"Branded", a brand new song from '80s hard rock queen Lita Ford, can be streamed using the audio player below (courtesy of AOL's Noisecreep). The track comes off Lita's new album, "Living Like A Runaway", which will be released on June 19 in North America via SPV/Steamhammer. The effort will be available in four configurations: a double LP, limited edition CD, standard CD and digital download. The artwork for the album was created by famed rock photographer Mark Weiss can seen below.

Standard jewel case version:

01. Branded
02. Hate
03. The Mask
04. Living Like A Runaway
05. Relentless
06. Mother
07. Devil In My Head
08. Asylum
09. Love 2 Hate U
10. A Song To Slit Your Wrists By

Limited edition digipak version:

01. Branded
02. Hate
03. The Mask
04. Living Like A Runaway
05. Relentless
06. Mother
07. Devil In My Head
08. Asylum
09. Love 2 Hate U
10. A Song To Slit Your Wrists By

Bonus tracks:

11. Bad Neighborhood
12. The Bitch Is Back

Exclusive iTunes version:

01. Branded
02. Hate
03. The Mask
04. Living Like A Runaway
05. Relentless
06. Mother
07. Devil In My Head
08. Asylum
09. Love 2 Hate U
10. A Song To Slit Your Wrists By

Exclusive iTunes bonus track:

11. Boiling Point

Double Gatefold LP Version:

LP Side 1:

01. Branded
02. Hate
03. The Mask

LP Side 2:

01. Relentless
02. Devil In My Head
03. Asylum

LP Side 3:

01. Living Like A Runaway
02. Mother
03. A Song To Slit Your Wrists By

LP Side 4:

01. Love 2 Hate You

Bonus tracks:

02. Bad Neighborhood
03. The Bitch Is Back

"Branded" audio stream (courtesy of AOL's Noisecreep):

"Alpha Omega", the new Stuart Birchall-directed video from British metallers ARCHITECTS, can be seen below. The song comes off the band's new album, "Daybreaker", which be released on May 28 in Europe and June 5 in North America via Century Media Records. The follow-up to "The Here And Now" was produced by the band with John Mitchell and Ben Humphreys at Outhouse Studios (ENTER SHIKARI, YOU ME AT SIX, THE BLACKOUT, FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND, EXIT TEN, YOUR DEMISE, LOWER THAN ATLANTIS, KIDS IN GLASS HOUSES) in Reading, the same team that previously worked on ARCHITECTS' "Hollow Crown" CD. The stunning artwork was created by Paul Jackson (Tank.Axe.Love).

ARCHITECTS recently released the "The Here And Now 2012 Special Edition" including "Devil's Island" and "Untitled" as well as all video clips ("Day In Day Out", "Learn To Live", "Heartburn", "Delete, Rewind" and "An Open Letter To Myself"), making-of footage for "Learn To Live" and "Heartburn" plus several previously released online clips.

ARCHITECTS' last album, "The Here And Now", sold around 900 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 47 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

"The Here And Now" was produced by Steve Evetts, who has previously worked with THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN and SEPULTURA, among many others.

"The Here And Now" debuted at position No. 57 on the official U.K. chart.

Songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Gary Schutt, best known for his work with Jeff Scott Soto, has a new album coming out on Palisade Records.

Much like Gary's 2006 releases "B-Sides Myself" and "Dramatically Acoustic", this compilation is a timefiller for his fans until his next full release.

Gary has been busy working with other bands on his Palisade record label (ALWAYS AT WAR, THE METAL HEDZ, E19 and CENTRAL NERVE) and touring with his cover band CATEGORY THREE.

Gary will release his new album, "Puppets In Symmetry", on July 3 worldwide. The CD consists of 13 tracks which are radio-edited versions of songs from his "Excruciating Pleasure" (2003) and "Contingency Plan" (2010) CDs, plus a couple other surprises including a songs that any diehard Soto fan will recognize.

"Puppets In Symmetry" track listing:

01. Psycho Bitch (radio edit)
02. Self Destruction (radio edit)
03. Someone New (radio edit)
04. Wish You Dead (radio edit)
05. Therapy (radio edit)
06. Crave (radio edit)
07. Lost Soul Mate (radio edit)
08. Mental Ward (radio edit)
09. It's Not Me
10. Bitch with a capital "C" (radio edit)
11. Dog (radio edit)
12. Nowhere Fast (acoustic mix)
13. Die Another Love

For more information, visit www.palisaderecords.com.

After completing a successful U.S. tour with new drummer Marc Jackson (who replaced Antony "Antton" Lantearlier this year), MPIRE OF EVIL (formerly PRIMEVIL) — the band formed in 2010 by ex-VENOM members Jeff "Mantas" Dunn (guitar) and Tony "The Demolition Man" Dolan (bass, vocals) — has announced that Marc will join the group on a permanent basis.

Video footage of MPIRE OF EVIL performing on April 29 at the Maratona Rock festival in Santhià, Italy can be seen below.

MPIRE OF EVIL recently completed a North American tour with fellow British thrashers ONSLAUGHT.

MPIRE OF EVIL released its full-length debut, "Hell To The Holy", on March 26 via Scarlet Records. The CD boasts 10 brand-new tracks displaying the band's infectious and groovy heavy metal assault, conveying Mantas' thunderous riffs, a huge rhythm section and Dolan's abrasive vocals into a monstrous musical holocaust which will appeal to both old-school and modern metal fans.

Produced by Mantas himself and featuring stunning cover artwork by Gyula Havancsák (ANNIHILATOR, DESTRUCTION, GRAVE DIGGER), "Hell To The Holy" is without any doubts a "must have" album for 2012.

MPIRE OF EVIL released its debut mini-album, "Creatures Of The Black", on October 21, 2011 via Scarlet Records. The CD featured cover versions of four songs that influenced the members of M-PIRE OF EVIL ("Exciter" by JUDAS PRIEST, "God Of Thunder" by KISS, "Hell Ain't A Bad Place To Be" by AC/DC and "Motörhead" by MOTÖRHEAD), plus two new songs, "Hellspawn" and "Reptile".

In a 2010 interview with Metality, Dolan stated about the formation of M-PIRE OF EVIL,"Well, I think it came about as Mantas and Antton who were both doing separate music projects (DRYLL and DEF-CON-ONE) came together in DRYLL. Mantas needed a drummer and Antton offered his services. People kept wondering what it would be like if Mantas and Antton played with me and it was kind of, 'Oh, yeah that would be fun perhaps,' but then DRYLL played a show and performed the VENOM track 'Black Metal' [with Antton] and that was kind of it. People started saying I had to come in and play, too. So I got a phone call and had a few chats with Mantas and that was that; we decided we'd see if it worked. It does, very well, but then again myself and Mantas have always been friends and played well together. The addition of a drummer as good as Antton was something too cool to pass up! [M-PIRE OF EVIL] is old school, I guess, melodic, heavy, powerful. [As to how MPIRE OF EVIL is] different from VENOM, [I'm] not sure. We will inevitably be compared, as we are all ex-VENOM [members] and, of course, Mantas was the main songwriter for VENOM, so... But I feel we are more like classic metal. MOTÖRHEAD, BLACK SABBATH.... PRIEST and VENOM."

The first official trailer for "Phantom Antichrist", the new album from German thrash metal veterans KREATOR, can be seen below. Due on June 1 in Europe and June 5 in North America via Nuclear Blast Records, the CD was recorded at Fascination Street Studios in Örebro, Sweden with renowned producer Jens Bogren (OPETH, KATATONIA, SOILWORK, DEVIN TOWNSEND, AMON AMARTH).

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

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

"Phantom Antichrist" formats:

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

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

The "Phantom Antichrist" video can be seen below. The clip was helmed by Poland's Grupa 13, which has previously worked with BEHEMOTH, ELUVEITIE, SONATA ARCTICA and DECAPITATED, among others.

Commented KREATOR guitarist/vocalist Mille Petrozza: "The clips produced by Grupa 13 are groundbreaking visual trips that justify the existence of music videos in this day and age. In support of the lyrical concept of our new album, I could not think of a better creative solution than a collaboration with these great visionaries."

He added, "Grupa 13 strikes again! The most apocalyptic video in the history of KREATOR is here!"

In a recent interview with Suicide Scriptures, Petrozza stated about "Phantom Antichrist", "We made sure that it contains all the trademarks that we're known for — crushing brutality, riffs that are very hard to play, lyrics that talk about things that I get angry about. You know, the full treatment, basically. We didn't try to do anything different. The only goal that we set for the band was we wanted to top everything that we'd done before and make this record an exciting record. That's always the main goal."

He added, "First off, we don't plan ahead too much. I take a long time to prepare the songs at home, in my little home studio, and then when I feel that have something lyrically and musically that I feel is good and exciting and powerful, then I play it to the other guys and then we discuss it. And we might come up with new ideas or we might arrange the songs differently, or we tear them apart and put them back together. It's a long process. We started this in the beginning of 2011, and we kept writing and rehearsing the songs until January 2012."

Regarding the lyrical themes covered on "Phantom Antichrist", Mille said, "Many things: injustice; the crisis in Greece; me thinking that religion is obsolete now in this day and age; personal things. I think the lyrics for 'From Flood Into Fire', they're very different, but it's very hard for me to explain what it's about. I want people to listen to it and leave room for their own imagination. I go to the movies all the time and I'm a big movie nerd, and I hate watching a 'making-of' [documentary featuring behind-the-scenes footage] before I go into a movie. So if I would explain the lyrics right now, [it would lose the magic]."

On the topic of the "Phantom Antichrist" artwork, Mille said, "I got in touch with [artist] Wes Benscoter in the middle of June last year and I gave him a couple of songtitles. And I told him that the album might be called 'Phantom Antichrist'. I already had the idea and I told him what the lyrics were about — it's all about the apocalypse, evil in the world… typical KREATOR topics that I always write about. I think he had 'Pleasure To Kill', and he knew about the band. I liked this AUTOPSY cover that he did, and then I found that he did a lot of great stuff for BLACK SABBATH, SLAYER and many, many bands. . . I talked to one of my colleagues that plays in a German band and he told me that he would draw, with a pencil, artworks and then he would give it to a professional artist. I don't have that much influence on the artwork. I think it's best to give an idea and maybe a title or something, maybe some music even… I think that's more of letting the artist be the artist. He needs to create the visual as we do with the music."

The "Phantom Antichrist" single was released April 20 on seven-inch colored vinyl and as a digital download via iTunes, Amazon and various other digital music providers. The release also includes the exclusive IRON MAIDEN cover "The Number Of The Beast".

A brand new promotional photo of KREATOR can be seen below (photo by Stefan Heilemann of Stuttgart, Germany's Heilemania).

KREATOR is:

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

"Phantom Antichrist" trailer:

"En Livstid i Krig", a new song from Swedish metallers SABATON, can be streamed in the YouTube clip below. The track comes off the band's new album, "Carolus Rex", which will be released in Europe on May 25 via Nuclear Blast Records. The lyrics for the CD, which will be made available in both English and Swedish, deal with the Swedish Empire (referring to the Kingdom of Sweden between 1561 and 1721).

The band previously stated about "Carolus Rex": "For the first time ever we have had an expert to help us out with the theme, the well-known Swedish historian Bengt Liljegren. We have also added some extra time in the studio to find the absolute right sound on 'Carolus Rex', and our producer, Peter Tägtgren, says that this album will mark a brand new standard for how a heavy metal album should sound like!"

Liljegren's published works include acclaimed biographies of Adolf Hitler and Karl XII. He also appeared in the popular Swedish TV series "Boston Tea Party".

"Carolus Rex" - English version track listing:

01. Dominium Maris Baltici
02. The Lion From the North
03. Gott Mit Uns
04. A Lifetime of War
05. 1 6 4 8
06. The Carolean's Prayer
07. Carolus Rex
08. Killing Ground
09. Poltava
10. Long Live the King
11. Ruina Imperii

"Carolus Rex" - Swedish version track listing:

01. Dominium Maris Baltici
02. Lejonet från Norden
03. Gott Mit Uns
04. En Livstid i Krig
05. 1 6 4 8
06. Karolinens bön
07. Carolus Rex
08. Ett Slag Färgat Rött
09. Poltava
10. Konungens Likfärd
11. Ruina Imperii

SABATON was forced to cancel the first three shows of its current U.S. tour — which was scheduled to start on April 10 in Tampa, Florida — due to delays in obtaining visas over the Easter weekend for the band's four new members.

SABATON recently parted ways with guitarists Oskar Montelius and Rikard Sundén, drummer Daniel Mulback and keyboardist Daniel Mÿhr. The band's new touring lineup is as follows:

Joakim Brodén - Vocals
Pär Sundström - Bass
Chris Rörland (NOCTURNAL RITES) - Guitar
Thobbe Englund (WINTERLONG, RAUBTIER) - Guitar
Robban Bäck (BALTIMOORE, PREY) - Drums

"En Livstid i Krig" audio stream:

"Losing My Mind", a new song from Greek melodic metallers FIREWIND — who feature in their ranks current OZZY OSBOURNE guitarist Gus G. — can be streamed using the audio player below (courtesy of Germany's Rock Hard magazine). The track comes off the band's new album, "Few Against Many", which will be released in Europe on May 21 via Century Media Records and in North America on May 22 through DisManic, Inc. via eOne Distribution. The CD was mixed by Jason Suecof and Eyal Levi at Audiohammer Studios (TRIVIUM, ALL THAT REMAINS, DEATH ANGEL) in Sanford, Florida.

Commented Gus: "Usually bands will brag about how they recorded their 'fastest song ever!' Well, we're proud to say that this is our slowest song ever and probably our heaviest one. With that said, 'Losing My Mind' has lots of different musical parts, tempo changes, thrashy grooves, cool leads, etc. Anyways, check out the song and I hope you bang your head while listening to it!"

Produced by Gus, "Few Against Many" was recorded with his longtime bandmates, vocalist Apollo Papathanasio, keyboardist/guitarist Bob Katsionis and bassist Petros Christo, at Valve Studio in Greece as well as the Sweetspot Studios in Sweden and sees the band expanding on its signature melodic sound with some of its most aggressive songs to date. The CD also marks the recording debut of new FIREWIND drummer Johan Nunez (NIGHTRAGE). The young Belgian is regarded by Gus as a "phenomenal talent," and anyone that witnessed him on the band's most recent world tour will no doubt agree.

"Few Against Many" track listing:

01. Wall Of Sound
02. Losing My Mind
03. Few Against Many
04. The Undying Fire
05. Another Dimension
06. Glorious
07. Edge Of A Dream (feat. APOCALYPTICA)
08. Destiny
09. Long Gone Tomorrow
10. No Heroes, No Sinners

The song "Edge Of A Dream" features a special appearance of Finnish cello superstars APOCALYPTICA.

While the album's standard version will be available in the CD format as well as LP and also as digital download, "Few Against Many" will also be released as limited-edition digipak CD with two special bonus tracks: "Battleborn" and an acoustic version of "No Heroes, No Sinners".

The "Wall Of Sound" video can be seen below. The clip was filmed by Colin Marshall during the band’s recent shows in Greece.

Commented Gus: "We wanted to do a different video this time, instead of the usual indoor studio shootings. So we figured we'd show the band in its comfort zone — on stage. The clip was shot on our most recent shows in Greece this past January and you can witness the mayhem that goes down when we play in our home country! Enjoy!"

FIREWIND 2012 is:

Bob Katsionis - Keyboards, Guitar
Apollo Papathanasio - Vocals
Gus G. - Guitar
Petros Christo - Bass
Jo Nunez - Drums

FIREWIND debuted two brand new songs — "Wall Of Sound" and "Losing My Mind" — during its headlining concert on January 14 at the Fuzz Club in Athens, Greece.

FIREWIND has already announced a few summer festival appearances (including Summer Breeze in Germany and Czech Republic's Masters Of Rock) and will play three shows in China and Taiwan at the end of August. The band will also embark on a European headlining tour in September/October with support from LEAVES' EYES.

"Losing My Mind" audio stream:

"Her Little 'Accident'", the new video from Los Angeles, California misanthropic sludge rockers -16-, can be seen below. The clip was directed by Tyson Montrucchio, who has previously worked with BRUTAL TRUTH and CATTLE DECAPITATION.

"Her Little 'Accident'" comes off the band's new album, "Deep Cuts From Dark Clouds", which was released on CD and LP in North America on April 24 and May 7 in Europe. The CD was recorded with the band’s friend and longtime engineer Jeff Forrest at Double Time Studios in San Diego, California and then mastered by PIG DESTROYER's Scott Hull at Visceral Sound Studios.The artwork was created by Orion Landau (RED FANG, RWAKE) and can be seen below.

The complete track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Theme From "Pillpopper"
02. Parasite
03. Her Little "Accident"
04. The Sad Clown
05. Ants In My Bloodstream
06. Broom Pusher
07. Opium Hook
08. Bowels Of A Baby Killer
09. Beyond Fixable
10. Only Photographs Remain

Commented -16- bassist Tony Baumeister: "We're very excited about the release of our new record. The addition of Mateo on drums opened a lot of doors for us creatively. We experimented with different time signatures, different tunings, and finally made the album we've wanted to make all along. The goal was to destroy our last record, and we feel like we achieved that. We can't wait to play these songs live. U.S. and European touring plans are in the works..."

"Her Little 'Accident'" video:

"Held In Light", a new song from PHILM — the Los Angeles-based experimental post-hardcore triumvirate featuring drummer Dave Lombardo (SLAYER), guitarist/vocalist Gerry Nestler (CIVIL DEFIANCE), and bassist Pancho Tomaselli (WAR) — can be streamed and downloaded for free below. The track comes off PHILM's debut album, "Harmonic", which will be released on May 15 via Ipecac Recordings.

"Harmonic" track listing:

01. Vitriolize
02. Mitch
03. Hun
04. Area
05. Way Down
06. Harmonic
07. Exuberance
08. Sex Amp
09. Amoniac
10. Held In Light
11. Dome
12. Killion
13. Mezzanine
14. Mild
15. Meditation

PHILM will play a special CD-release show on May 15 at The Viper Room in West Hollywood, California.

For more information, visit the PHILM Facebook page.

PHILM will give a free webcast performance on May 16 at 7 p.m. Pacific/10 p.m. Eastern, recorded at Bob Weir's TRI Studios and streamed directly via TriStudios.com and Yahoo! Music.

Viewers of the webcast can tweet along with the audience on Twitter by using #PHILMLive.

"When people hear about my involvement in PHILM, they automatically assume that it will compare to SLAYER's sound," explains Lombardo. "They couldn't be more different. I have scaled down my drum set to a four-piece, reminiscent of the drummers from the late '60s that influenced me. Each song is unique in itself, I like to refer to it as 'rhythmic emotion.' It's almost like taking all the heavy songs of the '60s and bringing that era to a modern plateau, then blending them with the modern trance and psychedelic sounds of today."

"We decided to record 'Harmonic' in the intimate setting of a home, with various vintage recording equipment," says Lombardo on the band's debut album. "The music was written collectively in an improvisational manner, unlike the majority of recordings I've done before. This was very important given this is my first recording where I'm carrying the title of producer and performer. The album achieves a dense, unholy convergence of tones and discords. We also touch on haunting, desolate, ambient sounds. Our music tends to be written in a manner where we never know the outcome until we listen back to what we recorded. A harmonic journey."

While there are elements of metal detected throughout PHILM's sound, the band manages to also incorporate such other styles as jazz, ambient, hardcore punk, experimental, and funk into its unpredictable, cacophony-heavy style. An obvious reason for this multi-genre amalgamation can be directly linked to the gentlemen that play alongside Lombardo in PHILM — Tomaselli is a longtime member of funk rockers WAR, and Nestler fronts prog metallists CIVIL DEFIANCE. Add it all up, and you get the wonderful world of PHILM.

In an interview with AOL's Noisecreep, Nestler stated about PHILM's formation, "Dave and I first got together in 1997 to start an original band. We later regrouped between SLAYER's scheduled tour dates in late 2009, playing some upstairs jams at the Rainbow in Hollywood. We then decided to restart our band. Pancho had met Dave a few years back at one Dave's drum clinics and we decided to invite him in."

Regarding PHILM's sound, Nestler said, "The music of PHILM is channeled through the many different influences of drum and bass, expressionism, and underground that ranges via ancient and indigenous to street. There are many different things that Dave and I have been into that have contributed to the vision of PHILM. Pancho's highly skilled bass playing, chordal color and shape have helped expand the overall sound instrumentation and groove. Dave Lombardo's drumming goes without comparison, except that it might be said, to quote Pancho that 'it's like playing with the seven, not four, horses of the Apocalypse behind you.'"

PHILM officially took form in late 2010 with a handful of tour dates and an early four-song demo that quickly began to make the rounds of in-the-know music critics. Noisecreep said the band "has crafted a crunchy, thrashy, yet thoroughly unclassifiable sound" and the OC Weekly said of the trio: "PHILM's ability to melt down metal influences and mix them with the elements of funk, ambient jazz and punk... is potent and has left audiences wondering how so much noise could emanating from just three musicians."

Ipecac Recordings is the brainchild of Greg Werckman (former label manager for the legendary punk label Alternative Tentacles) and FAITH NO MORE singer Mike Patton, who played with Lombardo in the eclectic supergroup FANTÔMAS.

Video footage of PHILM performing on May 29, 2011 at the Roxy in West Hollywood, California can be viewed below (courtesy of Metal Assault).

"Held In Light" audio stream:

"Superskum" (web site) has uploaded quality video footage of WATAIN's April 17 concert at the Summit Music Hall in Denver, Colorado. Check out the clips below.

WATAIN was forced to cancel the first five shows (including one headlining performance) of its current North American tour due to delays in the visa process.

WATAIN's first show as part of the Decibel Magazine Tour 2012 — alongside BEHEMOTH, THE DEVIL'S BLOOD and IN SOLITUDE — took place on April 16 at Granada Theater in Lawrence, Kansas.

WATAIN will release a new DVD, "Opus Diaboli", in North America on June 5. The production commemorates the band's 13 years of chaos by providing a visual and audio documentation of their ceremonial anniversary concert performance in Stockholm and the long years of physical, intellectual and spiritual work leading up to it. "Opus Diaboli" is an epic 90-minute journey into the forbidden realms of wild-hearted Satanic metal and the manifestation of a unique band that has truly chosen a path few have ever dared to tread upon.

Comments the band in a collective statement: "This movie was first meant to be the recording of our 13-year anniversary concert, but as everything with WATAIN, it took on a life of its own and become one of our most ambitious projects to date. It is a very personal and emotional piece of work and is certainly not for the faint of heart. But for those who wish to explore the glimmering abyss of WATAIN further, this will be a rewarding release for sure. The box version of 'Opus Diaboli' [available exclusively through the band's own Wolfwear.net] contains an exclusive photobook. It was an overwhelming experience going through the massive archives in search of photos that best sum up the storm of passionate turmoil that has marked the WATAIN journey, especially since we wanted to stay away from live photos and focus more on moments off stage. The results were however very satisfying and offer a rare and spicy mixture of photos of which most have never been published previously. We are also proud to announce that this will be the first release on our own label His Master's Noise, a name originating from BATHORY who had it in mind for their own label back in the early 1980s. Just like with our merch store Wolfwear.net, from which the limited box set will be available, this time we have chosen to stand by our own and do things our way."

"Opus Diaboli" DVD: A four-panel digipack including the DVD, two audio CDs featuring the full concert plus a 16-page booklet with historical photos and flyers.

"Opus Diaboli" box: Limited 12-inch box including the DVD, two audio CDs and two LPs featuring the full concert plus an exclusive 64-page booklet with historical photos and flyers.

Finnish traditional folk metal pioneers KORPIKLAANI will release their eighth studio album, "Manala", on August 3 via Nuclear Blast Records.

Commented KORPIKLAANI vocalist/guitarist Jonne Järvelä: "'Manala' is the realm of the dead — the underworld in Finnish mythology. Tuonela, Tuoni, Manala and Mana are used synonymously. This place is best known for its appearance in the Finnish national epic Kalevala, on which many of our new songs are based. In the 16th poem of Kalevala, Väinämöinen, a shamanistic hero travels to Manala to seek for knowledge about the dead. On the journey he meets the ferrywoman (similar to Charon), a girl, Tuonen tytti, or Tuonen piika (Death's maid), who takes him across the river of Tuoni. However, on the isle of Tuoni he is not given the spells he was originally looking for and he barely manages to escape the place. After his return he curses anyone trying to enter the place alive."

For those of you who are now afraid of not being able to understand the mystical Finnish lyrics on the album, don't worry: "Manala" will come to you with a bonus CDcontaining the whole album with English lyrics!

"Metsälle", a new song from KORPIKLAANI, is available for streaming in the YouTube clip below. The track can also be downloaded for free at NuclearBlast.de (e-mail sign-up required).

"Metsälle" was originally recorded late last year when the band was competing to represent Finland in the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest. The track will appear on KORPIKLAANI's forthcoming eighth album.

Commented KORPIKLAANI's Jonne Järvelä: "'Metsälle' can be seen as kind of a prayer to the ancient gods to ask for luck for the tough hunt deep in the woods in cold winter time. Not only is the old man in the song praying for success but — even more importantly — for a safe way through the dangerous frostiness."

KORPIKLAANI previously stated that "Metsälle" "is about the hunt on Hiisi's magical moose in the Northland. He (Lemminkäinen) puts on his charmed ski's and takes off for a prolonged hunt through forests and meadows, marshlands and woodlands, rapids and rivers. This song describes part of the Kalevala story, the national epic of Finland."

"Manala" will mark the recording debut of the band's new fiddler, Tuomas Rounakari.

KORPIKLAANI's latest CD, "Ukon Wacka", was released in North America on February 25, 2011 via Nuclear Blast Records.

German alcoholic thrashers TANKARD will release their their 30th-anniversary album, "A Girl Called Cerveza", on July 27 via the band's new label home, Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was recorded at Studio 23 in Frankfurt with producer Michael Mainx (ONKELZ, DER W, DISBELIEF, D-A-D).

"A Girl Called Cerveza" track listing:

11. Running On Fumes
12. A Girl Called Serveza
13. Witchhunt 2.0
14. Masters Of Farces
15. The Metal Lady Boy (feat. Doro Pesch)
16. Not One Day Dead (But One Day Mad)
17. Son Of A Fridge
18. Fandom At Random
19. Metal Magnolia
20. Rapid Fire (A Tyrant's Elegy)

The cover artwork for "A Girl Called Cerveza" can be seen below.

TANKARD vocalist Andreas "Gerre" Geremia's track-by-track commentary:

"Running On Fumes":

Gerre: "Within the last two years, it has happened at several concerts that we ran out of beer for both the audience and the band. That's, of course, an insupportable situation that has to be worked off lyrically. Apart from that, one of my favorite songs with a very catchy chorus."

"A Girl Called Cerveza":

Gerre: "Our bass player Frank came up with this brilliant album title during our first stay in South America in December of 2007. I really don't remember why this track didn't find its way onto the last album — we're all suffering from dementia already. A highly catchy chorus penned by our ex-guitarist Andreas Bulgaropoulos plus kind of an old school-ish verse. Not least because of the topic obviously the first choice for a video clip!"

"Witchhunt 2.0":

Gerre: "The first song that we wrote for the new record. A typical TANKARD thrasher that's also quite contentful on the lyrical side: It's about cyber mobbing and all the shit happening anonymously on the Internet!"

"Masters Of Farces":

Gerre: "The first political song on the album. It's mostly about the marionettes of the populist American tea party movement. Musically, it's a catchy vigorous thrasher."

"The Metal Lady Boy" (feat. Doro Pesch)

Gerre: "Absolutely my personal favorite song of the album — not only because Doro is singing on it. When I visited one of her concerts a while ago and she spotted me in the first row, I had to come onto the stage and join her for 'All We Are'. Later on, I asked her backstage in a slightly tipsy condition if she'd like to sing on a TANKARD love song — and she agreed. This song is based on our first trip to Thailand last summer and offers big hit potential!"

"Not One Day Dead (But One Day Mad)":

Gerre: "This one's about us being around for 30 years, never giving up and always fighting against the odds — our own birthday song, so to speak. There have been some changes in the chorus during the recordings in the studio, but yet I believe that it's a typical timeless TANKARD song that could have also been released 20 years ago!"

"Son Of A Fridge":

Gerre: "A terrific play on words referring to 'Son Of A Bitch'. Very melodic beginning with clean vocals. The song escalates, but nevertheless remains the most melodic track on the album due to the chorus."

"Fandom At Random":

Gerre: "Very dragging beginning that later on develops into a true thrash grenade. It's a critical analysis of a fan's life."

"Metal Magnolia":

Gerre: "When looking at the title, one could think the song contained funny lyrics, but in actual fact it's about the relationship between men and women in general — almost the second love song on the album with a really speedy and catchy chorus plus wicked effects in the middle of the song!"

"Rapid Fire (A Tyrant's Elegy)":

Gerre: "According to the opinion of many people who've heard the album so far, this is one of the most sophisticated songs on the record. With its strong chorus it's absolutely a
worthy conclusion of the album with very serious and relevant lyrics: It deals with a dictator oppressing his nation!"

TANKARD's fourteenth studio album, "Vol(l)ume 14", was released on December 17, 2010 via AFM Records. The limited-edition digipak version of the album included a bonus DVD containing footage of TANKARD's performance at the 2009 edition of the Headbangers Open Air festival, which took place July 23-25, 2009 in in Brande-Hörnerkirchen, Germany.

Italian black/doom metal outfit FORGOTTEN TOMB will release their seventh album, "...And Don't Deliver Us From Evil", in the fall via Agonia Records. The CD will consist of seven brand new songs whcih are currently being recorded at Elfo Studio (Piacenza, Italy). Finland's Finnvox Studios (IMPALED NAZARENE, AMORPHIS, CHILDREN OF BODOM, HIM) will take care of mastering.

A video report from the studio can be seen at this location.

Having attained cult status in their own country, FORGOTTEN TOMB will release an official DVD in 2013. The disc will include two professionally filmed concerts along with bonus and backstage material, bootleg recordings, exclusive interviews and other extras. The first show will feature full performance at Kings Of Black Metal festival 2012 (Alsfeld, Germany). The second movie will be shot during the upcoming live dates, including several European festivals (Rockcult, Hellfest, Extremefest, Under The Black Sun, Barther Open Air).

Last but not least, there's a special album with FORGOTTEN TOMB remixes in the works.

FORGOTTEN TOMB's last album, "Under Saturn Retrograde", came out in 2011 via Agonia Records.

Having signed with Relapse Records last year, Atlanta-based thundergrinders PRIMATE will formally unleash their debut LP via the label in the scorching summer months ahead.

PRIMATE features the distinctive vocal stylings of Kevin Sharp (BRUTAL TRUTH), ripping fret-board antics by Bill Kelliher (MASTODON) and Mike Brennan, SST-style bass work and backing vocals by Dave Whitworth, and is rounded out by d-beat defender Shayne Huff.

After seeing a limited release by the band directly via a 1,000-run CD pressing in March 2011, PRIMATE's crushing "Draw Back A Stump" will receive an official worldwide Relapse release on July 3 on CD, LP and deluxe digital download. The seven hymns from the initial version now include additional rhythm guitars and have been remixed and remastered, and are joined with three additional previously-unreleased bonus tracks on this edition.

An all-star band comprised of extreme music scene vets hellbent on delivering Grade-A punk the likes of which has not been set loose on the ears of the world since the glory days hardcore, PRIMATE channel decades of international extreme music influences into a glorious record of hellish rage all their own. Upon its initial release Decibel magazine praised "Draw Back A Stump", calling it "grind with elements of classic U.K. crust, Swedish D-beat and American hardcore, plus just enough experimentation to create the aural equivalent of a watch throwing springs and gears in every direction while keeping perfect time," with Metal-Army America adding "'Draw Back A Stump' has all the bells and whistles of old-school hardcore and the best of modern sludgey-grind" and Grind To Death boasted the record is "like no other grind I have heard...borrowing from the crisp clean metal stylings and structures merged with the rhythmical pogo stick bouncings of punk to make its own blend of music."

"Draw Back A Stump" track listing:

01. Draw Back A Stump
02. Global Division
03. Hellbound
04. Silence of Violence [bonus]
05. Drinking and Driving
06. March of the Curmudgeon [bonus]
07. Wasted Youth
08. Pride
09. Get The Fuck Off My Lawn [bonus]
10. Reform?

PRIMATE is:

Kevin Sharp - vocals
Mike Brennan - guitars
Bill Kelliher - guitars
Dave Whitworth - bass/vocals
Shayne Huff - drums

"Life's A Bitch", the new video from Los Angeles modern rockers MODERN DAY ESCAPE, can be seen below. The clip was produced and directed by acclaimed videographer Scott Hansen (I SEE STARS, A DAY TO REMEMBER, KOTTONMOUTH KINGS) and it once again showcases a much deeper side of MODERN DAY ESCAPE than they've shown on previous releases. The video depicts a stark, reality based look at modern day life through the eyes of those struggling. Highlighting everything from bullying, hate crimes, people's inability to take care of themselves financially and homelessness, MODERN DAY ESCAPE bring their fans into the real world to encourage fans to appeciate what they have and to help those that have less than they do.

"This video is a stunning look at day to day life," explains Standby Records CEO Neil Sheehan. "MODERN DAY ESCAPE prove that their social consciousness far exceeds people's pre-conceived notions of them as a 'party band.' There's far more depth and maturity in this group than most people think."

"Life's A Bitch" comes off MODERN DAY ESCAPE's sophomore album, "Under The Gun", which was released in March via Standby Records.

"Under The Gun" track listing:

01. City Of Thieves
02. Don't Hold It Against Me
03. Life's A Bitch
04. Tiger's Blood
05. Angels Up Above
06. The Syndicate
07. Voiceless
08. Feeds On The Darkside
09. Playing Victim
10. Under The Gun
11. Demons Down Below
12. Haha

MODERN DAY ESCAPE will embark on the "Under The Gun" tour in June with special guests DR. ACULA, THE BUNNY THE BEAR and FROM ATLANTIS.

MODERN DAY ESCAPE is:

James Vegas - Vocals
Sandra Alva - Drums
Marti Rubels - Guitar
Mark Burn - Guitar
Shep - Bass

Indie Recordings has announced the signing of Norwegian metallers KRÅKE.

Original founders and brothers, Dreugh and Beist, conceived KRÅKE in 2007. From the brothers hailing from Kopervik on the west coast of Norway, the idea was to create the best possible symphonic and atmospheric black metal they could possibly achieve. It took five years to turn their vision into reality, but the result is nothing short of impressive.

KRÅKE is Norwegian for "crow," an animal known as a mythical creature throughout history and cultures especially as a herald of woe, a sign of death, but also wisdom. Inspired by this, the band strives to compose music that covers a wide variety of emotions, from anger and pride to anguish and despair. Inspiration is also sought from any source better enabling them to produce the music they want to create, be it classical and soundtrack music, literature and nature imagery. The lyrical themes are based around the darker aspects of life and the certainty of death. As for the actual music, you will find links to bands like DIMMU BORGIR, OLD MAN'S CHILD, BAL-SAGOTH and even bands like TYPE O NEGATIVE.

The first single, "And A Colder Breed", can be heard using the SoundCloud player below.

Finnish metallers COREDUST will release their full-length debut, "Decent "Death", on June 29 via Inverse Records. The album was recorded last fall at Scandal Recording Studios, with Kari Huikuri handling all the recording, engineering and mixing duties. The drums on the CD, which was mastered at Chartmakers by Henkka Niemistö, were laid down by CHILDREN OF BODOM's Jaska Raatikainen.

COREDUST in February announced the addition of drummer Petri Heinonen to the group's ranks.

Video footage of Raatikainen recording the drums for "Decent Death" can be seen below.

"Decent Death" is the follow-up to COREDUST's "Past Lives" EP, which was released in the beginning of 2008.

"Decent Death" track listing:

01. Intro
02. Without Disguise
03. Dead End
04. Decent Death
05. 03:00 AM
06. Pain Unfiltered
07. Brainwash
08. It's No Good

Theory tells that tragedy is a form of drama based on human suffering that invokes in its audience an accompanying catharsis or pleasure in listening. MISERATION's newest album, "Tragedy Has Spoken", follows this path musically and lyrically.

The theme of the third album of these Scandinavians can be described as sum of the major tragedies of mankind's history. Lyrics for "Tragedy Has Spoken" have been written by Pär Johansson (SATARIEL, TORCHBEARER, THE FEW AGAINST MANY) and band's lead singer Christian Älvestam (SOLUTION.45, TORCHBEARER, ex-SCAR SYMMETRY), and address the diversity of tragedies. Some of which have taken the guise of accidents or natural disasters, while others were carried out with human hands and intent. Behind all this there is to find an imaginary architect, a fictive entity — something powerful, aware, far above the manmade concepts of good or evil: the nature of tragedy itself.

Musically, MISERATION expand their view on forward-thinking, vicious death metal by integrating new instruments to the mix. There still is to find what caused the quality and sustainability of "Your Demons, Their Angels" (2008) and "The Mirroring Shadow" (2009), but in 2012 there is more than technical, intricate death metal with a good dose of melody. "Tragedy Has Spoken" was recorded using 8-string guitars, which gives the wall of distortion a certain distinctive flair. In addition MISERATION are incorporating folk instruments such as the Indian harp Esraj, the Persian hammered dulcimer Santur, sawblade, organ, mandolin and piano, as well as Mongolian throatsinging. Music and lyrics are globally and far beyond standard practice, so there is a lot to discover!

The cover artwork for "Tragedy Has Spoken" was created by acclaimed artist Pär Olofsson (IMMORTAL, ABYSMAL DAWN, IMMOLATION, THE FACELESS) and can be seen below.

"Tragedy Has Spoken" track listing:

01. Stepping Stone Agenda
02. Children Of The Flames
03. Ghost Barrier
04. Ciniphes
05. Hill Of The Poison Tre
06. Disaster Cage
07. On Wings Of Brimstone
08. White Light / Black Rain
09. Tomb Of Tephra
10. Waylayer

The track "Stepping Stone Agenda" can be streamed in the YouTube clip below.

"Tragedy Has Spoken" release dates:

* June 29: Germany, Austria, Switzerland + Digital
* July 2: Rest Of Europe
* July 3: North America
* July 4: Scandinavia

MISERATION's sophomore album, "The Mirroring Shadow", was released in November 2009 via Lifeforce Records.

Mary Colurso of The Birmingham News recently conducted an interview with MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine. A few excerpts from the chat follow below.

On gun control:

Mustaine: "When people in Washington say they're going to take away my guns, they better bring theirs if they're going to take mine."

On how heavy metal's popularity is affected by economic hardship:

Mustaine: "People oscillate at different rates of speed. When times get tough, when people are stressing a little more, heavy metal becomes more popular. It has the right speed, tempo, vibration and color. When people listen to songs like that, they connect."

On whether he cares about awards and ceremonies:

Mustaine: "It's relative to where the award comes from. I skipped the first seven Grammy Awards. I thought it was kind of hilarious. I went to the eighth. I'd like to win a Grammy, because it's been elusive to me so far. But I don't liken myself to the Susan Lucci of the Grammys. When we win awards and competitions awarded by our peers, that's totally different."

On MEGADETH's many lineup changes:

Mustaine: "That's the problem when you start a band. You have to pick the right guys. But things happen. ... We have our lineup and everything's working, and one guy says, 'I want more money.' Or 'I want to write more songs.' The truth of the matter is that it's hard to write songs. You have your whole life to write your first album. After that, it's hard."

On enduring a severe case of spinal stenosis (with herniated discs and bone spurs):

Mustaine: "Last summer during the [Rockstar Energy Drink] Mayhem [Festival] tour, everything just went south. Something had broken in the back of my neck; I had a bone fragment in my spinal column the size of an eraser. The pain when I was moving my neck had me on my knees, sobbing. My son had never seen me this way. My hand went numb. My ring and pinky finger were not communicating with my brain. ... But the surgery was a complete success. I had a disc fused in my neck, and the feeling has returned completely to my left hand. It shows you how God's with me in everything you do."

On how his surgery has affected his stage presence:

Mustaine: "The act of headbanging, when it started, was to play guitar, stand in a wide posture and move your head up and down. Now I move my torso a little bit more, and get the desired effect. I make the necessary adjustments I need to keep myself healthy. Really, it's been a blessing in disguise."

Read the entire interview from The Birmingham News.

Finnish/Swedish symphonic metallers NIGHTWISH have posted a new "Nightmail" session featuring fan questions answered by Anette Olzon (vocals), Tuomas Holopainen (keyboards), Marco Hietala (bass, vocals) and Jukka Nevalainen (drums). A couple of excerpts follow below.

Q: [To Anette] Now that you have experience in recording with NIGHTWISH, was the process smoother? And how much influence did you have in the writing of the new album, musically or lyrically?

Anette: It was easier this time in many ways. First of all, since I wasnt the new singer this time and didn't have to be nervous in the studio and feeling the "pressure" of making a fool of myself. Also, the songs were made for me this time and Tuomas [Holopainen, keyboardist/songwriter] had gotten to know my vocal range and where I find it easier to sing and also the album are more in the "musical" and theatrical way of singing now which is more my style. Regarding the writing of the album. I didn't have any input and that's mainly because in the band Tuomas is our songwriter and comes up with the ideas and the songs. Then the arrangement process is done with everyone in the band but due to me having my baby, the guys had to arrange this album themselves.

Q: [To Anette] What is the most difficult song to sing in the "Imaginaerum" album for you?

Anette: There's no song that is so hard I can't do it, but there's always the thing with some songs where I have to change from different vocal styles very quickly and also some songs have so much words that are overlapping and live that can be a bit "tricky." But one song that is a bit harder to do due to the different ways of singing it is "Rest Calm". First I sing with my harder power voice and then I need to go directly into the very soft chorus with lots of words that overlap one another. So that is a tricky one.

Q: [To Anette] I was wondering if you plan on releasing a solo album after the "Imaginaerum" tour? If not, maybe just a single song or two? I have your songs "Invincible" and "Floating" which I have found through YouTube and I can't stop listening to them.

Anette: Well, it is my plan to release it someday, but I really don't know when exactly. I have the tour now for some time and then I also want to finish my studies in the university the coming years, so we'll see if and when I have the time for it. I do not want to make it a hasty work, 'cause I love my songs and I also want to work with great people who aren't just doing music for money, but for loving what they do. So we'll see when, but thanks so much for liking the demo songs.

Q: [To Anette] How do you prepare stage outfits for tour? Do you have certain themes?

Anette: No, I mean, we discussed before the tour about certain style and colours to be used for Imaginaerum and I follow those "rules," but mainly I try to use fun and creative stuff and clothes that I like. There's some outfits that I try that I then feel aren't working, but also many that will be there for several shows during the tour. I do not like to have the same outfit every single evening, so that is why I change.

You can find the entire question-and-answer session at this location.

"One Last Thrill", a brand new song from legendary guitarist Slash (VELVET REVOLVER, GUNS N' ROSES), is available for streaming on Facebook at this location. The track comes off Slash's second solo album, "Apocalyptic Love", which is scheduled for release on May 22 via his own label Dik Hayd International distributed through EMI.

"Apocalyptic Love" will follow Slash's 2010 debut album, "Slash", and his November 2011 first-ever live solo album, the two-CD/DVD set "Made In Stoke 24/7/11". Notably, the "Slash" album debuted on The Billboard 200 chart at #3 (#1 on the Rock chart, #1 on the Independent chart, and #1 on the Hard Music chart). Digitally, the album also became the #1 overall digital album and hit #1 on iTunes in 13 countries. Internationally, the disc achieved Top 5 chart positions in over a dozen major territories, hitting #1 in both Japan and New Zealand.

In the U.K., "Apocalyptic Love" will be released on May 21 in exclusive Classic Rock Fan Pack form — providing a unique collectable package containing the studio album with bonus tracks alongside a specially created magazine with unseen behind-the-scenes content put together by Classic Rock. The Fan Pack format will also come with free gifts, including a pin badge and artwork poster and will be available to buy via more than 2000 retail outlets on newsstands nationally as well as the traditional high street and online music retailers. Roadrunner Records will simultaneously release the record digitally. The standard physical release of the Slash album will follow through Roadrunner Records on June 18.

For the new album, Slash — along with and his bandmates Myles Kennedy (vocals), Brent Fitz (drums) and Todd Kerns (bass) — teamed with producer Eric Valentine, who also produced the "Slash" disc. All the songs were written together by Slash and Kennedy.

"Apocalyptic Love" track listing:

01. Apocalyptic Love
02. One Last Thrill
03. Standing In The Sun
04. You're A Lie
05. No More Heroes
06. Halo
07. We Will Roam
08. Anastasia
09. Not For Me
10. Bad Rain
11. Hard & Fast
12. Far And Away
13. Shots Fired

Last night's premier of the new Tim Burton film, "Dark Shadows", will go down in the books of rock history. Legendary rocker Alice Cooper is featured heavily in the film, with Tim Burton relying on Dwight Frye for the movie's most pivotal scene. Alice looked great, and he shoud because they digitized his face to make him look just as he did in 1972!

As great as the film was, nothing could top Tim Burton's after-party, thrown across the street behind the El Capitan Theater, where Warner Brothers recreated the ballroom from the movie for a surprise live performance by Alice Cooper himself! Alice brought with him his band, with Orianthi, Tommy Henriksen and Keri Kelli on guitar, Chuck Garric on bass, and Glen Sobel on drums. Also guesting for the evening was Alice's old friend Johnny Depp! Johnny joined Alice on stage last year at the 100 Club, and this was the perfect opportunity to "get the band back together," as Alice put it.

As if that weren't enough, the four guitarists were then joined by legendary AEROSMITH axeman Joe Perry! The impromptu supergroup played some Cooper classics before introducing yet another surprise guest, AEROSMITH frontman and "demon of screamin" Steven Tyler. The huge behemoth of a band went through "Come Together", then Steven Tyler whispered into Chuck Garric's ear, "Know 'Whole Lotta Love'?"... you can guess what happened next!

The whole night was fantastic, and Alice performing the after-party was icing on the cake.

Check out photos at AliceCooper.com.

Fan-filmed video footage is available below.

Swedish progressive metallers OPETH have issued the following statement:

"Many have already learned that yesterday’s performances at The Myth In St. Paul had to be cancelled due to [guitarist/vocalist] Mikael [Åkerfeldt] having an accident.

"Right before stage time, Mike bumped his head on the tour bus which resulted in a pretty deep cut that required urgent medical attention. Mike was taken to hospital which he left a little later with eight stitches and a nasty headache. He's doing OK now and we expect him to be up and running (though slightly slower) again for tomorrow's show and onwards.

"Mike and the band were very disappointed not being able to play yesterday but thank everyone for their understanding and for the tons of get-well-wishes Mike has received since. The band also thanks their friends in MASTODON for playing an extended set that hopefully kept all who attended happy."

OPETH has teamed up with MASTODON for a spring North American co-headlining tour. The trek kicked off on April 4 in Portland, Maine, and was scheduled to visit more than 30 cities in the U.S. and Canada before wrapping up at Atlanta's Masquerade Music Park on May 12.

According to RockOverdose.gr, ICED EARTH's August 19 concert at the ancient Kourion Amphitheater, outside Limassol in Cyprus, will be professionally filmed and recorded for an upcoming CD/DVD release. Tickets for the show are limited to 1,500. The show will be three hours in length and all on-stage scenery and artwork will be uniquely created for this special event. Veteran producer Jim Morris of Morrisound Studios (ICED EARTH, SEPULTURA, MORBID ANGEL, DEATH, SAVATAGE) will fly from Tampa, Florida to supervise the entire audio section with the help of the ToneDeaf Recording Studio.

ICED EARTH's video for the song "Anthem" was filmed on December 7, 2011 at Essigfabrik in Cologne, Germany.

Produced and directed by Kosch Fabian Film, "Anthem" is the second music video from ICED EARTH's new album, "Dystopia", which sold around 6,100 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 67 on The Billboard 200 chart.

ICED EARTH's previous CD, "The Crucible of Man (Something Wicked Part II)", opened with 6,700 units in September 2008 to debut at No. 79.

ICED EARTH's 10th studio offering, "Dystopia", was released in Europe on October 17, 2011 and in the U.S. on October 18 via Century Media Records. Two bonus tracks were also recorded for inclusion on special editions of the album.

Fan-filmed video footage of MACHINE HEAD's May 7 performance at Synot Tip Arena in Prague, Czech Republic as the support act for METALLICA can be seen below. Also appearing on the bill was GOJIRA.

MACHINE HEAD recently announced plans to film a video for the song 'Darkness Within' in the Czech Republic. The track comes off the band's new album, "Unto The Locust", which sold more than 17,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 22 on The Billboard 200 chart — putting MACHINE HEAD in the Top 25 for the first time in the band's 17-year history.

Omnibus Press has set an October 15 tentative release date for "Inside The Machine". The world's first MACHINE HEAD biography — which has **NOT** been authorized by the band — is being written by British rock author Joel McIver — whose 20 books to date include "Justice for All: The Truth About Metallica", "Crazy Train: The High Life And Tragic Death Of Randy Rhoads", "Glenn Hughes: The Autobiography", "To Live Is To Die: The Life And Death Of Metallica's Cliff Burton", "Overkill: The Untold Story Of Motörhead", "The Bloody Reign Of Slayer" and "Unleashed: The Story Of Tool".

MACHINE HEAD recently completed a North American headlining with support from SUICIDE SILENCE and DARKEST HOUR.

New York City's unholy black metal warriors BLACK ANVIL have begun writing their follow-up to 2010's critically acclaimed "Triumvirate". The band has begun tracking rough demos for the new full-length and plan to record in early 2013.

Commented bassist/vocalist Paul Delaney: "This is a darker, deeper record than our previous releases and a natural progression down the chosen path. Musically, and lyrically… we will take our form to the next level."

In other news, BLACK ANVIL has announced a string of dates with Sweden's controversial black metal kings WATAIN. The shows kick off on May 14 in Poughkeepsie, New York and wrap on May 18 in Detroit, Michigan.

Photo by Jeff Marsala

"Stream Of Unconsciousness", a brand new song from Los Angeles progressive thrashers HEXEN, can be streamed using the SoundCloud player below. The track comes off the band's new album, "Being And Nothingness", which will be released on May 28 in Europe and July 17 in North America. The CD was recorded, mixed and mastered at Vivid Tone Recording Studio (LIVIDITY, GUTHRIE GOVAN) by Rich Bruce and features artwork by cosmic and fantasy artist Kristian "Necrolord" Wåhlin (KING DIAMOND, DISSECTION, EMPEROR).

"Being And Nothingness" contains nine tracks of progressive thrash proficiency, closing with an epic eight-part suite.

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Macrocosm
02. Grave New World
03. Defcon Rising
04. Private Hell
05. Walk As Many, Stand As One
06. Stream Of Unconsciousness
07. Indefinite Archetype
08. The Nescient
09. Nocturne
i. Opus 55 ? 1 in Fmin
ii. Out of Reach
iii. Existential Crisis
iv. Entrance of the Absurd
v. The Unbearable Lightness of Being
vi. With Salvation I Persist
vii. Elegy of the Night
viii. End in Purplexity

According to a press release, "Being And Nothingness" is "a bold-yet-innovative prog-thrash album that most new-generation thrash bands would only dare dream of. Without ever conforming to trends or compromising on stellar musicianship and aggression, HEXEN forges ahead with its most diverse and mature album to date. . . [The CD] is a brilliant showcase of intellectual, forward-thinking and their trademark guitar-master wizardry fretwork!"

HEXEN is:

Andre Hartoonian - Vocals, Bass
Ronny Dorian - Guitar
Tak Arayan - Guitar

Christian hard rockers P.O.D. (PAYABLE ON DEATH) will release their new album, "Murdered Love", on July 10 via Razor & Tie. The band's long-awaited follow-up to "When Angels & Serpents Dance" sees them reunited with longtime producer Howard Benson, who also produced the group's massive "Satellite" album as well as hit CDs for Kelly Clarkson, THEORY OF A DEADMAN, DAUGHTRY, THE ALL AMERICAN REJECTS and MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE. The CD cover and packaging was illustrated and designed by Invisible Creature, whose previous credits include the FOO FIGHTERS, NORMA JEAN, Chris Cornell and many more.

The album's first official single, "Lost In Forever", is available for download on iTunes and you can listen to a stream of the song below.

The band recently shot a music video for "Lost In Forever" in the California desert; the clip is in post-production now and expected for release later in the month.

"When Angels & Serpents Dance" sold 34,000 in the United States in its first week of release in April 2008 to debut at position No. 9 on The Billboard 200 chart.

The band's previous CD, "Testify", registered a first-week tally of just over 54,000 back in February 2006 to land at No. 9.

"When Angels & Serpents Dance" featured guest appearances from the MARLEY SISTERS, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES singer Mike Muir and HELMET guitarist Page Hamilton.

Canadian rockers DANKO JONES will release their first-ever DVD, "Bring On The Mountain", in the first week of June. The two-disc DVD will feature a 90-minute documentary on the band, a short film based on their three latest videos featuring Elijah Wood, Selma Blair, Ralph Macchio, Jena Malone, Lemmy and many more, as well as all of the music videos they have ever done and a slew of exclusive live clips from some of their most memorable performances from around the world.

The documentary, shot by the Diamond Bros., offers a unique insight into the ups and downs of one of the hardest-working bands around today. The short film, videos and live clips make it a complete package and to say it's a must-have for their fans is an understatement.

A trailer for the DVD can be seen below.

DANKO JONES is currently holed up at Noble Street Studios in its hometown of Toronto recording a new album for a tentative early fall release.

As usual, the band will be keeping busy on the live front as well. A full European tour is already confirmed for the fall with more dates to be announced soon and they will also be doing a string of exclusive festival appearances this summer.

DANKO JONES last year parted ways with drummer Dan Cornelius and replaced him with Atom Willard.

DANKO JONES re-released its latest full-length album, "Below The Belt", on June 21, 2011 as a deluxe reissue featuring two new bonus tracks titled "Guest List Blues" and "Rock N Roll Proletariat". The reissue also includes the recently completed "Below the Belt" music video trilogy, starring Elijah Wood, Selma Blair, Ralph Macchio, Jena Malone, Lemmy Kilmister (MOTÖRHEAD), Mike Watt (MINUTEMEN, THE STOOGES) and many more. Billboard.com hailed the final installment of the trilogy for "I Think Bad Thoughts", as being "filled with badassery on so many levels" and called it "the ultimate action-film music video."