The Undead is the band's follow-up to their 2009 album A New Beginning (Dockyard 1 Records). The album artwork can be seen below:
The band have uploaded the video for the album track, 'Who Needs An Enemy With A Friend Like You? (Loyalty)'. Check it out below:
Updates to follow. More on Rough Silk at this location.

On November 6th, AEROSMITH will release Music From Another Dimension! on 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. 'Street Jesus' began as a twangy lick that guitarist Brad Whitford had been playing for 15 years, bringing to Aerosmith rehearsals and recording as demos, but it never became a song until sessions for Music From Another Dimension!

"I just thought it was this great, driving rock lick, that it was so Aerosmith, but nobody ever heard it," Whitford says. "We would play it sometimes and jam on it quite a bit."

Read more and hear 'Street Jesus' at this location.

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

- 'What Could Have Been Love'
- 'Legendary Child'
- 'Out Go The Lights'
- 'Tell Me'
- 'Beautiful
- 'Oh Yeah'

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 interview with Aerosmith guitarist Brad Whitford, in which he discusses 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

According to the Late Night TV Page, Arrosmith will guest on CBS's Late Night With David Letterman, on Thursday, November 1st. For more details visit CBS.com.

MAMMOTH MAMMOTH have released a new video, for the track 'Go'. Check it out below:
The band's album, Volume III - Hell’s Likely, will be released on November 23rd as a limited digipack and special limited vinyl edition, via Napalm Records. All vinyl editions feature an exclusive bonus track and are available as double LP in Cream (limited to 100 copies) and Orange (Limited to 400 copies). The first 250 orders will receive a free A2 size cover poster of the new album.
World release dates for the CD version of the album can be seen below:

Volume III - Hell's Likely, will be released on the following dates:

November
21 - Spain, Sweden, Greece
23 - Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Finland, Benelux
26 - Rest of Europe
27 - North America

Check out the first video 'Hell´s Likely' below:

Germany's ALPHA TIGER present the first single and video, 'From Outer Space', from the upcoming album, Beneath The Surface. The video was shot at the legendary SO 36 club in Berlin by director Silvio Rosenthal who combined the band’s amazing stage presence with a classic Science Fiction b-movie vibe. Watch below:
The digital single is being released worldwide over the next few days. Beneath The Surface is set to be released on January 28th worldwide via Century Media Records.

With the album nearly finished, the band comments: "It took us most of June and July to record the album once again under the wings of 'Godi' Hildman in Berlin's Musicflash Studio. Peter Langforth (guitar) had composed the nine new songs and the intro over the course of the previous six months and spent considerable time to put them all on 'tape' over a period of two months prior to entering the studio. To get a little impression about our work in the studio, check out the following studio-video. Mixing and mastering is currently in the final stages. Andreas Hilbert, another sound wizard from Berlin's Musicflash Studio, is about to finish things at the beginning of October."
Alpha Tiger are set to go on tour with metal beasts W.A.S.P. in Europe.
Alpha Tiger live dates (supporting W.A.S.P.) include:

October
30 - Live Music Hall - Koln, Germany
31 - Zeche - Bochum, Germany

November
2 - 013 - Tilburg, Netherlands
3 - Trix - Antwerp, Belgium
16 - Backstage - Munchen, Germany
17 - Lka Longhorn - Stuttgart, Germany
19 - Posthof - Linz, Austria
28 - Szene - Vienna, Austria
30 - Rockfabrik - Nurnberg, Germany

December
2 - Markthalle - Hamburg, Germany
3 - Hugenottenhalle - Neu Isenburg, Germany
5 - Rosenhof - Osnabruck, Germany
6 - Kaminwerk - Memingen, Germany
7 - Z7 - Pratteln, Switzerland

More on Alpha Tiger at this location.

German black metallers SILENT LEGES INTER ARMA have announced the release of their self-titled debut album via Eisenwald. The album comes in Deluxe Digipack with booklet, executed with black cartone/paper and fine gold ink.

According to a press release: "‘Silent leges inter arma’ was a quote from the Roman politician and philosopher Cicero. Roughly translated, it means ‘Under the weapons the laws keep silent’.”
Tracklisting is as follows:

‘We Are’
‘Falcon-Headed One’
‘I Will Hunt You Down’
‘Beyond The Light’
‘Shades’
'For The Dead’
‘Wings’
‘In Shadows Again’

On November 23rd, German thrashers DESTRUCTION will release their 30th anniversary album, Spiritual Genocide, via Nuclear Blast. The band has just issued a sneak peek inside the CD booklet, available to view underneath the cover art, which is pictured below:
Spiritual Genocide tracklisting:

'Exordium'
'Cyanide'
'Spiritual Genocide'
'Renegades'
'City Of Doom'
'No Signs Of Repentance'
'To Dust You Will Decay'
'Legacy Of The Past' (featuring Gerre from TANKARD and Tom Angelripper from SODOM)
'Carnivore'
'Riot Squad'
'Under Violent Sledge'

Limited Edition Digipack Bonus Tracks:

'Princess Of The Night'
'Carnivore' (featuring former members: guitarist Harry Wilkens and drummer Oliver 'Olli' Kaiser)

Listen to 'Cyanide' now:

ANNIHILATOR have posted video of a re-recorded version of 'Time Bomb' which was originally on Carnival Diablos; listen below:
Going back in time, the following video showcases Annihilator live in Japan in 1995. The band, consisting of Jeff Waters on guitar/vocals, Dave Davis on guitar, Cam Dixon on bass and Randy Black on the drums, perform 'Set The World On Fire', 'Knight Jumps Queen', and 'Bad Child'.
The blast from the past continues with this rare footage from the King Of The Kill tour in Japan in 1995; Annihilator play 'Snake In The Grass', 'Only Be Lonely', and 'Second To None'.

Welsh metallers BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE will release their fourth album, "Temper Temper", on February 11, 2013 in the U.K. via Sony Music. The album's title track will be released on November 25 across all digital providers. The band debuted the song live at London, England's Maida Vale studios on October 22 during BBC Radio 1's "Rock Week".

"Temper Temper" was once again produced by Don Gilmore (LINKIN PARK, GOOD CHARLOTTE), who worked on the group's last LP, 2010's "Fever", and was mixed by noted engineer Chris Lord-Alge (DEFTONES, NICKELBACK, AVENGED SEVENFOLD).

In other news, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE will embark on a U.K. tour in March. Support on all dates will come from HALESTORM.

March 12 - O2 Academy Birmingham
March 13 - O2 Academy Glasgow
March 15 - O2 Apollo Manchester
March 17 - Roundhouse London

Tickets go on sale on Wednesday, October 31 and are priced £18.50 regionally and £20 London (subject to booking fee).

In a recent interview with South Africa's Voice Of Rock Radio, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE frontman Matt Tuck stated about the band's upcoming album, "For me, it's a huge compliment that [Gilmore] really didn't have much input [this time around], 'cause on the last record he did, and it kind of opened my eyes to write differently and to think about, not slowing things down, but kind of… there's no restraint on screaming and restraint on a million miles an hour. It's not necessary, really. We've kind of done that [already]. So on this record, [he kind of] sat back and let me do it without having much input, which to me, knowing Don, is a huge compliment, 'cause it means I've kind of done it right by my own. So, yeah, we've definitely fucking nailed it on this record. I know it's a long way before coming out and anyone's gonna hear anything, but I've lived with [it] and I know what it is, and trust me, it's good."

Asked about BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE's longevity and musical progression over the years, Tuck said, "We've been doing this eight years now and we're still at the top of the game of… we're still at the top of our tree of our style of music. I mean, no one's really kind of tried to take us over. So we have kind of taken the foot off the gas already a little bit with 'Fever', and the album we just recorded, we've actually backed off a little bit again — not because we don't think people don't wanna hear heavy music, we've actually made it heavier by slowing down and less is more. Like METALLICA's 'black album,' you wouldn't necessarily call it a heavy album, but the sound of it is fucking heavy and it's big and it sounds timeless because of that. It's not a million miles an hour — it's big and heavy and loud. We're not trying to make a 'black' album, we're just trying to kind of take that theory of slowing down, putting less technical bits in and concentrating on the vocals and the meat and bones of the song."

Fan-filmed video footage of TOMAHAWK's entire October 27 performance at Exit/In in Nashville, Tennessee can be seen at this location. A couple of the clips are available below.

TOMAHAWK is the alt-rock supergroup featuring Duane Denison (THE JESUS LIZARD, UNSEMBLE), Mike Patton (FAITH NO MORE, FANTÔMAS), John Stanier (BATTLES, HELMET) and Trevor Dunn (MELVINS LITE, MR. BUNGLE).

The band's new album, "Oddfellows", is scheduled for release on January 29, 2013 via Ipecac.

In a brand new interview with Nashville Scene, Denison stated about the new CD, "Some of this album is, to me, fairly straightforward hard rock, and then some of it is ... I don't know what you'd call it — avant-pop or something? If anything, I think the album is a bit hookier and has bigger choruses than anything we've done. There's a lot of group vocals from song to song, almost these Greek choruses showing up. To me, it's kind of depressing when I go see a band or hear a record where the songs all have a similar rhythmic feel or the vocals always start on the downbeat. At the same time, you don't want things to be so different that it doesn't even sound like it's the same band. You want it to sound like it's the same people with the same point of view — you're just expressing it in a different way."

"Stone Letter", the new single from TOMAHAWK, is available for streaming at Spin.com.

"Stone Letter" will be released as a limited-edition seven-inch single on Record Store Day's Black Friday event on November 23. The track will also be made available digitally on December 4. The B-side will be an original etching by famed cartoonist and comics scholar Ivan Brunetti.

TOMAHAWK has been dormant for the past five years after releasing a trio of albums: "Tomahawk" in 2001, "Mit Gas" in 2003 and "Anonymous" in 2007.

Quality video footage of HATRIOT, the new San Francisco Bay Area thrash metal band led by former EXODUS and LEGACY (pre-TESTAMENT) frontman Steve "Zetro" Souza, performing the song "Murder American Style" on October 25 at The New Parish in Oakland, California can be seen below (courtesy of Capital Chaos TV).

HATRIOT will release its debut album, "Heroes Of Origin", on January 25, 2013 via Germany's Massacre Records. The CD was recorded with producer Juan Urteaga (MACHINE HEAD, EXODUS, TESTAMENT) and features guest appearances BY TESTAMENT 's Chuck Billy and MACHINE HEAD 's Phil Demmel . The cover artwork is being created by Mark Devito, who has previously worked with MOTÖRHEAD and ANVIL CHORUS, among others.

HATRIOT's new drummer is none other than Steve's 18-year-old son, Nicholas Souza. Nicholas auditioned for the band after the recent departure of Alex Bent and "proved himself to be the best choice," according to Steve.

HATRIOT's lineup also includes Zetro's 21-year-old son Cody, who got his first bass as a present from his father after Zetro bought it off current EXODUS bassist Jack Gibson. "I told him," Zetro said in a recent interview with Metalholic.com, "'You have to try out [for the bassist position in HATRIOT if you want to be in the band]. There's no nepotism here, boy. If you can hang, you're on.' So he actually tried out, and he got the gig."

Regarding HATRIOT's musical direction, Zetro said, "It's in the vein of typical Bay Area thrash, but these guys are a lot younger, so there's gonna be some blast-beats in there. There's gonna be some kind of death [metal] approach to it, a little bit. 'Cause these guys are new. They're raw, and they're fast, young, heavy, hard and aggressive, and I'm trying to convey that along as well."

He added, "These new kids seem to understand what we did in the '80s, but still bring a little bit of a new essence to it. We put that together with what I write vocally and it's turned out to be really, really killer. It's good stuff."

Asked why he thinks thrash metal has enjoyed something of a revival in more recent years, Zetro told Über Röck, "You know, I get asked this a lot, and I think it is because the first wave of thrash came and went so fast. I mean, it started in the mid-'80s and was gone by 1991 or so. The older bands still have something to say, and I feel that's why they are still able to put out great music so many years later. Now the fans that were young kids back then have bands of their own, so these new bands are naturally influenced by the old sound and it has come full circle. Of course, with technology and things like they are today, it is a totally different ballgame when it comes to marketing the music. I don't know that there will ever be another band as big as the 'Big Four' or anything, because the business structure just isn't there anymore, but it is really cool to see these new bands carrying the torch of what we helped invent back in the old scene."

HATRIOT's "Blood Stained Wings" video can be seen below.

HATRIOT is:

Steve "Zetro" Souza - Vocals
Kosta Varvatakis - Guitar
Miguel Esparza - Guitar
Nicholas Souza - Drums
Cody Souza - Bass

Professionally filmed video footage of METALLICA's October 27 performance at the Voodoo Music + Arts Experience at New Orleans City Park can be seen below. The band joined the festival billing as the replacement for GREEN DAY, which canceled its Voodoo appearance two weeks ago, presumably due to frontman Billie Joe Armstrong's onstage breakdown and subsequent rehab enrollment.

METALLICA's setlist was as follows:

01. Hit The Lights
02. Master Of Puppets
03. Holier Than Thou
04. Harvester Of Sorrow
05. Of Wolf And Man
06. Welcome Home (Sanitarium)
07. All Nightmare Long
08. Sad But True
09. Fade To Black
10. Orion
11. One
12. For Whom The Bell Tolls
13. Blackened
14. Nothing Else Matters
15. Enter Sandman
16. Creeping Death
17. Battery
18. Seek And Destroy

METALLICA guitarist Kirk Hammett spoke to Fuse about the band's addition to to the lineup for Voodoo Music + Arts Experience.

"We got a message about [in early October] asking us if we're able to fill in for GREEN DAY, because Billie Joe was having some issues. We discussed it between the four of us and we all said, 'Yeah, it would be great thing for us to do and it would also be great to help out Billie Joe, 'cause he's a friend of ours and we love GREEN DAY. If we can help them out in any way possible, we're always happy to do it, 'cause we love those guys. It's actually an honor for us that they approached us and asked if we can fill in. So we're doing it, and I'm really excited about it."

He added, "New Orleans is known for its legends of voodoo and also vampires and haunted houses and haunted cemetaries and alligators. I love New Orleans. I love any city that has that sort of folklore behind it. I'm really looking forward to going there and hanging out, especially during the whole Halloween season."

Asked if METALLICA had anything special in mind for the Voodoo set, like playing an album front to back like they did at at Orion Music + More in June, Hammett said, "We haven't really discussed it yet. It's still new and a pretty early development. When I see the guys next week, I'm sure we're going to discuss our plan of attack."

German hard rock institution SINNER, which is fronted by PRIMAL FEAR bassist Mat Sinner, will enter the studio soon to begin work on an album of re-recorded versions of the best songs from the band's early years. The resulting collection, which is tentatively titled "Touch Of Sin 2" (in a nod to SINNER's 1985 album, "Touch Of Sin"), will be released on August 30, 2013 via AFM Records.

Commented Sinner: "When we were younger and new to the music business, we were proud to be part of the Noise Records family and to get the chance to sign a contract with them. Reading this contract so many years later, you can't but shake your head in disbelief and wonder what must have possessed us. The exclusive rights to the recordings have since been bought and sold numerous times with the effect that none of those who owned them has ever had any relation to either the production itself or to how it was created.

"Today, the older SINNER songs still enjoy great popularity within the scene. We continue to play them live, even though the CDs aren't available any longer. It is Universal who owns the albums at the moment — but does not distribute the CDs. Therefore, they're to be held responsible that CDs from this era can only be purchased at exorbitant prices. Unfortunately, the musicians and songwriters involved have no means of dealing with the matter — our hands are tied.

"When I offered to do a remix on several songs for a best-of album, I was told that the original tapes have mysteriously disappeared and were probably burned in an 'accidental' fire. That much about the pearls of our past.

"AFM Records and I — business partners for many years — came up with the idea to once again record the best songs from this era. The album was supposed to feature several guests and to come with a wicked fan package. Initially, I was sceptical. But recent shows have shown the amount of fun and energy the band would put into these songs. However, I will only put this plan into action under one condition: the whole band has to lock themselves into the studio and record the whole thing together. I'm fed up with the assumption that it works if everyone records their stuff at home or comes cheaper. That's bullshit — this challenge meets us at exactly the right time and we'll face it!"

SINNER's latest album, "One Bullet Left", was released in September 2011 via AFM Records, the CD was recorded in Stuttgart, Germany with Mat Sinner producing and Achim Köhler engineering.

SINNER's current lineup features Mat Sinner (bass, vocals) and guitarist Christof Leim (THE NEW BLACK) along with Alex Scholpp (TARJA, FARMER BOYS) on guitar, André Hilgers (RAGE) on drums and Alex Beyrodt (PRIMAL FEAR, VOODOO CIRCLE) on third guitar.

The release date of "Reborn", the brand new album from California rockers TRAPT, has been pushed back to January 22, 2013 from the previously announced November 20. No reason was given for the delay.

"Reborn" (Epochal Artist Records) will be made available in a standard version as well as a deluxe edition which will feature five acoustic songs from "Reborn" as well as the never-before-released fan favorite "Avelyn". The CD was produced by TRAPT vocalist Chris Taylor Brown and Matt Thorne, known for his work with THE EELS, THE DONNAS and BONNIE MCKEE.

"This record is really a new sound for TRAPT," states Brown. "With 'Reborn', we really wanted to use new sounds and textures as well as experiment with delays, reverbs, synths and many other techniques we have learned over the years or have heard in our influences. Lyrically, this album is as deep and thoughtful as any album that TRAPT has done in the past."

From the opening note of the first single, "Bring It", to the album closer, "You're No Angel", it is clear TRAPT is back to pick up where previous hits such as "Headstrong", "Echo" and "Who's Going Home With You Tonight?" left off.

"Bring It" impacts radio the week of October 1 and was also just released to iTunes in double single format bundled alongside "Love Hate Relationship". A video for the first single was recently shot in Las Vegas and will be released in the next few weeks.

TRAPT will be heading out on tour in support of "Reborn". The trek kicks off October 24 in Las Vegas and runs through November 29, wrapping up in Chico, California.

"Reborn" track listing:

01. Bring It
02. Love Hate Relationship
03. Experience
04. Eye Of The Storm
05. Livewire
06. Going Under
07. Too Close
08. Strength In Numbers
09. Get Out Of Your Own Way
10. When It Rains
11. You're No Angel

TRAPT is Chris Taylor Brown on vocals, Robb Torres on guitar, Pete Charell on bass and Dylan Thomas Howard on drums.

Renowned multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, producer and now ringleader Devin Townsend performed a couple of songs from his STRAPPING YOUNG LAD project for the first time in years last night (Saturday, October 27) at the Roundhouse venue in London, England as part of a one-night-only event that was recorded for both DVD and Blu-ray, likely to be released sometime in the second quarter of 2013 via InsideOut Music. Devin was joined on stage for the STRAPPING YOUNG LAD tracks by the band's former guitarist Jed Simon, who wrote on his Facebook page after the concert, "Well, all done and the cat is out of the bag. It was an awesome experience and my heart feels that much better because of it. You are my brother and my friend, Dev. Thank you." He added, "Byron [Stroud, SYL bassist] and Gene [Hoglan, SYL drummer]...you were on my sleeve, my brothers. I love you."

Devin described The Retinal Circus as "a retrospective of my career in music to date, with the central theme being a metaphor of how life and the adventures therein are a 'circus' of sorts. The show involves a cast of characters and guests that support this theme through carnival type performances. A story about how a troubled young man dreams of fantastic scenarios, (illustrated through the music of my back catalogue), which ultimately crests in the characters realization that life is all about the relationships we have with each other. This is the first opportunity I have been given to make theatrical representations of my music."

This three-hour-plus performance included:

* A retrospective of Devin Townsend's entire career
* Full choir and theatrical cast
* Visual and aural enhancements unlike any show Devin has done to date
* Several special guests
* Circus and carnival performances and cast
* Art exhibit of Devin's albums, including explanations of each album

In a January 2012 interview, Devin stated about his decision to put STRAPPING YOUNG LAD to rest, "I don't miss the environment; the environment was really bad for me — it wasn't a healthy place for me to live emotionally or chemically." He added, "You have to make a choice to be happy in your life, because it's very easy to be paid to be miserable and that whole situation, although Byron, Jed and Gene are all good friends, everything that surrounded that band became very negative and I don't miss that shit at all, man … Without making that life change, [I'd] have been stuck where I was and the writing was on the wall and I say that and again I can say that until I'm blue in the face and people still wouldn't get that, but staying there would have stunted me emotionally for the rest of my life, so I chose not to. It's nothing against the music. I'm very proud of the music, I think it's awesome, but it's not me anymore."

CHURCHBURN — the musical collaboration between two of the undergrounds masters of misery Dave Suzuki, best known for his mesmerizing guitar work and brutal drumming in VITAL REMAINS and Ray McCaffrey, who carved out sonic drum patterns for SIN OF ANGELS and GRIEF — has announced the addition of bassist Kevin Edwards (THRILLHOUSE) to group's ranks.

Commented McCaffrey: "Dave, Shawn [McCoy, guitar], and I know that Kevin brings a lot to the table and not only strengthens our band but shares our passion for the music. We are very happy to welcome Kevin into our ranks and look forward to working with him."

According to a press release, Suzuki and McCaffrey have set out to share with the world their love of the riff, not only the heaviest but also the most haunting. Each song is crafted with the most sinister of intent. CHURCHBURN wants the listener to feel a true sense of dread as the song progresses.

"CHURCHBURN is very different from VITAL REMAINS," said Suzuki. "Ray and I wanted to do something slow and heavy...just something pummeling to the listener."

CHURCHBURN is:

Dave Suzuki - Guitar, Vocals
Ray Mccaffrey - Drums, Vocals
Shawn McCoy - Guitar
Kevin Edwards - Bass

The band is currently writing and demoing material for its debut album, tentatively due in early 2013 via an as-yet-undetermined record label.

Legendary BAD BRAINS singer H.R. (born Paul D. Hudson) joined DEFTONES on stage this past Friday night (October 26) at Rams Head Live! in Baltimore, Maryland to perform two songs: a cover version of BAD BRAINS' "Right Brigade" and the DEFTONES song "Bored". Fan-filmed video footage of his appearance can be seen below.

DEFTONES bassist Sergio Vega took tweeted after the concert, "Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine I would perform a song with H.R.!"

DEFTONES' seventh studio album, "Koi No Yokan", will be released on November 13. 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.

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

BAD BRAINS will release its new album, "Into The Future", on November 20 via Megaforce. The CD features the classic lineup of H.R., Darryl Jenifer, Dr. Know and Earl Hudson.

Former SKID ROW singer Sebastian Bach joined HALESTORM on stage yesterday (Saturday, October 27) at the Loud Park festival at Saitama Super Arena, a multi-purpose indoor arena located in Saitama City, Japan, to perform a cover version of the SKID ROW classic "Slave To The Grind". HALESTORM frontwoman Lzzy Hale also joined Bach on stage during his set at the festival and performed a song with his band. Bach says, "What an incredible day that I will never forget!"

Fan-filmed video footage of Bach's performance with HALESTORM can be seen below.

HALESTORM recorded a cover version of "Slave To The Grind" for their "ReAniMate: The CoVeRs eP", which was released in March 2011 via all digital retailers. The effort saw HALESTORM putting their unique stamp on a diverse collection of classic songs, including tracks by GUNS N' ROSES, THE BEATLES, HEART, TEMPLE OF THE DOG and LADY GAGA.

Phil Campbell (MOTÖRHEAD) and Duff McKagan (GUNS N' ROSES, VELVET REVOLVER, DUFF MCKAGAN'S LOADED) joined reunited hard rockers UGLY KID JOE on stage on October 24 at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom to perform the MOTÖRHEAD classic "Ace Of Spades". Check out fan-filmed video footage below. Headlining the concert was Alice Cooper, with additional support from DUFF MCKAGAN'S LOADED.

UGLY KID JOE's new EP, "Stairway To Hell" was released digitally on June 5 and physically on July 9.

UGLY KID JOE released three full-length albums and toured extensively throughout the 1990s before disbanding in 1997.

Quality video footage of San Francisco Bay Area metallers DEATH ANGEL performing the song "Thrashers" on October 26 at Ace Of Spades in Sacramento, California can be seen below.

DEATH ANGEL's long-awaited DVD, "A Thrashumentary", will be released in early 2013. Guitarist Ted Aguilar recently stated about the set, "It's gonna cover the history of DEATH ANGEL from the very beginning all the way up to the current version of DEATH ANGEL now. It's gonna be jam-packed with a lot of old footage, stuff from early D.A., even their side projects after D.A., when D.A. broke up and THE ORGANIZATION formed, and the reformation of the band [for an appearance at] Thrash Of The Titans [festival in 2001]."

According to a press release, "A Thrashumentary" is a combination live video and documentary, all wrapped up in one thrashing DVD. The footage was directed by Tommy Jones (SOILWORK, KATAKLYSM) and mixed by Chris Clancy of The Studio. The film gives the viewer an in-depth look into one of the longest-running thrash acts out of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region known for turning out historic thrash bands such as METALLICA, TESTAMENT and EXODUS.

With the band surviving a span of 30 years of activity, and 25 years since the release of the classic album "The Ultra-Violence", now was the time to tell the story. Filmed on the "Relentless Retribution" world tour, the film shows the bands energetic live performance, cut with documentary-style interview footage. "Fly-on-the-wall" filming of the band talking about their career and footage of the band on the road give the viewer a personal connection to what is known as the mighty DEATH ANGEL.

A video for a new LIMP BIZKIT track called "Lightz" can be seen below. The song is expected to appear on the band's next studio album, "Stampede Of The Disco Elephants", which will be released next year via LIMP BIZKIT's new deal with Cash Money, Lil Wayne's longtime record company.

LIMP BIZKIT frontman Fred Durst revealed via Twitter that "Lightz" is not the band's official new single and he claimed that the track was "leaked prematurely."

LIMP BIZKIT is currently working on a video for the "Urban Assault Version" of the group's collaboration with Lil Wayne, "Ready To Go".

LIMP BIZKIT last year parted ways with Interscope, the label that released all of the band's records thus far through its subsidiaries Flip, Geffen and Suretone Records.

2011's "Gold Cobra" was LIMP BIZKIT's first CD to feature the original lineup of Fred Durst (vocals), Wes Borland (guitar), Sam Rivers (bass), John Otto (drums), and DJ Lethal since 2000's "Chocolate Starfish And Hot Dog Flavored Water".

Video footage of Marty Friedman's October 22 performance at Connexion Café in Toulouse, France during the "Guitar Universe 2012" European tour with Israel's Yossi Sassi (ORPHANED LAND) and France's Stéphan Forté (ADAGIO) can be seen below.

After reissuing three acclaimed recent studio albums by Friedman over the summer, Prosthetic Records is excited to now introduce North American audiences to the former MEGADETH and CACOPHONY axeman's two "Tokyo Jukebox" albums. Released in Japan in 2009 and 2011, respectively, "Tokyo Jukebox" and "Tokyo Jukebox 2" — the ninth and eleventh chapters in Friedman's influential solo discography — will make their U.S. debuts on November 20 as a limited-edition, specially priced 2CD release featuring artwork exclusive to this pressing and new liner notes by Friedman himself. The double album is now available for pre-order.

Soon after leaving MEGADETH following a 10-year run in which the iconic band sold some 10 million albums worldwide, Friedman — perhaps the most revered lead guitarist in thrash metal history — moved to Japan, where over the past decade he became a household name. Between his solo releases and collaborations with Japanese stars, he has played on and written numerous Top 10 hits (including two No. 1s); he has also made hundreds of appearances on mainstream Japanese television and performed at legendary venues such as Budokan and the Tokyo Dome.

"Tokyo Jukebox" and "Tokyo Jukebox 2" feature energetic instrumental covers of Japanese pop (J-Pop) songs that can be enjoyed by anyone with a sweet tooth for melody, and capture Friedman's passion for the music of his adopted home country — although, as he warns in the liner notes for this release, "I took the liberty of destroying and reconstructing them my own way." In the below video (which has been posted at Prosthetic's newly-launched Friedman mini-site, where additional "Tokyo Jukebox"-related videos will be unveiled in the coming weeks), Friedman further describes the collection, calling it some of the heaviest and best work of his career.

Featuring Jeremy Colson (STEVE VAI, BILLY IDOL) on drums, "Tokyo Jukebox" features reconstructed covers of J-Pop and J-Rock hits selected by readers of Japan's top entertainment magazine. "Tokyo Jukebox 2", meanwhile, was recorded in Los Angeles at The Village (AEROSMITH, KISS), and features guest performances by Jason Bittner (SHADOWS FALL) and Keshav Dhar (SKYHARBOR). The albums feature tracks originally performed by acclaimed Japanese acts such as MR. CHILDREN, SMAP, PERFUME and MAXIMUM THE HORMONE.

MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine has issued the following update:

"Droogies,

"I wanted to check in with you as I get ready to start tracking my 14th MEGADETH record.

"For some of you that are new fans, the word 'Droogie' may seem a strange way to start a letter, but it means 'friend,' supposedly in Russian slang. I got the idea to call you that from watching Alex from 'A Clockwork Orange' call his two co-conspirators that. So, now you know I ain't calling you 'druggies.' Onward to the update.

"Last Thursday I went to see an ENT (ear, nose, and throat doctor) to find out the status of the damage to my vocal cords that they discovered prior to my surgery, and my neck from after the surgery. I was told during the first MRIs that I had a cyst or something on my vocal cords, and I didn't give it any more thought, because the fusion was way more important.

"I still find it laughable that someone I know said I was a pussy while lying in an ER awaiting spinal surgery for contemplating cancelling the 'Big Four' show in New York City. I guess the old saying, 'You spot it — you got it!' applies here. Except I don't want to offend our female fans by comparing this excrement to a body part of theirs.

"I walked away from the surgery, which was done after the concert (who's the pussy now?) and was a complete success, thinking I had nodes or polyps or something, and I wanted to wait until a year after the surgery to go get checked, because I just didn't want to go under the knife again that soon, if, of course I had to. Thank God I don't.

"Fortunately, if you can say that, my problem with my vocal cords is treatable, and it is just a matter of exercise, diet, and eating habits. I started drinking Aloe Juice, taking a tablet for my stomach, and I have to cut out some things I like. Coffee is one of things, but since I am not a cheerleader for overpriced, overrated Starbucks, like Thor [MEGADETH guitarist Chris Broderick] and Junior [MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson], I am not taking this too hard. I am bummed about no chocolate (I love chocolate!), and tomatoes (no spaghetti or pizza), but I am loving this 'Countdown' 20th-anniversary tour, and with the new record starting next week, singing is more important to me than ever.

"Thanks for all of your support through this whole ordeal, and I really, really look forward to seeing you at some point before the end of the year. Check out our support band KYNG and lemme know what you think. I like 'em and I hope you will too.

"One last thing, I don't generally watch video of myself, unless we are mixing or editing something, and over the last few months I had to; for one reason or another. I am really embarrassed by how much I swear or swore on stage and in interviews. I'm not a prude, but I am sorry for my language and some of the offensive words I chose to say. We all have said stuff we regret, and while I don't 'regret it,' I do feel that you deserve better from me.

"Here's to a great fu...., erm, a great flipping new record and tour!"

Veteran producer Bill Metoyer (SLAYER, W.A.S.P., ARMORED SAINT, DARK ANGEL, SACRED REICH, CRYPTIC SLAUGHTER, D.R.I.) has begun mixing the rhythm section for the new album from Chicago doom-metal legends TROUBLE.

TROUBLE announced in February that it recruited Kyle Thomas as the band's new singer following the departure of the group's frontman of the past four years, Kory Clarke (of WARRIOR SOUL fame).

Thomas, former lead vocalist for EXHORDER, FLOODGATE and ALABAMA THUNDERPUSSY, was no stranger to TROUBLE as he previously fronted the band for four live shows between 1997 and 1999, including Stoner Hands Of Doom festival in Maryland and Expo Of The Extreme in Chicago. Thomas has also collaborated on projects with members of SLIPKNOT, DOWN, OBITUARY and DEICIDE.

In an interview with Metal Kaoz, TROUBLE guitarist Bruce Franklin stated about Kyle's addition to the band, "We didn't need to change any of the [new] music [to suit Kyle's vocals]. He really knows how to sing to TROUBLE stuff because he was a fan from way back."

Added Kyle: "They had given me four songs to work on when I was jamming with them in anticipation of possibly doing the album that came to be 'Simple Mind Condition'. I did demo one song, but nothing I did ever made it to the album. Things turned out the way that they have between then and now, and here I am."

He continued, "Bruce and Rick [Wartell, guitar] have always been great to me as people and business partners. I was made to feel an equal back then, and the same goes for now. That is monumental for me — I grew up listening to these guys and now I am a member of one of my favorite bands. You can't beat that."

TROUBLE 2012 is:

Kyle Thomas: Vocals
Bruce Franklin: Guitar
Rick Wartell: Guitar
Shane Pasqualla: Bass
Mark Lira: Drums

According to Metal Shock Finland, Swedish metallers WOLF have a new product on the market: Wolf's Blood Hot Sauce.

This bloody hot sauce is made in Costa Rica and it is a combination of the world's hottest known chilli pepper Naga Jolokia with pepper extract and ranges at an incredible 666.000 Scoville units.

Commented the band: "It's 666 thousand Scoville strength and it makes you howl. Don't drink it!"

To buy one of these flaming Wolf's Blood Hot Sauces, click here.

WOLF last year parted ways with guitarist Johannes "Axeman" Losbäck and replaced him with Simon Johansson (ABSTRAKT ALGEBRA, BIBLEBLACK, MEMORY GARDEN). Simon previously played with WOLF in 2009 when they supported W.A.S.P. for four shows.

WOLF's sixth album, "Legions Of Bastards", was released in April 2011 via Century Media Records. The follow-up to 2009's "Ravenous" was produced by Pelle Saether at Studio Underground in Vasterås, Sweden. The cover artwork was once again created by Thomas Holm (the man who was responsible for the legendary MERCYFUL FATE "Melissa" and "Don't Break The Oath" covers).

Rock legends KISS were the first signing to the late Neil Bogart's then-newly formed Casablanca label after he saw and recognized their talent and showmanship at their spectacular performance at a showcase concert at New York City's Le Tang's Ballet Studio in 1973, offering them a contract on the spot. Now, KISS celebrates their 40th anniversary in 2013 having broken box office records set by THE BEATLES and ELVIS PRESLEY, more than 28 U.S. gold albums, the most gold records for any American rock band, 40 million sales in the U.S. and a total exceeding 100 million worldwide.

In their early years, KISS released a total of 29 singles on seven-inch 45 RPM records for the Casablanca label. These were available for sale to the public, used for commercial radio airplay and to promote album sales. Many of these singles had entirely different mixes, edits and material that didn't appear on their vinyl albums. Now for the first time, these musical snapshots of KISS' formative years, which have never been available in a commemorative singles edition, entitled "The Casablanca Singles 1974-1982", on Mercury/Casablanca/UMe, will be available in December in two box set configurations:

* 29 Seven-Inch Vinyl
* 29 CDs (available through all retail)

In typical KISS fashion, these are no ordinary boxes. The sets are housed in a beautiful die cut shadow box with a limited edition etched silver metal plate and ribbon pull magnetic closure custom KISS 45s box with 26 collectible picture sleeves from original single releases around the world, including Japan, Germany, Holland, Spain and Britain. The vinyl collection also features singles from all four solo albums in purple, blue, red and green vinyl with a mask picture sleeve representing each individual member as originally released in the U.K. Both sets include a booklet which tracks the genesis and chart history of each single represented in the package.

"The Casablanca Singles 1974-1982" covers KISS' remarkable eight-year stay on Bogart's label, from their very first, "Nothin' to Lose" b/w "Love Theme from KISS", from their self-titled debut to their very first charted 45, "Kissin' Time". The band's subsequent string of hits included "Dressed to Kill"'s live version of "Rock and Roll All Nite" (#12 on Billboard's Hot 100), "Destroyer"'s "Shout It Out Loud" (#31) and the Top 10 ballad "Beth", "Rock And Roll Over"'s "Hard Luck Woman" (#15) and "Calling Dr. Love" (#16), "Love Gun"'s "Christeen Sixteen" (#25), Ace Frehley's solo hit, "New York Groove" (#13) and "Dynasty"'s "I Was Made for Lovin' You" (#11).

"Even I haven't heard some of this stuff, but this is all part of our master plan to celebrate KISS at this milestone in our careers," says Gene Simmons. "This box set represents us at the very beginning of our career, and documents the band's early success and subsequent growth."

Adds Paul Stanley: "This collection is meant for the true KISS aficionado. The packaging really captures the development of both our music and image at a very crucial period in the band's history."

The special set comes out a month after the release of "Monster", their 20th studio album. Showing the band at the top of its game, "Monster" embodies all that is KISS and the music that first inspired them to pick up their guitars and flame-throwers and don makeup to entertain millions. Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, with longtime members guitarist Tommy Thayer and drummer Eric Singer, return stronger than ever with their new album to continue the legacy of the spectacular larger-than-life extravaganza, known as, KISS.

For more information, go this location.

Vocalist Göran Edman (JOHN NORUM, YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN) and Scott Rockenfield's (QUEENSRŸCHE, SLAVE TO THE SYSTEM) "licensed signature drumming" appear on "Growin' Apart", the new album from reactivated '90s Italian heavy metal band HEADLESS.

The first single, "Primetime", was released on December 14, 2011, and can be purchased on iTunes and Amazon. The second track, "Sink Deep In A Fairy Tale", was mastered in Hollywood, California by Warren Sokol and was issued on February 14. It can be downloaded from iTunes and Amazon.

HEADLESS is:

Walter Cianciusi - Guitar
Dario Parente - Guitar

For more information, visit www.headless.it.