Fan-filmed video footage of VOIVOD's October 22 performance at Le Korigan in Luynes, France can be seen below.

A new VOIVOD track, "Mechanical Mind", was released on October 9 (one day earlier internationally) as a digital single and a limited-edition seven-inch single-sided vinyl with a skull etching by VOIVOD drummer Michel "Away" Langevin on the B-side. The song comes off VOIVOD's new album, "Target Earth", which will be released on January 22, 2013 (one day earlier internationally) via VOIVOD's own company, Iron Gang Factory, and Century Media.

"Target Earth" was recorded in January at Pierre Rémillard's (OBLIVEON, CRYPTOPSY, KRISIUN, MISERY INDEX) Wild Studio in a small town called St-Zénon in Quebec, Canada. The follow-up to 2009's "Infini" will contain the band's first music to be written with new guitarist Daniel "Chewy" Mongrain (MARTYR) following the passing of original axeman Denis "Piggy" D'Amour in 2005.

VOIVOD debuted the "Target Earth" title track during their April 12 concert at the Roadburn festival at the 013 venue in Tilburg, Holland.

VOIVOD 2012 is:

Denis "Snake" Bélanger - Vocals
Daniel "Chewy" Mongrain - Guitar
Jean-Yves "Blacky" Thériault - Bass
Michel "Away" Langevin - Drums

YEARS OF COLD, the El Paso, Texas-based band featuring ex-PISSING RAZORS guitarists Mat Lynch and Cesar Soto, alongside vocalist Dewey Bragg (KILL DEVIL HILL, ex-PISSING RAZORS), has released audio samples of the songs that appear on the group's self-titled EP, which will be released on October 30 via iTunes through YEARS OF COLD's own HeavenPoint label.

"Years Of Cold" was produced by Justin Leeah (MINISTRY, CANNIBAL CORPSE, DEVILDRIVER) at DownTown Sound And Vision Lab in El Paso and Sonic Ranch Studios in Tornillo, Texas.

According to Soto, "Years Of Cold" is "unique, driven and [is] sure to crush!"

YEARS OF COLD has been hard at work filming performance footage for its new video, "The Ghost Behind", at Sonic Ranch Studios in Tornillo, Texas with DoubleScope Films at the helm. The clip is expected to make its online debut in early November

Finnish modern metallers NO SIGN OF LIFE have inked with Mighty Music. The band's second album, "Embrace Your Demons", will be released on December 3.

According to a press release, "NO SIGN OF LIFE is one of the most exciting modern metal bands out there and even though they musically are rooted in the metal genre, the band draws on influences and elements from all over the music field."

Rising from the small town of Laukaa in Finland, NO SIGN OF LIFE has celebrated victories and final ranks in most of the top band competitions in Finland, sold thousands of pieces of their demo CDs and even got one of their demos distributed in Japan. In 2010 they released the debut album, "Chaotic Type of Normality", which was followed by a lot of touring.

"Embrace Your Demons" is not a concept album. It is an album full of stories about inner demons and point of views that should be spoken about. The band has finally found the perfect balance between the epic melodies and the earthshaking rage they always have had in them, and also the space for everything else.

NO SIGN OF LIFE's music has always included various different elements that are not usually heard in metal music. Those elements, all tied up with powerful groove, is the factor that makes NSOL a completely unique group.

"Embrace Your Demons" track listing:

01. Ghost
02. Walls Melt Down
03. Nothing To Say
04. Enemies Of Choice
05. Behind The Scenes
06. Sympathetic
07. Embrace Your Demons
08. Meaning Of Life
09. The Wounds Of Nature
10. Light At The End Of The Tunnel

The video for the song "Meaning Of Life" can be seen below.

Finnish melodic metallers SONATA ARCTICA were presented with gold plaques for their seventh studio album, "Stones Grow Her Name", on September 25 at Tavastia in Helsinki, Finland. Check out a photo below.

"Stones Grow Her Name" was certified gold in Finland for sales in excess of 10,000 copies. Released in Europe on May 18 and in North America on May 22 via Nuclear Blast Records, the CD was recorded in several studios all over Finland, mixed at Sonic Pump Studios by Mikko Karmila and mastered at Chartmakers by Svante Forsbäck. The effort was released as a limited-edition digipak, standard jewel case, vinyl and download.

Commented SONATA ARCTICA keyboard player Henrik "Henkka" Klingenberg: "This is our ninth gold disc from Finland.

"Although it's not our first album to go gold in Finland, it always feels just as amazing that so many fans appreciate what we do.

"On behalf of the whole band, I'd like to thank you all who bought the album and thus helped us out.

"Our 'Stones Grow Her Name' world tour is well underway and I look forward to seeing you at the shows on the upcoming European and American tours as well as the places we'll hit next year."

"Stones Grow Her Name" sold around 2,100 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 9 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

"Stones Grow Her Name" track listing:

01. Only The Broken Hearts (Make You Beautiful)
02. Shitload Of Money
03. Losing My Insanity
04. Somewhere Close To You
05. I Have A Right
06. Alone In Heaven
07. The Day
08. Cinderblox
09. Don't Be Mean
10. Wildfire II
11. Wildfire III

Danish power metallers RIPE, who feature in their ranks current ARTILLERY singer Michael Bastholm Dahl, will release their second album, "The Eloquence Of Silence", on November 26 via Mighty Music.

Formed in 2001 in Copenhagen, RIPE's style "has always been powerful heavy metal and it has never changed!" according to a press release.

The band's debut album, "A Moment Of Forever" (2010), featured guest appearances by Michael Denner (MERCYFUL FATE, FORCE OF EVIL) and Billy Cross (BOB DYLAN).

"The Eloquence Of Silence" track listing:

01. Fade To Rise (3:28)
02. Riddle In The Dark (3:52)
03. Candle And The Sun (3:37)
04. Dreamwalker (3:50)
05. A Part Apart (2:47)
06. Bloodlust (3:13)
07. Saint Of The Scar (3:40)
08. Xenophobe In Hiding (3:29)
09. Porcelain Goddess (3:16)
10. Song For A Shadow (3:47)
11. Above Inside (3:12)
12. Ghost Of A Rose (3:44)

The song "Fade To Rise" is available for streaming in the YouTube clip below.

"The Abandoning", a brand new song from LOVE & DEATH, the band led by former KORN guitarist Brian "Head" Welch, can be streamed in the YouTube clip below. The track comes off the group's debut album, "Between Here & Lost", which will be released on November 20 via Tooth & Nail Records. Recorded in Nashville with producer Jasen Rauch (RED, BREAKING BENJAMIN) and mixed by Paul Pavao, Ben Grosse (MARILYN MANSON, DISTURBED) and Jim Monti (KORN), the CD consists of 11 tracks, ranging from songs about personal struggle and triumph ("Chemicals", "My Disaster", "Paralyzed") to emotionally charged anthems ("Fading Away", "Watching The Bottom Fall") to a riff-heavy rendition of DEVO's 1980 hit "Whip It".

LOVE & DEATH is comprised of Welch, lead guitarist JR Bareis, bassist Michael Valentine, and drummer Dan Johnson.

Like the album title suggests, "Between Here & Lost" captures the honesty of light and darkness, beauty and tragedy, good and evil, delivered by a band with intense passion and commitment to the message of its music.

"This record was birthed from trials, tribulations, pain, suffering, anxiety, depression, and drama," states Welch. "However, we came out on top and the end result is a very real, raw and honest record. We are so stoked for people to hear it! From our opening song, 'The Abandoning', to our cover of DEVO's 'Whip it', to our collaboration with Mattie Montgomery from FOR TODAY on 'I W8 4 U', It's an exciting piece of art and the listener will feel the different range of emotions with the lyrics and melodies of each song."

"Between Here & Lost" track listing:

01. The Abandoning
02. Whip It
03. Watching The Bottom Fall
04. By The Way...
05. Meltdown
06. My Disaster
07. I W8 4 U (featuring Mattie Montgomery)
08. Fading Away
09. Paralyzed
10. Chemicals
11. Bruises

LOVE & DEATH formed when Welch decided to have open auditions on YouTube in 2009. "I picked the guys and then had a jam session in Phoenix," says Welch. "Over the last couple of years, there have been a few lineup changes as we went through normal growing pains. The current band has been together and touring for a while now and they are a big part of the new music and the future of LOVE & DEATH."

LOVE & DEATH will be touring extensively in 2013 to support the effort.

"The Abandoning" audio stream:

"Unto The Sun", the new video from the Sothern California prorgressive metal band ELITIST, can be seen below. The clip was directed, filmed, lit, edited and colored by Justin Steeley of Steeley Entertainment.

"Unto The Sun" comes off ELITIST's debut album, "Reshape Reason", which was released on September 25 via The Anti Campaign.

According to the band's official bio, ELITIST's "goal [is] to create music that will appease both musicians and non-musicians with smart songwriting and a main lyrical theme of having strength to keep pushing forward."

Helmed by producer Dan Braunstein (VOLUMES, BERMUDA), "Reshape Reason" "explores free-thinking ideals, showcases new singer Chris Balay and kicks aside programmed drums to make room for sticksman Ben Kazenoff."

"Reshape Reason" track listing:

01. Unto The Sun
02. Square And Compass
03. Time Stands Still
04. Reshape Reason
05. Equinox
06. Life Lost (feat. Garrison Lee)
07. Transmutation
08. Sacred Geometry
09. Lucid Dream
10. Trace The Sky

A snippet of the demo version of the new track "Sin City" from Swedish glam rockers CRASHDÏET can be streamed in the YouTube clip below. The clip was filmed in Las Vegas, Nevada.

CRASHDÏET has completed recording its new album at Kingside Studios outside Stockholm with producer Otto Wellton. The CD, which has not yet been mixed, is tentatively scheduled for release in January 2013.

The new CRASHDÏET CD can be preordered at this location.

CRASHDÏET has been touring quite a bit in the last two and a half years, opening up for such bands as MÖTLEY CRÜE, OZZY OSBOURNE, MICHAEL MONROE and WEDNESDAY 13, and traveling everywhere from Australia to USA to Brazil.

CRASHDÏET performed a new song "Anarchy" for the first time on June 7 when they played at Kaisaniemi Park in Helsinki, Finland as the support act for MÖTLEY CRÜE.

The band's third CD, "Generation Wild", was recently released on vinyl. This gatefold LP features the new bonus track "Hollywood Teaze" as well as updated artwork.

"Generation Wild" entered the official chart in Sweden at position No. 3.

CRASHDÏET in 2009 announced the addition of Simon "Simme" Cruz from the Stockholm act JAILBAIT as the group's new lead singer.

The band parted ways with its previous vocalist, the Finland-based H. Olliver Twisted, in July 2008.

New song "Sin City" (demo version):

The latest episode of Whitesnake TV, in which WHITESNAKE frontman David Coverdale answers video questions from his fans about his life, music and career, can be seen below.

In a recent interview with Albania's Top Channel web site, Coverdale was asked what fans can expect from the band in the near future. "I am always reticent to discuss in detail what we're planning as I still enjoy 'surprises.'"

He continued, "In this day and age, with global technology and overwhelming social media, it is getting harder and harder to keep anything secret until they are ready to be presented. We host a very interactive global web site with Whitesnake.com and I answer people's questions as much as I can without giving too much away."

"We are very, very active this year behind the scenes. Many exciting things in the pipeline. Two projects I can tell you about are related to completing the 'Forevermore' project. An in-concert DVD from last year's tour and also a double live CD featuring different shows. It's shaping up very well indeed and I think a lot of people will enjoy re-living the concert experience they had with us in 2011. We have also started Whitesnake TV, which is off to a fantastic start and seems to be making a lot of people happy."

Asked if WHITESNAKE will tour next year, Coverdale said, "There are plans to start in Europe in May, I heard, but as yet there is nothing concrete. But, of course, we hope to be out there again. We have too much fun with audiences to stay at home for too long!"

Regarding whether all his plans involve WHITESNAKE, or if fans can expect any other collaborations or solo projects, Coverdale said, "WHITESNAKE is my priority and at this time I have no other plans to collaborate with other artists. But, you know rock and roll… Everything can change with a phone call."

Part 3:

British metalcore act ASKING ALEXANDRIA is putting the finishing touches on its third album with renowned producer Joey Sturgis (THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, EMMURE) for an early 2013 release via Sumerian Records. Guitarist Ben Bruce tells Billboard.com that the follow-up to 2011's "Reckless & Relentless" will contain 13-15 songs, six of which will be "radio-friendly" while the rest will be "our usual balls-to-the-wall kind of stuff."

"We spent a long time honing in on song structures and writing techniques and stuff like that, but there are still heavy songs on the record," Bruce says. "We're not just going to throw that away and kick our original fan base in the teeth by getting rid of all that. There will still be a lot of riffing and screaming. But we feel like we did find a happy medium between being heavy and then being light enough to be on radio, but still keeping the balls in the song."

Most of the new CD was recorded at Sturgis' studio in Indiana, with the vocals and strings and choir parts having been laid down at NRG Recording Studios in North Hollywood, California. "On the last one a lot of that extra stuff was all fake; we did it on computer," Bruce says. "This time we wanted to be more organic, so we got a live orchestra conducted by the brilliant Stevie Black (ALICE IN CHAINS, AVENGED SEVENFOLD) and did all the strings. Then we got a live church gospel choir to come into the studio for a few days to sing over a few tracks. It really sounds special."

ASKING ALEXANDRIA's remix record, "Stepped Up And Scratched", came out in November 2011.

ASKING ALEXANDRIA is:

Danny Worsnop - Vocals
Ben Bruce - Guitar
Cameron Liddell - Guitar
Sam Bettley - Bass
James Cassells - Drums

Californian rockers PAPA ROACH performed for a worldwide live stream and took questions from fans earlier today (Tuesday, October 23) via YouTube (see video below), marking the first time the band played live since vocalist Jacoby Shaddix underwent surgery last month to remove nodes from his vocal cords. Shaddix's condition forced him to stop singing and led his band to drop off this past summer's Rockstar Energy Uproar Festival tour.

Shaddix told The Pulse Of Radio that pulling out of that tour and going straight into surgery was probably the smartest thing he could have done. "Best decision I ever made," he said. "You know, it was a tough decision, but best decision. Went in and got the surgery — I was freaking out. I remember I was going into surgery, I'm like, tear rolling down my face, like, 'God, please guide this surgeon's hands,' cause, you know, I mean, shit could go bad real quick."

Shaddix told Loudwire, "I couldn't talk at all so that sucked. It was the longest silence of my life since I was born; I just wanted to talk so bad."

Even before his vocal problems started, Shaddix admitted in several new interviews that he came close to committing suicide earlier in the year as he struggled with both marital problems and falling off the wagon.

The latest PAPA ROACH album, "The Connection", sold 22,000 copies in its first week of release to debut at No. 17 on the Billboard album chart.

PAPA ROACH will follow the YouTube performance with a tour across Europe, beginning in Russia in early November.

LA-based extreme prog metal bashers ANA KEFR have issued the following announcement:
"Our Fall US national tour has unfortunately fallen through. The matter is out of our hands, we are truly disappointed that we won't be hitting the road to bring our music to our fans throughout the United States. Rather than push back the tour for an early spring national tour instead, we've decided to complete what booking arrangements have already been made so that we can go into hibernation to focus on the absolutely massive amount of new music we have been writing this past year (now clocking in at just under 14 hours of new material!!). The period of The Burial Tree has been a fruitful one, and we have but two remaining shows until we're going to lay it to rest:

October 31st at the Becker Amphitheater at California State University of Fullerton - this show is all ages, free, and will be the final time we will be performing The Burial Tree (II) in its entirety, from beginning to end!

November 24th at the N. O. S. event center in San Bernardino, California for the California Metalfest featuring a ton of big bands such as KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, DILLINGERS ESCAPE PLAN and more.

Be sure to catch one of these final two shows, it will be quite some time before we re-emerge!"

In addition, Ana Kefr frontman Rhiis Lopez contributed guest choral and death vocals to the forthcoming debut full-length album from epic black metal band XANTHOCROID. The album, titled Blessed He With Boils, will be released on December 21st. You can have a free taste of it now by clicking this link and downloading their new single 'In Putris Stagnum'. This free downloadable track features guest choral and death vocals from Lopez.

Ana Kefr's latest album, The Burial Tree (II), was produced and mixed by Ana Kefr and David Franklin, engineered by David Franklin. The official tracklisting is as follows:

'Ash-Shahid'
'Emago'
'Monody'
'In The House Of Distorted Mirrors'
'Thaumatrope'
'Bathos And The Iconoclast'
'The Zephirus Circus'
'Jeremiad'
'Apoptosis'
'Parasites'
'Paedophilanthrope'
'Fragment'
'The Blackening'
'The Collector'

The cover art ("The Watcher") was created by Dutch artist Bianca Van Der Werf. Check it out below:

Check out the band's website at this location.

Swedish rockers HEX have inked a deal with logic(il)logic The band's self-titled debut album is scheduled for release this winter.

HEX was formed in October 2011 by Jonas Hygren on vocals, Jerker Johansson on bass guitars, Micke Backelin (ex-LORD BELIAL) on drums and Jörgen Svärd on lead guitar. In March 2012, the lineup was changed a bit, with Jerker taking over rhythm guitar and the bass duties being handed over to a new recruit called Timo Hagström.

According to a press release, HEX's musical direction is "some kind of mix of metal, hard rock with a little touch of industrial elements in the forms of samples and keyboards."

One of the songs from the upcoming album, "Voodoo Girl", can be streamed in the YouTube clip below.

HEX is:

Jonas Hygren - Vocals
Jerker Johansson - Guitars
Jörgen Svärd - Guitars
Micke Backelin - Drums
Timo Hagström - Bass

Bridgeway Entertainment has announced the signing of the Nevada hardcore outfit UNDER CITIES. The band is currently writing material for its new album, to be recorded in early 2013.

BridgeWay Entertainment is the development division of Red Cord Records that is committed to rising, aspiring, spirit-filled artists.

Commented Red Cord owner Joey Matthews: "We are very excited to be working with such an awesome, spirit-filled, hardcore-based ministry and group of guys. UNDER CITIES has an intensity and a drive that we were immediately drawn to, not only in their traditional/melodic hardcore-based roots, but also in the fire that they have for being a band that is also a ministry."

The cover artwork for "Ugly Noise", the new album from Arizona metal veterans FLOTSAM AND JETSAM, can be seen below. The CD will be released on November 21.

When asked about the progress of the songwriting sessions for the new album, FLOTSAM AND JETSAM guitarist Michael Gilbert told Metal Army America in July, "I worked with [former METALLICA and FLOTSAM AND JETSAM bassist] Jason Newsted on a few songs, and he's given me some tips about some things and opened my view up towards how I look at my music and how I want the listeners to perceive the points I'm trying to make."

He added, "[Jason] is really passionate about music, so when I called him and talked to him, I just wanted him to help out with some lyrical stuff and hear some of the music I was writing. He's a great songwriter, too. I'm not sure if everything that he got to do in METALLICA, if he was restrained a little bit, I'm not sure about all that sort of stuff, but as far as with me, anytime he wants to write with me, he's got full rein and he's got absolute say-so in everything that happens. It's a 50-50 relationship, as it would be with Eric ['A.K.' Knutson], our singer, writing music with us, or Kelly [David Smith], our drummer."

Regarding the musical direction of the new FLOTSAM AND JETSAM material, Gilbert said, "It's probably the most mature it's ever been, but if you wanna classify it as close to any other record that we've done, it's probably gonna be close to [1995's] 'Drift'. If we were gonna make a record right after 'Drift', which was out fifth record, 'Ugly Noise' would be the next one — with this lineup, you know."

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

FLOTSAM AND JETSAM last year parted ways with drummer Craig Nielsen and was rejoined by Kelly David Smith.

The band's current lineup is the same as the one that recorded the "Cuatro" (1992), "Drift" (1995) and "High" (1997) albums:

Eric "A.K." Knutson - Vocals
Ed Carlson - Guitar
Michael Gilbert - Guitar
Jason Ward - Bass
Kelly David Smith - Drums

FLOTSAM AND JETSAM's latest album, "The Cold", was released in Europe in February 2011 via Nuclear Blast. The CD's cover artwork was created by Travis Smith, who has previously worked with OPETH, NEVERMORE, AMORPHIS and KING DIAMOND, among others.

"The Cold" was released in North America on September 14, 2010.

Legendary rocker Alice Cooper performed his classic song "School's Out" earlier tonight (Monday, October 23) on BBC's television show "Later... With Jools Holland". Video footage of his appearance 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".

As previously reported, Cooper will be joined by actor Johnny Depp on the Comerica Theater stage in Phoenix, Arizona on December 8 for the rocker's annual benefit concert, Alice Cooper's Christmas Pudding.

Cooper and Depp have been friends since their appearance in the "Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare" horror movie in 1991. They also shared the big screen in this year's "Dark Shadows", based on the 1960s TV show.

A video clip of vocalist/bassist Glenn Hughes (BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION, ex-DEEP PURPLE), guitarist Luis Maldonado and drummer Chad Smith (CHICKENFOOT, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS) recording their cover version of the classic DEEP PURPLE track "Maybe I'm A Leo" for the "Re-Machined - A Tribute To Deep Purple's Machine Head" album can be seen below.

"Re-Machined - A Tribute To Deep Purple's Machine Head" has sold around 5,000 copies in the United States since its September 25 release, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the release of this landmark album and in recognition of the influence of the band, and of "Machine Head" in particular. Some of rock music's biggest names have each contributed a version of their favorite track on the album to create "Re-Machined - A Tribute To Deep Purple's Machine Head".

There are two wildly differing versions of the album's most famous track "Smoke On The Water", one from guitar hero Carlos Santana with vocals by Jacoby Shaddix and one from alternative rockers FLAMING LIPS, and METALLICA have contributed their own special take on "When A Blind Man Cries", a track recorded at the "Machine Head" sessions but originally released as the B-side to "Never Before".

IRON MAIDEN's "Space Truckin'" cover was actually recorded back in 2006. Lead singer Bruce Dickinson explains, "Initially we didn't think we'd be able to contribute anything due to our touring commitments. Then we remembered 'Space Truckin'' which we'd recorded as a single B-side during our 'A Matter Of Life And Death' album session, but never used. However now, thanks to Kevin Shirley's remixing skills, we're able to include it on 'Re-Machined'."

Initially released as a limited edition Classic Rock "fanpack" on September 3, this is a truly unique release that will appeal to rock fans everywhere.

"Re-Machined: A Tribute To Machine Head" track listing:

01. Smoke On The Water - CARLOS SANTANA
02. Highway Star - CHICKENFOOT
03. Maybe I'm A Leo - GLENN HUGHES, CHAD SMITH, LUIS MALDONADO
04. Pictures Of Home - BLACK LABEL SOCIETY
05. Never Before - KINGS OF CHAOS (Joe Elliott, Steve Stevens, Duff McKagan, Matt Sorum, Arlan Schierbaum)
06. Smoke On The Water - THE FLAMING LIPS
07. Lazy - JIMMY BARNES, JOE BONAMASSA
08. Space Truckin' - IRON MAIDEN
09. When A Blind Man Cries – METALLICA
10. Highway Star - GLENN HUGHES, STEVE VAI, CHAD SMITH, LACHLAN DOLEY (exclusive track)

A 26-minute "behind-the-album" video can be seen below.

Recording "Maybe I'm A Leo":

Norwegian black metallers RAGNAROK will release their seventh full-length album, "Malediction", on October 30 in Europe and November 6 in North America via Agonia Records. The CD was recorded, mixed and mastered by MARDUK bassist Magnus "Devo" Andersson at his Endarker Studios in Norrköping, Sweden and was produced by RAGNAROK and Devo.

"Malediction" will be available in three formats: jewel case CD, digital download and limited-edition vinyl, which will come with an exclusive bonus track, with the first 100 copies available on brown vinyl and hand-numbered. Artwork for "Malediction" was createds by Perversor and all band photos were shot and edited by Jon Løvstad.

"Malediction" track listing:

01. Blood Of Saints
02. Demon In My View
03. Necromantic Summoning Ritual
04. Divide Et Impera
05. (Dolce Et Decorum Est) Pro Patria Mori
06. Dystocratic
07. Iron Cross - Posthumous
08. The Elevenfold Seal
09. Fade Into Obscurity
10. Sword Of Damocles
11. Retribution (exclusive vinyl bonus track)

The song "Sword Of Damocles" can now be streamed using the SoundCloud player below.

Formed in 1994 by drummer Jontho and then-bassist Jerv, RAGNAROK's current lineup includes Jontho on drums, Hans Fyrst on vocals, DezeptiCunt on bass and Bolverk on guitar.

RAGNAROK will make its first live appearance in North America when it headlines the Messe Des Mortes festival in Montreal, Canada on November 24.

Los Angeles hardcore/metal band TERROR debuted a brand new song, "Hard Lessons", during its concert last night (Monday, October 22) at the at Brudenell Social Club in Leeds, England. Fan-filmed footage of the performance can be seen below.

"Hard Lessons" will appear on TERROR's upcoming full-length album, "Live By The Code", to be released via Reaper Records. The track will also be made available as a seven-inch single, backed by "Only The Devil Knows" (featuring Anthony Herrera of TAKE OFFENSE).

TERROR released the "Defining The Faith" DVD last November as part of the special deluxe reissue of the group's latest CD, "Keepers Of The Faith". Produced, edited, and authored by Carlo Oppermann and Ambitious.Films, "Defining The Faith" features a full live set that is composed of three different TERROR shows in three distinct settings: a small club, a big hall, and a massive European festival.

TERROR's fifth album, "Keepers Of The Faith", sold around 2,500 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 11 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

According to the DEEP PURPLE fan site The Highway Star, the band's bassist, Roger Glover, revealed in an interview with the Itar-Tass Russian news agency that DEEP PURPLE has completed work on 14 songs for a new studio album with producer Bob Ezrin (KISS, PINK FLOYD, PETER GABRIEL, ALICE COOPER, KANSAS), with 11 or 12 tracks set to appear on the final CD. A tentative February 2013 release for the as-yet-untitled effort is expected.

In other news, The Voice Of Russia reports that when DEEP PURPLE perform in Yekaterinburg, St.Petersburg, Moscow, and Krasnodar later this month, they will unveil compositions and songs that have never been performed before.

DEEP PURPLE's Russia tours have become a regular occurrence since the band’s first performance in the country in 1996.

DEEP PURPLE's 18th studio album, "Rapture of the Deep", was released in November 2005. It was the fourth studio CD from DEEP PURPLE since guitarist Steve Morse joined the band in 1994. It was also the second album to feature veteran keyboardist Don Airey.

"Rapture of the Deep" was produced by Mike Bradford, who also worked on the band's previous release, 2003's "Bananas".

Polish technical death metallers BANISHER are recording their second album, "Scarcity". The follow-up to 2010's "Slaughterhouse" will contain nine songs, including a bonus track — the death metal version of the "Benny Hill" theme.

In November, the band will enter Invent Sound Studio to record the drum parts and to mix and master the CD. The drums on the effort will be laid down by Lukasz "Lucass" Krzesiewicz, who has previously worked with such bands as SAMMATH NAUR, ESQUARIAL, CRIONICS and MELECHESH. Lucass will also join the band on the road as a session musician in the spring of 2013.

Commented BANISHER: "We've already recorded guitar and bass parts on the album.

"The music on 'Scarcity' has pretty much evolved since our first record. The songs are easier to listen, more experimental, well arranged and tight, yet still very brutal, technical and powerful. But most of all, they are perfect to play live. We are very satisfied with this stuff."

The first video report from the "Scarcity" studio sessions can be seen below.

Swedish metallers SABATON have announced details of their most explosive London show to date. As part of their seven-date U.K. tour, the mighty militant metalheads will bring a fiery arsenal of punishing pyro from Sweden to England for the first time.

"We wanna give the U.K. fans a taste of what a festival show in Europe is," says SABATON bassist Pär Sundström. "This is a big thanks to the great support we got in the U.K. the last years."

To document the occasion, SABATON has decided to professionally film and record the show in London for a future live video DVD and Blu-ray release.

SABATON is currently headlining "Swedish Empire Tour" with support from ELUVEITIE and WISDOM.

SABATON's new album, "Carolus Rex", was certified gold in the group's home country for sales in excess of 20,000 copies. (Note: The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry [IFPI] in Sweden has revised the sales requirements for albums to reach gold status in the country twice in the last seven years — from the pre-2002 level of 40,000 to the current 20,000.)

"Carolus Rex" sold around 950 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 29 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

"Carolus Rex" was released on May 22 via Nuclear Blast Records. The lyrics for the CD, which was made available in both English and Swedish, deal with the Swedish Empire (referring to the Kingdom of Sweden between 1561 and 1721).

SABATON earlier in the year parted ways with guitarists Oskar Montelius and Rikard Sundén, drummer Daniel Mulback and keyboardist Daniel Mÿhr. The band's new touring lineup is as follows:

Joakim Brodén - Vocals
Pär Sundström - Bass
Chris Rörland (NOCTURNAL RITES) - Guitar
Thobbe Englund (WINTERLONG, RAUBTIER) - Guitar
Robban Bäck (BALTIMOORE, PREY) - Drums

According to The Pulse Of Radio, Jimmy Page is working on new music, which might be released before the end of the year. During a chat with BBC Radio, Page said, "I'm just looking forward to making some music and surprising people with it. It won't be just teaming up with lots of people who are [big] names. I've got an idea of something which I've had for a long time and now's the time to do it."

Page remained ambiguous when talking about the still-unnamed project, saying: "I have got other ideas that have been nagging at me for a long long time, I think the way to present music is same picture different frame, and sometimes this frame is quite radical."

Page feels that the 2007 reunion gig setlist as featured in "Celebration Day" reflects the best of ZEPPELIN's back catalogue. "In the '70s when we were touring, y'know, the sets would be a reflection of what we had done in the past, and then what was there on that latest album," he said. "On this we had a chance to have a real retrospective of the career. That's why we arrived at the first number being 'Good Times Bad Times', which was the first track of the first album and then let's see what goes on from there. I think we made a pretty good choice right across the board in the time that we had. Y'know, we paid good attention to it and the pacing of the set was interesting, because with no warm-up gig, we had to get it right."

The last album to feature all new, mainstream Jimmy Page compositions was the 1998 PAGE AND PLANT collection, "Walking Into Clarksdale".

The album's lead single, "Most High", snagged the 1999 Grammy Award for "Best Hard Rock Performance".

German thrash metal veterans KREATOR will release a new seven-inch single, "Civilization Collapse" (retail version: black; Nuclear Blast mailorder-only version: red, yellow, white) and as digital download on November 9. The single will contain the title cut backed by the non-album track "Wolfchild", which was featured on the "Dark Symphonies - A Tribute To John Sinclair" album, released this past September in Germany via Lübbe-Audio. The band also made a video for the song "Civilization Collapse", which is said to be "mainly about the riots that took place in Greece most recently."

While researching the above-mentioned riots, the KREATOR art direction team became aware of Marios Lolos, president of the Greek union of journalistic photographers. In the past, Greek photographers have become victims of police brutality and Marios himself barely got out alive when he was subjected to one of these extreme attacks.

When KREATOR showed Marios the song and the lyrics, he immediately agreed participate by offering parts of his huge photographic archives.

"Civilization Collapse" comes off KREATOR's new album, "Phantom Antichrist", which sold 3,900 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at No. 1 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

Released on June 1 in Europe and June 5 in North America via Nuclear Blast Records, "Phantom Antichrist" was recorded at Fascination Street Studios in Örebro, Sweden with renowned producer Jens Bogren (OPETH, KATATONIA, SOILWORK, DEVIN TOWNSEND, AMON AMARTH).

As previously reported, KREATOR will unveil a "huge 3D show" during its upcoming European headlining tour with MORBID ANGEL, NILE and FUELED BY FIRE, which kicks off on November 1 in Antwerp, Belgium.

KREATOR recently completed the "North American Teutonic Terror Attack" tour with ACCEPT.

Retail-version cover:

Purple Pyramid Records, a division of Cleopatra Records, will release "The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Plays The Music Of Rush" on November 13. Nearly sixty musicians and thirty vocalists transform nine of RUSH's greatest hits into even more intricate, soaring orchestral works.

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra covers the best-known classics, from "Working Man", the self-titled debut album track that launched RUSH's career in the U.S. to "Subdivisions" from "Signals", the album that proved electronic rock could reside in the top ten. The band's most successful record, "Moving Pictures", is represented by rousing versions of "Tom Sawyer" and "Red Barchetta". Special guest guitarists include Steve Rothery of MARILLION on "Working Man" and Adrian Smith of IRON MAIDEN on "Red Barchetta". The Windrush Choir provides backing vocals and solos.

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, formed in 1946 and based in London, has been called the nation's favorite orchestra. It has had internationally known maestros like Andre Previn and Louis Clark, and has toured the world. The RPO is a best-selling and adventurous recording entity as well. In 1969, it recorded a concerto for DEEP PURPLE, composed by the band's organist Jon Lord. It earned a top ten U.S. single in 1982 with "Hooked On Classics". Over the years, RPO has orchestrally arranged PINK FLOYD, OASIS, QUEEN, R.E.M., MADONNA and ABBA.

The orchestra was recorded at the legendary Abbey Road Studios in London, conducted by BAFTA Award-winning musician and composer Richard Harvey. Harvey performed with the prog rock group GRYPHON and as an accomplished multi-instrumentalist (specializing in mediaeval and Renaissance periods), worked with many folk and rock musicians such as Richard and Linda Thompson, Kate Bush and SWEET. He has toured and recorded with John Williams, and has performed and composed film/TV soundtracks for more than thirty years. The album was produced by James Graydon and Richard Cottle, who also arranged all the music.

"The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Plays The Music Of Rush" track listing:

01. 2112 Overture
02. The Spirit Of Radio
03. Tom Sawyer
04. Red Barchetta (feat. Adrian Smith)
05. Subdivisions
06. Fly By Night
07. Closer To The Heart
08. Limelight
09. Working Man (feat. Steve Rothery)

"2112 Overture" can be streamed at this location.

Legendary San Francisco Bay Area gore grind act AUTOPSY is preparing to begin work on its sixth album for a mid-2013 release via Peaceville Records. According to the group, the CD will be its "heaviest, darkest and most devastating album to date." The band adds, "This task is not being taken lightly and the band will see to it eardrums are torn, minds are destroyed and skulls are crushed.

"To make the horror complete, none other than famed artist Joe Petagno is handling the cover painting.

"Brace yourself for a mid-2013 release and know your hunger for death metal will be met with soul bludgeoning darkness and blood spattering savagery."

Peaceville has just released a vinyl edition of AUTOPSY's original 1995 swan song, "Shitfun", plus the ABSCESS classic "Through the Cracks of Death", marking 10 years since its original release and now presented for the first time ever on vinyl.

AUTOPSY recently released a new DVD, "Born Undead", via Peaceville. The set charts AUTOPSY's birth, death and rebirth with an extensive documentary conducted with the bandmembers themselves, as they describe how the beast came to be, and the impact their music has had on the metal world over a span of more than 20 years. The film also documents the band's long-awaited return to the studio and stage, and includes rehearsal footage of both new tracks and old classics for their live comeback assault.

"Minä Elän" ("I Live"), the new Sami Jämsen-directed video from KUOLEMANLAAKSO — the Finnish band featuring members of CHAOSWEAVER, SWALLOW THE SUN and BARREN EARTH — can be seen below. The song comes off the group's debut album, "Uljas Uusi Maailma" ("Brave New World"), which will be released on November 23 via Svart Records.

Named after one of the lowest, driest, and hottest places on Earth, KUOLEMANLAAKSO ("Death Valley") was formed in the spring of 2010. The band originally started out as a one-man project of guitarist Laakso (CHAOSWEAVER). Much influenced by TRIPTYKON's "Eparistera Daimones", Laakso's mission was to create an utterly dark and heavy album, full of catchy hooks and originality: a tragically beautiful world all its own.

It was clear from the start that the lyrics would be recited in Finnish. They were inspired by Eino Leino's (1878–1926) poem collection "Helkavirsiä", the mystique of the Finnish forests, and the morbidity of the modern world.

The feedback from an unreleased four-song demo recording was so overwhelmingly positive from fellow musicians that Laakso decided to recruit some of them and thus make KUOLEMANLAAKSO a fully operating five-head outfit. And not just anybody, but some of his favorite bandsmen: vocalist Kotamäki (SWALLOW THE SUN, BARREN EARTH), guitarist Kouta (CHAOSWEAVER, ex-VERJNUARMU), bassist Usva (ELENIUM, THE NIBIRUAN) and drummer Tiera (DISCARD, CULT OF ENDTIME).

The band packed their bags in February 2012 and flew to Germany's Woodshed Studio, which is operated by none other than Victor Bullok (a.k.a. V. Santura; TRIPTYKON, DARK FORTRESS). Victor not only co-produced, mixed, mastered and engineered the crushing "Uljas Uusi Maailma", he also provided guest guitars on five tracks on it — at his own request, as he liked the material so much.

"Uljas Uusi Maailma" track listing:

01. Minä Elän ("I Live")
02. Kuun Lapset ("Children Of The Moon")
03. Nostos & Algos
04. Roihusydän ("Blaze Heart")
05. Etsin ("Searching")
06. Ikiuni ("The Eternal Sleep")
07. Uljas Uusi Maailma ("Brave New World")
08. Aurinko ("The Sun")

KUOLEMANLAAKSO is:

Kotamäki (SWALLOW THE SUN, BARREN EARTH) - Vocals
Laakso (CHAOSWEAVER) – Guitar, Keyboards
Kouta (CHAOSWEAVER, ex-VERJNUARMU) - Guitar
Usva (ELENIUM, THE NIBIRUAN) - Bass
Tiera (DISCARD, CULT OF ENDTIME) - Drums

"Live At Wacken", the new DVD+CD package from Arizona thrashers SACRED REICH, will be released in North America on November 20 in North America through Metal Blade. The set contains professionally filmed and recorded footage of the band's August 4, 2007 performance at the Wacken Open Air festival in Wacken, Germany in front of 60,000 heavy metal fans.

"Live At Wacken" track listing:

01. The American Way
02. Administrative Decisions
03. One Nation
04. Love… Hate
05. Ignorance
06. Crimes Against Humanity
07. Who's To Blame
08. State Of Emergency
09. War Pigs (BLACK SABBATH cover)
10. Independent
11. Death Squad
12. Surf Nicaragua

A performance clip of "Surf Nicaragua" taken from "Live At Wacken" can be seen below.

You can pre-order "Live At Wacken" at this location.

In a recent interview with MetalRecusants.com, SACRED REICH bassist/vocalist Phil Rind was asked why the band hasn't made a new studio album after reuniting for sporadic live shows six years ago. "Our lives are different now," he said. "I mean, it's funny… Our old drummer Dave's [McClain] in MACHINE HEAD and they're touring and doing great; they're very successful. And I said [to the other guys in SACRED REICH recently], I wouldn't even wanna [get back into a full recording and touring cycle]. I wouldn't wanna be gone from my family. I have four kids. As much as I like this, as much as I appreciate the fans, what’s important — the family or playing live music? I mean, really?! What's important — being a dad to my kids? My kids need their dad more than the fans need a new SACRED REICH record. And that's really the bottom line. It's a choice. We have a choice to make. What do you wanna do? You have kids now. What are you gonna do — blow it off or are you gonna be their dad? The world will be a better place if I'm [my kids'] dad."

SACRED REICH launched its 25th-anniversary European tour in June.

The remastered edition of SACRED REICH's classic 1992 album "Independent" was released as a digipack and jewelbox on March 15, 2010 via Displeased Records. The first 2,500 copies contain a free SACRED REICH patch.

Displeased Records' reissue of SACRED REICH's classic album "The American Way" came out in February 2009. With upgraded layout, to-the-point remastering plus unreleased pre-production demo bonus tracks and a video clip, this new and improved CD reissue is an essential addition to every thrash metal collection.

"The American Way" was made available in a limited digipak version and standard jewel case version. The first 2,500 copies came with a free logo patch.

"50 Shades Of Evil", the new video from Calgary, Alberta, Canada-based female-fronted metallers KOBRA AND THE LOTUS, can be seen below. The track is the second single from the band's current self-titled album, released in August via Spinefarm Records.

Directed by Lisa Mann, whose previous credits include videos for APOCALYPTICA, THE USED and CASCADA, "50 Shades Of Evil" sees KOBRA AND THE LOTUS frontwoman Brittany Paige surviving a full-tilt attack on the senses, while her bandmembers run through the song like men (literally) possessed!

When asked what it was like to join forces with Lisa Mann, Paige said, "It was an honor to work with a director who is as exceptional as Lisa. Not only is she passionate, she is a true visionary. Throughout the whole experience she never ceased to amaze us. Lisa's creative flow is not only boundless, it is dynamic and organic. Her consistent level of enthusiasm charged the whole team."

Canadian native Lisa Mann was keen to work with her fellow countrymen after hearing "50 Shades Of Evil" and feeling she could channel the primal aggression of the track in ways that side-stepped the more traditional touchstones of the genre.

"This band is super creative and up for anything," said Mann. "I like that in a group. I met them before the shoot and briefed them on some of my insane ideas... like suspending [Paige] by strapping her to a railing 15 feet in the air, and they were totally trusting.

"I think one of my favorite parts of the shoot day was when we had [Paige] on the bed. We had the bed rocking violently with [Paige] on it as we blew her hair wildly. It was a tough scene for any artist to perform in, but [Paige] was such a pro she completely went for it and totally nailed it."

"50 Shades Of Evil" will be released as a digital single on November 5. The bonus track is an acoustic cover of the DIO classic "Rainbow In The Dark" performed by KOBRA AND THE LOTUS during their acoustic session at the Bloodstock Open Air festival back in August.

KOBRA AND THE LOTUS currently supporting STEEL PANTHER on a number of European dates.

In a recent interview with May The Rock Be With You, Brittany Paige stated about the band's sound, "KOBRA AND THE LOTUS is a traditional, straight-up heavy metal band. It's not a niche, it's just driving riffs, duelling guitars, there's a melodicness to the music and there is a classic metal vocal. We are all about traditional heavy metal, but bringing in the flavors of our generation for a slight twist."

She added, "Our music will always stay as heavy metal, even though it will evolve in some shape or form. But we all listen to such different things, which is a really great thing. There's certainly death metal and black metal influences, we've got experimental and folk metal, there's so many different things that come into play, and if you listen to the music, you can hear some of those coming through, but which you wouldn't really pick up on unless you knew someone in the band was into Gary Moore, or the blues, for example, then it makes sense."

KOBRA AND THE LOTUS is:

Brittany Paige - Vocals
Jasio Kulakowski - Guitar
Griffin Kissack - Drums
Peter Dimov - Bass
Charlie Parra Del Riego - Guitar