German thrash metal veterans KREATOR performed the title track of their new album, "Phantom Antichrist", last night (Friday, July 13) on the show "Neo Paradise", broadcast on Germany's national TV network ZDF. You can now watch their appearance at this location.

"Phantom Antichrist" registered the following first-week chart positions:

Germany: #5 (the band's highest chart entry ever)
Switzerland: #22
Austria: #31
Netherlands: #87
Spain: #89
Belgium: #115
USA: #130
Canada: #118

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

KREATOR's previous album, "Hordes Of Chaos", sold around 2,800 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 165 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD landed at No. 7 on the Heatseekers chart.

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

The cover artwork for the standard edition of "Phantom Antichrist" was created by Wes Benscoter (SLAYER, DIO, BLACK SABBATH) and can be seen below.

The limited edition of "Phantom Antichrist" was made available as two-disc digipack, including a bonus DVD.

"Phantom Antichrist" formats:

- Jewel case CD *
- 2LP yellow vinyl *
- 2LP bi-colored vinyl (red/black): limited to 500 copies, hand-numbered *+
- 2LP picture vinyl **
- CD/DVD digi limited edition: 2 digipacks in a slipcase. **
- Limited mailorder edition: metallic box including CD/DVD digi limited edition, T-shirt, exclusive CD "Live In Wacken", poster, signing card, limited to 500 copies, hand-numbered **+

* = Featuring artwork by Wes Benscoter (DIO, BLACK SABBATH, SLAYER)
** = Featuring artwork by Jan Meininghaus
+ = only available at www.nuclearblast.de/shop

KREATOR is:

Miland "Mille" Petrozza – Vocals, Guitrar
Sami Yli-Sirniö - Guitar
Christian "Speesy" Giesler - Bass
Jürgen "Ventor" Reil - Drums

"American Idol" runner-up Adam Lambert has revealed he "would love" to make an album of original material with legendary British rockers QUEEN.

QUEEN's Roger Taylor and Brian May joined forces with Lambert for a series of European dates, including two shows at London, England's Hammersmith Apollo this week.

When asked during a live web chat with Capital FM if he would be interested in recording new material with QUEEN, Adam replied (see video below), "Yeah, I mean, I would love to work with them in any capacity in the future. I don't think I would turn any offer down. I mean, they're amazing. I don't know what that would be, but hey…"

Lambert said last month that he knows that he can't replace Freddie Mercury in his shows fronting QUEEN — but he doesn't intend to let anyone down either. He told the Daily Mail that when he performs with the remaining members of QUEEN, he will learn from the experience.

He said, "We want to keep the music alive and give it an energy that would have made Freddie proud. You can't replace him. But playing with QUEEN is the best thing that could happen to me. My intention is to pay tribute to Freddie. I'm looking forward to spending time with Brian and Roger. I want to make myself familiar with their more obscure songs and hear some stories from the guys themselves. I'll get my own personal QUEEN documentary. Working with them is going to be a great honor, but I'm also very keen for people to hear my own music, so who knows what the future will hold?"

According to RollingStone.com, Bret Michaels hopes to get Zakk Wylde (BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, OZZY OSBOURNE) to come in and redo "Go That Far", the theme from Bret's "Rock Of Love" reality-TV show, for the POISON singer's forthcoming solo album, "Bret Michaels And Friends: Get Your Rock On". Bret also wants CHEAP TRICK's Rick Nielsen to come in to play on a reworked version of POISON's hit "Talk Dirty To Me", Michaels says. "I think that'd be great to have him come in and put his style on a song that I remade in an over-the-top, punk-metal fashion."

Due in September, "Bret Michaels And Friends: Get Your Rock On" will feature guest appearances by Loretta Lynn and Joe Perry (who play on a reworking of the POISON smash ballad "Every Rose Has Its Thorn") and Jimmy Buffett, Lil Jon, Michael Anthony (VAN HALEN, CHICKENFOOT), Ace Frehley (KISS), all the LYNYRD SKYNYRD guys, members of .38 SPECIAL and BLACKFOOT and RASCAL FLATTS' Jay DeMarcus.

According to Bret, his new version of POISON's "Nothin' But a Good Time" will feature Frehley, Anthony and Lil Jon. "Ace Frehley is the real deal," says Michaels. "He laid down this amazing solo and then Michael Anthony came in, he did the backups, and I was like, 'Just play some Michael Anthony licks.' He did, and that's what made magic on the song."

"This Too Shall Pass", a new song from VOICES, the new black metal project featuring AKERCOCKE/MY DYING BRIDE drummer David Gray alongside AKERCOCKE members Peter Benjamin and Sam Loynes (also of DIMINISHED FIFTH), can be streamed in the SoundCloud player below.

Commented the band: "We are happy to share an exclusive pre-mastered and pre-released version of a song featured on the upcoming VOICES album. Through working with various mastermind producers from London town, we feel we are reaching a unique studio sound. We refused the overly perfectionist production mentalities, which rightly works with many other current metal bands, and instead chose to embrace an authentically 'live' sound for the album whilst still building both the musical and atmospheric layers of the songs in a way that will pay dividends to our intended sonic visions. 'This Too Shall Pass' is an example of what to expect from this album."

VOICES previously stated about its musical direction, "VOICES, albeit an entirely different and fresh musical outfit, share AKERCOCKE's experimental approach and mash-up of extreme metal styles. All songs are born out of extensive improvisation and therefore are more about vibe rather than meticulous structuring. It's here that we feel our sound is becoming unique, reflecting the moods and atmospheres of the rehearsal space on that specific day."

A three-minute trailer for the forthcoming self-titled album from Canadian extreme metallers CRYPTOPSY can be seen below.

Pre-sales for the new CD from CRYPTOPSY will begin on Friday, July 13 via the band's new web site Cryptopsy.ca (which goes live on Friday). As special thanks to you, the pre-sale participants, the band has decided to give some digital goodies. First, on August 14, one month before the digital release and official street date, you will receive two songs from the new CD. Then on September 11, you will receive the "Making Of Cryptopsy" (a 30-minute documentary) alongside your completed album.

All pre-sale participants will be placed in a draw to win the following grand prize:

* Autographed limited edition vinyls of "Ungental Exhumation", "Blasphemy Made Flesh" and "None So Vile".
* Autographed CD "Cryptopsy".
* Full merch package, guy shirt, girly and zip up hoody of "Cryptopsy".

The official "Cryptopsy" trailer, a three-minute musical and video medley, will be released on Friday to give you a taste of the new CRYPTOPSY album.

Commented the band: "We hope that you enjoy the sneak peek of the new CRYPTOPSY. We greatly appreciate your dedication and support. It is thanks to your help alone that we can continue doing this!!!"

The cover artwork for "Cryptopsy" was created by Mircea Gabriel Eftemie (MNEMIC) and can be seen below.

"Cryptopsy" track listing:

01. Two-Pound Torch
02. Shag Harbour's Visitors
03. Red-Skinned Scapegoat
04. Damned Draft Dodgers
05. Amputated Enigma
06. The Golden Square Mile
07. Ominous
08. Cleansing The Hosts

CRYPTOPSY in January tapped bassist Olivier Pinard (NEURAXIS, VENGEFUL) as the replacement for guitarist-turned-bassist Youri Raymond.

Raymond left CRYPTOPSY in December, explaining in a statement that "it's in the best interest of both the band and I to part ways." He added, "As a musician, moving from guitar to bass was a great challenge, but honestly, I never really felt comfortable in that position and my motivation in general was stagnating."

Lead guitarist and songwriter Jon Levasseur rejoined CRYPTOPSY in May 2011.

"The Unspoken King", CRYPTOPSY's sixth full-length and first to feature new vocalist Matt McGachy, was released June 24, 2008 to a wide array of reactions. Drummer Flo Mounier explained his intention in reshaping the dynamics of the band to Decibel magazine: "I'm a fan of different sorts of music, and I think it's most fun when a band puts out an album that has elements of everything; you get this thing called diversity, not boredom. That's what we're trying to do. Still, I think people are going to be surprised how brutal this album is."

CRYPTOPSY is:

Flo Mounier: Drums/Vocals
Jon Levasseur: Lead, Rythm guitar
Chris Donaldson: Lead Guitar
Matt McGachy: Lead Vocals
Olivier Pinard: Bass Guitar

Grammy-winning iconic guitarist and Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductee Slash marked a career milestone today, Tuesday, July 10, as he was honored with his own star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame. Slash's star is located directly in front of the Hard Rock Café on Hollywood Blvd (6801 Hollywood Blvd, #105 Los Angeles, CA 90028). Slash's friends — celebrated film producer Robert Evans, actor Charlie Sheen and beloved radio host Jim Ladd — were guest speakers at the fan-packed ceremony. Afterwards, Slash and bandmate Myles Kennedy treated fans to a private acoustic performance and exclusive question-and-answer session at the Hard Rock Café on Hollywood Blvd.

Charlie Sheen, a neighbor and personal friend of Slash's who called himself a "Rock Star From Mars" when he underwent a public meltdown amid his firing from the CBS show "Two and a Half Men", spoke at Slash's induction ceremony. He said, "It's quite fitting that Slash is getting a star on the very street Axl Rose will one day be sleeping on."

He added, "This star is going to be stepped on more than the coke we did in the '80s."

Ana Martinez, producer of the Hollywood Walk Of Fame ceremonies, said, "Slash is widely considered one of the greatest rock guitarists of all time. We are proud to place his name among the stars on our fabled Hollywood Walk Of Fame."

SLAYER bassist/vocalist Tom Araya (pictured below) is one of a number of musicians who have come out in support of LAMB OF GOD frontman Randy Blythe, who is facing manslaughter charges in the Czech Republic.

Blythe, 41, is accused of causing the fatal injury that occurred at LAMB OF GOD's May 24, 2010 show in Prague. The singer allegedly either pushed or struck a 19-year-old fan named Daniel N. — a guitarist in a local metal band — and that person died almost a month later of bleeding in the brain.

Randy has been charged with causing "bodily harm of the fourth degree, resulting in the death of a fan" and faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

Speaking to Fitz Madrid, afternoon DJ at the Phoenix, Arizona radio station 98 KUPD, Araya said (hear audio below), "[Randy did] what anybody in a band would do — a kids gets up on stage and you push him off, and that's where the discrepancy is. I haven't seen [video footage of the alleged incident], and [the people that have supposedly seen it] said it's pretty obvious in the video clip what was going on and what happened. I haven't seen it, so I can't tell you what I think. But it's like anything else — a kid gets on stage, and you push him off. And whatever happens to him down there afterwards… First [and] foremost, they have security there so kids don't get on stage. But they also have security there so the kids don't hurt themselves when they come over the [barricade or when they try to come up on stage]. So it's like a two-deal thing."

He added, "I feel sorry for [Randy], 'cause now he's stuck in this spot. It's kind of hard to say if it would have been a different outcome had he not touched the kid or if it'd still be the same outcome. I hope that it gets settled and I hope that he can get home. That's just not cool."

He continued, "Nowadays, you have to really think about that kind of shit. I hate to say this, 25 years ago, stuff like that, if it happened, it happened. Nowadays, if it's happened, everybody's discovered that they have 'rights.' Rights are great, but you also have to share in the responsibility. You have to be a responsible person. You have to be responsible for your own action. Randy has to be responsible for his action of whatever he did. But the kid has to be responsible for the action he took upon himself to get up on the stage. [He] took the initiative to do that. [The security] guys [apparently] said, 'No, you can't do that.' And apparently [the kid] tried several times [to get up on stage].

"To me, we all carry the burden of our own responsibility — being responsible for our own actions and ourselves; we all share in that. Everybody needs to understand that, and that's something that people don't understand these days. Now, whenever something happens, it's like, 'You did this to me.' It's like, 'Well, we told you not to go there and you did it ten times. And the tenth time, we're like, 'OK, buddy. How you're gonna get it through your thick skull? Get the fuck out.' You know what I mean?!"

Guitar Center, the world's largest retailer of musical instruments and equipment, and DirecTV , one of the world's leading providers of digital television entertainment services, will spotlight MEGADETH in a new episode of the award-winning music series Guitar Center Sessions on Friday, July 13. Guitar Center Sessions features exclusive performances and intimate, enlightening conversations conducted by revered musical tastemaker Nic Harcourt. The episode was filmed at Guitar Center in Hollywood, California on March 22 and will premiere in 2D hi-definition on DIRECTV's Audience Network (channel 239) and in 3D on DirecTV's n3D powered by Panasonic.

A BLABBERMOUTH.NET-exclusive clip of MEGADETH performing the song "Angry Again" from the upcoming Guitar Center Sessions episode can be seen below.

Check out photos from the taping at this location.

Continuing its commitment to inspiring musicians, each episode of Guitar Center Sessions is filmed live in front of a studio audience in the world-famous Guitar Center Hollywood Vintage Room. The show gives real music fans a rare peek inside the minds of their idols, with Harcourt's thoughtful, conversational questions drawing out new and intimate details from their storied careers. Audiences hear first-hand accounts from each artist about their personal and musical journeys and the influences that molded them into the icons they have become.

After its series debut, featuring episodes with artists including Peter Gabriel, WEEZER, JANE'S ADDICTION, THE CULT, CAKE and Jakob Dylan, Guitar Center Sessions was the recipient of the International 3D Society's award for Best Music Television Series in 2010.

"Angry Again":

WAR OF THRONES, the Tampa Bay area metal quartet fronted by former CRIMSON GLORY/LEATHERWOLF vocalist Wade Black and featuring guitar mastermind Rick Renstrom (ROB ROCK, LEASH LAW), virtuoso bassist Rich Marks (HOLMES AND SLICE) and drummer Jasin Marxx (DISASTERPIECE, DREAMZFATE), has announced a headlining appearance on Saturday, July 14 at The Staregrounds in Lutz, Florida.

Although firmly rooted in traditional heavy metal, WAR OF THRONES applies a modern approach the delivery of its music. By utilizing social media, the band has amassed nearly 5,000 Twitter followers over the past few months, creating and army of diehard fans. Their demos on ReverbNation have received thousands of plays and downloads.

Taking "bringing metal to the masses" very seriously, WAR OF THRONES will stream its performance at The Staregrounds live on RockSlamRadio.com.

"After more than two decades of writing and touring with some of the best bands in metal, I can say that I have finally found my home in WAR OF THRONES," commented Black. "Everyone in the band is 100 percent committed to bringing the best music to every album and the best performance to every gig. We are all at the top of our games right now, and are ready to bring the metal!"

"It's an exciting time for us right now!" Renstrom added. "The amazing following we have growing through Twitter and ReverbNation has blown us away! We feel very grateful that so many people are getting behind this band. The music speaks for itself and we've worked tirelessly to create something fresh, new and exciting not only to listen to, but to see live as well."

Although a relatively new band on the scene, WAR OF THRONES has among its ranks seasoned professionals who have toured extensively and played some of the most prestigious, high-profile metal festivals and venues around the world. Even while working on its debut album, the band was selected to support ANVIL earlier this year at the State Theater in St. Petersburg, Florida and will open for KAMELOT at the State Theater on September 10. Wade Black has also received further recognition lately as his voice can be heard in several movie soundtracks. Wade's former band LUCIAN BLACQUE is featured in 2011's "Donovan's Echo", which starred Danny Glover, and most recently 2012's "The Grey", with Liam Neeson.

DEVILDRIVER frontman Dez Fafara has announced plans to record a benefit song for his sister Kerri, who has been diagnosed with breast cancer. He writes on Twitter, "[I'm] not gonna sit and do nothing while my sister faces down cancer… [I'm going to] record a song and put it on iTunes to help her kids." He later added in another tweet, "Within three hours, I've got a pro producer, a pro mixer and a handful of musicians willing to contribute to my sister's song!"

As previously reported, DEVILDRIVER bassist Aaron "Bubble" Patrick has been sitting out the band's recent tour dates after being diagnosed with Streptococcus pneumonia, an inflammation and swelling of the lung, caused by an infection with the bacteria. Filling in for Patrick has been his former BURY YOUR DEAD bandmate Chris Towning.

DEVILDRIVER recently inked a worldwide deal with Napalm Records. The band's next album is tentatively scheduled for a release in 2013.

Mr. Lordi of Finnish heavy metal monsters LORDI will have his third art exhibiton at Simerock in Rovaniemi, Finland from July 13 until August 11. The exhibition is titled "Vistoja Kuvia" and it celebrates both LORDI's and Simerock Festival's 10-year anniversary. The exhibition offers a glimpse of nature, but more than that, stories behind the music and album art. In this exhbition Mr. Lordi showcases artworks from his previous art exhbitions.

The opening will be held on Friday, July 13 at 18.00, with Mr. Lordi in attendance.

Mr. Lordi designs LORDI's visual elements, which are an essential part of the band's artistic presence. He has expanded his artistic expression beyond this world.

LORDI will enter WireWorld Studio in Nashville, Tennessee in September with renowned producer Michael Wagener (METALLICA, OZZY OSBOURNE, SKID ROW, DOKKEN, RAVEN, MEGADETH) to begin recording its new album for an early 2013 release.

Rock guitarist Ron Marks, former guitarist for the legendary Swiss metal group CELTIC FROST and founder of SUBSONIC, has signed a distribution and development deal with DSN Music. Marks will make three previously released SUBSONIC albums — "Super-Vel", "No Such Soul" and "Blood Groove" — available on a compilation box set titled "Trifecta".

"This is certainly not my first rodeo," said Marks, "but it is my pleasure to sign with a company as professional and modern as DSN. The high level of respect and attention to details that they devote to their artists has all but vanished within the music industry."

Marks performed as lead guitarist for CELTIC FROST in 1987, and toured the U.K. and U.S. with the group in support of the "Into The Pandemonium" release. He is also credited as a co-writer on CELTIC FROST's 1990 album "Vanity/Nemesis". After his stint with CELTIC FROST, Marks decided to move on and fufill a lifelong dream to create his own project.

In 2000, Marks founded and launched the SUBSONIC, which spawned six albums: "Super-Vel", "No Such Soul", "Blood Groove", "Honeycomb", "Mach Ten" and "Hell's Half". Three music videos ("Dream American", "A Day Late" and "Fix") were released as well. SUBSONIC explores irreverent social visions and affirms how satire eclipses doctrine.

"When SUBSONIC and DSN joined forces, I thought, 'Why release only one album? Why not a box set of three?'" stated Marks. "They agreed and 'Trifecta' is the result. This release catalogs 'Super-Vel', 'No Such Soul', 'Blood Groove' and the evolution of SUBSONIC to that point. An evolution that continues forward."

Marks has received high honors in the rock industry over several decades, and is endorsed by major music brands such as Dean guitars, Marshall amps, S.I.T. strings and Steve Clayton products.

"Trifecta" is scheduled for a worldwide release via DSN Music this fall, and will be available via online and mobile stores such as Amazon.com, iTunes, Rhapsody.com, Google Music, Spotify, eMusic.com, iHeartRadio and hundreds more.

According to Novinite.com, MANOWAR bassist Joey DeMaio has endorsed the campaign for the adoption of stray dogs launched in Bulgaria's capital Sofia.

Over 10,000 stray dogs are roaming the streets of Sofia, according to a former employee of the Ecobalance municipal company.

Prior to being re-elected at the end of October 2011, Sofia Mayor Yordanka Fandakova vowed to "cut down in half the number of stray dogs in the Bulgarian capital the next two years."

On Friday, DeMaio and Fandakova visited the Seslavtsi dog shelter in the capital.

"There are stray dogs all over the world, but it is important that you have been taking measures to tackle the problem," DeMaio told Fandakova, as cited by the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency.

Aggressive stray dogs are believed to have been responsible for killing two elderly men since the beginning of 2012.

Mythological occult metal discoverers ABSU announce the release of their new single, "Hall Of The Masters" courtesy of this year's Adult Swim Singles Program. Once again, the band has showcased their signature style of occult black/thrash mythology to dark new calculating territories — whirlwinds of razor-sharp guitar work and top-notch drumming. The track was recorded at Nomad Recording Studios in Carrollton, Texas and once again mixed by J.T. Longoria (KING DIAMOND, SOLITUDE AETERNUS). An official video to accompany the song will be released on September 10, directed by filmmaker Daniel Garcia.

In other news, ABSU has confirmed new festival and tour dates for the summer and fall months. Late August will see the band performing at Slaughter By The Water III — the annual festival taking place in Alameda, California aboard massive aircraft carrier the U.S.S. Hornet — followed directly by two shows in Mexico City and San Luis Potosi, Mexico. November sees the band traveling to South America for a string of eight shows throughout Columbia, Chile and Brazil. More Stateside tour actions are being confirmed to be announced in the weeks ahead.

Australian/Los Angeles tech-metal masters DEVOLVED have set "Reprisal" as the title of their new album, due on November 20 via Unique Leader Records. Drummer, lyricist and founding member John Sankey stated, "'Reprisal' is absolutely the most innovative and progressive DEVOLVED album yet. I had a very specific vision for this album when I began the writing process both musically and lyrically, it is the most definitive representation of what I have always wanted DEVOLVED to be. Conceptually, it is based on the ideologies of individual control, advancement, revenge and empowerment within a global society that has reverted back to the most basic means of survival, every man for himself, kill or be killed... which perfectly compliments the intensity, aggression and unrelenting brutality of the music."

All music on the new DEVOLVED album was written and performed by John Sankey and Mark Hawkins (ROBOTS PULLING LEVERS), with lyrics and arrangement by Sankey. The vocals were performed by DEVOLVED's new lead singer, Mark Haggblad (UNVEIL THE STRENGTH), following the departure of Kyle Zemanek (DEADSETT). The CD will feature guest appearances from several noteable artists, including ALL SHALL PERISH guitarist Francesco Artusato.

"Reprisal" track listing:

01. Systematic Avenger
02. Accelerated Human Degeneration
03. Reprisal Of The Damned
04. Supremacy Enforced
05. Embodiment
06. Collateral Damage
07. Apocalyptic Visionary
08. Terminal Enslavement
09. Corrupted Mind Processor
10. Inanimate Infinity
11. (Cadence Of) The Dirge (EXHORDER cover; bonus track)

Sankey late last year recorded all the demo drum sessions for the new FEAR FACTORY album, "The Industrialist", and co-wrote and programmed all the drum parts, along with FF guitarist Dino Cazares, for the final CD. He was unable to join FEAR FACTORY as the band's new touring drummer due to visa restrictions.

Cazares previously stated about the new DEVOLVED material, "Systematic brutality at its best. Raising the bar once again with their intellectual song arrangements [and] insane drum patterns that would make any tech metal fan turn their heads. This band just keeps getting better and better. Welcome to the end of everything that you once knew and say hello to the future."

DEVOLVED's last album, "Oblivion", was released in May 2011 via Unique Leader Records.

"Severed Into Separates", the new video from Washington D.C. metallers DARKEST HOUR, can be seen below. The clip was filmed in Hungary by Mihaszna Films and is said to be "by far one of the band's most visually stunning videos to date."

"Severed Into Separates" comes off DARKEST HOUR's sixth album, "The Human Romance", which sold around 3,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 185 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD landed at position No. 3 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.

"The Human Romance" was recorded at a North Carolina studio with producer (and now-former SOILWORK guitarist) Peter Wichers.

This time around, the DARKEST HOUR songs were composed a bit differently than was the case in the past. Guitarist Mike Schleibaum explains, "We have been working on these tunes ever since we left the studio last April.

"'The Eternal Return' was written during a very dark, bleak time for the band and I think that record matches that in both tone and character. Our vision was for it to be an in-your-face, no-frills aggressive assault. The new material shares in that aggression and pushes DARKEST HOUR beyond the unknown."

The official lyric video for the song "The Devil Made Me Do It III" from SCUM OF THE EARTH — the band led by former ROB ZOMBIE guitarist Riggs — can be seen below. The track comes off the group's third album, "The Devil Made Me Do It", which will be released on August 28 via Goomba Music, Inc. (with distribution through eOne in North America). Produced by Riggs and Volkstoker, it was recorded at Scum HQ in Branson, Missouri and is the follow-up to 2007's "Sleaze Freak" (Eclipse Records). The first single, "The Devil Made Me Do It III", was released last month and was heard during the recent New Jersey Devils Stanley Cup playoff games. The song was recorded at the Mansion Studio in Columbia, Missouri by Riggs and Brandon Mashburn (TRUST COMPANY, THE DREAMING).
Commented Riggs, "Being that this is 2012 and the end of the world and all, I thought the SCUM OF THE EARTH sound has ran its course, so I reinvented the sound with the help of a producer/programmer by the name Volkstroker. We worked on the songs for eight months and this was the end result. Check it out before you turn into a zombie."

"The Devil Made Me Do It" track listing:

01. Born Again Masochist
02. Via Dela Rosa
03. Zombies -vs- Skeletons
04. The Devil Made Me Do It III
05. Zombie Apocalypse
06. Sounds of the Dead
07. Pray
08. (Mindless) Dead Things
09. Ghost
10. Funeral March

SCUM OF THE EARTH's last CD, "Sleaze Freak", was released on October 23, 2007. The band's first studio album of all-new material since the critically-acclaimed debut "Blah…Blah…Blah…Love Songs For The New Millennium" (2004) contained 13 brand new songs described by Riggs as "heavy-as-hell grinding, stripper-rock." "It's a much more intense collection of material than 'Blah…Blah…Blah…'" said Riggs. "We did everything we wanted to do this time around, which allowed us to really embody the whole red-light-district sleazy vibe into the material."

Former ICED EARTH members Matt Barlow (vocals) and Freddie Vidales (bass, guitar) have joined forces with ex-NEVERMORE drummer Van Williams in a brand new project which is currently working on original material. A short taste of what is to come can be heard in the YouTube clip below.

Commented Barlow: "Well, though we are still in the early stages of progress, we are really excited about what we are hearing thus far. We hope that you have patience with us as we continue with this creative process and search for a record label that will help us bring our music to you all in the best way. Thanks for all your support.... More to come!"

Barlow announced his retirement from ICED EARTH in March 2011, citing his commitment to his family and the need for the group to tour more as the reasons for his exit from the group.

Vidales left ICED EARTH earlier this year for reasons which were not disclosed. He says, "I know from the outside it seems nuts to leave a band with so much going for it, but from the inside it made a lot of sense to me." He adds, "I did not leave because Matt left or so we could work on this [new project], I also did not leave because of the heavy touring. I was actually glad that the touring had picked up. My reasons are private. The guys in the band know, and that's all who need to know."

Williams and guitarist Jeff Loomis announced their departure from NEVERMORE in April 2011 due to personal differences with the band's lead singer, Warrel Dane, and bassist, Jim Sheppard.

Sweden's ultimate purveyors of dark rock/metal KATATONIA have announced dates for an extensive European tour in support of their forthcoming ninth album, "Dead End Kings", which hits stores in Europe on August 27 and in North America on August 28 through Peaceville Records. Support on the trek will come from French shoe-gazers ALCEST and Boston's JUNIUS.

Comments KATATONIA lead guitarist Anders Nyström: "We are very much looking forward to a tour that definitely stands out from the rest. Stare into November's darkness with us! Be with us at the side of December's deathbed! Come meet us at the chosen dead ends of Europe...”

Tickets go on sale from Monday, July 16, with general and VIP options being available direct from Katatonia.com and the band's official Facebook page.

"Dead End Kings", which features a guest appearance by Norwegian singer Silje Wergeland (THE GATHERING), was recorded over a two-month period at Stockholm's Ghost Ward studios and the band's new, as-yet-unnamed headquarters. David Castillo returned to "twiddle the knobs," while band co-founders Anders "Blakkheim" Nyström and Jonas Renkse handled the rest of the production duties.

Commented Renkse: "'Dead End Kings' is about the corridors of our mind from where there is no return. Be a king or queen in your own right in these hallways, even at the dead end. Carry your burden with pride. That's what we are doing, twenty years and counting. Kings, because we believe in what we are creating, in our own disturbing faith."

Added Anders: "This album has doors revolving into many different genres of music but remain disguised within the KATATONIA trademark. We have walked the fine line between attempting not to repeat ourselves but also not to distance us away from what people know and love. We're now ready to hand over the evidence and whatever the direction this has taken is now for you to decide. We're confident the creativity and passion on this album is something that will be echoing even beyond the dead end."

"Our seal of identity is on here for sure," Nyström told Decibel magazine. "We haven't gone and changed our sound, but we've further explored some different angles of good music, and that's what we need to do to keep the focus. It might not be so obvious to some, but to others it will be a bigger deal. So, sure, a few surprises and a few songs going off territory are in there, but overall this album is a natural follow-up to [2009's] 'Night Is The New Day', and that is what we wanted to do."

Singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, poet and political activist Serj Tankian will perform live as part of Warner Bros. Records Summer Sessions concert series today (Friday, July 13) at 1:00 p.m. PST. The concert will be streamed live from The Warner Sound at this location.

Warner Bros. Records Summer Sessions concert series is a string of exclusive intimate live performance showcasing Warner Bros. Records artists streamed live every Friday on The Warner Sound.

In conjunction with the release of Tankian's new album, "Harakiri", Warner Bros. Records has teamed up with the creators of popular beat making app IAmBeatBox to put out a custom iOs app called I Am Serj. The $0.99 app is now available for iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch and gives fans a chance to rework, remix and create their own music utilizing the new songs that appear on Harakiri through the I Am Serj app.

Serj used the IAmBeatBox app to help sketch a couple songs off his new album and liked the iPad experience so much, he felt compelled to reach out to IAmBeatBox to see if they'd be into making one specifically for him.

"iAmBeatBox and all the Savage I Am apps have created an innovative way to sketch out music using beats and samples on the iPad," explains Serj. "I used the programs to sketch out three of the songs from 'Harakiri' and am excited about launching my own app with them titled, I Am Serj, utilizing the music from 'Harakiri', my new solo record."

The I Am Serj app takes the same app engine used for IAmBeatBox and fills it with loops and samples from all of Serj's solo records allowing people to create their own remixes of Serj's music utilizing the features and interface that iAmBeatBox has.

"Harakiri" is the third solo album by Serj Tankian and came out physically and digitially on Tuesday via Reprise Records/Serjical Strike. "Harakiri" is getting all kinds of love from the press. Revolver raves, "'Harakiri' proves that Serj Tankian is not just one of the best vocalists in rock and metal, but one of the most passionate and provocative artists at work today," while Alternative Press gushes that "'Harakiri' easily contains the best music released under the vocalist's name."

"Equilibrium", the video for the title track of the new album from New Brunswick, New Jersey's melodic, thrash-metal warriors GOD FORBID, can be seen below. Filmed in Brooklyn, New York and directed by Eric Richter, the cliptakes you through the layers of life. "It's about discovering that no matter how much you strive to achieve a goal, you become sidetracked," says vocalist Byron Davis. "You look for ways to find patience and balance while becoming stable and finding a renewed feeling or belief in what may come your way."

"Equilibrium" sold 3,400 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 156 on The Billboard 200 chart. The effort landed at No. 7 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.

GOD FORBID's previous CD, "Earthsblood", opened with 5,400 units back in March 2009 to enter The Billboard 200 chart at No. 110. Its predecessor, "IV: Constitution of Treason", debuted on The Billboard 200 chart at No. 119 in September 2005 after shifting 8,300 units.

"Equilibrium" was released on March 27 via Victory Records. The bulk of the CD was recorded by Mark Lewis (THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, WHITECHAPEL, DEVILDRIVER, TRIVIUM), with Jason Suecof (TRIVIUM, ALL THAT REMAINS, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, CHIMAIRA, DEVILDRIVER) stepping in during the the vocal-tracking stage. The effort was mixed by acclaimed Swedish producer Jens Bogren, who has previously worked with such acts as KATATONIA, OPETH, PARADISE LOST and AMON AMARTH.

GOD FORBID's solidified lineup, newly managed under World Entertainment's Alexander Ford and Gunter Ford, includes lead vocalist Byron Davis, guitarist/vocalist Doc Coyle, bassist John "Beeker" Outcalt, Corey Pierce on drums and newest member Matt Wicklund on guitar.

"The Fallen Ones", the new single from the Karlstad, Sweden-based metal/rock band SPARZANZA, can be streamed in the YouTube clip below. The song comes off the group's sixth album, "Death Is Certain, Life Is Not", to be released on September 29 via Spinefarm Records. The CD was once again recorded at Leon Music with producer Rikard Löfgren, who helmed the band's previous three CDs and has also worked with such other artists as HELLFUELED, VOMITORY and DEATHSTARS.

SPARZANZA previously stated about the new record, "This time we have dug a little bit further in our minds, trying to create a really dark and heavy album, but still having focus on writing good melodies. We also added a lot more percussion parts, dark choirs and live strings. It sounds so good and we know that you will be blown away."

SPARZANZA's fifth album, "Folie À Cinq", was released in February 2011 via Spinefarm.

SPARZANZA is:

Fredrik Weileby - Vocals
Calle Johannesson - Guitar
Magnus Eronen - Guitar
Anders Åberg - Drums
Johan Carlsson - Bass

CIRCLE II CIRCLE, the band formed by ex-SAVATAGE frontman Zak Stevens, rejoined by guitarist Bill Hudson (ex-CELLADOR) for their upcoming European dates, which include an appearance at this year's edition of the Wacken Open Air festival in Wacken, Germany. The Wacken concert will contain a special performance of the entire classic 1997 SAVATAGE album "The Wake Of Magellan", which featured Stevens.

In other news, CIRCLE II CIRCLE has teamed up with Rage On Stage Management for the the territories of USA and Canada. Stevens commented on the new partnership: "I'm very excited to announce that CIRCLE II CIRCLE has teamed up with Rage On Stage Management for management, promotions, and booking in the USA and Canadian territories. This was a move we needed to make to increase our overall presence here at home and in Canada. We're really looking forward to connecting with a lot more of our fans across North America as a result of this signing."

Frank James, the president of Rage On Stage Management, added: "Through my musical years, SAVATAGE has always been a staple of my diverse sense and taste in a band. These guys have obviously paved a road for which many continue to follow and with Stevens keeping that door open with CIRCLE II CIRCLE, fans of then and now couldn’t be happier."

CIRCLE II CIRCLE is currently working on a new album, entitled "Seasons Will Fall", for an early 2013 release.

The band's first-ever career retrospective, "Full Circle - The Best Of", will be made available in Europe on July 20. The collection contains highlights from CIRCLE II CIRCLE's five studio albums plus many B-sides, bonus tracks and rare songs. All tracks have been remastered for this compilation exclusively.

CIRCLE II CIRCLE is:

Zak Stevens: Vocals
Mitch Stewart: Bass
Bill Hudson: Guitars
Christian Wentz: Guitars
Henning Wanner: Keyboards

Udine, Italy-based modern folk metal band KRAMPUS will release its first full-length album, "Survival Of The Fittest", on August 24 via NoiseArt Records. The CD was produced by KRAMPUS frontman Filippo Gianotti at Udine's Blackmirror Studios.

The band stated about the album's concept: "Krampus, thewinter demon, has survived the repression of the modern gods. Born from shamefor the mankind decay, under the cold breeze in the shades of the alps, we joinhim in his dealing out of the fallible human's just deserts. Like rootsbreaking concrete, we shake minds dulled by the weakness of present society. Wefight fearlessly for our beliefs, aiming to give back at least some of what hasbeen taken from mother nature. We kindle the embers hidden inside each andevery one of you, choked by the lies of nations: Embers of Honour, Pride, Traditions, and Freedom."

"Survival Of The Fittest" track listing:

01. Arise (The Day Of Reckoning)
02. Beast Within
03. Unspoken
04. Rebirth
05. Aftermath
06. The Bride
07. Redemption
08. The Dance Of Lies
09. Kronos' Heritage
10. Shadows Of Our Time
11. Tears Of Stone
12. The Season Of Revenge (bonus track)

A trailer for the CD can be seen below.

Shortly after the album's release, KRAMPUS will embark on its first extended European tour, joining WINTERSUN and KORPIKLAANI on this year's edition of the hugely successful Heidenfest tour.

With a pedigree that boasts all three members of New York's cult doom act UNEARTHLY TRANCE, plus founding ELECTRIC WIZARD and RAMESSES bassist/guitarist Tim Bagshaw, SERPENTINE PATH should immediately top any doom metal fan's want-list.

Due on September 11 via Relapse Records, SERPENTINE PATH's self-titled debut is described in a press relase, as "an absolutely crushing album which both references and reinterprets its members previous bands but with a decidedly more punishing death metal approach. . . [It] combines vicious vocals with punishingly killer riffs to create unparalleled evil that's equal parts 'Paranoid' [BLACK SABBATH] and 'Severed Survival' [AUTOPSY]."

SERPENTINE PATH — Tim Bagshaw on guitar, Jay Newman on bass, Darren Verni on drums and Ryan Lipynsky on vocals — released its debut seven-inch single, "Depraved", earlier this year via Parasitic Records.

As BLABBERMOUTH.NET exclusively reported on July 11, Texas heavy rockers DROWNING POOL have tapped Jasen Moreno from fellow Dallas band THE SUICIDE HOOK as their new vocalist.

Moreno made his live debut with DROWNING POOL this past Sunday, July 8 at Outlawz Night Club in Ardmore, Oklahoma.

Video footage of DROWNING POOL's July 10 performance — with Moreno on vocals — at Club Fever in South Bend, Indiana can be seen below.

In a radio interview conducted at this past May's Rock On The Range festival in Columbus, Ohio, DROWNING POOL guitarist C.J. Pierce declined to reveal the identity of his band's new singer, but he did offer that the vocalist's first name contained the letter "J."

Regarding DROWNING POOL's plans for the immediate future, Pierce said, "We've been in the studio. DROWNING POOL is recording a new record. We have three weeks left. I've been in the studio all year long and I haven't gone out at all — 12-hour days, seven days a week; I'm not kidding. . . We have our first coming out show with the new [singer], we're gonna be opening up for MÖTLEY CRÜE on July 13 — it's a radio show in Wisconsin, which is great, to get started, again, right where you left off. We were fortunate… Things have been, the last few years… I mean, things are flowing again. It's been great. . . But the new record is heavier, there's more metal on it, there's a lot of double bass, a lot of guitar solos… stepping up a notch."

DROWNING POOL parted ways with vocalist Ryan McCombs late last year, with Pierce telling the 97-1 The Eagle radio station in Dallas, Texas at the time that the singer and his former bandmates simply "grew apart." He explained, "If you're gonna write music together and tour together, you've gotta be hitting on all four cylinders — everybody's gotta be on the same page. . . So instead of going into the studio and trying to force something and just throwing out a record there, [we thought it would be] better if we part ways now while we're still on good terms."

McCombs joined the band in 2005 and provided some stability on the microphone after the group's first two albums featured two different vocalists. Original frontman Dave Williams died on tour in 2002 after singing on the band's debut, "Sinner". He was replaced by Jason "Gong" Jones, who also contributed to one record, "Desensitized", before being shown the door in 2004.

McCombs sang on two studio efforts by DROWNING POOL, 2007's "Full Circle" and 2010's self-titled fourth album.

DROWNING POOL's fifth album is tentatively due in October.

HATRIOT, the new San Francisco Bay Area thrash metal band led by former EXODUS frontman frontman Steve "Zetro" Souza, has inked a deal with Germany's Massacre Records. The group will enter the studio on August 15 with producer Juan Urteaga (MACHINE HEAD, EXODUS, TESTAMENT) to begin recording its debut album, "Heroes Of Origin", for a January 2013 release. The cover artwork for the CD will be created by Mark Devito, who has previously worked with MOTÖRHEAD and ANVIL CHORUS, among others.

Souza has released the following statement to BLABBERMOUTH.NET regarding HATRIOT's new label home: "HATRIOT is very excited and extremely proud to announce that we have signed with one of the premiere metal labels in existence today, Germany's Massacre Records, who join us to fulfill our goal of world domination and relentless touring, to bring our fans the heaviest Bay Area thrash music of the modern era! Thank you all for the support that has made this dream of ours come alive!"

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

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

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

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

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

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

HATRIOT is:

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

"Pride Of Demise", the new video from Australian extreme thrashers TRUTH CORRODED, can be seen below. The clip was filmed in Melbourne by Stop Time Media. The song comes from the band's latest album, "Worship The Bled", which was released last year in Australia through Truth Inc. Records and in Europe and Japan through Ultimhate Records. The CD was recorded between July and September 2010 and was mixed and mastered byJonas Kjellgren of SCAR SYMMETRY at Black Lounge Studio in Avesta, Sweden. Drums on the album were laid down by Kevin Talley (DAATH, MISERY INDEX, CHIMAIRA), who "really added a great intensity to our new songs — offering his distinctive style, while also honing in on our sound and capturing the feel of our influences," according to bassist Greg Shaw. "It has taken the band to the next level, and built on the intensity of our last album. The continued involvement of Jonas has consolidated the sound, and aside from his great skill as an engineer, he has offered some awesome shred to the album's opening song, 'Knives Of The Betrayed'."

The "Worship The Bled" cover artwork was created by Björn Goosses of Killustrations, who has previously worked with such bands as DEW-SCENTED, ZYKLON, SODOM, NORTHER, ABORTED and ONE MAN ARMY AND THE UNDEAD QUARTET. Shaw stated, "Killustrations have created some incredible album covers, and we really felt that Björn could capture the imagery we were looking for. The artwork conveys the message behind the album title — how the worship of monotheistic religion, political and economic ideologies and the waging of war have bled modern civilization. We gave Killustrations the idea and that was the image created — it is confronting and communicates the title of the album."