HEAVING MASS have announced that they are currently mixing their self-titled debut album at Wall2Wall Recording, in Chicago, IL (where it was also recorded) by engineer Andrew Ragin ( ATLAS MOTH FAME).

The rhythm tracks were recorded on a Studer A820 2” 24 track machine and ran through a 60 Input Neve V51 Console with dynamics on every channel.

According to a press release: “The band chose to use an analog recording for Heaving Mass to achieve a fatter, richer sound that can’t be achieved with digital recording equipment. It took three months of scattered studio sessions for Heaving Mass to finish the recording process but the long hours and hard work were well worth the end result.”

The album is to be released within the next six to eight weeks.

The band has been working on the album since 2009.

For more info on Heaving Mass visit their Facebook page.

"Fear Of Impending Hell", the new video from British gothic metal pioneers PARADISE LOST, can be seen below. The clip was directed and produced by the band's own Steve Edmondson (bass) and features live-performance and behind-the-scenes footage.

"Fear Of Impending Hell" comes off PARADISE LOST's new album, "Tragic Idol", which sold around 900 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 32 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 April 24 (one day earlier internationally) via Century Media Records, "Tragic Idol" was recorded in part at The Chapel studios in Lincolnshire, England and features cover art by by Parisian designer Valnoir, who has previously worked with MORBID ANGEL, LAIBACH, ULVER and WATAIN, among others.

PARADISE LOST is currently on the road in North America as part of the "Epic Kings & Idols Tour" with DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT and KATATONIA.

"Cruelty Without Beauty", the new video from Swedish/German extreme metallers ARCH ENEMY, can be seen below. The song comes off the band's ninth album, "Khaos Legions", which sold around 6,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to enter The Billboard 200 chart at position No. 78.

Commented ARCH ENEMY singer Angela Gossow: "I'm very pleased we got this video done for one of my favourite songs off the 'Khaos Legions' album. The video is quite raw and extreme as it reflects the lyrics very well, I believe, dealing with a subject matter close to my heart — animal cruelty and vivisection.

"We want to thank the good folks at Peta2, Hardforce, Metalitalia and The Metal Circus for supporting a serious subject.

"All of us have been well aware that a video like this doesn't find everybody's acceptance. But rock music was always more than guitar riffs — it's also the voice of the voiceless."

ARCH ENEMY earlier in the year amicably parted ways with guitarist Christopher Amott and replaced him with 26-year-old American musician Nick Cordle (ARSIS).

"Khaos Legions" was released in Europe on May 30, 2011 and in the U.S. on June 7, 2011 via Century Media Records. The CD marked the band's return to new, original material, after the release of the "Tyrants Of The Rising Sun - Live In Japan" live DVD/CD (2008) and the re-recordings album, "The Root Of All Evil" (2009). The effort was tracked at Sweet Spot Studio in the south of Sweden with engineer Rickard Bengtsson (who produced 2005's "Doomsday Machine").

German pagan metallers ADORNED BROOD have announced they have completed recording for their upcoming album.

The album is entitled Kuningaz (Germanic term for king) and will be available in late November. It will also be available as limited digipak with an exclusive bonus track.

The album was recorded at the Kohlekeller Studio in Seeheim-Jugenheim, Germany, with producer Kai Stahlenberg.

Guest musicians on the album include: Mario Pontigo, Moritz "Mo" Stübing (ALL WILL KNOW) and Florian "Blutaxt" Tamm (BLACK UNICORN).

The first video trailer can be seen below:

The latest episode of Whitesnake TV, featuring the second part of a question-and-answer session between WHITESNAKE frontman David Coverdale and guitarist Doug Aldrich, 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 2:

Danish extreme metallers ILLDISPOSED will release their new album, "Sense The Darkness", on September 21 via Massacre Records. The CD was recorded at Antfarm Studio in Aabyhøj, Denmark with producer Tue Madsen (MOONSPELL, DARK TRANQUILLITY, GOREFEST, SICK OF IT ALL). The artwork was created by Mircea Gabriel Eftemie (MNEMIC).

"Sense The Darkness" track listing:

01. Sense The Darkness
02. We Do This Alone
03. The Poison
04. Eyes Popping Out
05. Another Kingdom Dead
06. Time To Dominate
07. She's Undressed
08. Never Compromise
09. War
10. Stop Running
11. Desire
12. I Am Possessed
13. Too Blind To See

The "Sense The Darkness" title track is available for streaming below.

The "Sense The Darkness" release party and concert will be held on Friday, September 21 at Pumpehuset in Copenhagen, Denmark. There will be free beer sponsored by Hi-Fi Klubben, which is Europe's largest and most successful chain of shops specialized in high-end audio.

Power epic doom metallers IN AEVUM AGERE have signed a worldwide deal with Pure Steel Records

The band’s first full-length album entitled The Shadow Tower will be released in December.

Lineup:
Bruno Masulli ( ANNIHILATIONMANCER, LOADSTAR, POWER BEYOND, ex-BURIAL IN SULPHUR, ex-MARSHALL, ex-SAVIOR FROM ANGER) - bass, guitar, vocals
Andrea Cannata (Annihilationmancer) - drums
Marco Ruggiero (Savior from Anger, ex-NAMELESS CRIME, ex-LANDGUARD) - lead guitar

Fan-filmed video footage of COAL CHAMBER's September 9 performance at Club Blondie in Santiago, Chile can be seen below.

COAL CHAMBER played its first reunion dates in late February and early March as part of Australia's Soundwave Festival.

In a 2011 interview with Australia's Loud magazine, Dez stated about how the COAL CHAMBER reunion came about, "In '05, Meegs [Miguel Rascón, guitar] started coming around. He apologized to my wife for the way things went down with COAL CHAMBER, because when COAL CHAMBER split up I had to move my family into a one-bedroom apartment and start all over. So when he apologized to my wife, I thought, 'Well, OK, he's got a big heart inside him. And he's clean off the hard drugs now, let's see if this goes awhile.' So let's fast forward a few years to '09, he and Mikey [Mike Cox, drums] were still clean off hard drugs, Meegs came out and did 'Loco' onstage with DEVILDRIVER. After that he gave me a hug onstage and in my ear he said, 'Let's do this again.'"

Asked how he feels about performing the COAL CHAMBER songs again, Dez said, "[Meegs and Mikey] been clean off hard drugs, they've got their lives together, I've got my life with DEVILDRIVER, we miss playing together onstage. I miss... Those guys have got a serious fucking aura on stage, no doubt about it. I miss that. I miss those songs. I miss everything about it. . . It's ten years later, everybody's fucking one hundred percent focused, and we're coming down for one reason only, and that's to own the day and take everybody to the bank. Period."

Regarding why neither of the two former COAL CHAMBER bassists — Nadja Peulen or Rayna Foss — is involved in the band's reunion, Dez told Full Metal Jackie in a separate interview, "Rayna was not [asked to be a part of it]. Rayna has been out of the band for a very long time. We did speak to Nadja. She has other things going and it wasn't really in the headspace where we were at as a band. We found Chela; she's Canadian and she's a bad-ass player. She's been playing for nearly 12 years. She plays five-string and it's going to be good to have her on bass. She grew up with COAL CHAMBER. She's only 26-27 years old. She knows the songs, and just hearing her on the phone, the excitement [in her voice], that's really what I wanted brought to the table. Where Meegs and Mikey and I am right now, we're really excited so we needed someone that filled that excitement drawer and she did for sure; she's stoked."

British metalcore act BRING ME THE HORIZON has entered the studio with producer Terry Date (DEFTONES, PANTERA, SOUNDGARDEN, PRONG) to begin recording its fourth album for a 2013 release via RCA.

BRING ME THE HORIZON will play its only U.K. show of the year at the Alexandra Palace in London on November 10 as the co-headliners of the Vans Warped Tour with LOSTPROPHETS.

BRING ME THE HORIZON's third full-length CD, "There Is A Hell, Believe Me I've Seen It. There Is A Heaven, Let's Keep It A Secret", sold 20,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 17 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD also entered the official chart in the U.K. at position No. 13. The team at Studio Fredman in Gothenburg, Sweden (where BRING ME THE HORIZON recorded 2008's "Suicide Season") was again at the helm of the recording, this time bringing in electronic and programming authority KC Blitz to assist with the instrumental aspects of the album.

"Alligator Blood" video:

Swedish melodic metallers BLOODBOUND will release their fifth full-length CD, "In The Name Of Metal", on November 7 via AFM Records, The effort was recorded with producer Jonas Kjellgren (SCAR SYMMETRY, SONIC SYNDICATE, HYPOCRISY, CENTINEX, CARNAL FORGE). According to the band, "This is BY FAR the best album we've done!"

"In The Name Of Metal" track listing:

01. In The Name Of Metal
02. When Demons Collide
03. Bonebreaker
04. Metalheads Unite
05. Son Of Babylon
06. Mr. Darkness
07. I'm Evil
08. Monstermind
09. King Of Fallen Grace
10. Black Devil
11. Bounded By Blood
12. Book Of The Dead 2012 (bonus track).

BLOODBOUND filmed a video for the "In The Name Of Metal" title track this past weekend.

BLOODBOUND's fourth album, "Unholy Cross", entered the official chart in Sweden at position No. 50. The CD was released on March 18, 2011 via Germany's AFM Records.

BLOODBOUND in 2010 parted ways with lead vocalist Urban Breed due to "musical and personal differences" and replaced him with Patrik "Pata" Johansson (DAWN OF SILENCE) from Finspång, Sweden.

Fan-filmed video footage of Swedish female-fronted heavy rockers SISTER SIN performing a brand new song, "Fight Song", on August 18 at the Rockstad Falun festival in Falun, Sweden can be seen below.

"Fight Song" comes off SISTER SIN's third album, "Now And Forever", which will be released on October 23 via Victory Records. The CD was recorded at Standstraight Studios in Stockholm with producer Chris Snyder and was mixed by Cameron Webb (MOTÖRHEAD, SOCIAL DISTORTION, DANZIG).

"Now And Forever" track listing:

01. MMXII
02. End Of The Line
03. Fight Song
04. In It For Life
05. Hearts Of Cold
06. The Chosen Few
07. Hang 'Em High
08. I'm Not You
09. Running Low
10. Shades Of Black
11. Morning After

The official lyric video for "End Of The Line" can be seen below. The track was released on August 7 via all digital platforms worldwide.

Various pre-order options for "Now And Forever" can be found at VictoryRecords.com.

For more information, visit www.sistersin.com.

"Fight Song" performance:

On September 15th LEAVES' EYES vocalist Liv Kristine performed the song 'Breaking The Silence' with FIREWIND during the band's headline set. Fan-filmed footage is available below.

The song is taken from Firewind's Allegiance album, with female vocals originally performed by Tara Teresa.
The Leaves' Eyes / Firewind tour schedule is as follows:

September
19 - Nuneaton, UK - Queens Hall
20 - Plymouth, UK - White Rabbit
21 - Southampton, UK - Talking Heads
22 - London, UK - Islington Academy
23 - Margate, UK - The Westoast
25 - Paris, France - Divan du Monde
26 - Colmar, France - Le Grillen
27 - Bochum, Germany - Matrix
28 - Hamburg, Germany - Knust
29 - Kolding, Denmark - Godset
30 - Berlin, Germany - SO36

October
2 - Aschaffenburg, Germany - Colos Saal
3 - Ingolstadt, Germany - Eventhalle
4 - Cologne, Germany - Underground
5 - Zwolle, The Netherlands - Hedon
6 - Vosselaar, Belgium - Biebob

California's extreme, tech-metallers ARKAIK have released the title track from their upcoming October 9th release Metamorphignition. Check it out below:
The previously released track 'Soliloquies Of The War Machine', off the new album, can be seen below:
Recorded in Oakland, CA at Castle Ultimate Studios with Zack Ohren (DECREPIT BIRTH, ALL SHALL PERISH), Metamorphignition features the following ten songs:

(Tapasiatic Exodus)
'Skin Graft Hieroglyphics'
'Metamorphignition'
(Sirens In Electric Veils)
'Part 1'
'Part 2'
(Paths Of Recognition)
'Blade Grasp Priesthood'
'Soliloquies Of The War Machine'
'The Laughing Prophet Of Doom'
'The Withered Hands Of Mortality'
'The Omnipus'
'Opus Brahmanic'
Arkaik recently ended two successful full national runs with CANNIBAL CORPSE and SEVERED SAVIOR and plan on hitting the road in early 2013 to support Metamorphignition.

Trenton, NJ-based traditional heavy/speed Metallers MIDNITE HELLION will release their new EP, Enter The Unknown, on September 25th on CD, with a vinyl edition to follow (release date to be announced), via Else’s Metalecke.

This follow-up to the band's demo, The Fever, that was released last November, is sure to please any fan of JUDAS PRIEST, IRON MAIDEN, SAXON, OVERKILL, and EXODUS that are looking for a band that is set in the golden ways of heavy metal and without a modern approach.

A special EP release show will be held at The Backstage at Champs in Trenton, NJ on Saturday, September 29th.

Tracklisting for Enter The Unknown is as follows:

'1903'
'The Fever'
'Cross The Line'
'Spirit Possession'

PRIME EVIL and Midnite Hellion’s upcoming tour, dubbed the Enter The Evilution 2012 Northeast Coast American Mayhem Tour, will be kicking off in Philadelphia and ending in Beacon, NY.

Tour dates:

October
6 - O’Reilly’s Pub - Philadelphia, PA
8 - The Brighton Bar - Long Branch, NJ
9 - TBA
10 - TBA
11 - Ralph’s Rock Diner - Worcester, MA
12 - The Beacon Theater - Beacon, NY
13 - Venue TBA - East Windsor, NJ

Both bands will also be embarking on a mini-tour together in January 2013, with more information to follow.

Immediately after the tour, Midnite Hellion will be filming a music video for their song, 'The Fever', at the Corner of Chaos in East Windsor, NJ on Saturday, October 13th during their performance. All are welcome to attend and to take part in the filming.

More on Midnite Hellion at this location.

ARKHAMIN KIRJASTO have announced the release if their new music video for the track ‘Sea Of Madness’ which comes from the band's recently released debut album, Torches Ablaze.

The video was directed by Mattyr Hekuma.

Vocalist/drummer Samae Koskinen commented: "It wonderfully crafts a vision of disturbed mind. The video captures brilliantly the feel of the song. It's much more Lovecraftian than tentacles and piles of green goo."

Watch the video below:
Arkhamin Kirjasto recently performed their first-ever live shows.

Koskinen commented: "Every single one of them was a success. We played all the major cities in Finland, and I think that people were surprised to see how energetic the show was. The shows were 80% metal, 10% hardcore-punk, and 10% theater."

Video of the band performing the tracks ‘Sea Of Madness’, ‘The Cult of No Return’ and ‘Bitch From Hell’ on tour can be seen below:

MURDERDOLLS frontman Wednesday 13's special Halloween (October 31) show at Koko in London, England will be professionally filmed and recorded for a DVD release.

Commented Wednesday 13: "I'm beyond excited to be playing London on Halloween night. Our last show on Halloween outside the U.S. was in '08 in London at the Astoria and it was nothing short of an amazing night. Seeing almost the entire audience dressed up in costumes was a big highlight, so we are encouraging everyone to do the same again. This is our only U.K. show of the tour...So get ready London, here we come...SPOOK & DESTROY!!!!"

Wednesday 13 has been busy in the studio all summer recording music for two new releases; the "Spook & Destroy" EP, which will be issued in October, to be followed by a new full-length album, "The Dixie Dead", due in February/March 2013.

"Spook & Destroy" contains two new songs, two remixes, one acoustic reworking of a song as well as three re-recordings of some older songs.

"People keep asking why I have recorded some of my older songs," says Wednesday 13. "The simple answer is that I have been recording music for 20 years; actually 2013 makes 20 years of me putting out recorded music. A lot of the recordings from the earlier days were bare-bones recording. As recording technology has become cheaper and better, I wanted to go back and give those songs a proper recording."

Wednesday 13 recently released one of re-recordings, "Mr. Motherfucker", exclusively through Metal Hammer magazine. The song was originally released in 1998 by his former band FRANKENSTEIN DRAG QUEENS FROM PLANET 13.

Below is a free stream of one of the new songs, "M.F.T.W."

Video footage of drummer Mike Portnoy (ADRENALINE MOB, FLYING COLORS, DREAM THEATER, AVENGED SEVENFOLD) performing the ADRENALINE MOB song "Indifferent" can be seen below.

ADRENALINE MOB features in its ranks Portnoy bassist John Moyer (also of DISTURBED), vocalist Russell Allen (SYMPHONY X) and guitarist Mike Orlando (SONIC STOMP, TRED).

ADRENALINE MOB's "Indifferent" video was filmed in March in the desert in California and throughout Los Angeles with director Scott Hansen, who has previously worked with A DAY TO REMEMBER, UNEARTH and WILLIE NELSON, among others.

"Indifferent" comes off ADRENALINE MOB's debut album, "Omertá", which sold around 6,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 70 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD was released in Europe on March 19 in Europe via Century Media Records and in the U.S. on March 13 through the newly formed Elm City Music in conjunction with EMI Label Services.

The 11-song effort — which was produced by ADRENALINE MOB and mixed by Jay Ruston, who has previously worked on ANTHRAX's "Worship Music" and STEEL PANTHER's "Balls Out" — includes a blistering reinterpretation of DURAN DURAN's classic "Come Undone" featuring guest vocals by Lzzy Hale of HALESTORM.

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada metallers 3 INCHES OF BLOOD will enter the studio later this week to record a cover of a DAYGLO ABORTIONS track, to be included on the upcoming DAYGLO ABORTIONS tribute album, due out in 2013. The song will be recorded with Reversed Records founder, producer/engineer/manager Rob Shallcross (STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, GWAR, Gene Hoglan, MELDRUM, WEST OF HELL).

3 INCHES OF BLOOD's "Leather Lord" video can be seen below. The song comes off the band's latest album, "Long Live Heavy Metal", which was released on March 27 via Century Media Records.

For "Long Live Heavy Metal", 3 INCHES OF BLOOD reunited with producer and engineer Terry "Sho" Murray (CITY OF FIRE, EXHIBITIONISTS), who worked with the band on their seven-inch single, "Anthems For The Victorious".

3 INCHES OF BLOOD teamed up with Kim Thiessen to perfect their artistic vision for the album, which was released as a digipack and when opened, lays out similar to that of a book.

3 INCHES OF BLOOD recently recruited Byron Stroud (STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, FEAR FACTORY) as its new bassist.

Power metal act BLACK SUN has announced they have signed to IceWarrior Records.

The band will release Part two of their Tales Of Fire And Ice limited edition series: Dance Of Elders, at the beginning of 2013 via IceWarrior Records.

The album was produced by GAMMY RAYs Dirk Schlaechter and features METALIUMs lead singer Henning Basse as special guest.

Originally released and self-produced by the band, Dance Of Elders will now be presented as an official release (with bonus) for the very first time.

Artwork for Dave Of Elders was done by Filipe Machado (BLIND GUARDIAN, RHAPSODY, AXENSTAR) and can be seen below:
The video for the track ‘Dehumanized’ can be seen below:

Black Sun Lineup:
Chemel Neme - vocals
Christopher Gruenberg - guitars
Santiago Salem - bass
Nicolás Estrada - drums

ICED EARTH guitarist/mainman Jon Schaffer has commented on the lawsuits filed on behalf of Century Media Records that collectively target more than 7,000 people for allegedly using peer-to-peer networks to unlawfully distribute "Dystopia", the 2011 album by ICED EARTH, and "Dark Adrenaline", the most recent album by the Italian band LACUNA COIL.

Said Schaffer: "It has come to my attention that Century Media is suing fans over illegal downloads of (among others) our latest album, 'Dystopia'. I felt it was important to clarify that we had no knowledge of this motion and were, sadly, not asked permission.

"We all know the music industry is changing. We have been adapting to this model by embracing legal streaming services such as Spotify and by bringing our music to places we have never played before by touring our proverbial asses off.

"As much as we respect that the labels are having a harder time selling music, we feel this is a misguided effort and want to make sure our fans know we would have not given our consent would we have been asked."

In a typical illegal-downloading case, a lawyer hires a company to search for Internet protocol (IP) addresses associated with the use of file-sharing software such as BitTorrent. Once the IP addresses have been harvested, the lawyer's clients file suit naming defendants as John Doe. They then seek to have mass subpoenas issued for the Internet providers associated with the harvested IP addresses in order to obtain the name and address of the owner of the IP address on the date it was harvested. Once identified, an Internet account holder typically faces the prospect of settling the case for a few thousand dollars or hiring a lawyer to fight the charges.

"It's tough. If you get one of these letters you've been put in a difficult and unfair spot," said Rebecca Jeschke, a spokeswoman for the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a San Francisco-based civil-liberties group, referring to the notices that go out once a John Doe has been identified.

"In many of these situations," she added to NorthJersey.com, "the goal doesn't seem to be to fight infringement; it seems to be to get settlements. That's where the money-making is."

Nuclear Blast Records made headlines earlier in the year when it filed a lawsuit against 80 users of the BitTorrent network over illegal music downloads of an album by Oakland, California-based extreme metallers ALL SHALL PERISH. The lawsuit was not only brought without the band's permission, but also without their knowledge.

After members of ALL SHALL PERISH made it clear that they did not want to participate in the legal proceedings, Nuclear Blast voluntarily dismissed the lawsuit without prejudice.

In December 2008, the Recording Industry Association Of America (RIAA) abandoned its litigation campaign against file sharers after having targeted some 18,000 individuals, usually naming dozens or hundreds of defendants per suit.

Most of the defendants settled out of court for a few thousand dollars rather than risk Copyright Act fines of up to $150,000 per purloined music track.

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

The movie will have its premiere on November 10 at Hartwall Arena in Helsinki, Finland, where the audience will be treated to both a full-scale NIGHTWISH concert and the first-ever public screening of the movie.

Eagerly anticipated around the world, "Imaginaerum" creates a musical fantasy world in the vein of David Lynch, Neil Gaiman, and Cirque du Soleil. The movie is an innovative mixture of story-telling and music, an extraordinary tale of the power of imagination… and what's ultimately important in life.

Shot and post-produced in Canada, the movie was directed by Stobe Harju and produced by Solar Films, and features appearances by all NIGHTWISH members. The screenplay is based on a wild vision that Tuomas Holopainen, the mastermind of the band, devised after the album "Dark Passion Play" came out in 2007.

"I though of how we could take our expression that had already became pretty ambitious and grandiose to the next level, and that’s when I knew I wanted to tell a story, and to tell it with love and piety," said Tuomas.

According to Holopainen, finishing the movie has been an eventful and challenging journey that has sometimes demanded superhuman dedication from the production crew.

"I want to already thank everyone from the bottom of my heart. Together we've managed to create something innovative, strange, and timeless," Holopainen said.

The "Imaginaerum" screening at Hartwall Arena will be preceded by a show by the musicians NIGHTWISH themselves in what will be their last concert in Finland this year.

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

"Imaginaerum By Nightwish: The Score" track listing:

01. Find Your Story
02. Orphanage Airlines
03. Undertow
04. Spying In The Doorway
05. A Crackling Sphere
06. Sundown
07. Wonderfields
08. Hey Buddy
09. Deeper Down
10. Dare To Enter
11. I Have To Let You Go
12. Heart Lying Still
13. From G To E Minor

Several photos from the "Imaginaerum" movie shoot can be found at this location.

"Imaginaerum" is one of the projects which received grants from the Finnish government institution called the Finnish Film Foundation. The movie, directed by Stobe Harju, about an old man on his deathbed who glimpses a childhood dream in which he refuses to grow old, and fights aging with his imagination, reportedly got $575,000 toward its $3.7 million budget.

During a September 2011 interview with Petri Silas of Finland's Soundi magazine, NIGHTWISH mainman/keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen explained that all the filming for the "Imaginaerum" movie was done in Canada with mostly Canadian actors/actresses. Post-production took place in Canada and Finland. He aso revealed the names of the actors who have two of the main roles in the film: Marianne Farley and Quinn Lord.

Speaking to Loudwire, Holopainen stated about the plot of the "Imaginaerum" film, "Basically it's about this old guy who used to be a composer and he's really sick; he's lying on his death bed in a hospital and he's going through his life, through his dreams — that's the basic storyline. It's all about praising life and life's beauty, imagination and all the strife and the bad stuff we have to face.

"[The storyline] came from the director; I just had the twelve ideas, the twelve visions. He basically wrote the script and storyline around those originally visions and the only one we had to leave out was the 'Ghost River' part, because we didn't have the finance to realize that vision."

Asked if the band appears in the film at all, Tuomas said, "A little bit, we are seen in two different scenes as a band, playing in the background. That's something that I really emphasized to the director, 'Please don't put the band into the movie,' because we want to do a believable story and we have no idea how to act. We are not actors so if your give us some lines and we tried to act, it would look goofy. He insisted to put us into the movie because it's our brainchild, so we're just playing in there as a band; it's a good compromise."

"Imaginaerum" film cast:

* Francis X. McCarthy
* Quinn Lord
* Marianne Farley
* Joanna Noyes
* Ilkka Villi
* Keyanna Fielding
* Ron Lea
* Victoria Jung
* Hélène Robitaille
* Stefan Demers
* Anette Olzon
* Marco Hietala
* Tuomas Holopainen
* Emppu Vuorinen
* Jukka Nevalainen

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

Reactivated classic early '80s metal band OBSESSION will release its long-awaited new album, "Order Of Chaos", on October 3 in Europe and October 9 in North America through Inner Wound Recordings. The CD will be made available in Japan on September 19 through Spiritual Beast.

In a recent interview, OBSESSION vocalist Michael Vescera described "Order of Chaos" as "a cross between 'Carnival Of Lies' [2006] and the early OBSESSION stuff." He added, "I think it's geared more towards the older sound, the straight-tforward metal like the 'Marshall Law' album [1984], but you can hear some of the 'Carnival' sound in there, too."

"Order of Chaos" track listing:

01. Order Of Chaos
02. Twist Of The Knife
03. Forbidden Desire
04. When The Smoke Clears
05. License To Kill
06. Wages Of Sin
07. Cold Day In Hell
08. Act Of God
09. Mercy Killing
10. Dark Shadows

The Japanese edition of the album will feature the exclusive bonus track "The Damned".

The song "Wages Of Sin" can now be streamed in the YouTube clip below.

The group's current lineup is as follows:

Michael Vescera - Vocals
John Bruno - Guitar
Scott Boland - Guitar
Chris McCarvill - Bass
BJ Zampa – Drums

"Carnival of Lies" was re-released through Mausoleum Records on February 12, 2008. This reissue featured new artwork and the bonus tracks "Panic In The Streets" (previously only available on the Avalon release in Japan) and "Judas". The album's title track featured Swedish guitar sensation Robert Marcello (DANGER DANGER, IRONHORSE) and Boston based neo-classical shred-god Joe Stump (REIGN OF TERROR).

OBSESSION gained success in the late '80s with the release of a four-song EP, 1984's "Marshall Law" (Metal Blade Records), two LPs (1986's "Scarred For Life" and 1987's "Methods Of Madness", both for Enigma/Capitol Records), and an MTV "Headbanger's Ball"-aired video for "For the Love of Money", from "Methods of Madness".

OBSESSION's original lineup featured Michael and Jay along with Bruce Vitale, Art Maco (guitar, retired) and Matt Karagus (bass, retired).

After releasing an amped-up cover of a holiday classic in each of the past four years, Lancaster, Pennsylvania-based Christian metalcore quintet AUGUST BURNS RED will issue a full-length Christmas album, "August Burns Red Presents: Sleddin' Hill, A Holiday Album", on October 9 via Solid State Records. The 13-track release features not only fresh takes on classics such as "Jingle Bells", "Winter Wonderland" and even "Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer", but also original compositions that are destined to become future headbanging holiday favorites. The album also compiles remixed and remastered versions of the band's previous holiday hits, like "O Come, O Come Emmanuel", "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" and "Little Drummer Boy". Rounding out the collection is an updated version of the band's rendition of "Carol Of The Bells", heard in Frank Miller's ("300", "Sin City") movie "The Spirit" and Seth MacFarlane's ("Family Guy") "American Dad".

"The idea of doing a full Christmas album has been floating around in the ABR camp for a few years now, but what always held us back was finding the time and energy to write an additional full-length in between touring and writing our regular records," explains guitarist and principal songwriter JB Brubaker. "After finishing [2011's] 'Leveler', I finally felt inspired enough to tackle the Christmas album idea."

After working with some of the biggest producers in the genre, the band chose to come home and work at Lancaster's Atrium Audio with longtime friends Carson Slovak and Grant McFarland on "Sleddin' Hill", which finds ABR at its most ambitious and creative. It's a work that enhances the guitar and drum mastery AUGUST BURNS RED are known for by adding unexpected elements such as banjo, violin, cello, piano and even horns.

"Because this was such a different type of album, I was able to get a little more wild with my influences," confesses Brubaker. "There's a section inspired by one of my favorite bands, BEIRUT. There's also guitar solo that is an ode to Blue Album-era WEEZER, and my punk roots are evident all over the album."

"Writing metal versions of Christmas songs has always been a challenge for me because the songs are driven by simple vocal melodies with the only variety in the lyrics. We decided to take the songs and go the instrumental route — the main melodies are there, but this record has a lot more to it then that," he adds. "The songs have sections of music that flow in and out of the classic melodies we've all come to recognize. There is a lot of substance in these songs- more than you'd find in your typical cover."

On whether "Sleddin' Hill" is destined to become a novelty album or a key part of the band's discography, Brubaker has the final word: "To some, the concept of a metal Christmas album may come off as silly and a waste of time, but I think this record has plenty of original ABR substance to interest even the biggest Scrooges out there."

"August Burns Red Presents: Sleddin' Hill, A Holiday Album" track listing:

01. Flurries
02. Frosty the Snowman
03. Sleigh Ride
04. God Rest Ye' Merry Gentlemen
05. Jingle Bells
06. Oh Holy Night
07. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
08. Sleddin' Hill
09. Little Drummer Boy
10. Winter Wonderland
11. O Come, O Come Emmanuel
12. Carol of the Bells (2012)
13. We Wish You a Merry Christmas

The song "Sleigh Ride" can now be streamed in the SoundCloud player below.

Leading up the release of "Sleddin' Hill", AUGUST BURNS RED is set to launch a five-week, 30-city North American tour on August 31 with support from OF MICE & MEN, THE COLOR MORALE and labelmates THE OVERSEER, before heading back to Europe where they'll hit 12 countries in four weeks.

"Sleigh Ride" audio stream:

Season Of Mist has announced the signing of the "true" Norwegian black metal act KOLDBRANN. The band's third full-length album will be released in early 2013 through Season Of Mist's Underground Division.

KOLDBRANN will debut "Totalt Sjelelig Bankerott", a seven-inch single including a song from the forthcoming album (title pending) and an exclusive B-side entitled "Kasjtjeijs Svøpe", on November 16. The single will also be available digitally.

KOLDBRANN's first two albums, "Nekrotisk Inkvisition" and "Moribund", and 2008's "Stigma: På Kant Med Livet" EP, will be reissued via Season Of Mist.

Commented KOLDBRANN vocalist Mannevond: "KOLDBRANN are pleased to announce that from this moment on, Season Of Mist will be handling our nekrotic business. As one of the leading dealers of aural blasphemy, we are confident that they will serve as the tool needed to spread our gospel of oppression. We have kept you waiting, but rest assured, we have been striving in our cellars, slowly and persistently chiseling out our utmost arrogant and depraved work to date. Sordid details will follow. The time is ripe, let the end times roll!"

Singer Candice Clot has announced her departure from the Marseille, France-based metalcore band ETHS. She says in a statement: "I am leaving four friends, two of which I even consider as brothers.

"I made this choice for personal and family reasons.

"It has been very hard to make this decision and to face the truth about my longings and a passion that is no longer strong enough to prevail.

"I can't live unconditionally for music and its listeners anymore. Although the stage remains an outlet, I can't live up to such a demanding job anymore.

"I have been living for music for the past 15 years and it has given me back so much, but there are now things I can't sacrifice anymore and I need to take care of my family and stay with them.

"The band wants to go on, as the guys are still burning with a rage and a motivation that I don't have anymore.

"You can't cheat with things that have to come from your heart, body and soul.

"I am begging you to keep ETHS and the people who will replace me close to your hearts.

"This is the end of a chapter, but you have to give a chance to novelty and change.

"I am definitely not irreplaceable.

"Until the band finds a permanent successor, two people will share the vocal duties and I asked my friend Virginie from KELLS (please be nice to her) to be one of them. Before that, I will carry out the remaining gigs until October to bid you farewell and enjoy my last moments on stage.

"This may surprise you and the last shows may be emotionally painful, but I prefer to talk about it publicly now.

"I wish to thank all those who have been supporting us since our early days in 1999, our friends, people from the music business who believe in ETHS and, of course, the fans without whom nothing would have ever been possible. ETHS' fans are so kind-hearted and gave me so much love and gratitude along the years that I will cherish those memories forever. I have been through wonderful times thanks to you and have been keeping all gifts and notes in a box. Thank you again.

"I guess you will ask me a lot of questions regarding my departure but please respect my silence. I told you all you need to know.

"Last but not least, I wish to thank ETHS and the music, which taught me so much about surpassing oneself, willpower, tolerance, writing and all the things that made me become the person I am today.

"Thank you all and see you soon."

Fan-filmed video footage of ETHS' August 17 performance at the Motocultor Festival in Theix, France can be seen below.

ETHS' third album, "III", was released on April 6 via Season Of Mist. The CD was recorded at Studio Fredman in Gothenburg, Sweden with producer Fredrik Nordström, who has previously worked with AT THE GATES, IN FLAMES, DARK TRANQUILLITY, ARCH ENEMY, SOILWORK and BRING ME THE HORIZON, among others.

A new 10-minute video clip featuring more behind-the-scenes footage from ALTER BRIDGE and CREED guitarist Mark Tremonti's current solo tour can be seen below.

Get a rare look at Tremonti and Eric Friedman jamming backstage and working on vocal harmonies for "Leave It Alone". Once again, watch the band shake off the nerves as they prepare to level the stage at the Highline Ballroom in New York.

VIP guest (from VH1 Classic's "That Metal Show") Eddie Trunk appears in full force to not only hang with the band, but also takes the stage before showtime to get the crowd riled up. You can feel the electricity in the audience right before the band starts to rip it up with famous set intro/mosh pit destroyer: "Wish You Well".

Watch as Mark tells the story of how VAN HALEN bassist Wolfgang Van Halen got involved in the tour to a very rowdy crowd right before diving into Wolfgang's favorite song, "So You're Afraid".

Wolfgang made his first two appearances as part of Tremonti's solo band last week at shows in Rhode Island and New York City. This marks the first time Wolfgang has played with anyone outside of his father Eddie, his uncle Alex and singer David Lee Roth. The Pulse Of Radio asked him how he felt about doing these gigs. "It all feels incredible," he said. "It's just, it's so much fun to be able to do something different, but also do it with three of my best friends in the music business. So it's like, we're just four best friends playing awesome music and it's — I'm just having a great time."

The two shows last week were warm-ups for Tremonti's headlining stint on the annual HardDrive Live tour, presented by HardDrive Radio. The trek begins on Thursday (September 20) in Flint, Michigan.

Van Halen is replacing Tremonti's bandmate from CREED and ALTER BRIDGE, Brian Marshall, who is sitting out the Tremonti trek for undisclosed personal reasons. The other members of Tremonti's touring band include Eric Friedman on guitar and Garrett Whitlock on drums.

Tremonti is on the road behind his debut solo album, "All I Was", which came out this past July.

ANATHEMA's September 22 concert at Roman Ampitheater in Plovdiv, Bulgaria will be professionally recorded and filmed for an upcoming Blu-ray release.

On September 22, the ancient Roman Ampitheater in Plovdiv will host a truly special concert. The ruins of this spectacular building will provide a magical backdrop when ANATHEMA take to the stage to perform their show alongside the string players of the Plovdiv Philharmonic Orchestra.

Speaking about the show, ANATHEMA's Daniel Cavanagh says that, "recording a definitive ANATHEMA DVD in Bulgaria, among some of the best fans in the world, has been on our agenda for some years. The fact that it's in this amazing location with an orchestral performance is surely a recipe for something special."

ANATHEMA's "Untouchable (Part 1)" video can be seen below. The clip, which reflects the themes created in the band's new album, "Weather Systems", was edited together by Lasse Hoile, the acclaimed director and filmmaker, best known for his work with Steven Wilson and PORCUPINE TREE.

"Weather Systems" sold around 1,300 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 22 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.

"Weather Systems" was released on April 24 via The End Records. The follow-up to 2010's "We're Here Because We're Here" was recorded in Liverpool, North Wales and Oslo, each place significant to ANATHEMA past, present and future. The record was produced and mastered by Christer-André Cederberg (ANIMAL ALPHA, IN THE WOODS..., DRAWN), whom ANATHEMA's Daniel Cavanagh has described as "a revelation. His calmness and brilliance has helped to bring about the greatest inter-band chemistry that ANATHEMA have experienced together in their career."

High-quality fan-filmed video footage of VILE's September 14 performance at De Pit in Terneuzen, The Netherlands can be seen below (courtesy of "letthedeathmetalflow").

VILE's fourth full-length album, "Metamorphosis", came out last November via Willowtip Records. According to the band, the CD is "a concept album which contains a wide variety of styles, tempos and lyrical topics with an interlocking philosophical and lyrical concept."

The group added, "We are confident that old-school VILE fans will love it and also that fans of other styles of metal, not only American death metal, will be quite pleased. The recording quality is the best we have released to date and we expect the album to be a standard-raising release for the genre of extreme metal."

"Metamorphosis" is the follow-up to "The New Age of Chaos", which was released in North America in October 2005 via Unique Leader Records.