Next year marks the tenth anniversary of WEDNESDAY 13 — the namesake band led by the MURDERDOLLS frontman — and 20 years of Wednesday 13 releasing music in the horror rock genre. To honor this occasion, Wednesday 13 has been busy preparing a new album and mapping out his touring schedule.

Wednesday 13 will release a new, full-length CD, entitled "The Dixie Dead", in February/March , and fans can once again be a part of it.

As with his most recent album, "Calling All Corpses", Wednesday 13 will give his fans the opportunity to be "buried" in the "The Dixie Dead" CD booklet.

There will be 13 available plots in the "The Dixie Dead" cemetery. The plots will go up for auction this Saturday, September 8 through eBay. Each winning bidder will have his/her name etched on the gravestone for all of eternity and receive an autographed copy of the CD. The lucky #13 (center plot) will also get with an autographed ESP guitar that was used in the recording of "The Dixie Dead" album.

Pictured below is the uncolored, black-and-white version of "The Dixie Dead" cemetery. The completed version will be in full color.

"The Dixie Dead" is Wednesday 13's seventh solo release to be made available through his own record label. This one aims to be his most aggressive undertaking to date. The musician is also working on a host of limited-edition ideas for the initial orders that will be revealed shortly, as well as a few video projects.

As previously reported, Wednesday 13 will release a new EP, "Spook & Destroy", in October to coincide with his international tour that begins on October 25 in Brisbane, Australia and ends on November 18 in St. Petersburg, Russia. The EP features two new songs, re-recordings of fan favorites as well as two remixes from Ross Smith.

On Saturday (September 8), LED ZEPPELIN posted a cryptic graphic on its Facebook page that is believed to be releated to the imminent announcement of the DVD/CD release of the band's 2007 reunion for the Ahmet Ertegun tribute concert at London's O2 Arena.

An image with the number "Five" — in ZEPPELIN logo font — has sent the rumor mill into overdrive as fans speculate about its meaning.

One clue may have been offered by LED ZEPPELIN guitarist Jimmy Page's manager, Peter Mensch, who alluded to the upcoming release in a tweet on Saturday, writing, "it's almost here. I've seen it and heard it. almost 5 years to the day."

Mensch was more specific in a July 9 tweet when he wrote, "today, [producer/engineer Alan] Moulder continues with his stellar mixing of the O2 show. it's been 5 years coming and it's almost here."

The new LED ZEPPELIN set is rumored to consist of a double DVD accompanied by two CDs and is expected to be released in November.

An estimated nine million people applied for the 18,000 tickets to the O2 Arena show, which featured Jason Bonham taking his late father's place behind the drum kit.

In its review of the concert, NME.com wrote that LED ZEPPELIN singer Robert Plant spoke little during the show, but when he did, it was mostly to pay tribute to Ertegun, who he said after first encore "Whole Lotta Love", "ran the best label in the world" in Atlantic Records.

Speaking to the Los Angeles radio station KLOS in December 2010, Jason stated about the prospect of the concert being released on DVD, "Nothing is official, as yet. I only know that because Robert had said that he'd watched it. I really do hope that it eventually will see the light of day. It's just nice to know that Robert had seen it, so I knew something, but it was nice that he rang up and said, 'Wow, it sounded great.' Fingers crossed, everybody… fingers crossed."

In an interview with U.K.'s Telegraph.co.uk, Plant was asked about ZEPPELIN's 2007 reunion concert. "I really had a wonderful time," said Plant. "It was the best LED ZEPPELIN gig since 1975."

When asked if he would do it again, Plant replied, "I don't think so. You've got to have a lot in common with the people you're working with at this time in your life. Everything has to move on and forward, in all relationships.

"I know that bands that haven't put out a record for 10 years are playing to 20,000 people a night. But that's not the achievement. The achievement is to knock yourself out. It's a very selfish thing. The tail must never wag the dog."

A few months back, radio personality and "That Metal Show" co-host Eddie Trunk tweeted, "Heard from a very reliable source backstage at AEROSMITH show that there will be some sort of LED ZEPPELIN activity around Christmas."

"Saturnian Satellites", a brand new song from German death metallers SPHERON, can be streamed in the YouTube clip below. The track comes off the band's upcoming debut album, "Ecstasy Of God", which was recorded with producer Christoph Brandes at Iguana Studios (NECROPHAGIST, DEADBORN, MALADIE).

"Ecstasy Of God" track listing:

01. A Means To An End
02. The Beheaded Coachman
03. Prestige Of The Mortals
04. Saturnian Satellites
05. Clasp The Thorns
06. Prelude To The Misery
07. Five Degrees
08. Pulse Of Instinct
09. Tragedy Of The Clerics
10. Choking On Incense
11. Anthropogenic
12. From Glint To Crackling

SPHERON is currently seeking a suitable label to release the album.

SPHERON is:

Daniel Spoor - Vocals
Tobias Alter - Lead Guitar
Mark Walther - Rhythm Guitar
Matthias Minor - Bass
Tobias Blach - Drums

Video footage from DEF LEPPARD's September 6 concert at Monterrey, Mexico's Arena Monterrey as part of the Rock Of Ages tour with POISON can be seen below.

DEF LEPPARD recently joined the long list of rockers who have re-recorded their biggest hits in note-perfect renditions. The band's lead singer, Joe Elliott, shed some light on the new "2012" versions of "Pour Some Sugar On Me" and "Rock Of Ages" now available at various digital retailers. Elliott told MTV, "How can I put this politely? We were having a major disagreement with our ex-record label about the digital rights for our back catalog. We couldn't come to a mutual understanding that seemed fair for both sides. So we finally just decided to re-record all our hits. We started with 'Sugar' and 'Rock Of Ages', and I think we did a pretty good job. It's hard work trying to recreate something you did 30 years ago."

When pressed on the fact that despite all the care taken, re-recordings never seems to sound identical to the original release, Elliott said: "We got the same sounds, the same key, the same tempo. It was a 100 percent forgery. That was the idea, anyway. . . [We were] very conscious of the fact that when people download our songs from iTunes, they want it to sound like they remember it."

Video footage of former GUNS N' ROSES and current VELVET REVOLVER guitarist Slash and his band, MYLES KENNEDY AND THE CONSPIRATORS, performing last night (Friday, September 7) at Stubb's Bar-B-Q in Austin, Texas can be seen below.

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

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

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

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

Washington, D.C.-based heavy metallers A SOUND OF THUNDER have entered Assembly Line Studios in Virginia with producer Kevin "131" Gutierrez (SHINEDOWN, WHILE HEAVEN WEPT, DECEASED) to begin recording their third full-length album, "Time's Arrow". Due in early 2013, the CD will feature 11 new songs combining rousing and catchy traditional metal with crushing modern production.

"Time's Arrow" will feature a guest appearance by Blaze Bayley (IRON MAIDEN, WOLFSBANE), who will perform a duet with A SOUND OF THUNDER vocalist Nina Osegueda in the track "My Disease".

"Blaze is a legendary figure in the history of metal, but more importantly he brings incredible power, passion and sincerity to his performances, and that's exactly what we needed on this song," said A SOUND OF THUNDER guitarist Josh Schwartz. "Musically it has little in common with MAIDEN, and sounds more like a cross between BLACK SABBATH and Blaze's first few solo albums... and, of course, A SOUND OF THUNDER."

Commented Bayley: "It has been a real pleasure to work on this song. Filled with passion and intensity, it has an edge. I wish A SOUND OF THUNDER the very best of luck with their project, but with a song this good, I don't think they will need luck."

On August 20, A SOUND OF THUNDER started a Kickstarter.com fundraiser campaign for the recording of "Time's Arrow". The campaign will run for 30 days and offers fans a chance to pre-order the album, have their name printed in the album booklet, reserve an ultra-limited box set edition of the album, and acquire unique and rare items from the band.

A SOUND OF THUNDER will release the "Queen Of Hell" EP in November. Also recorded at Assembly Line Studios with Gutierrez, the effort contains four new tracks and is only available via the band's Kickstarter.com campaign.

A SOUND OF THUNDER is offering its "Queen Of Hell" EP exclusively through Kickstarter.com. The EP serves as a follow-up to the 2012 studio album, "Out Of The Darkness", and teaser for the band's next studio CD, "Time's Arrow", due in spring 2013.

The cover art for "Queen Of Hell" was created by Serbian artist Dušan Markovic and can be seen below.

"We've always wanted to do an homage to the classic fantasy and swords & sorcery themed metal album covers," says Osegueda. "As you can see, we've gone all horns up with the 'Queen Of Hell' art... I finally have the throne of skulls I've always wanted!"

German metallers ALPHA TIGER have inked a deal with Century Media Records. The band's new album, "Beneath The Surface", will be released in January .

With their 2011 debut album, "Man Or Machine", the young and wicked ALPHA TIGER from Saxony already won over a lot of fans which was solidified by playing numerous shows and festivals such as German cult festivals Keep It True, Headbangers Open Air and Rock Hard, as well as France's Hellfest.

The energetic quintet led by main composer Peter Langforth and singer Stephan Dietrich mix the classic '80s metal spirit with a fresh attitude while still avoiding the usual retro stereotypes. Especially Stephan Dietrich is leaving most other '80s epigones far behind with a voice that can easily compete with Geoff Tate and Michael Kiske during their QUEENSRŸCHE and HELLOWEEN heydays, respectively. He's backed up by the twin guitar leads of Peter Langfort and Alexander Backasch and the perfectly oiled rhythm machine of Dirk Frei (bass) and David Schleif (drums).

ALPHA TIGER will support W.A.S.P. on a European tour in October/November. To coincide with the trek, the band will release a brand new video for the song "From Outer Space", taken from the upcoming CD.

Stephan Dietrich - Vocals
Peter Langforth - Guitar
Dirk Frei - Bass
Alexander Backasch - Guitar
David Schleif - Drums

Three of the leading gear/technology companies for both musicians and consumers alike returned with their successful "Metal Masters" clinic series. Partnering up with Guitar Center, "Metal Masters 4" took place earlier tonight (Friday, September 7) at the Gramercy Theater in New York City .

"Metal Masters 4" brought back some of the classic "masters" while adding a few new members to the list. Tonight's main band comprised of Philip Anselmo (DOWN, ex-PANTERA), Kerry King (SLAYER), Dave Lombardo (SLAYER), Scott Ian (ANTHRAX), Charlie Benante (ANTHRAX), Frank Bello (ANTHRAX) and newly added masters Billy Sheehan (MR. BIG, DAVID LEE ROTH) and Gary Holt (EXODUS, SLAYER).

The following songs were performed:

* "Room For One More" (w/ Frank Bello on lead vocals) (ANTHRAX)
* "Mouth For War" (PANTERA)
* "Five Minutes Alone" (PANTERA)
* "A New Level" (PANTERA)
* "Chemical Warfare" (SLAYER)
* "War Ensemble" (SLAYER)
* "Goddamn Electric" (PANTERA)
* "Sergeant D & The S.O.D." (STORMTROOPERS OF DEATH)
* "Kill Yourself" (STORMTROOPERS OF DEATH)
* "Angel Of Death" (SLAYER)
* "Strike Of The Beast" (EXODUS)
* "Raining Blood" (SLAYER)
* "Fucking Hostile" (PANTERA)

The entire event was streamed live via Ustream and can now be seen below.

Speaking to Artisan News earlier this summer, King stated about tonight's "Metal Masters" event, "The reason I still do it to this day is to get Phil involved, because I think the world misses him. He's good at what he does and I'm one of the few guys he looks up to to the point where he'd come out and do it. And I'm not blowing sunshine up my ass; it's just a fact. And everybody wants to see Phil. Everybody loves Phil. When I come out, it's a huge applause. When Phil comes out, it's like somebody came back from the dead; they're not expecting it. And it's cool."

Legendary Canadian rockers RUSH kicked off their "Clockwork Angels" world tour last night (Friday, September 7) at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, New Hampshire.

In addition to adding a lot of rarely played songs to their opening set, RUSH brought a string ensemble out on tour with the band for the first time ever in its career. Orchestrations provided by well-known arranger David Campbell were used on several tracks from the band's new album, "Clockwork Angels", and RUSH recreated that sound during last night's concert.

In a recent interview with The Pulse Of Radio, RUSH guitarist Alex Lifeson said, "We can't take a symphony. We'll take a group of musicians — let's say an efficient ensemble of strings. We'll probably have about eight, somewhere between eight and 10 musicians. A couple of cellos and the rest will be violins."

The setlist for last night's concert:

Set One

01. Subdivisions
02. The Big Money
03. Force Ten
04. Grand Designs
05. The Body Electric
06. Territories
07. The Analog Kid
08. Bravado
09. Where's My Thing?
10. Far Cry

Set Two (with string section)

11. Caravan
12. Clockwork Angels
13. The Anarchist
14. Carnies
15. The Wreckers
16. Headlong Flight
17. Halo Effect
18. Wish Them Well
19. The Garden
20. Manhattan Project
21. Red Sector A
22. YYZ
23. Working Man

Encore:

24. Tom Sawyer
25. The Spirit of Radio

Check out fan-filmed video footage below.

RUSH's North American tour will wrap on December 2 in Houston, Texas.

"Clockwork Angels" debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard album chart, selling 103,000 copies in its first week of release. The disc marked RUSH 's highest chart debut since 1993's "Counterparts" , which also entered at No. 2.

The official lyric video for the song "Don't Look Down" from British progressive metallers THRESHOLD can be seen below. The track comes off the band's ninth studio album, "March Of Progress", which was released on August 31 via Nuclear Blast Records. The follow-up to 2007's "Dead Reckoning" was recorded at Thin Ice Studios (DRAGONFORCE, PENDRAGON) by bandmembers Karl Groom and Richard West, with additional production at Eightspace Studio (LEAGUE OF LIGHTS, THE MORNING AFTER). Vocal duties on "March Of Progress" were performed by THRESHOLD's original frontman Damian Wilson (STAR ONE, HEADSPACE), who's been back touring with the band since the release of "Dead Reckoning".

"March Of Progress" was made available in a limited-edition digipak, including a bonus track; a standard jewel case edition; as well as in a two-vinyl edition in two different colors, one of them exclusively available via the Nuclear Blast mail order.

"March Of Progress" track listing:

Digipack

01. Ashes
02. Return Of The Thought Police
03. Staring At The Sun
04. Liberty Complacency Dependency
05. Colophon
06. The Hours
07. That's Why We Came
08. Don't Look Down
09. Coda
10. Rubicon

Bonus track:

11. Divinity

CD

01. Ashes
02. Return Of The Thought Police
03. Staring At The Sun
04. Liberty Complacency Dependency
05. Colophon
06. The Hours
07. That's Why We Came
08. Don't Look Down
09. Coda
10. Rubicon

2LP

Side A:

01. Ashes
02. Return Of The Thought Police
03. Staring At The Sun

Side B:

01. Liberty Complacency Dependency
02. The Hours

Side C:

01. Colophon
02. That's Why We Came
03. Don't Look Down

Side D:

01. Coda
02. Rubicon

THRESHOLD is:

Damian Wilson - Vocals
Karl Groom - Guitar
Richard West - Keyboards
Johanne James - Drums
Steve Anderson - Bass
Pete Morten - Guitar

A preview of the official cover artwork for MANOWAR's new studio album, "The Lord Of Steel", can be seen below.

"The Lord Of Steel" will be released into worldwide retail on September 28 (dates may vary from territory to territory), following a limited-edition pre-release as the "Hammer Edition" in collaboration with U.K.'s Metal Hammer magazine.

The retail edition of "The Lord Of Steel" will feature different mixes and mastering, an additional song, spectacular new art by fantasy artist Ken Kelly, and other surprises. The album will be available as CD, limited-edition vinyl and digital album.

"MANOWAR have always dared to do things differently. You have to look at these two versions like a movie that comes out in alternate versions; a director's cut or alternate endings or stories even told from different perspectives," explained bassist Joey DeMaio. "For those of you who enjoyed the first taste of 'The Lord Of Steel', meaning the Metal Hammer version, I can tell you that the forthcoming 'The Lord Of Steel' release on Magic Circle Entertainment will be even more unique and yes, more brutal," he continued.

Described by the press as "a brutal and unstoppable force of molten metal" and "flawlessly heavy," "The Lord Of Steel" is a raw-to-the-bone production, merging vintage elements with the trademark sound MANOWAR have developed over the years.
"When you have to make room for literally hundreds of other instruments such as orchestras, choirs, marching armies on 'Gods Of War', for example, you have to create sonic space for that. The fewer instruments you have the louder they can be individually. As an artist you want to give your audience new experiences. This is not 'elevator music.' This is an album that hits you hard right between the eyes and does not let up," said Joey DeMaio.

For their twelfth studio album, MANOWAR have tapped into the world of action heroes and their stories, writing their first song specifically for a Hollywood movie, "El Gringo", and another one, "Expendable", inspired by Sylvester Stallone's action movie franchise "The Expendables". The band has meanwhile confirmed their next movie project, "Soldiers", for "The Expendables 2" star Jean-Claude Van Damme.

From the furious title track and the pumping "Black List", to the power ballad "Righteous Glory" and the Ennio Morricone homage "El Gringo" — "The Lord Of Steel" is full of surprises.

"The Lord Of Steel" (retail edition) will be mixed and mastered by longtime collaborators, mixing engineer Ronald Prent and two-time Grammy-award-winning mastering engineer Darcy Proper.

Coinciding with the release of the album, MANOWAR will kick off "The Lord Of Steel" world tour, with first shows in October and November, in Europe and the United States.

The first trailer for "Spiritual Genocide", the forthcoming 30th-anniversary album from German thrash metal veterans DESTRUCTION, can be seen below. The two-minute clip features a preview of the new song "Cyanide".

DESTRUCTION is currently in Gernhart Studios in Troisdorf, Germany with engineer Martin Buchwalter recording "Spiritual Genocide", for a November release via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD, which will be mixed by Andy Classen, feature guest appearances by Thomas "Angelripper" Such (SODOM), Andreas "Gerre" Geremia (TANKARD) and Ol Drake (EVILE). In addition, the "Mad Butcher"/"Release From Agony" lineup of DESTRUCTION — featuring guitarist Harry Wilkens and drummer Oliver Kaiser — will reunite for one song.

Commented DESTRUCTION vocalist/bassist Marcel "Schmier" Schirmer: "For this anniversary album we did a really great job. Our new drummer, Vaaver [real name: Wawrzyniec Dramowicz; INDUKTI, ex-UNSUN], opens up new possibilities of course.

"On this album there are no limits.

"So fast, brutal and yet groovy we haven't ever sounded, probably!

"Also the guest musicians are very special this time: with Gerre and Tom Angelripper, our old friends and companions, are with us, the original 'Mad Butcher'/'Release From Agony' lineup is doing one song and with Ol Drake, we got the hottest young thrash guitarist for a few solos on the album!

"Germany's best extreme metal producer Andy Classen will take care for the brutal and raw production!

"The album will destroy even more than [2011's] 'Day Of Reckoning': fast riffs, double bass attacks and brutal groovy songs, I think this time we found the 100% right mix!

"Also the 'Mad Butcher' returns to the cover.

"Cool artworks are very important for us. For the new thrash thunderstorm, our artist Gyula created a real hammer again! The artwork makes clear immediately where to go — FULL THROTTLE — as it has to be."

Inspired by IRON MAIDEN, MERCYFUL FATE, MOTÖRHEAD and VENOM, DESTRUCTION was formed as KNIGHT OF DEMON in 1982. The band's original lineup included vocalist and bassist Marcel "Schmier" Schirmer, drummer Tommy Sandmann, and guitarist Mike Sifringer. They soon changed their name to DESTRUCTION and released a demo titled "Bestial Invasion Of Hell" in 1984.

Belgian symphonic black metallers SAILLE have issued the following update:

"Jonathan Vanderwal, former frontman of SAILLE, has rejoined the band, be it as guitarist this time. He replaces Yves Callaert, who left SAILLE recently. Jonathan took care of the guitars on both 'Irreversible Decay' and the soon-to-be-released successor. It was therefore an obvious choice. Be prepared!"

SAILLE's new album is due out in January 2013 via Code666 Records. The CD is being recorded at Shumcot Studios in Aartrijke, Belgium with producer Reinier Schenk (GORATH, FLESHMOULD).

Commented SAILLE keyboard player Dries Gaerdelen: "When creating our new album, I did research on and was inspired by several ancient destruction rituals. The new songs are therefore darker, faster, more aggressive and create a feeling of unease. The lyrics, written by frontman Dennie Grondelaers, explore the history of those death rites. With the drums being recorded a while ago, we’ve all got a 'recording state of mind' and have a feeling we're creating more than just songs. We're looking forward to unleashing our creations on the audience, both on CD and live!"

The artwork for the new SAILLE CD will be created by Polish digital landscape artist Michal Karcz who also developed the band's previous artwork. Mastering will be done by Tom Kvålsvoll, who has worked with 1349, DIMMU BORGIR and KEEP OF KALESSIN.

SAILLE’s debut album, "Irreversible Decay", was released in March 2011 via Code666 Records.