German/Norwegian melodic metallers MASTERPLAN will enter guitarist/mastermind Roland Grapow's (formerly of HELLOWEEN) studio in Slovakia this weekend to begin recording their new album for a March 2013 release. The drums on the CD will be laid down by Czech musician Martin "Marthus" Skaroupka of CRADLE OF FILTH.

Commented Grapow: "I just came back from Hamburg two days ago from our final arrangement session with Axel [Mackenrott, keyboards] in his studio, for our new songs. That means we finished our songwriting, finally. This week we just do some prepairing for the big recording session on Sunday. Martin is coming to my studio in Slovakia, we will start recording drums from Monday on."

He continued, "We have written 20 tracks, which are, of course, the best we ever wrote bla bla haha ; ). We might pick just 13 or 14 tracks on the end, to be honest, we are very happy with the result! Our magic is still there.

"In September I will lay down all my guitar stuff and bass, vocals will be recorded around November. Axel records his keys in his studio in Hamburg, mixing in December. We are planning to finish the album [in] January.

"And yes, we have touring plans this time.... maybe a big surprise package with some other great bands... Keep the fingers crossed!"

Back in March, Grapow stated about MASTERPLAN's next album, "We are looking for a more powerful album this time... still with great melodies and feelings, but also with more orchestration and faster stuff again… just more metal."

In an August 2011 interview with the Czech web portal Kultura21.cz, Grapow said about MASTERPLAN's new material, "We have many, many new ideas which, I guess, are a little bit more modern and more aggressive as well. So we try not to follow any trends of MASTERPLAN — I'm not saying we're reproducing the first album or the third one or the fifth one. I think we always have to try to make some surprises for the people. The 'Time To Be King' album is great, but this new album sounds a bit different again. I always want to do this, because I'm not that kind of guy who wants to make every year the same album."

Mat Sinner (PRIMAL FEAR FEAR, SINNER) recently announced an as-yet-unnamed project with vocalist Russell Allen (SYMPHONY X, ADRENALINE MOB). He has checked in with the following update:




"We've chosen eleven great tracks and these guys will record with me and Russel in the studio:

Roland Grapow (MASTERPLAN/guitars, lead guitar), Randy Black (Primal Fear/drums), Alessandro Del Vecchio (keyboards, vocals) and Alexander Beyrodt (Pimal Fear, VOODOO CIRCLE/additional lead guitars). Produced by Mat Sinner and mixed by Achim Koehler, with a release on Frontiers Rec early 2013. Watch out, this will be a huge album!"

Randy Black has also checked in with the following:

"Off to a great start recording the drum tracks for the forthcoming Russell Allen and Mat Sinner project. Killer tracks on this one, keep an eye out for it to be released on Frontiers Records. At the helm in the studio engineering the drum recordings is Nikolai Wurk (DUSKMACHINE). First recording session with the new custom Pearl Masters Premium Legend kit... and it's sounding spectacular!"

As previously reported, Black has been confirmed as the man behind the kit for the upcoming ROCK MEETS CLASSIC 2013 tour, which will run through Europe in February/March next year. Black joins his Primal Fear bandmates Mat Sinner (bass/master of ceremonies), Alex Beyrodt (guitars) and Ralf Scheepers (backing vocals) as part of THE MAT SINNER BAND.

Black has issued the following statement:

"One of those gigs I privately wished I had became reality recently. It is truly an honour for me to be announced as the new drummer and to join The Mat Sinner Band and Rock Meets Classic family. I'm really looking forward to working together with this great team of people and can't wait to get started. Hope to see some familiar faces on the tour."

Now into its fourth year, Rock Meets Classic showcases classic rock artists of the '70s and '80s performing their hits backed by a full-on rock band and an orchestra. Artists that have taken part in previous tours include Ian Gillan (DEEP PURPLE), Dan McCafferty (NAZARETH), Steve Lukather (TOTO), Lou Gramm (FOREIGNER), Chris Thompson (MANFRED MAN'S EARTH BAND) and Jimi Jamison (SURVIVOR).

Artists confirmed for the 2013 tour include former JOURNEY frontman Steve Augeri, THE HOOTERS' Eric Bazilian, MANFRED MANN'S EARTH BAND's Chris Thompson, and FREE/BAD COMPANY vocal legend Paul Rodgers.

The Mat Sinner Band also features TRILLIUM / AVANTASIA's Amanda Somerville (backing vocals), Avantasia's Oliver Hartmann (guitars), Jimmy Kresic (keyboards), Tiffany Kirkland (backing vocals) and Verena Schock (backing vocals).

Performance footage of the songs "Electric Eye" and "Riding On The Wind", taken from JUDAS PRIEST's "Screaming For Vengeance – Special 30th Anniversary Edition", can be seen below (courtesy of RollingStone.com).

A vital part of rock history, British heavy metal legends JUDAS PRIEST have spent four decades writing classic songs and putting on spectacular live shows. During this period, the band has sold in excess of 30 million albums, and played to countless millions of fans across the globe. In 1982, they released their eighth studio album, "Screaming For Vengeance", containing their hugely successful "You've Got Another Thing Comin'", the single which proved that metal could get mainstream radio airplay in the U.S. — leading the way for a whole generation of new metal bands.

To celebrate the 30-year anniversary of this epic release, JUDAS PRIEST present you with "Screaming For Vengeance – Special 30th Anniversary Edition", containing not only the remastered original album plus bonus tracks, but also a live DVD from the 1983 US Festival show, filmed in San Bernadino CA on May 29, 1983.

The US Festival was intended to be a celebration of evolving technologies; a marriage of music, computers, television and people — organized by Steve Wozniak, formerly of Apple.

The "Screaming For Vengeance – Special 30th Anniversary Edition" live DVD was filmed at the second, and what turned out to be last, US Festival in 1983. The Sunday was the Heavy Metal Day. "It was the day new wave died and rock 'n' roll took over." It set the single-day concert attendance record for the U.S. with an estimated 375,000 people.

JUDAS PRIEST had this to say about this memorable day in metal history: "On the day that we performed, we flew in by helicopter — and the first sight we saw was that of thousands of abandoned cars piled up around the crests of the hills that surrounded the festival arena, which as we went over took our breath away. For there below us, spread throughout hundreds of acres was a massive crowd — over three hundred thousand strong! The summer heat was raging and combined with the hot Santa Ana winds made for a scorching metal furnace on stage."

CD track listing:

01. The Hellion
02. Electric Eye
03. Riding On The Wind
04. Bloodstone
05. (Take These) Chains
06. Pain And Pleasure
07. Screaming For Vengeance
08. You've Got Another Thing Comin'
09. Fever
10. Devil's Child

Bonus tracks:

11. Electric Eye (live) *
12. Riding On The Wind (live) *
13. You've Got Another Thing Comin' (live) *
14. Screaming For Vengeance (live) *
15. Devil's Child (live)
16. Prisoner Of Your Eyes

* Live from the San Antonio Civic Center - September 10, 1982

DVD track listing:

US Festival Show - San Bernadino, California - May 29, 1983

01. Electric Eye
02. Riding On The Wind
03. Heading Out To The Highway
04. Metal Gods
05. Breaking The Law
06. Diamonds And Rust
07. Victim Of Changes
08. Living After Midnight
09. The Green Manalishi (with the two-pronged crown)
10. Screaming For Vengeance
11. You've Got Another Thing Comin'
12. Hell Bent For Leather

* Plus booklet featuring photos from Mark Weiss and sleeve notes written by Eddie Trunk (long-standing and well-respected U.S. rock journo, author, radio and TV presenter)

"Screaming For Vengeance – Special 30th Anniversary Edition" will be released on September 4 (one day earlier internationally) via Sony Music.

MAIDEN UNITED, the all-acoustic IRON MAIDEN tribute project featuring Damian Wilson (THRESHOLD, HEADSPACE) and Ruud Jolie (WITHIN TEMPTATION), will release its new album, "Across The Seventh Sea", on September 28 on CD, iTunes and limited-edition black-and-blue transparent vinyl.

"Across The Seventh Sea" track listing:

01. Seven Deadly Sins
02. Only The Good Die Young
03. 2 Minutes To Midnight
04. Prowler
05. Flash Of The Blade
06. Children Of The Damned
07. Infinite Dreams
08. 22 Acacia Avenue
09. The Evil That Men Do
10. Wasted Years

Newly released audio samples of the songs "Ininite Dreams" and "Children Of The Damned" can be streamed below.

Perttu Kivilaakso of APOCALYPTICA plays cello on the songs "The Evil That Men Do" and "Infinite Dreams".

Commented Jolie: "We are all very excited about Perttu playing the cello on two songs of the new album. His great playing adds a very nice color to our sound."

The cover artwork for the CD was once again created by Blacklake, who also worked with MAIDEN UNITED on their first studio album, "Mind The Acoustic Pieces".

MAIDEN UNITED's debut album, "Mind The Acoustic Pieces" (2010), was described as "an acoustic re-imagining of the entire classic IRON MAIDEN album "Piece Of Mind" with new arrangements."

Contributing artists:

* Damian Wilson (THRESHOLD, HEADSPACE): Vocals
* Ruud Jolie (WITHIN TEMPTATION): Guitar
* Joey Bruers (UP THE IRONS): Bass
* Marco Kuypers (CLOUDMACHINE): Piano
* Mike Coolen (WITHIN TEMPTATION): Drums

For more information, go to www.MaidenuniteD.com.

US southern rock legends LYNYRD SKYNYRD performed live from New York City as part of the FOX & Friends All American Concert Series, this morning during the 8 AM (ET) hour. Footage of the band performing 'Last Of A Dyin' Breed' can be seen below:



Lynyrd Skynyrd are set to perform during events outside of the 2012 Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida on Sunday, August 26th as part of the fundraising event Citizens Helping Heroes presents Southern Tribute IV Honoring America’s Heroes. The concert takes place at The American Action Network Pavilion at Liberty Plaza (corner of South Morgan & East Whiting Streets next to the Tampa Times Forum) and is open to paid sponsors and their guests. Lynyrd Skynyrd’s show launches the four-day event which also includes performances by TRACE ADKINS (August 28th) and KID ROCK (August 29th).

"Unrelenting Fucking Hatred", the debut album from Montreal's RAGE NUCLÉAIRE, will be released on October 19 in Europe and November 6 in North America via Season Of Mist. A 2LP vinyl edition will be available in North America, strictly limited to 300 copies.

"Unrelenting Fucking Hatred" track listing:

01. Violence Is Golden
02. Hunt With Murderworms, Sculpt With Flies
03. The Gift Of The Furnace
04. Fields Of The Crucified
05. Endziel
06. The Sorrow Children At Mourningside
07. 30 Seconds In The Killhouse
08. Unrelenting Fucking Hatred
09. The Gallows And The Black Coffin
10. The Feeding Habits Of Homo Horriblis

RAGE NUCLÉAIRE was formed by legendary vocalist Lord Worm (ex-CRYPTOPSY) and includes guitarist Dark Rage (ex-CRYPTOPSY) and bassist Alvater (ex-FROZEN SHADOWS) in its ranks. The group's influences range from early EMPEROR and IMMORTAL to ANAAL NATHRAKH and MYSTICUM.

The band issued the following statement: "If anyone had ever told us that some day we'd be signed to Season Of Mist, we'd have laughed at them. The point is, being accepted into the Season Of Mist family, along with such ungodly notables as ARCKANUM, MAYHEM and DEATHSPELL OMEGA, is like being given a Sith name — it feels great to be part of Season Of Mist's evil empire."

RAGE NUCLÉAIRE has already commenced work on its second album, tentatively titled "Annihilation Frenzy".

Audio samples of the tracks that will appear on "Caligvla", the sophomore album from EX DEO, the Ancient Roman-themed arsenal fronted by KATAKLYSM singer Maurizio Iacono, can be streamed in the YouTube clip below.

"Caligvla" will be released via Austria's Napalm Records on the following dates:

Aug. 29 - Spain, Finland, Sweden, Greece
Aug. 31 - Germany/Austria/Switzerland, Benelux
Sep. 03 - Rest of Europe
Sep. 11 - USA/Canada

"Caligvla" was mixed by KATAKLYSM guitarist Jean-François Dagenais, who has previously worked with MALEVOLENT CREATION, MISERY INDEX and DESPISED ICON, among others. The artwork and layout for the album were handled by SEPTICFLESH's Seth Siro Anton. The booklet for the new album will feature commentaries and descriptions from frontman Iacono with his views on each song. The limited first pressing will be released as a six-panel digipack featuring the bonus track "Burned To Serve As Nocturnal Light", a song dealing with Caligvla's madman rival emperor Nero.

The "I, Caligvla" video can be seen below. The clip, which was filmed in June in Philadelphia, features an appearance by Iacono's girlfriend, Colombian model Suzzy, and is described by the band as "a resurrection in time, blood and courage."

"Caligvla" features contributions from ALL SHALL PERISH guitarist Francesco Artusato, TRISTANIA singer Mariangela Demurtas, SEPTICFLESH's Seth Siro Anton and GRAVEWORM's Stefano Fiori. Every invited guest on the album is of Roman or Greek descent.

"Caligvla" track listing:

01. I, Caligvla
02. The Tiberius Cliff (Exile To Capri)
03. Per Oculos Aquila
04. Pollice Verso (Damnatio Ad Bestia)
05. Divide Et Impera
06. Burned To Serve As Nocturnal Light
07. Teutuborg (Ambush Of Varus)
08. Along The Appian Way
09. Once Were Romans
10. Evocatio: The Temple Of Castor & Pollux

"Caligvla" preview:

Norwegian symphonic black metallers DIMMU BORGIR were joined by an orchestra and a choir for an appearance at this year's edition of the Wacken Open Air festival, which was held August 2-4, 2012 in Wacken, Germany. Professionally filmed video footage of the concert can be seen below (courtesy of the German TV channel ZDF Kultur). The 20-minute clip also includes an interview with the band's guitarist, Silenoz (real name: Sven Atle Kopperud).

DIMMU BORGIR's current touring lineup includes Geir Bratland (APOPTYGMA BERZERK, THE KOVENANT) on keyboards and Terje Andersen (a.k.a. Cyrus; SUSPERIA) on bass.

DIMMU BORGIR performed one very exclusive show on May 28, 2011 at the Oslo Spektrum in Norway with a special, never-to-be-repeated setlist with 53 members of KORK (the Norwegian Radio Orchestra) and 30 members of the Schola Cantorum choir, who were musical guests on the band's ninth studio album, "Abrahadabra".

The concert, dubbed "Forces Of The Northern Night", was professionally filmed and was broadcast as part of a one-hour documentary in June 2011 on NRK (Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation), the Norwegian government-owned radio and television public broadcasting company and the largest media organization in Norway.

"Abrahadabra", the ninth album from DIMMU BORGIR, was released in Germany on September 24, 2010, in the rest of Europe on September 27, 2010, and it was made available in North America on October 12, 2010 via Nuclear Blast Records.

Quality fan-filmed video footage of the "accident" that occurred during METALLICA's August 18 concert at Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada can be seen below (courtesy of InvertedMag.com).

A member of METALLICA's road crew caught fire during the show, as the the stagehand was seen struggling with a malfunctioning pyro launcher during "Enter Sandman" when he was suddenly engulfed in flame. As James Hetfield called for the band to stop playing, other crew members doused the man with fire extinguishers and took him off the stage in stretchers, with the band resuming its show a few minutes later.

A spokesperson for METALLICA's concert promoter previously said the stunt was "all part of the show," and in fact the band has staged this type of "accident" before during its 1997 tour, on which the show ended with the stage seemingly collapsing around the group as one crew member caught fire and another dangled upside down from the fallen lighting rig. The effect was caught on the band's "Cunning Stunts" DVD.

METALLICA's recent show in Mexico City marked the debut of a new 140-foot-by-50-foot stage that features "colossal components and striking visual elements spanning the band's entire 30-year career," meaning that the "accident" stunt could be back for an encore.

At a July 28 press conference before the first show in Mexico City, frontman James Hetfield said that the band was focused on "staying alive" while performing alongside the "dangerous elements" of the new production, with bassist Robert Trujillo adding, "Like James said, it's very dangerous — we've got stuff flying every which way."

METALLICA played the Outside Lands festival in San Francisco earlier in the month and is scheduled to perform two shows in late August in Vancouver, which will be filmed for the band's upcoming 3D movie.

Audio samples of the songs that will appear on "Evil Deeds", the sophomore album from Swedish hard rockers THE GRAVIATORS, can be streamed in the YouTube clip below. The CD will be released on August 31 via Napalm Records.

According to a press release, THE GRAVIATORS "revitalize the spirit of the '70s without sounding like a dusty retro band, because the Swedes skillfully give each track their own character. Besides obvious hard rock musical influences, THE GRAVIATORS combine various doom and stoner rock elements to give each track a pleasant level of heaviness."

"Evil Deeds" track listing:

01. Soulstealer
02. Evil Deeds
03. Morning Star
04. The Great Deception
05. Feelin' Low
06. Häxagram
07. Presence
08. A Different Moon
09. Forlorn
10. The Infidel

THE GRAVIATORS' self-titled debut came out in 2009.

The band was featured with the track "The Magician" on the Planet Fuzz compilation "Cowbells & Cobwebs".

In 2010 Dutch label Clear Spot/Headspin Records released "The Graviators" as an exclusive double splatter vinyl. The artwork for this vinyl release (and the second pressing of the album on CD) was made by the artist Vance Kelly.

THE GRAVIATORS is:

Niklas Sjöberg: Vocals
Martin Fairbanks: Guitar
Johan Holm: Bass
Henrik Bergman: Drums

"Evil Deeds" preview:

Sweden-based metallers FRANTIC AMBER have turned to SellABand, a music web site that allows artists to raise the money from their fans and the SellABand community, in order to finance the recording of their debut album. The group's fan-funding target is 10,000 euros.

FRANTIC AMBER has performed at a number of festivals in the last two years, including Wacken Open Air, Sweden Rock Festival, Metaltown and Rockstad Falun, and has toured in Sweden, Russia and Denmark.

Commented FRANTIC AMBER guitarist and founder Mary Säfstrand: "Until today, we have managed ourselves to promote our music and economically to record it. But to release a full-length album with all that it implies is simply over our heads. Now we ask for help to take the next step.

"The fan-funding program at SellABand has all possible steps, big and small, with rewards for each step, so everyone who wants to support us can do it."

According to a press release, FRANTIC AMBER's debut album "will be a mix of brutality, groove and melody. Classic metal meets modern metal, simply an album where rage comes with beautiful harmonies. It is the core and essence that FRANTIC AMBER is all about."

FRANTIC AMBER's "Wrath Of Judgement" video was viewed more than 100,000 times on YouTube and paved the way for the international digital release of the band's debut five-track EP, "Wrath Of Judgement", which arrived in 2011.

Fan-filmed video footage of CRIMSON GLORY's August 18 performance at the Rockstad Falun festival in Falun, Sweden can be seen below.

The band's setlist was as follows:

01. Valhalla
02. Dragon Lady
03. Azrael
04. Queen Of The Masquerade
05. Where Dragons Rule
06. Lady Of Winter
07. Painted Skies
08. Masque Of The Red Death
09. Lonely
10. Red Sharks
11. Eternal World

CRIMSON GLORY vocalist Todd La Torre recently joined QUEENSRŸCHE as the replacement for Geoff Tate.

La Torre, who says that QUEENSRŸCHE has been his favorite band since he was 15 years old, first met QUEENSRŸCHE guitarist Michael Wilton at this year's NAMM convention in January in Anaheim, California.

Todd La Torre joined CRIMSON GLORY in April 2010 and has played a number of shows with the band during the past two years.

La Torre made his first public appearance with CRIMSON GLORY at ProgPower USA X as one of seventeen guest performers paying tribute to Midnight, the band's original singer.

Essentially unknown to the mainstream progressive metal scene, La Torre spent 22 years earning his stripes and solidifying himself as an unquestionable talent behind the drum kit of various hard rock and heavy metal projects in the Tampa Bay, Florida area. However, his vocal aspirations went largely unfulfilled until 2009 when Matt LaPorte (JON OLIVA'S PAIN), who had only heard La Torre sing on a few occasions, casually mentioned to CRIMSON GLORY guitarist Jon Drenning that he might make a nice addition to the already stellar lineup of performers the band had accumulated. It was only a short time later that La Torre found himself at the band's rehearsal studio, and the pieces began to fall into place.

Midnight passed away in 2009 due to long-term health complications.

Our Problem, the classic 1998 album from UK aggro-doomsters IRON MONKEY, is due to be released on limited edition vinyl for the first time ever on September 10th via Earache. Our Problem was produced by Andy Sneap (MEGADETH, MACHINE HEAD, CRADLE OF FILTH, TESTAMENT, EXODUS, NEVERMORE) and, along with the band's self-titled debut album, single-handedly brought the US sludgecore sound to the UK underground.

The release is part of the "First Time On Vinyl" campaign, which plugs the gaps in the Earache catalogue that have never before been released on LP.

Our Problem will be released on double vinyl housed in a deluxe gatefold sleeve, and includes three bonus tracks taken from the deleted We've Learned Nothing split with CHURCH OF MISERY. All profits will be donated to the UK National Kidney Federation in memory of the band's late frontman, Johnny Morrow. For more information, visit this location.

Our Problem is available to pre-order now in these strictly limited colours:

100 - Skol Super Gold (sold out)
200 - Weed Green (almost gone)
300 - Primate Brown
800 - Black

View a picture of the coloured vinyls below:

The full track listing for the Our Problem vinyl is as follows:

Side A:
'Bad Year'
'Supagorgonizer'
'Boss Keloid'
'IRMS'

Side B:
'House Anxiety'
'2 Golden Rules'
'9 Joint Spiritual Whip'

Side C:
'Omi Bozu (Wisdom Of Choking)'
'Sleep To Win' *

Side D:
'Arsonaut' *
'Kiss Of Death' *

* Bonus tracks

Iron Monkey's self-titled debut album is also available now on limited edition coloured vinyl from the Earache webstore.

CRIMSON GLORY/QUEENSRŸCHE vocalist Todd La Torre joined French metallers NIGHTMARE on stage on August 14 at Café De Blauwe Wolk in Zottegem, Belgium to perform the CRIMSON GLORY classic "Where Dragons Rule". Fan-filmed video footage of his appearance can be seen below.

To mark the two-year anniversary of the passing of former CRIMSON GLORY vocalist Midnight, NIGHTMARE released its studio cover version of "Where Dragons Rule", taken from the legendary CRIMSON GLORY album "Transcendence". You can now listen to the track in the YouTube clip player below.

Midnight (real name: John Patrick Jr. McDonald) passed away on July 8, 2009 due to a "total kidney and liver failure." He was 47 years old.

La Torre recently joined QUEENSRŸCHE as the replacement for Geoff Tate.

NIGHTMARE's latest album, "The Burden Of God", was released in May through AFM Records. The CD was laid down at the Peek studios in the south of France with producer Patrick Liotard.

NIGHTMARE performing with CRIMSON GLORY vocalist Todd La Torre:

Fan-filmed video footage of DIO DISCIPLES' August 10 performance at this year's edition of the Bloodstock Open Air festival at Catton Park, Derbyshire in the United Kingdom can be seen below.

DIO DISCIPLES is the project featuring former DIO members Simon Wright (drums), Craig Goldy (guitar), Scott Warren (keyboards) and Rudy Sarzo alongside singers Tim "Ripper" Owens (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, BEYOND FEAR, JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH) and Toby Jepson (LITTLE ANGELS, GUN). The group pays tribute to the Ronnie James Dio and is fully supported by Dio's widow/manager, Wendy, who has said, "There will never be another Ronnie, but we want to keep his music alive and hope you will support the band and become one of the DIO DISCIPLES."

Sarzo was unable to take part in DIO DISCIPLES' recent European tour and was once again temporarily replaced by James Lomenzo (MEGADETH, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, WHITE LION).

In an interview with Metal Assault, Simon stated about how DIO DISCIPLES was conceived, "I think it was a combination of all of us. We talked long and hard and discussed 'Should we or shouldn't we? Is it right? How do we really feel about all this?' And it just became apparent that we just couldn't let it go. We've been in Ronnie's band for such a long time and he taught us so much, he was an inspiration and we learned so much from him about being on the road, being in the studio… We just came to the conclusion that we just couldn't let it go and we needed to keep the songs going for the fans; that's the most important thing we're doing here. We're not trying to kid anybody here; we're just doing it from the heart and continuing his legacy. It's really as simple as that."

On the topic of DIO DISCIPLES setlist, Simon said, "The problem that a lot of bands have is that they've got a strong batch of hits, so we still have to do songs that are like that — we have to do 'Heaven And Hell', 'Rainbow In The Dark', 'Holy Diver', 'We Rock'… So we're doing those, but we're trying to throw in as many curveballs as we can at the moment. As we progress, I think we'll be throwing in more songs from Ronnie's catalog, which should be a couple of surprises — songs that maybe were never played live, or that were played live but a long, long time ago. Because, like I said before, we wanna make it something special for the fans and they all have everything different songs that they love. We can't do them all, but we're gonna try and fit as many of them in as we can."

According to Timo Isoaho of Soundi magazine, Finnish melancholic dark rock/metal icons AMORPHIS will enter the studio in September to begin recording their eleventh studio album for a March/April 2013 release. The as-yet-untitled CD will be helmed by Swedish producer/multi-instrumentalist Peter Tägtgren, who has previously worked with CHILDREN OF BODOM, CELTIC FROST, IMMORTAL, and DIMMU BORGIR, among many others. The initial sessions will take place at Petrax studio (CHILDREN OF BODOM, NIGHTWISH) in Hollola, Finland, with the band planning to utilize other studios to complete the CD.

"We wanted to approach the recording sessions in a completely new way and we decided to hire a producer to oversee the project from start to finish," AMORPHIS guitarist Esa Holopainen told Soundi.

AMORPHIS' latest album, "The Beginning Of Times", entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 16 — the best chart position ever scored by an AMORPHIS album in that country. The CD also landed at position No. 1 on the Finnish chart.

Released on May 27, 2011 via Nuclear Blast Records, "The Beginning Of Times" was described as "the most challenging AMORPHIS album so far in terms of both music and lyrics." Its central character is the iconic hero of Finnish mythology, Väinämöinen, whose tale has been masterfully retold by lyricist Pekka Kainulainen.

"The Beginning Of Times" was produced by the band; vocals were recorded under the guidance of Marco Hietala (NIGHTWISH, TAROT) in his home studio in Kuopio. Like its predecessors, the album was mixed by Mikko Karmila. Its cover artwork shows Travis Smith's magnificent interpretation of the mythological birth of the world from a goldeneye's egg.

DETHKLOK returns this fall with "Metalocalypse: Dethklok Dethalbum III", the highly anticipated album that fans of the animated band have been begging for. The stars of the Adult Swim series "Metalocalypse" will unleash 12 brand new tracks, set to hit stores throughout North America on October 16 from Williams Street Records.

"Dethalbum III" was once again co-produced by "Metalocalypse" co-creator Brendon Small and DETHKLOK producer Ulrich Wild ("Dethalbum" and "Dethalbum II"). The cover art was also illustrated by "Dethalbum" and "Dethalbum II" cover artist Antonio Canobbio.

"Dethalbum III" will not only be released in its original CD and digital format, but also as a deluxe-edition CD/DVD and a clean version of the CD. The deluxe-edition CD/DVD will include a 32-minute behind-the-scenes documentary of the making of "Dethalbum III", as well as music videos and much more. A vinyl edition of the album with special etching will be released on November 6.

"Dethalbum III" track listing:

01. I Ejaculate Fire
02. Crush the Industry
03. Andromeda
04. The Galaxy
05. Starved
06. Killstardo Abominate
07. Ghostqueen
08. Impeach God
09. Biological Warfare
10. Skyhunter
11. The Hammer
12. Rejoin

The fourth season of "Metalocalypse", created by Brendon Small and Tommy Blacha with Small executive producing, recently wrapped on Adult Swim and will be released on DVD and Blu-ray on October 30. Along with all 12 episodes from the series’ fourth season, the "Metalocalypse Season 4" DVD and Blu-ray releases will feature more than two hours of special features. Highlights from those features include a 90-minute feature film of Nathan Explosion tackling his latest Shakespeare reading, in "Nathan Reads Shakespeare 4: Comedy of Errors", a series of band member "StaresDowns," a look at DETHKLOK fan art, "MurderThoughts," a "Pickles Flyby" and much, much more.

Canadian purveyors of folk/prog metal, SCYTHIA, reveal to fans a sneak peak of their latest sonic attack, For The Bear, due out on Septmeber 25th.

Vocalist/guitarist Dave Khan states: "Scythia is proud to present the artwork and more for our upcoming release. The artwork was painted by the talented Mika Harju of Finland, he has experience designing metal albums before and we needed something tough and harsh looking to capture the intensity of the music. As you can imagine, it probably doesn't get much tougher than duelling barbarians from atop a bear in the dead of winter. We are also including a teaser track that gives a little prelude of the sonic intensity that accompanies this imagery."

Scythia will be unleashing For the Bear this fall (date soon to be announced). The short, but sweet seven-track EP departs from the orchestration and central concept of its predecessors, instead representing a leaner, faster, sharper folk metal machine.

Tracklisting:

'Sailor’s Accolade'
'Fierce Riders Of Scythia' (remix)
'For The Bear'
'Black Death' (remix)
'Dies Irae Pt. 1' (remix)
'Mattawa Reel'
'Video Game Medley'

Savannah, Georgia-based quartet BARONESS was involved in a road accident on August 15 in England when the band's tour bus reportedly plummeted for 30 feet over a viaduct after going through a security barrier during heavy rain. Nine people, including the four members of the group, were sent to the hospital, two of them with serious injuries. The cause of the incident is currently under investigation.

All previously scheduled BARONESS shows have been postponed until further notice.

John Baizley (rhythm guitar, lead vocals) broke his left arm and left leg. Allen Blickle (drums) and Matt Maggioni (bass) each suffered fractured vertebrae. All three remain in the hospital as of this writing. Pete Adams (lead guitar, vocals) was treated and released from the hospital.

Earlier today, the members of BARONESS released the following statement:

"Thank you to all of you who have been sending the tidal wave of positivity our way. We are uplifted by its sheer magnitude, and power. Every single one of you is making our days and nights easier and our recovery quicker. Thank you all so much, we are truly lucky to have such incredible people on our side. A sincere and heartfelt thank you from each of us to each of you."

A two-minute BBC News video report on the road accident can be seen below.

BARONESS released its new album, "Yellow & Green", last month via Relapse Records.

LAMB OF GOD returned to the live stage this past Friday night (August 17) in Council Bluffs, Iowa as part of SLIPKNOT's first-ever Knotfest, an extraordinary two-date metal and hard rock festival.

Video footage of the performance — shot from the side of the stage — can be seen below.

LAMB OF GOD frontman Randy Blythe was released from a prison in Prague on August 2, more than a month after he was arrested and incarcerated. Blythe was facing the possibility of conviction and a long-term jail sentence after a 2010 incident in which a fan attending a LAMB OF GOD show died almost a month later, allegedly from injuries sustained when he was thrown off the stage. Blythe's predicament galvanized the heavy rock community, with artists across the hard rock genre pledging their support.

Interviewed by a Czech media outlet before boarding the plane to go home, Blythe said, "I'm relieved to be out of jail but if it's necessary for me to return to Prague to go to this court thing, I certainly will, I'm no flight risk."

Blythe added that he had no memory at all of the incident in question, saying, "I feel very bad that a fan of my band is dead and his family has to go through it, it's terrible, I feel awful for them but it's a tragic coincidence . . . we had no knowledge whatsoever that someone had been injured much less died."

The case is expected to be heard in court in December.

Blythe and his bandmates are already rescheduling a canceled U.S. tour for October.

Official Metallica.com footage of METALLICA's pre-show tuning-room jam and "…And Justice For All" performance on August 7 at the seventh concert of the band's eight-date run at Palacio de los Deportes (Sports Palace) in Mexico City can be seen below.

METALLICA's setlist for August 7 concert was as follows:

01. Creeping Death
02. For Whom the Bell Tolls
03. Fuel
04. Ride the Lightning
05. One
06. Cyanide
07. The Memory Remains
08. No Remorse
09. Sad But True
10. Welcome Home (Sanitarium)
11. ...And Justice for All
12. Fade to Black
13. Master of Puppets
14. Battery
15. Nothing Else Matters
16. Enter Sandman

Encore:

17. Hit the Lights
18. Seek & Destroy

Two members of METALLICA's road crew caught fire during each of the Mexico concerts, as the two stagehands were seen struggling with a malfunctioning pyro launcher during "Enter Sandman" when both were suddenly engulfed in flame. As James Hetfield called for the band to stop playing, other crew members doused the men with fire extinguishers and took them off the stage in stretchers, with the band resuming its show a few minutes later.

A spokesperson for the promoter said the stunt was "all part of the show," and in fact METALLICA has staged this type of "accident" before during its 1997 tour, on which the show ended with the stage seemingly collapsing around the band as one crew member caught fire and another dangled upside down from the fallen lighting rig. The effect was caught on the band's "Cunning Stunts" DVD.

The show on July 28 marked the debut of a new 140-foot-by-50-foot stage that features "colossal components and striking visual elements spanning METALLICA's entire 30-year career," meaning that the "accident" stunt could be back for an encore.

At a press conference before the show, frontman James Hetfield said that the band was focused on "staying alive" while performing alongside the "dangerous elements" of the new production, with bassist Robert Trujillo adding, "Like James said, it's very dangerous — we've got stuff flying every which way."

A post in the "Tour Journal" section of METALLICA's official web site related that "shit really hit the fan (during 'Enter Sandman' with) loud bangs, random fireworks, falling towers, falling spot light guy, falling scaffolding, guy was caught on fire . . . then a complete blackout."

METALLICA played the Outside Lands festival in San Francisco earlier in the month and is scheduled to perform two shows in late August in Vancouver, which will be filmed for the band's upcoming 3D movie.

Earlier this month, it was announced that the first annual Mayhem Festival Cruise — which was scheduled to set sail on Friday, December 7, 2012 from the Port of Miami, Florida and travels to the Bahamas, returning to the mainland on Monday, December 10 — was canceled.

Last week, Jason Simms got a chance to interview Scott Ian for an upcoming feature on ANTHRAX in The Oregonian. While Jason had Scott on the phone, he asked the guitarist for his thoughts on the cancelation, since ANTHRAX was to be one of the voyage's headliners. Here's what he said in its entirety.

"I saw the press release [announcing the cancelation], and we were as surprised as everybody else. We were literally out on the [Rockstar Energy Drink] Mayhem [Festival] tour when we heard that the cruise was canceled.

"It's a bummer. We were all really looking forward to it.

"It's funny because us MACHINE HEAD, LAMB OF GOD, we're all good friends, we've all known each other forever. None of us had ever been on a cruise before. We were all in Europe this summer playing festivals together and we were like, 'What do you think of this cruise thing? What's your take on it?' Everyone was kind of like, 'Alright, it's a little weird, we're going to be stuck on this boat for four days,' but everyone was excited that we were going to get to hang out and all get really shitty and have a lot of fun. I know all of us were bummed and I heard from the MACHINE HEAD guys that they were bummed.

"Yeah, I don't know why [it was canceled]. I can speculate and think that maybe in this economy, it's kind of tough to sell a ticket for that much money. You get all these bands and it's three days on a boat, if you break it down to what it's costing you per day, it doesn't seem like a lot of money. But I understand where we're at in this world in 2012. People just don't have that kind of money to shell out. I can only assume it comes down to that."

Mayhem Festival Cruise promised to offer fans a chance to experience a blistering 90-minute set from each one of six killer heavy metal bands — LAMB OF GOD, MACHINE HEAD, ANTHRAX, HATEBREED, SUICIDE SILENCE and KINGDOM OF SORROW — as well as additional showcase sets from Century Media, Metal Blade Records, Roadrunner Records and Sumerian Records artists, including GOJIRA, PERIPHERY, BORN OF OSIRIS, BATTLECROSS, OTHERWISE, GIRL ON FIRE, ANTI MORTEM, and GYSPYHAWK. Mayhem veterans JDevil (Jonathan Davis of KORN) and DJ Starscream (Sid of SLIPKNOT) were also slated to perform full DJ sets each night.

For more information, visit www.MayhemCruise.com.