Quality fan-filmed video footage of STEEL PANTHER's June 2 performance at FortaRock at Park Brakkenstein in Nijmegen, Netherlands can be seen below.

Check out photos from Metal-Experience.com.

STEEL PANTHER's sophomore album, "Balls Out", sold nearly 12,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 40 on The Billboard 200 chart. Released on November 1, 2011 via Universal Republic Records, the follow-up to 2009's "Feel The Steel" contains 14 soon-to-be classics such as "Just Like Tiger Woods", "Gold Digging Whore" and "Weenie Ride". The album also features cameos by Dane Cook on the album opener "In The Future" and NICKELBACK frontman Chad Kroeger and EXTREME axeman Nuno Bettencourt show up on an instant classic "It Won't Suck Itself". "Balls Out" was produced by Grammy-nominated producer/mixer Jay Ruston who produced the band's "Feel The Steel" debut and is known for his work with ANTHRAX, MEAT LOAF, THE DONNAS and MORRISSEY, to name a few.

When asked what lessons STEEL PANTHER learned from its 2009 debut, "Feel The Steel", that he and his bandmates applied to this new album, guitarist Satchel told Guitar International, "It's funny because we haven't learned any lessons from our first record. We don't even think of it as our sophomore album, we think of it as our second debut release. Many bands will try to make a different-sounding record for their second release, but we couldn't really get any better than our first record. Our first record was awesome, so we decided to go in and make the same record for our second album, just better. We didn't really grow as writers. We didn't grow as musicians. In fact, I think I got a little bit worse . . . But because of that it's much better. It's kind of like a fine wine. If you let it sit there and let it get moldy, that's what they do with wine, right? Then you let the mold fester in the bottom of the bottle, that's what our music is like on this record. We're like a moldy cheese that's been left out in the sun all summer. You wouldn't think that it would taste good at the end of the summer, but surprisingly, it does. That's us in a nutshell."

STEEL PANTHER is Michael Starr (vocals), Satchel (guitar), Lexxi Foxx (bass) and Stix Zadinia (drums).

British melodic rock legends MAGNUM are putting the finishing touches on their new album, "On The 13th Day", for a September 25 release (one day earlier internationally) through SPV/Steamhammer. A single, "So Let It Rain", will precede the full-length effort at the end of August.

"On The 13th Day" will be made available as a limited-edition digipak with a bonus CD featuring previously unreleased, acoustic and live tracks from the MAGNUM vaults; a double gatefold LP version with colored vinyl; standard edition; and as a digital download. The cover will be created once more by famous fantasy artist Rodney Matthews (ASIA, NAZARETH, ELOY).

A new video message from MAGNUM singer Bob Catley in which he reveals more details about the upcoming album can be seen below.

MAGNUM will embark on a full European tour in late October.

MAGNUM is:

Tony Clarkin - Guitar
Bob Catley - Vocals
Mark Stanway - Keyboards
Al Barrow - Bass
Harry James - Drums

Swedish Viking metallers KING OF ASGARD recently finished recording their second album, "…To North", at Sonic Train Studios in Varberg, Sweden with engineer Andy La Rocque (KING DIAMOND guitarist) at the helm. A July 30 release via Metal Blade Records is expected.

"…To North" track listing:

01. Intro
02. The Nine Worlds Burn
03. The Dispossessed
04. Gap of Ginnungs
05. Bound to Reunite
06. Nordvegr
07. Up on the Mountain
08. Plague-ridden Rebirth
09. Harvest (The End)
10. …to North
11. Vinterskugge (European digipack bonus track)

The song "The Nine Worlds Burn" can be streamed in the YouTube clip below.

"…To North" will feature two guest musicians. The band states: "First out is female vocalist Heléne Blad, who did a guest appearance on 'Fi'mbulvintr' as well. This time around she's present on the album opener, 'The Nine Worlds Burn', doing an epic folk inspired vocal part. She's been a longtime friend of the band and is a professionally schooled folk singer et cetera. She was also once, for a short while, the keyboardist of the KING OF ASGARD predecessor MITHOTYN. The second appearance on '…to North' presents the extremely talented guitarist Jimmy Hedlund. Yet another friend known from bands such as FALCONER and SUPREME MAJESTY. He shreds two guitar solos on the song 'Gap Of Ginnungs'. Least say, amazing stuff and truly breathtaking!"

The first in a series of video clips featuring behind-the-scenes footage from the "…To North" recording sessions can be seen below.

Comments bassist Jonas Albrektsson: "The '…To North' master sounds astonishing! Andy La Rocque made a great job on the production and the mastering along with Olof Berggren. It's upright and powerful. We feel very proud of what we achieved on this recording and merely the sound of it makes it a worthy follow-up to the firstborn 'Fi'mbulvintr'. Songs and sounds came out much as of what we planned, with power and a great variety. '…To North' takes off pretty much where 'Fi'mbulvintr' left off, so to say, with a natural development, more varied songs and structures. It's a development of our sound which will be recognized by old fans as well as bring some new ones to the horde. This time around I've been more involved in the writing process along with Karl, which kind of shines through, giving the songs a wider perspective. Expect some very strong songs on '…To North', where epic meets with brutality! The lyrical theme this time is basically in the same vein but has different twists. Not as obvious as before. '…To North' will make The Nine Worlds Burn… and Varberg was just left behind."

Songtitles set to appear on "…To North" include "Gap Of Ginnungs", "Plague-Ridden Rebirth", "Nordvegr", "Upon The Mountain" and "The Nine Worlds Burn".

"…To North" is the first KING OF ASGARD album to feature second guitar player Lars Tängmark.

KING OF ASGARD is:

Karl Beckman - Vocals/Guitars
Lars Tängmark - Guitars
Jonas Albrektsson – Bass
Karsten Larsson - Drums

In a brand new interview with Guitar International, legendary guitarist George Lynch spoke about the progress of the recording sessions for the debut album from T&N (formerly TOOTH AND NAIL), the new project featuring current and former members of DOKKEN, Lynch, Jeff Pilson (bass), and Mick Brown (drums). "The record, 'Slave To The Empire', is being mixed as we speak," he said. "We actually did two records. The first one, which will be released in September, and then the band will go out on the road at the beginning of October. We’ll do a short West Coast tour, then play Loud Park festival in Japan as well as visit a few other Asian cities before heading to Europe for a couple weeks. Then it’s back to the States and we will finish up before Christmas."

A four-minute promotional video for T&N can be seen below.

T&N was recently forced to shorten its name from TOOTH AND NAIL for legal reasons. The band stated, "We cannot keep [the name] as TOOTH AND NAIL as there is a label that has it trademarked. [Fans] can still call us TO$%H AND NA$L... We can't."

T&N's debut album is expected to feature new original material as well as reworked versions of around five or six DOKKEN classics. Pilson has contributed vocals to a new track title "When Eagles Die", with additional lead vocal duties on the CD by former SKID ROW frontman Sebastian Bach (on DOKKEN's "Alone Again"), Doug Pinnick (KING'S X), Tim "Ripper" Owens (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH, DIO DISCIPLES on a killer new version of DOKKEN's "Kiss Of Death" in what is described as a Ronnie James Dio-inspired performance) and Mick Brown (on DOKKEN's "When Heaven Comes Down"). The drum tracks on the new, original compositions were laid down by Brian Tichy (WHITESNAKE, FOREIGNER).

Regarding how T&N came together, Pilson said in an August 2011 interview, "The DOKKEN [original lineup] reunion has been scrapped, and I take a lot of the initial responsibility for that because of my schedule and commitment to FOREIGNER. . . Then George asked me about working with him on the next LYNCH MOB record — and I jumped at the chance. He and I started writing, got into a groove and wrote an album's worth of stuff, all with the intention of Oni [Logan, LYNCH MOB singer] writing lyrics and it being their next record. Brian Tichy laid down some incredible drums at his studio (and co-wrote some music on one track) and we had an incredibly strong start. Then Oni just wasn't feeling the music as being LYNCH MOB, so it was shelved. We figured it'd be the start of another LYNCH/PILSON record some day. Then, actually, it was Brian who had the idea that Mick, George and I should do a band, similar to what HEAVEN & HELL was to BLACK SABBATH, and call it TOOTH AND NAIL. Because of everything else we have going, it'll be just a recording project at first, but sure sounds fun. We'd record the classics keeping true to the originals but make them fresh and organic. Then the idea of doing new songs came up, and it grew from there."

He added, "I have absolute belief that the music George and I make together (along with Brian Tichy in this case) is real and inspired, and that's what it's really all about. So out of a mess of a reunion attempt, I think we'll end up with a really fabulous record, and what could be better than that?"

When asked if T&N is basically DOKKEN without Don, Pilson said, "Don is, and will always be, the singer of DOKKEN and an invaluable part of the DOKKEN chemistry. No one ever wants to take that away or dispute it one iota. But the three of us do have time tested amazing chemistry, and because we were writers on these songs, I feel we have a lot to express. If anything I think this will be a show of respect for Don, not some kind of competition. I only hope people enjoy it in the spirit for which it's intended . . . Don't think of this as DOKKEN without Don... that's misleading. Think of it as a band with great chemistry coming up with new music that excites them, and also paying tribute to DOKKEN — music which the members all are heavily invested in emotionally."

GLEN DROVER BAND, the Canadian group led by acclaimed guitarist Glen Drover (MEGADETH, KING DIAMOND, EIDOLON) has entered the studio to begin recording its sophomore album, tentatively titled "Between Sea And Sky". Glen states, "So far we have completed two instrumental songs for the album and I'm extremely happy with what we have accomplished so far." He adds, "I have decided to take a different approach in terms of recording this time around, which is to work on one piece and finish it 100 percent before moving on the next tune. Because of our situation, we are able to do this easily, and so far it's working out awesome."

GLEN DROVER BAND's forthcoming CD will feature guest appearances by singers Henning Basse (METALIUM, SONS OF SEASONS) and Nils K. Rue (PAGAN'S MIND, EIDOLON), among others.

Comments Glen: "[Henning] is a singer I have wanted to work with for many years. Killer singer and a really cool guy. Nils will be on the album 100%, and I can safely say that because of what we accomplished on the EIDOLON album we did together back in 06, which I am very proud of." He adds, "I would like to say that all singers that I'm talking to will be on the album, but only time will tell if we can record a song together that will be a strong as the rest of the album will be."

Drover was replaced in MEGADETH by Chris Broderick, who has previously played with NEVERMORE and JAG PANZER.

Glen's debut solo album, "Metalusion", was released in April 2011 via Magna Carta Records.

On September 25, 2011, Drover took part in a historic performance that was webcast worldwide as part of the "Live At Metalworks" series from Mississauga, Canada.

Glen's "Live At Metalworks" performance will be released as a DVD in June via Magna Carta.

Finnish metallers DEAD SHAPE FIGURE have entered D-Studio in Nurmijärvi, Finland to begin recording their third album with producer Alexandre Locher (also known as Xytras or Xy) of Swiss industrial black metallers SAMAEL.

Commented DEAD SHAPE FIGURE: "This is the first time ever DEAD SHAPE FIGURE has used a real producer and done a proper pre-production. It is a fact you can really hear when the album is ready.

"We are super-psyched about Mr. Xy's dedication for these new songs.

"The pre-production-stage took a week, 12 hours a day. That period with Mr. Xy was mentally really interesting yet challenging. He made us push ourselves as a band further and deeper than we would normally go. Xy made us act as a band and not as a mob."

While recording the new album, DEAD SHAPE FIGURE will make select festival appearances during the summer. The band states, "We were not supposed to play any shows before the release of the next album but we got offered a few summer shows, so we thought why not?"

It's been years since Xy produced an album for another band; it started with MISERY's "Mystic" CD in 1993; he would later produce two albums for Greek death/black metal veterans ROTTING CHRIST (1997's "A Dead Poem" and 1999's "Sleep Of The Angel") as well as the first two LPs from Germany's MY INSANITY.

A short video clip of Xy in the studio with DEAD SHAPE FIGURE can be seen below.

DEAD SHAPE FIGURE's mini-CD, "Dev!lle Ride", was released via Dynamic Arts Records.

The track listing for the effort is as follows:

01. Strangle The Hero
02. And They Adore The Replacement
03. Leave Your Buildings
04. Dead Again

Guitarist Kride Lahti left DEAD SHAPE FIGURE last year "due to personal reasons and lack of motivation." He has since been replaced by Silver Ots (THE NIBIRUAN, ex-AMORAL).

DEAD SHAPE FIGURE's second full-length album, "The Disease Of St. Vitus", was released in October 2010 via Dynamic Arts Records. The CD was mastered at Virtalähde Analog Audio Studios in Helsinki, Finland.

The band's debut album, "The Grand Karoshi", came out in 2008 via Season Of Mist. The CD's lyrical content was translated by Kallio into Finnish as a book of poetry, entitled "Loppusäkeet".

WORLD FIRE BRIGADE, the new band featuring Brett Scallions (frontman of FUEL, as well as lead vocalist with Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger of THE DOORS), Sean Danielsen (lead singer/guitarist of SMILE EMPTY SOUL) and Eddie Wohl (producer/mixer for ANTHRAX, ILL NINO, SMILE EMPTY SOUL, JESSE MALIN, 36 CRAZYFISTS and more), has inked a deal with FrostByte Media. The group's debut album, "Spreading My Wings", will be released on August 28.

Of "Spreading My Wings", Scallions commented, "This is a record filled with all emotions, songs that fall back and forth from major to minor. I love that it's a heavy record with sing-a-long melodies. You don't hear that too much in this style of music."

Originally conceived as a songwriting vehicle for delivering world-class hard rock songs to other artists, WORLD FIRE BRIGADE evolved into its own group when it became clear that their powerful material was meant to be performed by Scallions, Danielsen and Wohl themselves. Ken Schalk (FUEL, CANDIRIA) provides all the drums on "Spreading My Wings" and the album also features guest appearances by PEARL JAM's Mike McCready, ANTHRAX's Rob Caggiano, and Andy Andersson (FUEL, BLACK ROBOT).

WORLD FIRE BRIGADE is: Brett Scallions (vocals), Sean Danielsen (vocals/lead guitar) and Eddie Wohl (keyboards).

"Spreading My Wings" track listing:

01. The End Of Silence
02. Spreading My Wings
03. All You Know
04. Weight Of The World
05. Shell Of Me (featuring Mike McCready)
06. Fly
07. Don't Walk Away
08. Take Me Away (featuring Rob Caggiano)
09. Shot Down
10. All My Demands
11. The Beginning Of Madness
12. Never Saw The Wall (featuring Rob Caggiano)
13. Free And Sane (featuring Andy Andersson)
14. One

Metal Blade Records has announced the signing of German progressive death metallers OVER YOUR THRESHOLD. The band's full-length debut, "Facticity", will be released on August 28 (one day earlier internationally).

Hailing from Munich, OVER YOUR THRESHOLD began playing live in 2007. After numerous gigs with renowned death metal acts like OBSCURA, DEADBORN and HOKUM, the band made a name for itself in the local metal scene. The band's first record, "Progress In Disbelief" (EP), was independently released in 2008.

Over the years, OVER YOUR THRESHOLD's brand of death metal evolved and currently includes a bit of thrash and some fusion components.

In 2011, OVER YOUR THRESHOLD entered Woodshed Studio in Landshut, Germany to record its first full-length album, entitled "Facticity". The sound of "Facticity" is not only more blasting but also more technical, interspersed with energetic death metal riffing as well as melodic acoustic guitars. It's enriched by brute-force blast beats, thrash metal, jazzy harmonics and the distinct tones of smooth, fretless bass. Furthermore, the band recruited guest musicians Steffen Kummerer (OBSCURA, THULCANDRA) and Jonas Fischer (HOKUM, ex-OBSCURA) to jazz up the effort, which was mixed and mastered by V. Santura (TRIPTYKON, DARK FORTRESS).

Commented OVER YOUR THRESHOLD: "Metal Blade Records ranges among the highest renowned labels for extreme metal music and we are very glad about the possibility to release our upcoming debut album, 'Facticity', via such a strong partner. We are looking forward to work with Metal Blade and the future development!"

OVER YOUR THRESHOLD is:

Ludwig Walter - Vocals
Lukas Spielberger - Guitar
Kilian Lau - Guitar
Christian Siegmund - Bass
Julian Matejka - Drums

Bluesy axemen ZZ Top are back with their first new studio recordings in nine years. "Chartreuse," off the group's upcoming four-track teaser Texicali, offers more gruff, ramblin' riffage from the Texans. A seamless fit with the rest of the band's catalog, "Chartreuse" is a chunky track fit for any summer beer-b-que.

Texicali, which will be available in digital outlets on June 5th, serves as a preview for ZZ Top's upcoming, as-yet unnamed full-length, tentatively set for late summer/early fall.

"Liquid Fire", a brand new song from French progressive metallers GOJIRA, is available for free download from the band's Facebook page (scroll down). The track comes off the group's fifth album, "L'Enfant Sauvage", which will be released on June 26 via Roadrunner Records.

"L'Enfant Sauvage" (which translates to "The Wild Child") features 11 tracks of mind-bending, thunderous metal. The CD was recorded at Spin Recording Studios in Long Island City, New York with co-producer Josh Wilbur (LAMB OF GOD).

In a recent interview with Metalshrine, GOJIRA guitarist/vocalist Joseph Duplantier stated about the new album title, "We couldn't call it 'The Wild Child', because it's hard to translate 'L'Enfant Sauvage'. It's not really the wild child as understood in English, because a wild child for me, has an aspect like someone out of control somehow. 'L'Enfant Sauvage' in French… 'Sauvage' is something that is not educated or something that is like free and completely free in nature. A wild flower that goes wherever she wants and becomes something beautiful. The idea with 'L'Enfant Sauvage' is like with a human that would grow up in nature, raised by wolves, for example, without the influence from others and the influence from institutions or society in general. Without a social security number. [laughs] Not even a name. This is what you are and I am on the inside, right? How much the education and the culture, emotions and the guilt are interacting with us and it changes us and how far are we from this pure child inside? That's the question we had on this album."

A special collector's package of "L'Enfant Sauvage" will feature two bonus tracks and a double-colored vinyl version of the record, along with an exclusive t-shirt.

"L'Enfant Sauvage" track listing:

01. Explosia
02. L’Enfant Sauvage
03. The Axe
04. Liquid Fire
05. The Wild Healer
06. Planned Obsolescence
07. Mouth Of Kala
08. The Gift Of Guilt
09. Pain Is A Master
10. Born In Winter
11. The Fall

GOJIRA will release a new DVD/Blu-ray, "The Flesh Alive", in Europe on June 4 and in the U.S. on July 31 via Mascot. The set will be made available in the following formats:

* 2-DVD+CD
* Blu-ray+CD with free poster

The three-disc "The Flesh Alive" chronicles the making of GOJIRA's 2008 album, "The Way Of All Flesh", and the touring activity that followed the CD's release.

"L'Enfant Sauvage" album teaser:

To celebrate the summer of "Rock Of Ages", DEF LEPPARD has recorded new versions of "Pour Some Sugar On Me" and "Rock Of Ages". The songs will be available worldwide following the band's performance on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" this evening. In addition, DEF LEPPARD will perform an outdoor concert on "Fox & Friends" on Friday, June 15.

"Rock Of Ages" audio stream (courtesy of AOL's Noisecreep):

The soundtrack to the upcoming film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical "Rock Of Ages", which showcases popular rock songs from the '70s and '80s, features the cast — Tom Cruise, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Russell Brand and Julianne Hough — singing some of the greatest hits of the "hair-band" era.

Due to be released June 5 — ten days before the film hits theatres — "Rock Of Ages: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack" includes Cruise's renditions of DEF LEPPARD's "Pour Some Sugar On Me" and GUNS N' ROSES' "Paradise City".

"Rock Of Ages: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack" features the following track listing:

01. Paradise City (Tom Cruise)
02. Sister Christian/Just Like Paradise/Nothin' But a Good Time (Diego Boneta)
03. Juke Box Hero/I Love Rock 'N' Roll (Diego Boneta)
04. Hit Me With Your Best Shot (Catherine Zeta-Jones)
05. Waiting For A Girl Like You Diego Boneta
06. More Than Words/Heaven (Diego Boneta)
07. Wanted Dead Or Alive (Julianne Hough)
08. I Want To Know What Love Is (Malin Akerman)
09. I Wanna Rock (Diego Boneta)
10. Pour Some Sugar On Me (Tom Cruise)
11. Harden My Heart (Julianne Hough)
12. Shadows Of The Night/Harden My Heart (Julianne Hough)
13. Here I Go Again (Diego Boneta)
14. Can't Fight This Feeling (Russell Brand)
15. Any Way You Want It (Julianne Hough)
16. Undercover Love (Diego Boneta)
17. Every Rose Has Its Thorn (Diego Boneta)
18. Rock You Like A Hurricane (Julianne Hough)
19. We Built This City/We're Not Gonna Take It (Russell Brand)
20. Don't Stop Believin' (Diego Boneta)

"Rock Of Ages: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack" is now available for streaming in its entirety at AOL Music.

In a brand new interview with Playboy.com, Cruise stated about his first attempt at singing, "I knew I could hold a note. I sang in a glee club when I was 14 years old and in a high school musical. But I never had a singing lesson. No one ever taught me how to use my voice.

It was previously reported that Cruise was preparing for his role by training with Axl Rose's vocal coach. "He was an opera singer who taught me how to control my voice," Cruise said. "It's like learning a new sport or a skill for a character. I had to find out how to move air through the vocal cords and where to place it in my head, in the chest. It's something you have to do every day to strengthen your voice."

The first song Cruise sang in front of a crowd was "Pour Some Sugar On Me", with members of DEF LEPPARD watching him.

"I was down in Miami, recording different songs, and Adam [Shankman, director] called and said, 'DEF LEPPARD's coming by the set,'" Cruise told Playboy.com. "I said, 'Man, that's cool.' Then I paused. 'Wait, I'm rehearsing their song tomorrow.' And he's like, 'Yeah!' [laughs] So we started right in the deep end, and that was the first scene I shot in the movie. It's a great song, and I grew up listening to them. They went to the back of the Bourbon Room, and I looked at my band and was like, 'Hit it.' All the crew was watching them watching me. . . [After the song was done] the lead singer, Joe Elliott, points at me and goes, 'Fuck you! Fuck you!' Then I saw big smiles on their faces, and I realized I'd gotten their stamp. It was a very cool moment. It was important they knew I was honoring their music and not making fun of them."

DEF LEPPARD guitarist Phil Collen recently told VH1 Classic Rock Nights that Cruise "was a super-lovely guy" when they met. Collen added, "I was so impressed because he hadn't sung before and he had vocal lessons. He was literally doing five hours a day, five days a week, like truly real, getting in there and doing it. And we saw him and he was amazing, it was like Iggy Pop meets someone else and he's in great shape and it was like, 'What!?!' It was surreal, but he really pulls it off and it was like he's a total rock star."

An audio sample of Cruise singing the DEF LEPPARD classic "Pour Some Sugar On Me" can be streamed below (courtesy of RyanSeacrest.com).

Tom Cruise stars in "Rock Of Ages" as Stacee Jaxx, an aging musician whose glory days are long past.

Adam Anders, executive music producer for the film and album, recently told The Hollywood Reporter about Cruise's vocal skills, "He had never sung in his life. He was like, 'I need to know that I can do this before I sign on.' So I went to his house to hear him sing and even though he was completely green as a singer, his vocal cords were amazing. He had this voice that blew me away. It was the most powerful voice I had ever heard. So loud. He could do anything and go as high as we wanted. It was like a kid discovering he had a new toy. I left there super-pumped knowing that not only could we make him pass as a singer in the movie, but we would blow people away with what he could do."

He added, "[Tom's] confidence kept growing as we worked together. I think he started off a little nervous, as anybody would who has never done this, but he just bought it 110%. He works harder than anybody I've ever met in my life. By the end of this movie, the guy was just phenomenal. I remember telling him, 'You're a singer!'"

"Rock Of Ages" also stars Alec Baldwin, Russell Brand, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Paul Giamatti, Malin Akerman and many others. It scheduled to arrive in theaters on June 15.

Legendary Swedish doom metallers CANDLEMASS have parted ways with singer Robert Lowe. According to the band, this was "a very difficult decision" to make and "has mainly to do with the quality of the live performances."

For the upcoming shows, Robert will be replaced by Mats Levén, a former member of YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, THERION and TREAT, who also plays with CANDLEMASS bassist/mainman Leif Edling in KRUX (see video below).

In a statement to BLABBERMOUTH.NET, Mats said, "I'm helping my friends in CANDLEMASS with the shows booked so far. Looking forward to that, for sure. [However], the only band I'm a permanent member of is KRUX."

CANDLEMASS is currently rehearsing new and old songs with Mats and "we know that nobody attending the gigs at Debaser Slussen, Metaltown, Borås or Southern Discomfort will be disappointed," the band says.

Also joining the group for the upcoming live performances will be keyboard player Per Wiberg (OPETH, SPIRITUAL BEGGARS).

Lowe — who is still a member of SOLITUDE AETERNUS — joined CANDLEMASS in January 2007 and sang on the band's last three studio albums: "King Of The Grey Islands" (2007), "Death Magic Doom" (2009) and "Psalms For The Dead" (2012).

CANDLEMASS will release its 11th and final album, "Psalms For The Dead", on June 8 via Napalm Records. A limited-edition seven-inch vinyl single contaning two album tracks —"Dancing In The Temple Of The Mad Queen Bee" and "The Killing Of The Sun" — preceded the full-length effort on April 13.

CANDLEMASS will celebrate the release of the new album with June 5 performance at Debaser Slussen in Stockholm, Sweden. The band will play a full set that will contain songs from the new CD, a few surprises and some classics.

Fan-filmed video footage of KRUX — the Swedish band featuring Edling, Levén, ex-ENTOMBED drummer Peter Stjärnvind, guitarist Jörgen Sandström (also in THE PROJECT HATE, ex-ENTOMBED/GRAVE), OPETH/ex-ARCH ENEMY guitarist Fredrik Åkesson and keyboardist Carl Westholm — performing the song "The Hades Assembly" on December 29, 2011 at Debaser in Stockholm, Sweden can be seen below.

Nearly 20 years after its original arrival, MORTIIS' "Ånden som Gjorde Opprør" will receive a limited-edition vinyl re-release this summer via the Italian label Ordo MCM.

The effort, recorded in 1994, is from what is now known as "Era1" in MORTIIS' evolution, when the singly-named solo artist focused on creating epic synth tracks that evoked images of desolate landscapes and eerie atmospheres. MORTIIS' music was a huge departure from the black metal scene he was largely involved in during his mid-teens, yet it retained a dark ambience that still appealed to the black metal elite, as well as fans of more experimental music and the gothic crowd.

Taking a cue from experimental/progressive acts like TANGERINE DREAM, MORTIIS threw typical song structure to the wayside in favor of synth-laden soundscapes, of a length and grandeur that would limit "Ånden som Gjorde Opprør" to just two songs, "En mork Horisont" and "Visjoner av en Eldgammel Fremtid".

"TANGERINE DREAM pretty much single-handedly got me into making music on synths," Mortiis said. "I was into stuff like COIL, KRAFTWERK, SLEEP CHAMBER, and THROBBING GRISTLE as well, but TANGERINE DREAM was the big thing for me."

The re-release of "Ånden som Gjorde Opprør" will be limited to 500 copies, with 250 available in standard black and 250 in special swirl-colored vinyl.

Finnish atmospheric rock act THE CHANT has inked a deal with Lifeforce Records. The band's third album, "A Healing Place", will be released on the following dates:

August 14: North America + digital
August 17: Germany, Austria, Switzerland
August 20: Europe excluding Finland
August 22: Scandinavia

"Since I was in touch with Jussi Hämäläinen about his other very promising band HANGING GARDEN for a while already, it was only logical I gave THE CHANT a fair chance and I must admit I was sold after the first listen!" comments Lifeforce Records owner Stefan Lüdicke. "Being a huge fan of similar bands such as ANATHEMA, KATATONIA and PARADISE LOST, my decision to want to work with THE CHANT was made within a glimpse of an eye and their upcoming album, 'A Healing Place', is on heavy rotation in my stereo since then!"

THE CHANT is a seven-member band from Finland. The current lineup has been existence since 1999, but it took some years and a couple of demo recordings before the group's debut album, "Ghostlines", was released in 2008. It already based on this unique melancholic music full of beautiful melodies and harmonies, THE CHANT have become known for. With "This is The World We Know" (2010), the Finns strengthened their approach of playing atmospheric rock with gothic and progressive influences.

The majority of the songs for "A Healing Place" were recorded by THE CHANT themselves and showcase a band going deeper into an even more complexand layered sound with unexpected twists and an arcane ambience. The Finns take their listeners into a place where they have to fumble ingrey mist, before being able to see all the shades of color. The agonizing sides of life have to be faced, before being able to clean oneself from them. The seemingly positive exterior of "A Healing Place" hides bitter and dismal moods.

With "A Healing Place", the Helsinki-based septet takes a stand as one of Finland's progressive rock bands people have to be aware of. Based on a deeply atmospheric, almost cinematic sound, THE CHANT rely on dreamy guitarmelodies, spherical piano-playing and a remarkable voice. This album full of soundscape-driven, ambitious rock music should please fans of ANATHEMA, PARADISE LOST, KATATONIA, PORCUPINE TREE and A PERFECT CIRCLE.

"The Industrialist", the new album from Los Angeles cyber metallers FEAR FACTORY, can be streamed in its entirety at AOL Music. Due in North America on June 5 via Candlelight Records, the CD is a conceptual record based around a story written by Burton C. Bell. Lyrics to the album's ten songs divulge the narrative as discussed recently by Bell with Decibel magazine. The album's artwork was created by American designer Anthony Clarkson with additional direction from the band. The album will be available on three formats — standard CD, a limited edition deluxe digi-book (featuring two additional songs), and 180-gram double vinyl.

"The Industrialist" again pairs FEAR FACTORY with producer Rhys Fulber. Mixed by Greg Reely (PARADISE LOST, SKINNY PUPPY, MACHINE HEAD), with additional tracking by Logan Mader (GOJIRA, DIVINE HERESY), the album is the second written by Bell and guitarist Dino Cazares since reuniting in 2009 after a seven-year split.

"The Industrialist" track listing:

01. The Industrialist
02. Recharger
03. New Messiah
04. God Eater
05. Depraved Mind Murder
06. Virus of Faith
07. Difference Engine
08. Dissemble
09. Religion is Flawed Because Man is Flawed
10. Human Augmentation
11. Blush Response (Difference Engine) *
12. Landfill *

* Available on deluxe digibook only

"Recharger" can be purchased via iTunes.

FEAR FACTORY recently enlisted Matt DeVries as the band's new bass player. DeVries, previously of CHIMAIRA (where he played guitar) and most recently SIX FEET UNDER, joined FEAR FACTORY as the replacement for Byron Stroud (now with 3 INCHES OF BLOOD).

FEAR FACTORY has tapped Mike Heller (MALIGNANCY, SYSTEM DIVIDE) as its new touring drummer.

"Angels In White", the new video from Sydney, Australia-based "epic, aggressive" metallers DRAGONSCLAW, can be seen below. The clip contains footage recorded on the band's first tour, supporting Steve Grimmett (GRIM REAPER, ONSLAUGHT), in March. The track comes off the group's debut album, "Prophecy", which was released in January via Arkeyn Steel Records.

Commented vocalist Giles Lavery: "We have worked really hard on putting together the best collection of songs, scrapping anything that wasn't up to our highest standards. In fact, we wrote and recorded one track we felt very strongly about in the final days of recording... Totally crazy, but that's what it takes to have the best record we can!

"The melody and songwriting has gotten a little bit lost these days in modern metal. We are hoping to re-introduce that while maintaining the crushing power that only heavy metal can provide. Basically, everything we grew up with and loved about the genre is here on display."

"Prophecy" track listing:

01. Darkness Within
02. Fight For Your Life
03. Defenders Of The Skies
04. Angels In White
05. Prophecy
06. Life Through Anubis' Eyes
07. Devil's Firey Dance
08. Rising Power
09. Unknown Horizon
10. Revolutionary Suicide

The CD features guest appearances by Blaze Bayley (IRON MAIDEN, WOLFSBANE) and Alessandro Del Vecchio (EDGE OF FOREVER, EDEN'S CURSE).

The band's lineup is as follows:

Ben Thomas - Guitar
Giles Lavery - Vocals
Ray Martens - Keyboards
Aaron Thomas - Bass, Orchestration
Alcides "Seed" Stowe - Drums

"Angels In White" video:

Artisan News conducted an interview with DOWN vocalist Philip Anselmo and bassist Patrick Bruders at this year's Rock On The Range festival, which was held May 18-20 at Columbus Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. You can now watch the chat below.

DOWN entered the studio last October to begin recording the first in a series of four EPs, to be released over the next few years (with a year between EPs), each touching on a different aspect of the band's sound.

The first six-song EP, which heralds the sound of DOWN going back to its roots, with influences from BLACK SABBATH, SAINT VITUS and WITCHFINDER GENERAL, will be released late summer.

When asked about DOWN's plans to release four separate EPs, Anselmo said, "That's the idea right now, but I think that after you work on a body of music, you need to reload, you need to refresh, you need to clear your head. Get that, digest it, get it out of your system, and then decide what direction you're going to go. It's a good idea and I think we should see it through. But there's no way we can rush it. Because I think if it is a series of four, each one should be unique, and that… We've shown flexibility — we have songs like 'Bury Me In Smoke' and then we have songs like 'Stone The Crow'… acoustic pieces and what-not… We have all that. So we've touched on many, I guess, dynamics, so… I would expect each EP to have its own life."

Fan-filmed video footage of DOWN performing a brand new song, "The Misfortune Teller", on May 29 at the Vinyl Music Hall in Pensacola, Florida can be seen below. The entire concert is available at this location.

Anselmo recently described DOWN's new EP as "very stripped down. Nothing flashy. Straight to the point… really just DOWN music. If you liked the first record, the demos… something like that… This record, we're pretty dead straight and honest and on the money as far as making it as simple and direct as possible and I think we did that. . . It has that practice-room vibe to it. We didn't really try and fucking slick it out and anything. We went the more raw route, as far as an approach."

The track listing for the effort is as follows (in no particular order):

01. Levitation
02. Witchtripper
03. The Misfortune Teller
04. The Curse Is A Lie
05. Open Coffins
06. This Work Is Timeless

Interview:

Die Brutal Deather LIVARKAHIL aus Frankreich haben einen weltweiten Management Deal beim deutschen Label Rock N Growl und einen Deal mit der Booking Agentur N-Syndicate (KMFDM, LAIBACH, COMBICHRIST, CNK, etc.) unterschrieben. Jetzt wurde der neue Song "Devotion", von der kommenden digitalen EP "Wrath of God“ die im Mai oder Juni 2012 als Free Download und als USB DRIVE mit exklusiven Material (Video, Tutorials, Goodies, Tabs…) veröffentlicht wird online gestellt.

Swedish tech metal supergroup NONEXIST, featuring former ARCH ENEMY and current HEARSE vocalist Johan Liiva and ANDROMEDA/SKYFIRE guitarist Johan Reinholdz, has inked a deal with Pivotal Rockordings. The band's new full-length album, entitled "From My Cold Dead Hands", is currently being recorded at Multipass Studios and will feature nine blistering new tracks, to be released later this year through all major digital retailers. "From My Cold Dead Hands" will also be accompanied by cover songs that Pivotal Rockordings will release for free on YouTube. More information on the exact cover songs will be revealed shortly.

Commented Reinholdz: "I'm really excited about unleashing the second assault of NONEXIST! Even though 'Deus Deceptor' came out ten years ago, NONEXIST never died. It has always been alive in my heart and I've written songs for it every now and then. Because I love it, I love this kind of music which I grew up with. A couple of years ago, the NONEXIST songwriting became more frequent and I came up with the title — 'From My Cold Dead Hands' — and I started to focus on getting the album done. I also began dabbling with cover songs, something I've never really done before but it's great fun! Some of these song choices might surprise you — but they're all done NONEXIST style! I then asked Johan Liiva if he wanted to join NONEXIST again was pleased when he said yes. He is one the great singers in extreme metal and I'm proud to work with him again!"

Added Liiva: "It's been like 10 years now since the debut came out. I actually had this 'fantasy' ever since to make a sequel. For various reasons (like for example 'life,' haha) it took us all this time to finally get there. Thankfully, Johan and I stayed in touch every now and then… and now *kazaam!* — the time has come! Filled to the brim with new and fresh ideas — as well as retro ones, for sure! Let's hope you people out there who digged and asked for another one appreciates this new one. Hailz and salutes — it's time… metal to the very bone!"

NONEXIST's debut full-length record, "Deus Deceptor", was released in 2002 via Century Media/New Hawen Records and the lineup at the time included Liiva, Reinholdz and DEFLESHED/DARK FUNERAL drummer Matte Modin. The CD was produced by Tommy Tägtgren and Reinholdz at Abyss Studios and featured a musical direction described as a cross between early ARCH ENEMY and CARCASS (circa "Heartwork").

SEVENDUST's Morgan Rose will lay down the drums tracks on the forthcoming sophomore album from the Staten Island, New York- and Tom's River, New Jersey-based hard rock band THE INFINITE STAIRCASE.

THE INFINITE STAIRCASE members, brothers Lenny and Jeff Cerzosie, have been working pre-production at their home recording facility, Majickly Malicious Studios in Staten Island, New York, but will begin tracking the new album with Rose at Architekt Studios in Butler, New Jersey in the coming weeks.

THE INFINITE STAIRCASE released its debut album, "The Road Less Taken", in March 2009 before embarking on "The Black Label Bash" tour with BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, SEVENDUST and DOPE. The CD was mixed by guitar virtuoso Blues Saraceno (POISON) and featured guest appearances by Saraceno and Earl Slick (DAVID BOWIE). After a year-long hiatus following a much-publicized and still-ongoing dispute with former drummer Paris Bierk (son of ex-SKID ROW singer Sebastian Bach), and a few sporadic and special acoustic performances (including a 2010 performance with BLACK LABEL SOCIETY bassist John JD DeServio), this is the first official announcement of the band's continuity.

Professionally filmed video footage of MARILYN MANSON's June 1 performance at the Rock Am Ring festival in Nürburgring, Germany can be seen below.

MARILYN MANSON's new album, "Born Villain", sold 38,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 10 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD arrived in stores on May 1 via Cooking Vinyl and Manson's own label Hell, Etc.

MARILYN MANSON's previous album, "The High End Of Low", opened with 49,000 units back in May 2009 to debut at position No. 4 on The Billboard 200 chart. This was roughly half of the first-week tally registered by 2007's "Eat Me, Drink Me", which landed at No. 8 after selling 88,000 copies.

MARILYN MANSON's 2003 album, "The Golden Age Of Grotesque", entered the chart at No. 1 with first-week sales of 118,000.

Marilyn Manson's new video, "No Reflection", was directed by Lukas Ettlin, who previously worked with Manson on the award-winning "Personal Jesus" clip.

Manson last September unveiled a new music video for the song "Born Villain" directed by actor Shia LaBeouf.

Duff McKagan (DUFF MCKAGAN'S LOADED, GUNS N' ROSES, VELVET REVOLVER) joined former HANOI ROCKS frontman Michael Monroe on stage this past Saturday night (June 2) at the Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, California to perform the HANOI classics "Taxi Driver" and "Feel Alright". Fan-filmed video footage of Duff's appearance can be seen below.

The day after the show, Duff tweeted, "Michael Monroe were fucking GREAT tonite! Rock and roll in the best of ways."

Monroe stated in a Facebook post, "Had a great time at the Whisky show! Thank you, Hollywood! And thank you, Duff McKagan, for coming up to rock out on 'Taxi Driver' and 'Feel Alright'!! You rule, my man, that was awesome!"

Michael's latest album, "Sensory Overdrive", was released in the U.S. and Canada in August 2011 via Spinefarm/Universal. The CD, which was released in Europe in March 2011 via Universal Music subsidiary Spinefarm Records, features guest appearances by MOTÖRHEAD's Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister and three-time Grammy-winning country/folk singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams.

"Sensory Overdrive" was recorded in Los Angeles with legendary producer Jack Douglas, who has previously worked with AEROSMITH, JOHN LENNON, CLUTCH, SLASH'S SNAKEPIT and NEW YORK DOLLS, among many others.

Monroe in June 2011 recruited Dregen (real name: Andreas Tyrone Svensson) of Swedish sleaze rockers BACKYARD BABIES to be the guitarist of Monroe's solo band following the departure of Ginger (THE WILDHEARTS).

Professionally filmed video footage of LAMB OF GOD's June 1 performance at the Rock Am Ring festival in Nürburgring, Germany can be seen below.

Hal Leonard has released the official, note-for-note matching guitar tab book for "Resolution", the latest album from Richmond, Virginia metallers LAMB OF GOD. It is now available for purchase from MusicDispatch.com.

"Resolution" sold around 52,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 3 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous CD, "Wrath", opened with around 68,000 units back in March 2009 to enter the chart at No. 2. This figure was roughly in line with the first-week tally registered by 2006's "Sacrament", which shifted around 63,000 units to debut at No. 8. It also represented almost double the amount of records sold by its predecessor, "Ashes Of The Wake", which premiered with 35,000 copies in September 2004.

"Resolution" was released in the U.S. via Epic and internationally through Roadrunner Records. The CD was recorded at various studios in Virginia and New York with producer Josh Wilbur, who worked on the band's last effort, 2009's "Wrath".

"Resolution" features 14 songs and comes in a digipack with artwork by longtime art director Ken Adams.

"Resolution" has sold 115,000 copies in the United States since its February release.

OVERKILL drummer Ron Lipnicki has joined forces with HADES guitarist Scott LePage and two former members of '80s thrash band PROWLER (New Renaissance Records) in a new outfit called MINISTRY OF HATE.

MINISTRY OF HATE's debut album, "All Your Godz Are Dead", features 10 tracks and is available online as individual song downloads or in CD form from CDBaby and other well-known digital distribution outlets such as iTunes and Amazon.

According to a press release, MINISTRY OF HATE was formed after Mike Cusumano (vocals, guitar) and MJ Malinski (vocals, bass) from PROWLER began penning tunes on a whim in 2010. "After a couple of songs, we thought we had some good stuff and it became a realization that we should get some other talent involved and put out a record," said Cusumano.

He continued, "In the '90s, MJ and I both played in a local metal cover band with Scott, whom I stayed close with over the years and I gave him a call. Scott plays with a lot of feel and was great choice. Even though Scott lives in Texas now, the Internet makes recording pretty easy these days.

"During the writing process, the drums were done with either drum loops or midi drums and sounded out of control, like no human could do it. We knew we needed someone kick-ass for that!

"I played with Ron in different metal cover bands [between] 2008 [and] 2010 and didn't hesitate to see if he would be into it.

"Ron's performance, in my opinion, made the record.

"This side project won't affect Ron's road schedule with OVERKILL. If we do any shows, they will be local… unless the demand is high!"

Lipnicki added, "I'm excited about the album and I am real proud of the drumming and love the songs. I can't wait to see what everyone thinks."

"All Your Godz Are Dead" track listing:

01. Rise To The Bottom
02. 912
03. Blood of Achmed
04. Bagged
05. Prelude To Hate
06. Threads Of Hate
07. Painmaker
08. Thrash & Bang
09. Machine Gun Serenade
10. Ballad Of Charlie Sheen

For more information, visit www.mohate.com.

Violin player Janne Liljekvist has left the Swedish "Viking metal" act MÅNEGARM "due to lack of motivation."

Commented the remaining members of the group: "It's of course unfortunate after almost 15 years together, but it's also an unsustainable situation if one out of five can't find the motivation and put the effort into the band that is needed to move forward. However, MÅNEGARM will definitely move on as planned and this will have no impact on our music at all. The work with the new album goes on as planned and we can promise you that it will be a killer! The mighty wolf WILL strike again, this time harder than ever before!"

MÅNEGARM last year inked a deal with Napalm Records. The band's new album is scheduled for release at the end of 2012.

MÅNEGARM's most recent CD, "Nattväsen", was released in November 2009 via Regain Records.

"Vetrarmegin" (English translation: Winter Force), the latest video from MÅNEGARM, was shot in a "Viking village" near the band's hometown, Norrtälje, with an "incredible pre-renaissance atmosphere." The clip was helmed by Sweden's Standard Film Team, which has previously worked with DARK FUNERAL, PLECTOR and ZONARIA.

PROJECTED, the new project featuring SEVENDUST members John Connolly (guitar) and Vince Hornsby (bass) alongside ALTER BRIDGE/CREED drummer Scott Phillips and guitarist/vocalist Eric "Erock" Friedman (a.k.a. Erock; TREMONTI), has completed work on its debut album, "Human", to be released later in the year.

Commented Connolly: "The idea behind this project originally started as nothing more than a group of us who were friends already, going into the studio to just record some tunes we had laying around and basically just have a good time with it. No pressure from labels or any preconceived notions or expectations. Just making music and having a good time.

"This album, 'Human', is the end result of us working without dealines or budget constraints… or really a budget at all

"The drums and rhythm guitars were recorded by Bill Papp, Jacob Crabb and Ryan Denman at Paint It Black studios [in] Orlando [Florida]. The vocals and guitar solos, overdubs and bass were tracked by myself and Bill at studio 1119, which is the studio in my home office when it's not being used by my wife to pay the bills or my daughter to play Webkins. Editing was done by Jef Moll, Ryan Denman, Jacob Crabb. Programming by Jef Moll, Eric Friedman and myself. String arrangements and mixed by Michael 'Elvis' Baskette and mastered by Ted Jensen. Produced by John Connolly, co-produced by Elvis Baskette.

"I've honestly had the time of my life making this record and couldnt have done it without everyone involved."

"Human" track listing:

01. Into
02. HELLo
03. Watch It Burn
04. So Low
05. Bring You Back
06. 12804
07. Alive
08. The Crown
09. Stella
10. Closure
11. Breaking Me

Check out audio samples at www.projectedband.com.

Connolly previously revealed that the song "12804" was written as a tribute to late PANTERA/DAMAGEPLAN guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott.

The songtitle "12804" is a reference to the December 8, 2004 date, which is when Abbott was shot and killed onstage while performing with DAMAGEPLAN at the Alrosa Villa in Columbus, Ohio.

Connolly describes PROJECTED's musical direction as "not super heavy. . . somewhere closer to FOO FIGHTERS/A PERFECT CIRCLE. It's sorta heavy, just not real metal. I guess. The songs are pretty badass, though."

PROJECTED is:

John Connolly (SEVENDUST) - Guitar, Vocals
Vince Hornsby (SEVENDUST) - Bass
Scott Phillips (ALTER BRIDGE, CREED) - Drums
Eric Friedman (a.k.a. Erock; TREMONTI) - Guitar, Vocals

Finnish black metallers CAVUS have entered their own studio to begin recording their sophomore album for a fall release via Listenable Records. Songtitles set to appear on the follow-up to 2010's "Fester And Putrefy" include "The Art Of Blood Purging" and "Unholy Water".

"The band just purchased some rats and locusts to roam their premises to advance the vile surroundings of their studio," reads a press release from Listenable. "The old wooden building is condemned to be demolished in the near future so it will be the last album CAVUS records at that place they simply call The Lair."

Formed in 2008 in Porvoo, CAVUS "set out to pillage and desecrate everything in its path with a sinister blend of crushingly heavy, old-school black metal with baritone guitars and juggernautic basses along with raw-to-the-bone vocals that earned the group great recognition," according to a press release. "No keyboards, no fairies, no bullshit. This is straight-up rawness and CAVUS will spread like a virulent plague among legions worldwide."