Italian death metal act HUMANGLED have released a video for the track "Needles Of The Blind" from the band's forthcoming EP entitled "Odd Ethics", due out in mid-to-late May via Abyss Records. The clip was directed by Andrea Falaschi and points out the blindness of medical science, describing the unpredictable damages of combined collateral effects obtained with therapeutic obstinacy.

"Odd Ethics" was recorded at Italy's Mel-1 Studios and mixed/mastered at Unisound Studio in Örebro, Sweden by Dan Swanö (EDGE OF SANITY, HAIL OF BULLETS, NOVEMBERS DOOM). The cover art was designed by Marko Somero.

"Odd Ethics" track listing:

01. Needles Of The Blind
02. Skinned, to Feel All
03. Smells Acrid
04. Deny Your Creed

HUMANGLED lineup:

Andrew Goreds - Vocals
Luke Scurb - Guitar
Vhell Miscarriage - Guitar
Frank Nichols - Bass
Fred Valdaster - Drums

Rob Doherty, the former INTO ETERNITY guitarist who most recently fronted his own band called FINAL DARKNESS, has died. No further details are currently available.

FINAL DARKNESS's "Ghost" video can be seen below. The clip, which was filmed in January in Serbia, was produced by Stanimir "Staca" Lukic and directed by Ivan Colic.

"Ghost" was the first "official" video for the latest FINAL DARKNESS album, which was released on December 21, 2011.

The project was put on hold when the label it was originally to be released under changed priorities and decided to go in a different direction, but Rob remained determined to push forward and bring FINAL DARKNESS to life.

Doherty rewrote and reworked some of the songs from the original project and began recording the new music last year at Touchwood Studios. The recording was engineered by Justin Bender (INTO ETERNITY), who also provides additional guitars on the track "Memories". The album also features guest performances from Tim Roth (INTO ETERNITY) on the songs "Kill Room", "Memories" and "Darkness Falls". A big break came when legendary producer/engineer Neil Kernon (NILE, NEVERMORE, CANNIBAL CORPSE) agreed to do the final mix for the project. Neil also helped hook Rob up with mastering engineer Alan Douches from West West Side Music in New Windsor, New York to help give the album a killer sound.

Doherty was interviewed for a January 2012 edition of "Radioactive Metal". You can listen to the chat using the audio player below (the interview begins around the 33-minute mark).

Interview (audio; the Doherty chat starts at 33-minute mark):

Swedish death metallers EVOCATION have issued the following update:

"It's with great sadness we have to announce the departure of bass player Martin 'Tore' Toresson from EVOCATION. Tore has been a part of the band ever since the reunion in 2005 and has grown into become a brother with us. We have shared many great memories in the years we have played together but now it has come to an end. Tore has declared to the band that due to a lack of motivation he has decided to step down from his position as bass player in EVOCATION. The band respects his decision but we also know he will be greatly missed by both the band and the EVOCATION fans that have had the chance to see Tore perform live and meet him at shows. From the bands side we want to wish him the best of luck in his future endeavours.

"As we are announcing the departure of Tore, we would also like to announce that we are now starting the search of a new bass player for EVOCATION. We are looking for an experienced bass player with live experience and that has a stage presence. If you think you could fit as the future bass player for EVOCATION, then please send your application together with some lines about who you are, videoclips, photos etc. to: marko@evocation.se."

Commented Toresson: “Due to a lack of motivation I have decided to quit EVOCATION. It feels like a big release, even if it was a very hard decision to take. My time in EVOCATION has given me a lot of great memories, many new friends and four fantastic brothers. But it got to a point when it was no fun anymore. I wish my brothers in EVOCATION the best of luck in the future and I'm really looking forward to hearing the new album, which I know is going to be a killer!"

As previously reported, Century Media Records will release the complete demo recordings of EVOCATION. Entitled "Evoked From Demonic Depths - The Early Years", it will feature the following tracks:

01. A Wind Has Risen
02. Through The Darkened Peril
03. The Ancient Gate
04. Desolated Spirits
05. On A Journey To Heaven
06. Where The Headstones Shine
07. Veils Were Blown
08. Spiritual Affinity
09. Outro
10. On A Journey To Heaven (rehearsal)
11. Where The Headstones Shine (rehearsal)
12. Spiritual Affinity (rehearsal)
13. Veils Were Blown (rehearsal)
14. Genesis

Video enhancements

15. The Ancient Gate (live at Gamlestaden, Gothenburg 1992)
16. Genesis (live at Gamlestaden, Gothenburg 1992)
17. Where The Headstones Shine (live at Gamlestaden, Gothenburg 1992)

Tracks 1 to 4 are taken from the "The Ancient Gate" demo, tracks 5 to 9 from the "Promo 1992" demo. Tracks 10 to 13 are previously unreleased rehearsal tracks and as a very special the band has recorded the unreleased track "Genesis", which has been written in 1992, but so far has never ever been available before (track 14). "Genesis" was recorded at IF Studios (IN FLAMES, THE HAUNTED) by producer Robert Laghi. All tracks have been mastered at Fascination Street Studio (OPETH, PARADISE LOST, ENSLAVED, GRAND MAGUS and many more). The remastering of the demo tracks was done using the original master tapes. The CD version also includes three live bootleg video enhancements as a bonus.

Besides the historical musical content, the release is packed with in-depth information on the history of EVOCATION. A foreword has been written by Anzo Sadoni (Metal Hammer), Björn-Thorsten Jaschinski (Rock Hard, Legacy) and Frank Schenk (Chaos magazine) took a deep dive into EVOCATION's history from their start in 1991 until the reunion in 2005 and on until the release of the band's highly praised third studio album "Apocalyptic". Guitarist Marko Palmén comments on every song and gives not just a glimpse but a detailed view into the writing process of the demos. All this information gets underlined by an elaborate usage of band photos, concert flyers and other visual content from the years 1991 to 1993 and the noble and balanced layout by Xaay (NILE, BEHEMOTH).

"Evoked From Demonic Depths - The Early Years" will be released as CD with 32-page booklet and an O-card as well as on deluxe 2LP (180g vinyls, gatefold sleeve, printed inner sleeves) and as digital download.

The album will be released on the following dates:

* Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Norway: Friday, June 22
* Spain, Italy: Tuesday, June 26
* Sweden, Finland, Hungary: Wednesday, June 27
* Rest Of Europe: Monday, June 25
* Australia, New Zealand: Friday, June 29

EVOCATION recently entered IF Studios, the IN FLAMES-owned facility in Gothenburg, Sweden, with producer Roberto Laghi (IN FLAMES, SONIC SYNDICATE, HARDCORE SUPERSTAR) to begin recording its fourth album for a late 2012 release via the band's new label home, Century Media Records.

EVOCATION's third album, "Apocalyptic", was released on October 29, 2010 via Cyclone Empire Records.

A number of hard rock and heavy metal musicians have commented on the passing of Adam "MCA" Yauch, a founding member of the pioneering rap band BEASTIE BOYS, who died Friday after a nearly three-year battle with cancer.

Slash (VELVET REVOLVER, GUNS N' ROSES): "Sad day. MCA was fucking awesome. RIP man. We'll miss you very much."

ANTHRAX: "RIP MCA. Cancer, you're an asshole."

Dave Mustaine (MEGADETH): "Rest In Peace Adam 'MCA' Yauch of the BEASTIE BOYS. My condolences to his family and friends."

LINKIN PARK: "We're sad to learn about the death of MCA. Our condolences to the BEASTIE BOYS and Adam's family."

Fred Durst (LIMP BIZKIT): "A very sad day indeed. Adam Yauch RIP."

David Draiman (DISTURBED): "Listened to the BEASTIE BOYS since I was a kid. RIP Adam (MCA) Yauch. You will be missed."

Randy Blythe (LAMB OF GOD): "BEASTIE BOYS broke a lot of rules and broke a lot of ground. Bummed I never saw 'em. MCA has gone on to his final egg raid on mojo. Peace bro!"

Freddy Cricien (MADBALL): "RIP to a hip hop legend and my favorite beastie boy.... MCA"

SPINESHANK: "RIP MCA!!!!! Thanx for the awesome music!"

BONDED BY BLOOD: "R.I.P. MCA! Our set tonight (in Dallas) goes out too you!"

Brian Fair (SHADOWS FALL): "RIP MCA of the BEASTIE BOYS. My favorite show ever was seeing them at a small club in Boston on 'Check Your Head' tour. Thanks for the music."

Justin Broadrick (GODFLESH, JESU): "Very sad to hear of the passing of Adam Yauch / MCA."

SICK OF IT ALL: "Our hearts go out to MCA's family and friends in their time of loss. We had the pleasure of doing a small tour with the BEASTIE BOYS under their hardcore name QUAZAR. They were the most down-to-earth and fun guys. Thanks for all the great times and music and all your humanitarian work you've done. Rest in peace, brother. A sad day indeed."

LIVING COLOUR: "Cause You Can't, You Won't And You Don't Stop, MCA Come And Rock The Sure Shot - RIP Adam Yauch!"

STYX: "Another great one has passed. RIP MCA. Truly one of the best at what he did."

Jeff Scott Soto (TALISMAN, JOURNEY, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN): "RIP MCA...you showed us how to 'fight for the right', long live the Beasties!

Perry Farrell (JANE'S ADDICTION): "Adam Yauch has passed. As sobering news as you'll ever recieve. This part of life (death) is resolute — causes one to consider their own life, and the way they're living it. Today is a grey day. It feels as if their is no escape... Adam was a guy who brought happiness and energy to so many. That is why the news of his passing is so stifling. Bon voyage, Adam."

DEEP PURPLE's Ian Gillan and BLACK SABBATH's Tony Iommi took everybody by surprise in 2011 by releasing a charity single, "Out Of My Mind", renewing the collaboration that led the pair to record an album in 1984, "Born Again", under the BLACK SABBATH moniker. For the occasion, the two rock legends called a few friends and were soon joined by Jason Newsted (METALLICA, VOIVOD, FLOTSAM AND JETSAM), Jon Lord (DEEP PURPLE) and Nicko McBrain (IRON MAIDEN).

The single was a joyful and inspired moment. The spark to bring Iommi and Gillan in a studio, together again was to finance the rebuilding of a music school in Armenia they had visited together on various occasions in past years.

Far from being a spectacular charity project, WHOCARES was a nice gesture, done with class, from two musicians with nothing to prove, willing to support music, where music is considered a luxury.

"As I said once in the song 'Razzle Dazzle' (DEEP PURPLE's 'Bananas' album), 'It's a real fine line between an orgy of destruction and a wonderful time,'" Gillan tells PanArmenian.net about the forthcoming CD. "The destruction of conformity in this case: Some of these pieces never really fitted into their contemporary program and got side-lined or forgotten, and some of the album tracks never had much exposure. As the track listing for this album came together, I noticed many of the titles had character similarities; a combination of freshness as they finally felt the sun on their backs and rebellion in a 'yeah told you so' kind of way. And that adds up to a wonderful time. And that adds up to more money for the music school we are building in Armenia."

"And what about WHOCARES… this ad-hoc benefit band put together by Tony Iommi and myself on a flight home from Yerevan, where we'd been deeply humbled by the honors and expectations bestowed upon us. Well that's it really, in a nutshell, so to speak, what more can I say; it's all there in the music."

Among the tracks set to appear on the upcoming album are the two original WHOCARES songs; DEEP PURPLE's unreleased studio jam "Dick Pimple"; a song from REPO DEPO (a band Ian Gillan formed before the DEEP PURPLE reunion which never released any material); two previously unreleased songs from Tony Iommi featuring Glenn Hughes; obscure collaborations, B-sides lost on seven-inch vinyl; and exclusive live versions recorded live on radio.

"WhoCares" will be released on June 22 via earMUSIC.

"Out Of My Mind" video:

"The Peep Hole", the new video from 69 CHAMBERS — the Swiss rock/metal trio featuring guitarist and producer Tommy Vetterli (CORONER, ex-KREATOR) and his wife, Nina Vetterli-Treml — can be seen below. The song comes off the band's sophomore album, "Torque", which was released on April 27 via Massacre Records. The CD features a guest appearance by vocalist Christian "Chrigel" Glanzmann of Swiss folk metallers ELUVEITIE in the track "Cause And Effect".

69 CHAMBERS' sound is described as "a minefield of contradictions — a place where brutality meets pop sensibility and downtuned riffs, battering drums and a driving bass collide with infectious melody."

"Torque" track listing:

01. Cause And Effect (feat. Chrigel Glanzmann) (4:31)
02. Bring On The Flood (3:30)
03. Naughty Naughty Naughty (6:22)
04. Anhedonia (4:27)
05. Burn Some Gasoline (4:01)
06. The Peep Hole (4:20)
07. Ring A Bell (4:19)
08. Closure (4:54)
09. And Then There Was Silence (5:38)
10. Temple Down (3:37)
11. Your Fool (4:25)
12. The Doom Of Her Power (4:00)
13. Grace (5:31)
14. Elegy (5:31)

69 CHAMBERS' debut album, "War On The Inside", was released in 2009 via Silverwolf Productions.

69 CHAMBERS is:

Nina Vetterli-Treml - Vocals, Bass
Tommy Vetterli - Guitar
Diego Rapacchietti - Drums

For more information, visit www.69chambers.com.

Video footage of 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) — 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.

Despite having played on the MPIRE OF EVIL album, drummer Antony "Antton" Lant (ex-VENOM) has since left the band for personal reasons.

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."

Quality video footage of OVERKILL's May 3 performance at Club Nokia in Los Angeles, California can be seen below.

OVERKILL is currently headlining a North American tour with support from GOD FORBID, SUIDAKRA and DIAMOND PLATE.

OVERKILL's new album, "The Electric Age", registered the following European first-week chart positions:

Germany: #34
Switzerland: #62
Austria: #73

"The Electric Age" sold 6,500 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 77 on The Billboard 200 chart.

OVERKILL's previous CD, "Ironbound", opened with 4,100 units to enter the chart at No. 192. The effort landed at No. 4 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 Electric Age" was recorded and mixed at Gear Recording Studios in New Jersey, owned and operated by OVERKILL bassist D.D. Verni.

The "Electric Rattlesnake" video can be seen below. The clip was filmed in February at the historic Paramount Theater in Asbury Park, New Jersey with director Kevin J. Custer (HATEBREED, TESTAMENT, SUFFOCATION), who previously worked with OVERKILL on the "Bring Me The Night" video.

OVERKILL is Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth (vocals), D.D. Verni (bass, backing vocals), Derek "The Skull" Tailer (rhythm guitar, backing vocals), Dave Linsk (lead guitar, backing vocals) and Ron Lipnicki (drums).

STONE SOUR, the band featuring SLIPKNOT members Corey Taylor (vocals) and Jim Root (guitar), has parted ways with bassist Shawn Economaki.

Root posted a picture on his Instagram account yesterday (May 3) of an unidentified bassist taken during the recording sessions for STONE SOUR's new album and wrote, "Shawn is no longer with us. A lot has happened in the past year… We need to move forward and [there will] be more detail when the time is right. He's still a great friend and we're in touch. But for now we have a mystery dude that shreds filling in for the studio."

Taylor confirmed the news via a tweet earlier today, writing, "As some of you might have heard but I'll confirm it: Shawn Economaki is no longer with STONE SOUR. We wish him luck in the future."

Economaki left STONE SOUR in April 2011 in the middle of the "Avalanche Tour" to deal with "personal issues." He was temporarily replaced by Jason Christopher, who has since joined Sebastian Bach's touring band.

As previously reported, STONE SOUR's fourth studio album is now tentatively going to come out in October. Taylor tweeted the fall release plan, adding that the album has a title but that he "won't give it away yet." Taylor told The Pulse Of Radio not long ago that he came up with a very ambitious concept for the disc. "It's a pretty grandiose idea that I've been kind of chewing on for a long time, and if we can pull it off, it'll be really, really cool," he said. "It'll probably be the biggest thing that we've ever done in our career. Artistically, visually, like, I mean, we're gonna swing for the fences with this one, and it's gonna put a lot of people in their place."

The disc is being recorded at Sound Farm Studios, just outside STONE SOUR's home base of Des Moines, Iowa.

Guitarist Josh Rand recently said that the album will be "another progression for the band," adding. "Musically, we have always challenged one another to push things to our limits, and this record is no exception."

The set will tell the story of one character who "finally has to decide which path to take," explained Rand, who also said, "It's a spiritual and moral power play for control of what this man will be for the rest of his life."

The project — which may end up becoming a double album — will follow up 2010's "Audio Secrecy".

Taylor and Root will also be busy this summer with SLIPKNOT as that band headlines the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival.

The official lyric video for "The Hunt", the title track of the new album from Swedish heavy rockers GRAND MAGUS, can be seen below. Due in Europe on May 25 via Nuclear Blast Records, the CD's cover artwork was created by Arik Roper (CATHEDRAL, HIGH ON FIRE, SLEEP), who also handled the art on GRAND MAGUS' "Iron Will" LP.

Commented GRAND MAGUS frontman Janne "J.B." Christoffersson: "Arik Roper is a super-talented artist and we've had the pleasure of working with him before when he did the cover art for our album 'Iron Will'. This time around with the overall feel and lyrical themes of our new album 'The Hunt', Arik was the perfect choice once again. We basicallly just gave him the title and he created one of the most haunting and suggestive images ever seen. He totally nailed what the album is all about. To say we are pleased is a gigantic understatement! This piece of art will stand the test of time and become classic."

"The Hunt" track listing:

01. Starlight Slaughter
02. Sword Of The Ocean
03. Valhalla Rising
04. Storm King
05. Silver Moon
06. The Hunt
07. Son Of The Last Breath
08. Iron Hand
09. Draksådd
10. Silver Moon (demo version, bonus track)
11. Storm King (demo version, bonus track)
12. Sword Of The Ocean (demo version, bonus track)

Due to family obligations and work commitments, drummer Sebastian "Seb" Sippola has left GRAND MAGUS. The new man behind the kit is Ludwig "Ludde" Witt (SPIRITUAL BEGGARS, FIREBIRD, SHINING).

GRAND MAGUS's last album, "Hammer Of The North", was released digitally in North America in January 2011 via Roadrunner Records. The CD was recorded at 301 studios outside of Stockholm and features artwork by Necrolord.

Paulo, Brazil-based all-female thrash metal trio NERVOSA has inked a deal with Napalm Records. The band's debut album will be released later this year.

According to a press release, NERVOSA's music "has strong influences from classic old-school thrash metal bands, such as SLAYER, SEPULTURA and EXODUS, perfectly mixed with original and characteristic features inserted in the songs by each of the bandmembers."

Commented NERVOSA bassist/vocalist Fernanda Lira: "It is with great pleasure and happiness that we announce that we are now part of the Napalm Records family. It means a lot to us to begin working with such renowned label that has such an admirable roster of bands. Napalm was the first one to believe in our work as much as we do, and I have no doubt that we will have a long, hard-working, and successful relationship together!"

NERVOSA's first video, "Masked Betrayer", can be seen below.

NERVOSA is:

Fernanda Lira (ex-HELLARISE) - Bass, Vocals
Prika Amaral (ex-LAMA NEGRA) - Guitar, Backing Vocals
Fernanda Terra (ex-FOOD4LIFE, FINAL FIGHT) - Drums

For more information, visit www.nervosa.com.br.

Legendary guitarist Slash (VELVET REVOLVER, ex-GUNS N' ROSES) and his solo band kicked off their U.S. tour last night (Thursday, May 3) at Rams Head Live! In Baltimore, Maryland.

The group's setlist was as follows:

01. Mean Bone
02. Dirty Little Thing
03. Ghost
04. Nightrain
05. Rocket Queen
06. Back From Cali
07. Sucker Train Blues
08. Standing In The Sun
09. Fall To Pieces
10. Dr. Alibi
11. Speed Parade
12. Watch This
13. Starlight
14. You're A Lie
15. My Michelle
16. Just Like Anything
17. Sweet Child O' Mine
18. Slither
-----------------
19. By The Sword
20. Paradise City

Fan-filmed video footage of the concert is available below. Check out photos at this location.

Slash will release his second solo album, "Apocalyptic Love", on May 22 via his own label Dik Hayd International distributed through EMI.

"Apocalyptic Love" was recorded like a live performance record where the band was all set up in a big room at Barefoot. The liberated feel of "Apocalyptic Love" is evident throughout the LP's 13 songs, as is the genuine chemistry between Slash and singer Myles Kennedy.

The evolution of their creative relationship went full throttle since the two first joined forces on Slash's 2010 debut solo release where the ALTER BRIDGE frontman lent his pipes to the cavalcade of venerable guest vocalists which included Iggy Pop, Ian Astbury and Ozzy Osbourne. Slash's debut landed 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, it became the #1 overall digital album and hit #1 on iTunes in 13 countries. "I contacted him out of the blue, sent him one of the songs I was working on which turned out later to be 'Starlight'," Slash says. After Myles contributed his ideas and sent it back to Slash, creative forces congealed. "I went, ‘Wow, that's really good," recalls Slash. "We flew Myles out to track it and this unassuming mild mannered guy shows up, similar in demeanor to me, sort of quiet, not really explosive in personality. He then nailed 'Back from Cali' and it was like, 'Would you like to do a tour with me?' I was so happy when he accepted the offer." For the Spokane-born lead singer, the gig was an opportunity to expand his personal portfolio while exploring some musical synergy with an artist he'd long admired. Over the next 18 months, Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and THE CONSPIRATORS — Myles Kennedy (vocals), Brent Fitz (drums) and Todd Kerns (bass) — toured the world on the album evolving into the tight-knit rock group they are today.

"Silent Genocide", the first video from I AM I, the new band led by former DRAGONFORCE singer ZP Theart, can be seen below. The group, whose lineup is completed by Paul Clark Jr. on drums, Jacob Ziemba on guitar and Neil Salmon on bass, will make its live debut on Sunday, May 27 at Birmingham, England's O2 Academy 2.

I AM I's debut album, "Event Horizon", will be the first-ever heavy metal album to be released solely on USB. The stick will be packaged in a CD case and will include full artwork and all the usual content you would expect on a disc and more. Due on May 26, the effort is available to pre-order from the official I AM I web site.

Tickets for I AM I's debut show are limited to 600 and are also available from the official I AM I site. 600 special commemorative t-shirts will be produced for the gig and are an exclusive free gift for fans who buy tickets. The shirts will be numbered and will correspond with the ticket number and are sure to become collector's items.

Commented ZP: "['Event Horizon' is] an album of message. It's about past meeting future and everything in between. It's about warnings for the current generation not to go down the same road in the future as we are doing now as that will surely secure our demise. To see and not to perceive, to hear and not to listen, is the downfall of all... It's a new age of enlightenment and there's a lot of messages in the songs that will hopefully kickstart a few people who are slow on the uptake.

"My whole career has been leading up to this point and I've never been more proud of anything in my life and this album will definitely live up to its name."

Added Paul: "'Event Horizon' totally encapsulates my style of playing. Every song is different and that made me me push myself that much further in the studio. This is a great album with something for everyone."

Stated Ziemba: "It's refreshing to know we're in a team where everyone holds the same cards. Let the music speak for itself."

Said Salmon: "This is an album to suit many tastes. I'm sure variation will be one of its ultimate strengths."

DRAGONFORCE parted ways with Theart in March 2010 "due to insurmountable differences of musical opinion," according to a statement released by the British extreme epic power metal band.

After entries from thousands of hopefuls across the globe, DRAGONFORCE in March 2011 welcomed then-23-year-old Marc Hudson to the group.

Greece's Rock Overdose recently conducted an interview with ZP Theart. You can now listen to the chat using the audio player below.

"Silent Genocide" video:

Legendary guitarist Michael Schenker's "Temple Of Rock" European tour marks the first time Schenker's band features two fellow ex-SCORPIONS members — Herman Rarebell (drums) and Francis Buchholz (bass). Vocalist Doogie White (ex-RAINBOW and YNGWIE MALMSTEEN) and keyboardist Wayne Findlay complete the lineup.

The European concerts feature a plethora of hits spanning Michael Schenker's colorful career. Songs that are being performed by the "Temple Of Rock" lineup include UFO's "Rock Bottom" and "Doctor Doctor", MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP's "Armed and Ready" and "Into The Arena", SCORPIONS classics "Another Piece Of Meat" and "Rock You Like A Hurricane", plus new songs from the recently released "Temple Of Rock" album "Miss Claustrophobia" and "Before The Devil Knows You're Dead".

Fan-filmed video footage of Schenker recent concerts in Spain and Germany can be seen below.

German metallers PARADOX have entered the studio to begin recording their new album, "Tales Of The Weird", for a late 2012 release via AFM Records.

Commented new PARADOX guitarist Christian Muenzner (also of OBSCURA): "I already applied for PARADOX 10 years ago, even before I was in the band NECROPHAGIST. Logisitically this is even the closest band to where I live; we're not even 45 minutes apart, so this makes a lot of sense. Been a fan of that band for years and always wanted to play thrash, so here we go. The new songs sound fucking amazing, I'm stoked to be a part of this!"

The new PARADOX lineup is as follows:

Charly Steinhauer (vocals, guitar)
Christian Muenzner (guitar)
Olly Keller (bass guitar)
Daniel "Evil Ewald" Buld (drums)

"False Profit", the new video from Baltimore, Maryland-based Christian metallers I THE BREATHER, can be seen below. The clip was directed by Thunder Down Country Productions.

Commented I THE BREATHER drummer Morgan Wright: "Our objective with this clip was to create a dark and edgy video. It's very different from our last video. That was more of a straight-up performance-based video capturing the band in a live element. This video allowed us to use props, add in some acting and have a legit concept. When it came to acting, Shawn [Spann, vocals] stepped it up and took on the task of the protagonist.

"The thing that stands out most in this video is the massive python we used. The overall theme is Shawn representing God and the serpent representing the devil. The scenario portrays God rising up and taking on the false prophecy of the devil. A false prophet is someone who will arise to sway mankind into idolatry. We are very proud of this video and hope you enjoy it."

According to a press release, "I THE BREATHER are one of the most enthusiastic, hard-working and promising new bands to come onto the scene as of late and their highly acclaimed sophomore full-length offering, 'Truth And Purpose', is taking the metal scene by storm. They spent the majority of 2012 on tour alongside AUGUST BURNS RED, SILVERSTEIN, UPON A BURNING BODY and BETRAYING THE MARTYRS, among others. Look for them performing on the Sumerian Records' stage at the Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival all summer long."

I THE BREATHER is:

Shawn Spann - Vocals
Chase Kozlowski - Guitar
Justin Huffman - Guitar
Armand Jasari - Bass
Morgan Wright - Drums

North American rockers BLACK SUN have released the first single from their upcoming debut album, "Edge Of Darkness", which was produced by HYDROGYN guitarist Jeff Westlake. "Break Me", one of ten modern hard rock tracks from the disc, features Tracy "G" Grijalva, who makes a guest appearance and shows off his innovative playing in the guitar solo. Tracy is best known for his years with DIO — from 1993 to 1999 — where he was featured on two studio albums ("Strange Highways" and "Angry Machines") and one live album ("Inferno: Last In Live").

BLACK SUN came together completely by accident in the summer of 2011 when Canadian guitarist Brad Wilson decided to head Stateside to work on what was initially to be his first solo record. After making the decision that his voice just wasn't cutting it anymore, he enlisted American rock vocalist Azriel St. Michael (JEZEBEL'S KISS, AUDIO PORN) and by mid-February the record was finally complete.

"The album has a little bit of everything that me, Az and Jeff have done over the past couple of decades with a whole lot of everything all three of us envisioned as the future of rock music," says Wilson. "We feel fantastic about being able to take our songs to place we personally haven't been to before. As a producer, Jeff has this uncanny ability to take a good solid song and make it sound current and now we're beyond excited about getting the live band together and hitting the road."

"Edge Of Darkness" is expected to drop in July and the band is hoping to hit the road by the fall.

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions will reissue the classic debut album from DECEASED, "Luck Of The Corpse", on CD format on May 22. This version will include restored artwork, remastered audio as well as rare bonus tracks.

Official description: "True death metal from the grave... raw, ugly and proper! Haunting corpses with shrieks of underrated sickness, 'Luck Of The Corpse' is a prime example of just how death metal the '80s could get. Despite its release in 1991 as the first band signed to Relapse Records, DECEASED's debut album reanimates tracks primarily written and demoed throughout '85-'89 and easily stands ground with POSSESSED, NECROVORE, early DEATH, and demo-era MORBID ANGEL. This is the album that forged DECEASED as one of America's pioneering, legendary underground bands... a classic debut that still holds up 20+ years later! Features restored artwork taken from the film 'Black Sabbath', remastered audio and includes the unreleased 1990 raw demo plus a never before heard version of 'Feasting On Skulls' recorded in 1998. Up the tombstones!!"

You can reserve your copy for only $10 including shipping at this location.

German metal queen Doro Pesch will release a new EP, "Raise Your Fist In The Air", on August 3 via Nuclear Blast Records. The effort will be made available on CD, vinyl and as a digital download.

"Raise Your Fist In The Air" track listing:

01. Raise Your Fist In The Air
02. Victory
03. Engel
04. Lève Ton Poing Vers Le Ciel

In a 2011 interview with Canada's XplosiveMetal.com, Pesch spoke about the song "Raise Your Fist In The Air" which she played for the first time at last year's Wacken Open Air festival in Wacken, Germany. ""It got great feedback [from the Wacken audience]. . . . It was originally written by a Wacken fan, a metalhead, and then I did my own thing to it. It was actually a diehard Wacken fan who did a demo and sent it to the promoter. He sent it to me and said, 'Hey, how about we make a Wacken anthem and here's an idea from a diehard Wacken fan.' I listened to it and thought, 'Hey, that's great.' Then we worked on it and continued working on it. Just to tell you how that song came about, it was a collaboration with a diehard fan and it was actually really good. Sometimes the fans have the best ideas. It was so dead-on."

Fan-filmed video footage of Doro performing the song "Raise Your Fist In The Air" on October 1, 2011 at the Milk club in Moscow, Russia and October 22, 2011 at the Metal Female Voices Fest IX, held at the Oktoberhallen in Wieze, Belgium, can be seen below.

During a 2011 interview with Metal Kaoz, Pesch was asked about the progress of the songwriting and recording sessions for her next studio album. "I think we have completed 80 percent of the new record and there are some great songs coming up," she replied. "Actually, one song is dedicated to Ronnie James Dio and the working title is 'Hero'. That's a very special song. I was a big Dio fan and I know that there are so many fans out there are missing him so much, so definitely this song will be on the new record. Also they will be some speed metal songs, some anthems songs and, of course, some power ballads."

In conjunction with the Stateside release of the mammoth "25 Years In Rock" 2 DVD/CD set, Doro performed two special shows in New York City on September 9, 2011 and Chicago on September 11, 2011. Both nights included clips from the DVD, limited edition merchandise and an autograph session followed by a performance by the metal queen herself.

Released in Europe in 2010 (also via Nuclear Blast), the epic "25 Years In Rock" two-DVD/CD set includes Doro's 25-year anniversary show in its entirety as well as clips from her 2,500th concert and so much more.

"Fear No Evil", the latest album from Pesch, was made available in North America in June 2009 via AFM/Dismanic/Ryko Distribution.

Vinyl cover:

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)

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.

SLIPKNOT DJ Sid Wilson has revealed to NME.com that the band is planning to enter the studio next year to begin recording the long-awaited follow-up to 2008's "All Hope is Gone". He said, "We've got [Rockstar Energy Drink] Mayhem Festival this summer and, after we break for winter and STONE SOUR [the band featuring SLIPKNOT members Corey Taylor and Jim Root] are done with their tour, we'll be back in the kitchen with SLIPKNOT. Actually, before STONE SOUR finish touring, we'll be in the studio preparing for Corey's return, keeping the irons hot."

He added, "It'll be tough, it won't be easy. SLIPKNOT's the biggest thing in all of our lives, but we're always going to come back to it. We're going to get it done. I'm excited and I'm ready to do it.

"I'm sick of hearing people talk, it's time for action. When we come together, it's badass; we need to harness that energy of the live shows. When we come together like we always do, it's going to be brutal."

Taylor has been ambivalent about working on new material following the death in May 2010 of the group's bassist, Paul Gray, although percussionist Shawn Crahan and drummer Joey Jordison have been much more confident about the band recording again.

When asked to clarify the difference in opinion between members of the band as to whether new material is being written or not, Crahan told Metal Injection at this year's South By Southwest conference, which took place in March in Austin, Texas, "I can clear it up easily for you. Everyone in the band is writing all the time, whether it's a micro-cassette recorder or a memo on your iPhone or Corey writing down random things he invents in his head on a piece of paper or Joey saying, 'I got nothing to do, I'm gonna go in the studio with all these ideas. I'm going to rent out a studio for a month and a half and I'm going to fucking write.'

"I think what people don't understand about what's being said is that we're all dealing with Paul's death differently. And some want to move, some want to take time. But basically, what's being said is, of course, things are being written. But nothing is done because we're not together yet. And there is no reason to get together and talk about it because there are other things moving, like the grieving process.

"What it all comes down to is that, yes, writing is being done seriously every day, but it is going to be a while. It's just going to be. There's things going on. It gets a little perverted in the press, almost like, 'he says yes, he says no, we got a problem.' It's just more like, yeah, writing is going on but it's going to be a while, and both of them are telling the truth, and I'm here to tell you, we're not going nowhere!"

SLIPKNOT last summer completed a three-week European tour that was the band's first run of dates since the death of Paul Gray. Taylor, who has been unsure of SLIPKNOT's future since Gray's death, told The Gauntlet last November that there are currently "no solid plans to do a SLIPKNOT album. Joey and Paul were really the ones who would get things started. Then I would take what they wrote and really try to put it in a song sense and then that would get us all going. Especially on 'All Hope Is Gone', they gave me a lot of great material to work with. It was up to me to shorten it and make the songs into songs, basically."

He continued, "There is a huge pull in this band right now. It doesn't mean we can't go out on the road and share the music we have with the audience. But rushing in and making another album does not compute to me right now. It will be a few years before it does.

"There are some guys in the band that are painting me as the villain, but at the same time I have some guys in the band that support me and feel the same way.

"There are a lot of things in the band that have to change before we can go in and make an album. There are a lot of things we have to figure out and make peace with. We already know what the album is going to be about; we just need to find the strength to do it the right way."

Taylor told Billboard.com that when SLIPKNOT does eventually make it back into the recording studio, "We know that everything we do on that album is going to be about Paul. It's going to be very melancholy. It's going to be a more saddened form of rage when it does happen, and it'll be a whole path that we've never gone down before." He added that he personally was "not as anxious to make a new album as maybe certain people in the band are, and I know a lot of the guys in the band feel the same way I do, whether they want to admit it or not. It just makes more sense to try and figure things out before we try to get into a studio... I don't want to risk losing what we've built because somebody's trying to prove a point."

Jordison said last year that SLIPKNOT can carry on "with or without" Taylor.

SPV/Steamhammer will re-release VIRGIN STEELE's "Life Among The Ruins" on June 18 in Europe and July 17 in North America. This two-CD digipak reissue comes with massive bonus tracks and a huge booklet with new liner notes and previously unseen photos by the band's lead singer, David DeFeis.

VIRGIN STEELE's fifth full-length studio album, "Life Among The Ruins" was originally released in 1993 and was the band's first album to feature bassist Rob DeMartino, who replaced Joe O'Reilly, retired from the scene.

Commented DeFeis: "This 2012 version will be in digipak form and contain not one but two discs with a large amount of extra ingredients. On the first disc, we include five rare and unvarnished acoustic recordings, plus a full band bonus track. On disc 2, we have included 20 tracks. These tracks consist of a large amount of newly recorded material completed just this week, as well as alternate mixes of some of the album's original tracks. And, in addition, we have also included a never-released track from somewhere around that period of time. All the material has been remastered, and the package will feature copious liner notes, photos and unique packaging."

British rockers THE DARKNESS will release their third studio album, "Hot Cakes", on August 21 via Wind-Up (North and South America) and PIAS (U.K. and rest of the world). After a seven-year wait, "Hot Cakes" — produced by the band's Justin and Dan Hawkins with longtime collaborator Nick Brine and mixed by Bob Ezrin — will deliver the epic rock anthems and infectious pop choruses the multi-platinum band has become renowned for worldwide.

"When we first heard a new DARKNESS track and after seeing them play live in New York City, we knew THE DARKNESS were back!" explains Wind-Up CEO Edward Vetri. "THE DARKNESS and Wind-up make a great rock partnership and we look forward to working with them to launch 'Hot Cakes'."

THE DARKNESS kicks off an Australian tour this week (May 4) before returning to the U.S. May 18 for select dates and three festival appearances: Saturday, May 19 at InfieldFest (Baltimore, Maryland); Sunday, May 20 at Rock On The Range (Columbus, Ohio); and Saturday, May 26 at Rocklahoma (Pryor, Oklahoma). Following the U.S. shows, they'll perform festivals across Europe as well as a hometown outdoor headlining gig at Thetford Fest in Suffolk before teaming with LADY GAGA for her "Born This Way Ball" tour.

Since THE DARKNESS — Justin Hawkins (vocals/guitars), Dan Hawkins (guitars/backing vocals), Frankie Poullain (bass) and Ed Graham (drums) — resumed active service almost 12 months ago on the main stage of 2011's Download festival with their original lineup, the British group have accomplished a lot. They've completed sold-out tours of the U.K. and North America; were featured in a Superbowl ad (broadcast to over 100 million viewers in the tense fourth quarter of the game); finished recording "Hot Cakes" and released a free teaser track and video, "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us".

THE DARKNESS made its U.K. live comeback in June 2011 in front of just 200 people at the Norwich Waterfront.

THE DARKNESS' first album, "Permission To Land", was released in 2003, hitting the No. 1 spot in the U.K. chart and winning "MasterCard British Album" at the 2004 Brit Awards (along with "Best British Group" and "British Rock Act").

Between 2003 and 2006, THE DARKNESS was honored with many awards and accolades; along with three Brit Awards, the band won an Ivor Novello in 2004 for "Songwriters Of The Year", four Kerrang! Awards, two Metal Hammer Awards, an MTV Europe Music Award and even an Elle Style Award in 2004 for "Most Stylish Band".

The Aurora Project is in the studio right now to record their upcoming album “Selling the Agression”

Selling the Aggression is a concept album which deals with the geo-political structure of the current reality and tells the story through the events which happened between 1999 and the current day.

The album contains 8 tracks. The producer of the album is Arno Dreef, and is being recorded at the Westeinder Studio’s.(Rijnsaterwoude)

GODSMACK frontman Sully Erna took part in a "live performance and autograph session" at Backstage Live in San Antonio, Texas following his band's May 2 co-headlining concert at the Alamodome with STAIND and special guest HALESTORM as part of the "Mass Chaos" tour. Video footage of his Backstage Live performance can be seen below.

Erna recently finished a short tour to promote the release of "Avalon Live", his upcoming live DVD/Blu-ray that features the singer and an eight-piece band performing songs from his 2010 solo debut, "Avalon". A late spring release for the disc is planned, although an exact arrival date has yet to be confirmed.

GODSMACK will unleash its first-ever live album, "Live & Inspired", on May 15 via Universal Republic Records.

"Live & Inspired" features fierce and furious live renditions of numerous hits from the Massachusetts rockers' five studio albums as well as bonus tracks of covers that have "inspired" GODSMACK. The four tracks are quite close to the band's collective heart. The band started ripping through local Massachusetts haunts with their renditions of some of these songs, and these recordings bring everything full circle.

A two-camera fan-filmed video mix of French progressive metallers GOJIRA performing the title track of their forthcoming fifth album, "L'Enfant Sauvage", on April 30 at Rockstore in Montpellier, France can be seen below.

Due 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

"L'Enfant Sauvage" performance:

In a brand new interview with SPIN magazine, METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich was asked if he was surprised by the reaction to "Lulu", the band's collaborative album with Lou Reed. "It was more spiteful than anyone was prepared for," Lars replied. "Especially against Lou. He is such a sweet man. But when METALLICA do impulsive riffing and Lou Reed is reciting abstract poetry about German bohemians from 150 years ago, it can be difficult to embrace."

Lars also said that he never had second thoughts when sweet Lou came in with lyrics like "I swallow your sharpest cutter / Like a colored man's dick". "I understand that to some 13-year-old in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, it can all seem a little cringe-worthy, but to someone raised in an art community in Copenhagen in the late '60s, that was expected," he said.

On the topic of Orion Music + More — the two-day festival created by METALLICA that will take place on June 23-24 at Bader Field in Atlantic City, New Jersey — and whether it's necessary for METALLICA to charge $150 for a ticket, Lars said, "We're not being paid to play Orion. It costs close to $10 million to put it together. That's gotta come from somewhere other than, 'METALLICA's gonna write a check.'"

Ulrich told Brazil's Wikimetal last September that he felt good about recording "Lulu", which came out to poor sales and disastrous reviews last November. Ulrich said, "It's definitely very unique, and whether it's unique in a good way or unique in a not-so-good way, I have no idea yet. The people whose opinions I trust say it's very good. It feels very good; it's a lot of fun to do. But whether it's making a new sound, or paving a new way, I have no idea."

The drummer added that METALLICA's success has given them the freedom to try new things, which is essential to the band's longevity. He explained, "I think that 30 years in, we have to kind of do these things to keep us alive. If we get stuck doing the same thing over and over again, it becomes automatic . . . that's not the band I'd like METALLICA to be. I know some people would like METALLICA to make the same record every two years, but that's not what I want METALLICA to do, and I'm not interested in doing that."

"Lulu" polarized fans around the world and earned METALLICA some of the most scathing reviews of its career. The effort features the former THE VELVET UNDERGROUND frontman's spoken-word poetry and lyrics combined with METALLICA's musical assault for a jarring experience that doesn't sound like anything METALLICA has ever attempted before. A concept album based on two early 20th century plays by German author Frank Wedekind, the CD was co-produced by Reed, METALLICA, Hal Willner — who has produced albums for Reed, Marianne Faithfull, and Laurie Anderson, among others — and Greg Fidelman. Fidelman also mixed the record.

The collaboration between METALLICA and Reed was sparked by their performance together of Reed's "Sweet Jane" and "White Light/White Heat" at the 25th anniversary of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame at Madison Square Garden in October of 2009.

The songs were all written by Reed with extensive arrangement contributions by METALLICA.

Only two songs on the album are under five minutes in length, while two are more than 11 minutes long and the closing cut, "Junior Dad", clocks in at 19 minutes.