OM have announced the follow up to 2009's God is Good, a five song suite entitled Advaitic Songs, will be issued via Drag City on July 24th, 2012. Where God is Good was the first step in a more ornate and sophisticated direction for Om, Advaitic Songs achieves a level of composition that would've been impossible to foresee.

Advaitic Songs maintains the singularity of purpose that informs the core sound of OM, yet every element reaches further than before. Whatever drone-doom genre that had been hoisted on the duo in years past has been decimated by the sheer imagination, expansive quality, and meticulously detailed arrangements of this new album. For a band that has continually followed its own course, and stood alone in its sound and approach, Advaitic Songs for certain, is the band's most focused, progressive document.

Following the massively successful "Final Frontier World Tour 2010-11", IRON MAIDEN are back on the road this summer with a series of arena, amphitheatre and festival shows in the USA and Canada, opening in Charlotte, North Carolina on June 21 and finishing in Houston, Texas on August 18, to be followed by further dates around the world in 2013. The "Maiden England World Tour" will closely mirror, in terms of production and content, the original 1988 concert video of the same name, shot on the "Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son Tour". This opening section of the world tour is the band's most extensive visit to North America for many years and includes a number of cities the band have not played in a very long time, such as Charlotte, Atlanta, Buffalo, Indianapolis and Salt Lake City.

A new three-minute video clip featuring footage from IRON MAIDEN's rehearsal sessions for the "Maiden England World Tour" can be seen below.

"Maiden England" marks the third chapter in the history of IRON MAIDEN, a journey which began in 2004 with "The Early Days" DVD and subsequent 2005 "Early Days Tour". Part two followed in 2008 with the "Live After Death" DVD — the seminal 1984 concert recorded at Long Beach Arena in California during the "World Slavery Tour" — and the band embarking on their groundbreaking "Somewhere Back In Time World Tour 2008/9", which saw them play to over two million fans in almost 40 countries.

Comments vocalist Bruce Dickinson: "We have great fun playing the history of MAIDEN tours because it gives us an opportunity between new albums to go out and play songs from our earlier catalogue. It's always fantastic seeing the crowd reaction from a new generation of fans who have never experienced some of these tracks performed live before, and of course we know our longstanding fans will enjoy seeing the original 'Seventh Son Tour' revisited — with many other surprises! Our intention is to play about two thirds of the original track list of 'Maiden England', including some songs we have not played live in a very,very long time, plus other favourites we just know the fans are going to want to hear! We always try to give our fans a great show musically, but we have always tried to make it as entertaining and memorable an experience as we can visually. And we all feel this show is going to do that splendidly! We can't wait to get started in Charlotte."

The extraordinary and legendary ALICE COOPER will be IRON MAIDEN's very special guest on all shows up to July 21. After that date, special guest will be COHEED AND CAMBRIA, the inspiring, cutting-edge band from New York.

"Maiden England" 1988 longform video VHS track listing:

* Moonchild
* The Evil That Men Do
* The Prisoner
* Still Life
* Die With Your Boots On
* Infinite Dreams
* Killers
* Can I Play With Madness
* Heaven Can Wait
* Wasted Years
* The Clairvoyant
* Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son
* The Number Of The Beast
* Hallowed Be Thy Name
* Iron Maiden

For a complete list of "Maiden England" 2012 tour dates, visit IronMaiden.com.

Fan-filmed video footage of former QUEENSRŸCHE singer Geoff Tate's June 15 concert at The Triple Door in Seattle, Washington can be seen below.

QUEENSRŸCHE members Michael Wilton, Eddie Jackson, Scott Rockenfield and Parker Lundgren announced earlier today that they were parting ways with Tate and recruiting powerhouse vocalist Todd La Torre of CRIMSON GLORY as his replacement. The new QUEENSRŸCHE lineup has already performed live, having played two successful shows in their home city of Seattle under the name RISING WEST.

Geoff Tate entered the studio on February 29 to begin recording his second solo album, tentatively due in October.

Tate released his first solo CD in 2002 on Sanctuary Records. Self-titled, the LP was a huge departure from the work he had previously done with QUEENSRŸCHE.

When asked about the sound of his new solo album, Tate told AnthologySD.com, "Well, it's very different from my last one, for sure. It's a new bunch of people I've been working with to write and record it, so that changes things. When you're working with different people, it really changes the record. This one is really hard rock. The last one was really all over the place with different styles of music and everything, but this one really keeps with the hard rock style. It does it in kind of a different way — more of my way or what I would envision. I guess it's experimental in some ways, while in others it's very traditional. What I tried to do was take traditional rock instrumentation and apply it in kind of a different song structure. That's what I would best describe it as. [laughs]"

Regarding his current solo tour, Tate told the Lincoln Journal Star, "QUEENSRŸCHE is not doing much together this year. I wanted to keep touring and I wanted to move in a different direction. It's kind of a singer's dream, really. You're not competing with the other instruments, especially the drum kit. The whole idea was hatched after a dinner party at my house one night."

According to TMZ.com, tonight's (Wednesday, June 20) OZZY OSBOURNE & FRIENDS concert at the SAP Arena in Mannheim, Germany was canceled at the last minute over "vocal concerns."

After support band BLACK LABEL SOCIETY finished its set, an Ozzy representative came on and announced that Osbourne would be unable to perform due to "issues with his voice."

The original lineup of BLACK SABBATH — who late last year confirmed the recording of their first new album in more than 33 years and a worldwide headlining tour — had to put some plans on hold due to guitarist Tony Iommi's battle with lymphoma. As a result, BLACK SABBATH performed only one show of this summer's previously scheduled European tour. It took place Sunday, June 10 at the U.K.'s Download festival.

So as not to let the promoters and fans down, SABBATH singer Ozzy Osbourne is now performing the majority of the previously scheduled BLACK SABBATH European dates (both festival performances and the headlining shows) billed as OZZY OSBOURNE & FRIENDS. These "first-ever" OZZY OSBOURNE & FRIENDS shows are featuring appearances by "special guest" musicians, including Butler (who is joining Ozzy for a special BLACK SABBATH set as a show of respect and support to their friend, Tony Iommi) and longtime former Ozzy bandmember Zakk Wylde. In addition, Ozzy is being accompanied by longtime collaborator and friend Slash at select shows, with other "special guests" set to join the tour at various stops along the way.

Australia's progressive/thrash metallers ALARUM have released the video for the song "Non-Linear Parallels", off the bands third album, "Natural Causes", out now through Willowtip Records (USA), Hammerheart (Europe) and Modern Invasion (Australia).

Heavily influenced by pioneers CYNIC and ATHEIST, ALARUM is one of the very few bands in today’s metal scene writing jazz-infused, progressive, technical death metal. "Natural Causes" is their first new release in seven years.

"Natural Causes" track listing:

01. Natural Causes
02. Shifting Skies Like Nothing
03. For New Creation
04. The Signal
05. Evspañol
06. Non-Linear Parallels
07. Silent Betrayal
08. Interface
09. Boundless Intent Part 3
10. Sensory Endeavour
11. Transpiration
12. Undivided

ALARUM will play at this year's edition of the ProgPower Europe festival in Holland on Saturday, October 6 as part of a European tour with fellow Australians THE LEVITATION HEX (featuring current and former members of ALARUM, ALCHEMIST and AEON OF HORUS).

"Pink Beatles In A Purple Zeppelin", the new video from Dutch multi-instrumentalist and AYREON mastermind Arjen Lucassen, can be seen below. The song comes off Arjen's new concept solo album, "Lost In The New Real", which entered the official chart in his home country at position No. 16 and the Dutch alternative chart at No. 2.

Commented Arjen: "The video was mostly shot in an area where I grew up in Holland near the sea. It's a very 'Dutch' clip, windmills and all! So you could say this clip goes back to my roots, also musically. It features many visual links (at least 10!) to the bands and albums that I grew up listening to."

Released in North America on May 8 via InsideOut Music, "Lost In The New Real" features the following track listing:

CD1:

01. The New Real
02. Pink Beatles In A Purple Zeppelin
03. Parental Procreation Permit
04. When I'm A Hundred Sixty-Four
05. E-Police
06. Don't Switch Me Off
07. Dr Slumber's Eternity Home
08. Yellowstone Memorial Day
09. Where Pigs Fly
10. Lost In The New Real

* Bonus CD-ROM section: "Behind The New Real"

CD 2:

01. Our Imperfect Race
02. Welcome To The Machine (PINK FLOYD cover)
03. So Is There No God?
04. Veteran Of The Psychic Wars (BLUE ÖYSTER CULT cover)
05. The Social Recluse
06. Battle Of Evermore (LED ZEPPELIN Cover)
07. The Space Hotel
08. Some Other Time (ALAN PARSONS PROJECT cover)
09. You Have Entered The Reality Zone
10. I'm The Slime (FRANK ZAPPA cover)

* Bonus CD-ROM section: "The Artwork"

A short video in which Arjen introduces you to some of the guest musicians appearing on "Lost In The New Real" can be seen below.

Musicians

* Arjen Lucassen as "Mr. L": Vocals, Instruments, Music, Lyrics
* Rutger Hauer as "Dr. Voight-Kampff": Narration
* Wilmer Waarbroek: Backing Vocals
* Ed Warby: Drums
* Rob Snijders: Drums
* Ben Mathot: Violin
* Maaike Peterse: Cello
* Jeroen Goossens: Flute
* Elvya Dulcimer: Hammered Dulcimer On "Battle Of Evermore"

The story of "Lost In The New Real" follows Mr. L, a 21st-Century man who was cryopreserved at the moment of clinical death from a terminal disease. The album begins as Mr. L is being revived at a point in the distant future, when technology has advanced enough to cure his disease. Mr L finds himself in a world that has drastically changed — to the point that the line between what's real and what's not is no longer clear.

Mr. L's appointed psychological advisor is tasked with helping him emotionally adapt to this strange new world. The songs on CD1 follow the main character Mr. L's emotional journey as he is confronted with both serious and comical aspects of the "New Real", and desperately tries to decide if he can find a meaningful place within it.

CD2 is a mix of songs that are part of the concept but didn't fit on CD1, and cover songs that are (more or less) related to the concept. As Arjen's fans have come to expect, informative and humorous "behind-the-scenes" videos are added to both CDs as CD-ROM tracks. This beautiful two-CD limited-edition mediabook is illustrated by the striking artwork of Claudio Bergamin.

Lucassen enlisted the talents of legendary screen actor Rutger Hauer as the narrator on "Lost In The New Real".

"This is a dream come true," said Arjen. "Rutger is not only one of my favorite actors, he also starred in my all-time favorite sci-fi movie, 'Blade Runner'."

Rutger also enjoyed the collaboration with Arjen, saying, "[Arjen] connected with me when he was working on his new album. Said he was a big fan and wanted to see if I could do the voiceover. This happened over just a few weeks and it was marvelous work, very creative. I hope you enjoy it."

"Pink Beatles In A Purple Zeppelin" video:

Eagle Rock imprint Armoury Records, in conjunction with Hamburg, Germany-based earMUSIC, has announced the release of the first ever live solo album from Finnish singer Tarja Turunen. Entitled "Act I", the release will be unleashed to North American fans on September 4 in 2-CD, 2-DVD and Blu-ray format.

The first ever live audio/video offering from the former NIGHTWISH soprano, "Act I" is a mammoth undertaking recorded and filmed with 10 HD cameras at the breathtaking Teatro El Círculo in Rosario, Argentina in March 2012. With an elaborate track listing of solo tunes, NIGHTWISH classics and various covers, including a rendition of Andrew Lloyd Webber's "The Phantom Of The Opera", Gary Moore's "Over The Hills And Far Away", WHITESNAKE's "Still Of The Night" and a variety of video extras, "Act I" provides a full-fledged bill of fare to every diehard Tarja fan.

Comments Turunen of the offering: "Those two nights in Rosario were a huge emotional drive to me personally," adding that she was many times "ready to burst into tears."

"Act I" track listing:

CD 1

01. Anteroom Of Death
02. My Little Phoenix
03. Dark Star
04. Naiad
05. Falling Awake
06. I Walk Alone
07. Little Lies
08. Into The Sun (previously unreleased)
09. Nemo (NIGHWISH)
10. Never Enough (previously unreleased)
11. Still Of The Night (WHITESNAKE)
12. In For A Kill

CD 2

01. Boy And The Ghost
02. Lost Northern Star
03. Ciaran's Well
04. Tired Of Being Alone (written with Schiller)
05. Where Were You Last Night / Heaven Is A Place On Earth / Livin' On A Prayer (Medley)
06. Underneath
07. Oasis / The Archive Of Lost Dreams
08. Crimson Deep
09. The Phantom Of The Opera (Andrew Lloyd Webber)
10. Die Alive
11. Until My Last Breath
12. Over The Hills And Far Away (Gary Moore)

DVD 1

01. If You Believe
02. Anteroom Of Death
03. My Little Phoenix
04. Dark Star
05. Naiad
06. Falling Awake
07. I Walk Alone
08. Orpheus Hallucination / Orpheus In The Underworld
09. Little Lies (band jam)
10. Little Lies
11. Into The Sun (previously unreleased)
12. Nemo
13. Rivers Of Lust
14. Minor Heaven
15. Montañas De Silencio
16. Sing For Me
17. I Feel Immortal
18. Never Enough (previously unreleased)
19. In For A Kill
20. Toccata And Fugue D-minor (BWV 565) (Johann Sebastian Bach)
21. The Phantom Of The Opera (Andrew Lloyd Webber)
22. Die Alive
23. Until My Last Breath
24. Over The Hills And Far Away (Gary Moore)

DVD 2

01. Boy And The Ghost
02. Lost Northern Star
03. Ciaran's Well
04. Tired Of Being Alone (written with Schiller)
05. Where Were You Last Night / Heaven Is A Place On Earth / Livin' On A Prayer (Medley)
06. Underneath
07. The Reign
08. Oasis/The Archive Of Lost Dreams
09. Still Of The Night (WHITESNAKE)

Blu-ray track listing is the same as DVD 1 and 2.

"Act I" cover art will be revealed at a later date.

In other news, Tarja is in pre-production for her third solo album, which is expected to be released sometime next year. She says, "I have 25 songs where to choose the best ones for the album. Some of the musicians are already working on them with me."

Tarja's sophomore solo album, "What Lies Beneath", sold around 1,300 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 24 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.

"What Lies Beneath" was released in North America on September 14, 2010 via The End Records.

ANTHRAX will issue an EP of cover songs in September to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the release of the band's latest album, "Worship Music". "It started out as what I call 'The '70s EP'," ANTHRAX drummer Charlie Benante tells Loudwire. "It's made up of some cover songs from our favorite bands — consisting of RUSH, THIN LIZZY, BOSTON, JOURNEY … We're still working on it now, but I think it's gonna be really cool."

The following covers are expected to appear on the forthcoming EP:

* AC/DC - "T.N.T."
* BOSTON - "Smokin'"
* JOURNEY - "Keep On Runnin'"
* RUSH - "Anthem"

ANTHRAX also recorded a cover version of BLACK SABBATH's classic song "Neon Knights" for inclusion on the upcoming Ronnie James Dio tribute album which is being assembled by the singer's widow and longtime manager Wendy Dio.

Video footage of Benante laying down the drum track to a cover version of RUSH's "Anthem" (from the Canadian rock band's second album, 1975's "Fly By Night") can be seen below.

According to guitarist Scott Ian, ANTHRAX's sold-out March 15 concert at O2 Islington Academy in London, England was filmed for an upcoming DVD.

ANTHRAX's latest album, "Worship Music", sold 28,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 12 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous studio CD, 2003's "We've Come For You All", opened with just under 10,000 units to debut at No. 122.

Danish death metallers DAWN OF DEMISE recently inked a multi-album deal with Unique Leader Records. The band's third full-length CD, "Rejoice In Vengeance", was released on June 17.

According to a press release, DAWN OF DEMISE "has always emphasized on heaviness and catchiness and with three successful releases under their belt, their recipe for death metal has remained the same, staying true to the pit-fueled, aggressive, slam-orientated style."

"Rejoice In Vengeance" track listing:

01. We Drink To Your Demise
02. Rejoice In Vengeance
03. Killing Spree
04. This Affliction
05. The Epitome Of Brutality
06. He Rises Again
07. Exsanguination
08. Indulge In Perversity
09. Ungodly
10. The Blood Stays On The Blade
11. Choke
12. The Immaculate Slaughter (feat. Frank Rini)

The official Hans Asmussen-created video for the song "We Drink To Your Demise" can be seen below.

Commented the band: "It is an honor to have signed a multi-album deal with Unique Leader. The label has released so many killer albums and must be one of the premier death metal labels around. PYREXIA, INVERACITY, DECREPIT BIRTH, AEON, DEEDS OF FLESH, SPAWN OF POSSESSION, etc. We are beyond proud to have our name added to that roster and we are looking forward to see what the future might bring."

DAWN OF DEMISE's second full-length album, "A Force Unstoppable", was released in January 2010 via Deepsend Records.

The band's debut CD, "Hate Takes Its Form", arrived in January 2008 via Deepsend. The CD was mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen (ABORTED, MERCENARY, NIGHTRAGE). A follow-up EP, "Lacerated", also came out in 2008.

DAWN OF DEMISE is:

Scott Jensen - Vocals
Bjørn Jensen - Bass, Backing Vocals
Thomas "Hotdogger" Egede - Guitar
Martin Sørensen - Guitar
Simon Blaabjerg - Drums

"We Drink To Your Demise" video:

METALLICA has partnered with Fuse TV to bring you select performances from the band's upcoming two-day festival Orion Music + More — which will take place on June 23-24 at Bader Field in Atlantic City, New Jersey — including both headlining sets from METALLICA. More information is available at Fuse.tv.

An entire stage at Orion Music + More devoted to punk and thrash music — Damage Inc. Stage — will be headlined by SUICIDAL TENDENCIES and SEPULTURA, and will feature up-and-comers TORCHE, RED FANG, KYNG, LANDMINE MARATHON, BLACK TUSK, THY WILL BE DONE, and more.

Orion Music + More will feature multiple live music stages plus a lifestyle element that reflects each of METALLICA's bandmembers' many personal interests. METALLICA will headline both nights of Orion Music + More and play "The Black Album" in its entirety one night and "Ride The Lightning" in its entirety the other. This will be the only time the band will perform these albums in North America in 2012.

Tickets for Orion Music + More are currently on sale for $150 for a two-day pass including all fees. Visit www.orionmusicandmore.com to buy tickets.

RUSH's first new collection of original material in over five years and their first studio release via Anthem/Roadrunner Records, "Clockwork Angels", sold 103,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 2 on The Billboard 200 chart.

RUSH's 18th studio album, "Snakes & Arrows", debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard album chart in May 2007 with sales of 93,000 copies. The disc was the first collection of all-new RUSH material since 2002's "Vapor Trails" and the 27th RUSH release to make the Billboard album chart. The band's chart peak was in 1993, when "Counterparts" debuted at No. 2.

The recording of "Clockwork Angels" began in April 2010 with Grammy Award-winning producer Nick Raskulinecz (FOO FIGHTERS, DEFTONES) — who also collaborated with the band on their last studio album, 2007's "Snakes & Arrows".

Lyrically, "Clockwork Angels" chronicles a young man's quest across a lavish and colorful world of steampunk and alchemy as he attempts to follow his dreams. The story features lost cities, pirates, anarchists, an exotic carnival, and a rigid Watchmaker who imposes precision on every aspect of daily life. The novelization of "Clockwork Angels" is being written by science fiction writer Kevin J. Anderson in collaboration with RUSH drummer and lyricist Neil Peart.

"Clockwork Angels" track listing:

01. Caravan
02. BU2B
03. Clockwork Angels
04. The Anarchist
05. Carnies
06. Halo Effect
07. Seven Cities Of Gold
08. The Wreckers
09. Headlong Flight
10. BU2B2
11. Wish Them Well
12. The Garden

Video footage of GOTTHARD's June 15 performance at the Hellfest festival in Clisson, France can be seen below.

GOTTHARD's new album, "Firebirth", entered the chart in the band's home country of Switzerland at position No. 1 — the 14th time that a GOTTHARD CD has topped the Swiss chart in the group's career so far. In addition, the album landed at No. 9 on the German Media Control chart.

"Firebirth" was released on June 1 via Nuclear Blast/Warner Music. The CD was produced at the band's own Yellow House Studios in Lugano, Switzerland, with guitarist/songwriter Leo Leoni and Paul Lani (who has previously worked with GOTTHARD on several of their earlier albums, including "G-Spot" and "Homerun") at the helm.

"Firebirth" marks GOTTHARD's first release with singer Nic Maeder, who was born in Lausanne, Switzerland, lived in Melbourne, Australia and grew up between Switzerland and "Down Under."

GOTTHARD vocalist Steve Lee was killed on October 5, 2010 in what has been described as a freak road accident in Nevada.

The "Firebirth" album cover depicts the firebird Phoenix, which symbolically rises "from the ashes to the sky" — this line expresses what each GOTTHARD fan feels and underlines the turbulent time that GOTTHARD has gone through in the past months.

A trailer for "Now And Forever", the third album from Swedish female-fronted heavy rockers SISTER SIN, can be seen below. The CD, which was originally due on May 22 via Victory Records, will now be made available on October 23. The band stated last month, "We all decided awhile back that the album needs a remix and the process leading up to this turned out waaay more time-conusming than expectedThank you all for understanding we just want to deliever the best-sounding, badass SISTER SIN album in our career! And we will!!"

"Now And Forever" was recorded at Standstraight Studios in Stockholm with producer Chris Snyder.

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

SISTER SIN last fall released a video for its cover version of the MOTÖRHEAD classic "Rock 'N' Roll". The track, which was made available on all digital platforms worldwide via Victory Records in September, features guest vocals from the German metal queen Doro Pesch. It was produced by Snyder at Standstraight and was mastered at Abbey Road Studios in London, England.

SISTER SIN's second album, "True Sound Of The Underground", landed at position No. 97 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.

SISTER SIN in November 2010 announced the addition of bassist Andreas Strandh to the group's ranks.

"True Sound Of The Underground" was released in North America on June 22, 2010 via Victory Records and was issued in Europe on July 23, 2010 through Metal Heaven Records. It was produced by Henrik Edenhed (DEAD BY APRIL, ROBYN, LAMBRETTA, TEDDYBEARS, CHRISTIAN WALTZ, THE SOUNDS) in Stockholm at Studio 301 and Cosmos Studios.

For more information, visit www.sistersin.com.

The Pulse Of Radio reports that Rob Zombie's next film project as a writer and director will be "Broad Street Bullies", about the famous Philadelphia Flyers hockey team of the 1970s that were famous for beating the Soviet Union's team at the time and notorious for their violent tactics on the ice. According to Deadline, the Flyers played so brutally against the Soviet squad that the latter wanted to quit after one period. Zombie said in a statement about the film, "Each character involved is more outrageous than the next. The backdrop of the turbulent year of 1974 is perfect for this 'stranger than fiction' sports tale."

Zombie reportedly wants the movie to feel like a cross between "Rocky" and "Boogie Nights".

The Flyers, who went from a cellar-dwelling expansion team to winners of back-to-back Stanley Cups, were previously chronicled in an HBO documentary, also called "Broad Street Bullies".

The movie will mark Zombie's first foray outside horror films, with his resume so far consisting of projects like "House Of 1000 Corpses", "Halloween" and the upcoming "The Lords Of Salem".

Zombie told The Pulse Of Radio a while back that it's been tough for him to break out of the horror movie genre. "The movies I've made up to this point have been pretty dark and pretty much in that world because those are the opportunities that were presented," he said. "You know, the people that put up the money for these things know that if I stick to that sort of thing, it's easily more profitable. So it's a much bigger challenge to break out of it."

Zombie's latest film, "The Lords Of Salem", is currently in post-production and expected to be released later this year.

At the moment, Zombie has turned his attention back to music and is in the studio working on the follow-up to his 2010 album, "Hellbilly Deluxe 2".

Californian blues-rockers RIVAL SONS will release their new album, "Head Down", on September 17 via Earache Records. The CD was recorded in Nashville, Tennessee with Grammy-nominated producer Dave Cobb (JAMIE JOHNSON, SHOOTER JENNINGS) and Grammy-wining engineer Vance Powell (JACK WHITE, THE WHITE STRIPES, KINGS OF LEON). The artwork was created by Jason Holley (JOSH RITTER, RAY LAMONTAGNE) and can be seen below.

"Head Down" track listing:

01. Keep On Swinging (3:59)
02. Wild Animal (3:27)
03. You Want To (4:16)
04. Until the Sun Comes (2:59)
05. Run From Revelation (4:14)
06. Jordan (6:18)
07. All The Way (5:10)
08. The Heist (3:14)
09. Three Fingers (3:17)
10. Nava (2:02)
11. Manifest Destiny Pt. 1 (8:20)
12. Manifest Destiny Pt. 2 (4:25)
13. True (4:44)

Commented RIVAL SONS frontman Jay Buchanan: "We took a lyric from one of the songs that exemplified the process of making the record. 'Head down' comes from the term 'Keep your head down and keep on swinging.' I thought it was fitting and it works perfectly with the album cover."

Added guitarist Scott Holiday: "I began searching for the right artist for our cover on the interwebs, just mulling around, and very quickly came across Jason Holley. I saw a couple of covers that he had done for Josh Ritter and Ray LaMontagne, which I loved. I was immediately taken aback by his aesthetic and style and felt he had a few pieces already done that I would be into using. I sent some of his images over to Jay and he had the same immediate feeling I did… Which is pretty rare. He could have been from anywhere in the world, but he just so happened to live about 30 minutes away from me, so I gave him a ring and we started talking. We sent him the record and discussed ideas that we felt reflected the music and process. He then created an original piece, painted in oil. The end result is pretty symbolic and interesting — something that, in my opinion, reflects the record beautifully."

Holiday previously stated about the musical direction of RIVAL SONS' new album, "Songs were once again written and recorded on the spot, allowing the listener to really peer in and catch a snapshot of the moment, and our immediate instincts. Most songs were captured in a few takes, not to mention plenty of first-takers. Pretty off the cuff and unadulterated. We have never had a wish to be predictable or sedentary with our music, and this record explores and supports that ethos pretty well. In other words, this record is not 'Pressure & Time', but delves into a bunch of other musical ideas and sounds. Much more of a 'long-form' record as a whole. Fist-pumpers, ass-shakers, foot-stompers, air guitaring/bassing/drummers, tear-jerkers, heart-string-pullers, and a few straight-up freakouts."

SCUM OF THE EARTH — the band led by former ROB ZOMBIE guitarist Riggs — will release its third album, "The Devil Made Me Do It", 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 latest CD, "Sleaze Freak", was released on October 23, 2007. The explicit (PA) version of the album was made available at most retailers containing an added DVD video. The DVD consists of footage filmed while recording and mixing the album documenting the recording and mixing process and many hijinks of the band around town, in the studio, and on the road.

SCUM OF THE EARTH's first studio album of all-new material since the critically-acclaimed debut "Blah…Blah…Blah…Love Songs For The New Millennium" (2004), "Sleaze Freak" 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."

Rhode Island's THY WILL BE DONE recently completed work on a brand new EP that is slated for release later this summer. The band, renowned for their DIY approach, engineered the EP themselves and teamed up once again with acclaimed metal producer Chris "Zeuss" Harris to mix their six brand new studio tracks. With influences and roots that harkens the listener back to metal's glory days, and songs and arrangements that echo the voice of the oppressed and broken, the end result is a release that brings hope and far surpasses its predecessors, and in all aspects possesses the capabilities of cementing THY WILL BE DONE's position in the metal world. More details, including title and release date will be revealed in the coming weeks.

Commented THY WILL BE DONE frontman J. Costa: "There's always a sense of accomplishment when unveiling a piece of expression that we've created. Personally, what makes this not so much different as much as special, is that it represents my rediscovery of exactly why I enjoy expressing myself through the medium of music.

"The songs on the EP are the core of what initially came together musically as well as lyrically after enduring what seemed like a whirlwind of tribulations: the passing of several relatives, infidelity, having two friends diagnosed with disease, and having one of my best friends out of my life for a period of time. All these events occurred within a span of 18 months and I almost stopped everything.

"I wanted to express the subconscious and the suffering to illustrate the subjective emotions and responses that these events caused to ignite within me.

"There's an immense physical and emotional force behind our live performances, and it was important for us to really convey that through this recording. In our opinion, the selection of songs as well as the production of this EP coalesced into a release that really exemplifies that energy."

THY WILL BE DONE will take part in the Orion Music + More festival curated by METALLICA. The event is set for Saturday, June 23 and Sunday, June 24 at Bader Field in Atlantic City, New Jersey

Following their appearance at the Orion Music + More festival, THY WILL BE DONE will be headed to Japan for a co-headlining tour with Japanese crossover legends THE AGGRESSIVE DOGS. The tour will kick off on June 29 in Kasihwa and run through July 8 in Nagoya.

With this current line-up of J. Costa on vocals, Kurt Fraunfelter on rhythm guitar, Chris Drapeau on lead guitar, Brendan Misturado on bass and Jay Waterman on drums, a plethora of foreign and domestic performances, and literally hundreds of thousands of miles traveled, it appears that values and drive mixed with an old-school metal and rock 'n' roll upbringing have brought together a juggernaut of a band that's clearing a path with a working-class ideology.

"I Suck (Blood)", the controversial new video from revered purveyors of metallic mayhem EVERY TIME I DIE, can be seen below. The clip features obsessive stalking, voyeurism and plays provocatively with the notion of victimhood.

"I Suck (Blood)" comes off EVERY TIME I DIE's latest album, "Ex Lives", which sold around 14,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 25 on The Billboard 200 chart.

EVERY TIME I DIE's previous CD, "New Junk Aesthetic", opened with around 12,000 units back in September 2009 to land at No. 46.

"Ex Lives" was helmed by renowned heavy rock producer Joe Barresi (THE MELVINS, QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, PARKWAY DRIVE) and offers an unrelenting onslaught of ingeniously composed and furiously executed cathartic hardcore. This is the band’s highly anticipated follow up to their 2009’s raging masterwork "New Junk Aesthetic", which Absolute Punk heralded as a musical "weapon of mass destruction."

EVERY TIME I DIE is currently on tour and will spend the summer adding their patented punk-infused metal to the annual Vans Warped Tour.

British progressive metallers THRESHOLD have revealed the details of their upcoming ninth studio album, "March Of Progress", due 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".

Keyboardist Richard West comments on the approaching release: "It's been a long march but the new THRESHOLD album is finally ready. This is our longest album to date. We hope you're going to love it!"

"March Of Progress" will be 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

"Dead Reckoning" was released in 2007 and featured vocals by Andrew McDermott, who sadly passed away last year. The album entered the charts at position No. 64 in Germany, No. 95 in The Netherlands and No. 37 in the U.K. rock chart.

THRESHOLD's most recent output was the 2009 limited-edition box set "Paradox: The Singles Collection", a 24-song collection including a number of unreleased songs and recordings with vocals by Wilson, Glynn Morgan and McDermott.

THRESHOLD is:

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

RISE TO REMAIN, DEVILDRIVER and YOUR DEMISE are among the artists who are featured on the 21st-anniversary tribute to METALLICA's 1991 self-titled fifth album, commonly known as "the black album," made available with this week's (June 20) issue of U.K.'s Kerrang! magazine.

Enitled "The Black Album: Covered", the CD features the following track listing:

01. RISE TO REMAIN - "Enter Sandman"
02. YOUR DEMISE - "Sad But True"
03. DEVILDRIVER - "Holier Than Thou"
04. THE DEFILED - "Unforgiven"
05. YASHIN - "Wherever I May Roam"
06. HAWK EYES - "Don’t Tread On Me"
07. EVILE - "Through The Never"
08. LOSTALONE - "Nothing Else Matters"
09. SAVAGE MESSIAH - "Of Wolf And Man"
10. BLACK SPIDERS - "The God That Failed"
11. MOTIONLESS IN WHITE - "My Friend Of Misery"
12. DEVIL SOLD HIS SOUL - "The Struggle Within"

"Metallica" in 2009 surpassed SHANIA TWAIN's 1997 record, "Come On Over", as the best-selling CD of the SoundScan era. To date, the black album has sold more than 15.7 million copies in the United States.

Although METALLICA had scored their first radio and video airplay with their previous effort, 1988's "...And Justice For All", the black album was the band's biggest commercial breakthrough, producing five singles and making them into one of the most popular rock bands in the world.

METALLICA will play the complete "black album" at its own Orion Music + More festival, scheduled for June 23-24 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. METALLICA is headlining both days and will perform its entire 1984 album "Ride The Lightning" for the first time ever on the other day of the festival.

The official lyric video for "Dead Letters", a brand new song from the Swedish dark rock band KATATONIA, can be seen below. The track comes off the group's forthcoming album, "Dead End Kings", which is scheduled for release on August 28 (one day earlier internationally) via Peaceville Records. The CD, which will feature 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 KATATONIA: "We're proud to present to you the first glimpse into the world we've been living in for the last half a year. Instead of giving you just a snippet of audio, we decided to give you a 'lyric video' for a FULL song also showcasing some of the exquisite artwork to be found inside the album. We hope you will enjoy one of many diverse and differerent sides found on 'Dead End Kings' by starting off with 'Dead Letters', one the most heavy and proggressive songs to be found on the album and certainly a new live classic. Crank it a couple (or hundred) of times and then let us know what you think!"

"Dead End Kings" track listing (not final running order)

01. The Parting
02. Hypnone
03. Undo You
04. The Racing Heart
05. Buildings
06. Leech
07. The One You Are Looking For Is Not Here (with Silje Wergeland)
08. First Prayer
09. Ambitions
10. Lethean
11. Dead Letters

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."

In a recent interview with Loud TV, Nyström stated about the overall musical direction of the band's new CD, "It sounds definitely like KATATONIA; it's a KATATONIA album — solely KATATONIA album. The difference this time is that we maybe even pushed the differences even further. If you compare some of the songs, they could be almost in difference categories of genres, but the interesting thing here is that we have managed with our sound and the production and our performances to make it sound like it's not that far apart; it sounds like it's the same band. But if we would give the songs to some other band, it would sound very, very different. So I'm really happy with that. It was a big challenge. Like, for instance, you could have a song that is going totally off into this singer-songwriter territory, and you could have another song that goes into one of the most aggressive, heavy songs we've ever done, but when I listen to those both songs back to back, I can hear it's the same band doing [them]."

When asked if the new KATATONIA album is the kind of record that will take several airings to really register with the listener, Nyström said, "Yes. It might be even more like that this time [than in the past], probably, which is a good thing. I was nervous in the beginning and a little bit insecure with how we were gonna pull this album off and what people were gonna think and everything, but now I have this total calm about it; I am totally positive and confident that we have made the album that we needed to do and also what people expect from us. It might take a few listenings to get into the whole thing, but that will stay longer in your listening collection — you will not get tired of it in the first place; I am totally sure of it."

Regarding the upcoming CD's cover artwork — which is once again being created by Travis Smith of Seempieces (OPETH, DEVIN TOWNSEND) — Nyström said, "It's also gonna be a little bit different. It's actually a really big piece that we're splitting into four, and one of those four is gonna be on the cover. So there will be more to it than what you see first. I don't want to describe too much what's on it yet — you're gonna see that when it's [unveiled] pretty soon — but we're changing the color theme this time. We have been doing the black and the red for a long time now, and we're going totally the opposite and we're doing, actually… The basic color is, actually, white on the new one, but it's not solid white — it's like shades of frost whites and a little bit grey and mixed with black."

On the topic of the lyrical themes cover on the new KATATONIA album, Nyström said, "The lyrics are, actually, a mixture of trying to be as direct and easy as possible but also remaining a very cryptic feel at the same time, which is a very cool paradox. We're not trying to make it too complicated, but it might be… I mean, the words aren't too complicated, but the meaning of the songs is encrypted. And that we are very eager to see how people will react to and how they will define the meanings of these lyrics. 'Cause they're easy to read, easy to access, but the meaning itself might not be that easy [to decipher]."

"Dead Letters" lyric video:

According to Billboard.com, Seattle progressive rockers QUEENSRŸCHE have officially parted ways with vocalist Geoff Tate and have replaced him with CRIMSON GLORY singer Todd La Torre.

"Over the past few months, there have been growing creative differences within QUEENSRŸCHE," drummer Scott Rockenfield said in a statement. "We want our fans to know that we hoped to find a common resolution, but in the end parting ways with Geoff was the best way for everyone to move forward in a positive direction. We wish him the best of luck with all of his future endeavors. We can't wait to bring QUEENSRŸCHE to our fans with Todd behind the microphone."

The statement also said that scheduled QUEENSRŸCHE performances "are on hold at [the] present time and revised routing is being worked on. Fans can check the band's website for all of the latest tour information as it [becomes] available."

On May 29, QUEENSRŸCHE members Michael Wilton, Eddie Jackson, Scott Rockenfield and Parker Lundgren announced that they were forming a project called RISING WEST with La Torre. That band made its live debut at two sold-out shows June 8-9 at Seattle's Hard Rock Café, performing rare and classic hits from the first five QUEENSRŸCHE albums — from the 1983 EP through 1990's "Empire" — as well as a cover version of the IRON MAIDEN staple "Wrathchild".

QUEENSRŸCHE was scheduled to open for the SCORPIONS on June 11 in West Valley City, Utah, but the band canceled its appearance the day of the event, with Tate going ahead with the show, backed by his solo group.

Speaking to the "Streets Of Rock & Roll" radio show, La Torre stated about RISING WEST's live debut, "It was amazing. I've actually been told how critical the people of Seattle can be with their music — they take it pretty seriously, and seeing as it is [QUEENSRŸCHE's] home turf, I expected to be severely ridiculed. To the contrary, I felt widely accepted. The fans were amazing. We sold out the place both nights. Our merch was gone the first night."

On the topic of how it feels to be performing with members of a group which he has called his "favorite band since [he] was probably 14 or 15 years old," La Torre said, "To be able to play those songs with the actual members was really a dream come true. . . I mean, I met them 20 years ago at a signing session they did in Clearwater, Florida. And they signed my 'Warning' album cover; I still have it. In my home studio, I have 'Promised Land' signed and beautifully framed by all the members. So when this actually came to be, I had to pinch myself. . . This resonates very personally for me because I have a lot of emotional connection to this music, and the fans do, too. . . And the band, as a whole, is really excited. I mean, even the bandmembers' wives have told me, 'Todd, these guys haven't been this happy in 10 years.' I'm seeing them glowing. I mean, they're smiling; we're laughing. We laughed so hard at practice, at rehearsal, and it just all feels very comfortable and natural. And I couldn't be more honored. This is a legendary band that's never had another vocalist front those members. And so, out of all the people in the world that could have gotten chosen or would be vying for that position, I feel very lucky and fortunate that they chose me."

When asked about plans to record new original music with his new bandmates, Todd said, "Actually, there is new original material. And that's a goal that they wanna do. . . I think that performing the classic tunes or any QUEENSRŸCHE material that they wrote is a good bridge to them being true to their original works. . . Obviously, we wanna try and write something that's heavy, but also has a common thread of what is QUEENSRŸCHE's sound — very melodic guitar parts." He added, "Vocally, I'm in a very unique position because a lot of people like to throw around, 'Oh, he's a clone, he's an imitator, he's this, he's that.' And I feel like I'm damned if I do and I'm damned if I don't. My style of singing and phrasing is very similar to Geoff Tate and Bruce Dickinson and Rob Halford. I mean, a lot of my high metal screams are grittier and dirtier, like Rob Halford. My vibrato is more similar to Bruce Dickinson or Geoff Tate. A lot of the crying and ways of entering a vocal phrase and phonating, the way I say words, are very similar to Geoff Tate. I wear my influences on my sleeve, but I also think that I have a heavier vibe than Geoff Tate ever had. . . But the new songs, we want them to be heavy but still try to maintain… As a writer, the people that love the roots, a lot of those people don't wanna move past that; they love it. But as an artist, you wanna spread your wings, and you wanna try things that are creative, and you wanna still stay current. So it's like, 'OK, how do we achieve, how do we pacify the masses?' You don't wanna write a record that sounds like 1986. But you don't wanna sound so changed that the older fans aren't finding that common thread in the music that they loved that is from the early-to-mid-'80s or even early '90s, like 'Operation: Mindcrime'. I mean, that's regarded as one of the greatest concept albums of all time, and it's stood the test of time. Is that a real heavy, heavy metal record? In my opinion, no. I call it 'metal,' but it was progressive and it had a lot of wonderful instrumentation and elements, and it's a masterpiece of a work. So we just wanna do what we do."

Kelly Crane of Dubai, United Arab Emirates' GulfNews.com web site recently conducted an interview with EVANESCENCE lead singer Amy Lee. A few excerpts from the chat follow below.

On whether Ben Moody, EVANESCENCE's now-departed co-founder, guitarist and songwriter was ever missed:

Amy: "Hell no. What this band is and has been is something I feel very strongly about. It's always been me and someone which created a sound. Now it's me and others — a band. It sounds different, which comes across in the music. Each song carries a part of each person and I love that. In any song on the last album I can hear the personality of each person."

On the transition from a duo to band:

Amy: "It's hard. It's pushed me out of my comfort zone. We'd sit around and jam and all have an input and it wasn't something I was used to. But I realised the end result was the music had such depth which meant vocally I could start to have more fun."

On EVANESCENCE's journey so far:

Amy: "So much has happened. But it's the beauty of what makes the show so appealing today. The gig in Dubai will be like watching the soundtrack of my life — the highs, the lows. But the best part is that we are still here today. It's been a long road but it's been a good one too. It's part of my history and this is my victory moment. We made it, yeah, we did."

On the pros and cons of the festival circuit:

Amy: "Obviously it's great. You are talking numbers up to 85,000 people stretched out in front of you. But it's hard to compare something like that to the intimacy of a small venue. At a festival you sort of feel like you have to prove yourself a little because while some people know who you, are people came for the overall experience and not just for you. It's a bit like when you first start out and you feel you have to prove yourself a little. Where as a small venue you know it's your show. It's easier to just be yourself and I believe that's something which is very important."

On her attention-grabbing outfits:

Amy: "I started designing my own clothes because my fashion choices suddenly became something everyone had an opinion about. It's just not my thing. I wore clothes which didn't say anything. It started in high school. I came from a small town where I looked like everybody else. So I made clothes by hand which I felt represented me more."

On drawing attention with her looks:

Amy: "It was always about the music for me. This is real life. It's not about being perfect — I've never claimed to be. I don't think I'm awesome. At 13 years old I held this unrealistic belief I was going to make it. But by keeping my head in the right place I guess I have."

Read the entire interview from GulfNews.com.

Last year Jörg Michael announced his departure from STRATOVARIUS after sixteen years of incredible drumming, countless tours and nine studio albums. Jörg played his final tour with the band in 2011. One of the last concerts in Finland was recorded, and will be released as a live DVD/Blu-ray on June 27. It is titled "Under Flaming Winter Skies - Live In Tampere". The DVD is the first live DVD the band has ever released, and sadly it is the final for Jörg Michael. It includes two hours of a very powerful live show, plus a 30-minute-long documentary about the band with interviews with all band members. It is a must-have for all STRATOVARIUS fans with lots of inside information, very honest interviews, and the once-in-a-lifetime departure of an outstanding member and friend: Jörg Michael. Even though he will still be working for the band on the management and agency side, it was a dramatic and nostalgic moment when he finally left the stage. As a bonus track, the Blu-ray disc contains a 5.1 mix of the 18 minute song "Elysium" from the last studio album with the same name.

It was not easy to find a new drummer who is not only an excellent musician and a cool guy, but also courageous enough trying to fill the big hole Jörg Michael has left. 24-year-old Rolf Pilve from Finland is that courageous and gifted drummer.

Commented STRATOVARIUS singer singer Timo Kotipelto: "Although the competition was fierce, Rolf was clearly the best one of the bunch. His precise playing, sureness and right attitude was there right away. He has an astonishing technique and to top that of he has a very musical way of playing, so he can bring something of his own into our old songs as well. Rolf has played a variety of different styles of metal, so fast tempos or more progressive parts will not be a problem. Whatever songs we might compose in the future — I have no doubt that he will be able to play them."

Added Rolf: "I had prepared for the audition thoroughly, learning all the songs we agreed on, with the live endings and everything. In addition to that, I had also learned some extra songs just to be safe. Playing with the guys was excellent, and already the next day after the audition I got to hear that I had been the best one of the drummers they had auditioned. What followed was yet another audition where we would play more casually and jam."

STRATOVARIUS received more than 100 applications, some of them very competent and high-caliber Finns, but also included were some foreign drummers who had already made a name for themselves.

Timo Kotipelto describes the criteria the band had for the new drummer: "He had to be a really good player, but also a nice guy. We were not looking for a Jörg Michael clone.“

STRATOVARIUS has been an influence for Pilve for years, and now he gets to step into the big boots of his idol. Rolf Pilve will join STRATOVARIUS first time on stage at Tavastia, Helsinki, Finland on July 11.