"Chemicals", the debut EP from LOVE AND DEATH, the new band led by former KORN guitarist Brian "Head" Welch, can be streamed in its entirety at AOL Music.

"Chemicals" was released on April 24. An intense semi-animated music video for the title track shot by POAB Designs/Martillo Pictures will follow soon.

"Chemicals" track listing:

01. Paralyzed
02. Whip It Feat. Matt Baird
03. Chemicals
04. Paralyzed (Har Megiddo Remix)
05. Chemicals (Har Meggido Remix)

Regarding his decision to call his group LOVE AND DEATH, Welch recently said, "I put this band together in 2009. Since then, we've experienced some very intense highs and lows. Michael Valentine, Dan Johnson, J.R. Bareis and myself have toured around the world playing a lot of killer shows, but we've also had some heart-shattering difficulties along the way. To us, the name LOVE AND DEATH symbolizes everything we've been through as a band over the last few years. We love this band so much and we'll go through hell to connect with our fans. We've proven that to ourselves over and over again."

With LOVE AND DEATH, the music now lives under its own banner.

"Many people have confused my speaking dates and our band dates because they were both being booked as Brian 'Head' Welch," said Welch. "I have wanted to use a band name for branding my music for a few years. It has been an ongoing discussion with my management, but we were just starting to tour and I was in the middle of supporting my third book and it seemed like a bad time to switch names. Now with the new music coming out, it's time to really separate the things I do. I want the music to be about music. I will still be doing public speaking under Brian 'Head' Welch. I am happy that all the confusion will be over."

LOVE AND DEATH formed when Welch decided to have open auditions on YouTube in 2009. "I picked the guys and then had a jam session in Phoenix," says Welch. "Over the last couple of years, there have been a few lineup changes as we went through normal growing pains. The current band has been together and touring for a while now and they are a big part of the new music and the future of LOVE AND DEATH."

For more information, visit www.loveanddeathmusic.com.

Fan-filmed video footage of ACCEPT's April 21 performance at Euronics Hall in Zlín, Czech Republic can be seen below.

The band's setlist was as follows:

01. Hellfire
02. Stalingrad
03. Restless And Wild
04. Living For Tonite
05. Breaker
06. Son Of A Bitch
07. Monsterman
08. Bucket Full Of Hate
09. Shadow Soldiers
10. Guitar Solo (Wolf Hoffmann)
11. Neon Nights
12. Bulletproof
13. Losers And Winners
14. Aiming High
15. Princess Of The Dawn
16. Up To The Limit
17. No Shelter
18. Pandemic
19. Fast As A Shark

Encore:

20. Metal Heart
21. Teutonic Terror
22. Balls To The Wall

ACCEPT's new album, "Stalingrad", has registered the following first-week chart positions:

Hungary: #5
Germany: #6
Finland: #8
Sweden: #10
Switzerland: #17
Norway: #22
Czech Republic: #25
Austria: #32
UK: #32 (#2 on Rock Chart)
Poland: #46
France: #50
Spain: #66
USA: #81
Canada: #101 (#7 on Rock Chart)

"Stalingrad" sold around 5,400 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The band's previous CD, "Blood Of The Nations", opened with around 2,900 units back in September 2010 to land at position No. 187 on The Billboard 200 chart.

"Stalingrad" was released on April 6 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was once again helmed by British producer Andy Sneap (MEGADETH, EXODUS, NEVERMORE, ARCH ENEMY), who worked on the band's critically acclaimed comeback effort, "Blood Of The Nations".

"Stalingrad"was made available in the following formats:

* Limited CD+DVD
* CD
* 2LP (red) in gatefold
* 2LP (white/red) in gatefold - exclusive Nuclear Blast mailorder edition

Commented ACCEPT guitarist Wolf Hoffman: "ACCEPT and Andy Sneap have the perfect synergy. This was so clear with 'Blood Of The Nations' and we are excited to continue on that path. Andy is not only an amazing and prolific producer but also a very good friend who has long become a member of the ACCEPT family."

Regarding the musical direction of ACCEPT's new album, Hoffmann told The Rock Pit last year, "We're just gonna have the same attitude, the approach; we're just gonna do more of the same, you know, without it being the same. More similar-style stuff, hopefully fresh new ideas. And I mean, we're not gonna… The intention is not to change it right now. I mean, why would we? . . . But I have to say, it's always easier said than done. It's incredibly difficult to write songs that are sort of reminiscent of the past but they're not, you know, rip-offs of your own music. That sounds incredibly very simple, but it's really not, especially if you have a sort of history of 15 albums or whatever we have. Then there are always similarities that you have to avoid. It can't be too close, but it can't be too far away from it. So it's a pretty fine line that you have to walk sometimes, but, you know, hopefully we'll manage again."

ACCEPT 2012 is:

Wolf Hoffmann: Guitar
Peter Baltes: Bass
Herman Frank: Guitar
Mark Tornillo: Vocals
Stefan Schwarzmann: Drums

Massachusetts metallers THE ACACIA STRAIN have released a new song, "Servant In The Place Of Truth", via iTunes and Amazon.

Having recently signed a new deal with Rise Records, the band wanted to put out something new in between labels for fans to enjoy.

"As you can see, we aren't changing at all, only working harder to write the best tunes that we are proud of that the fans enjoy," states THE ACACIA STRAIN guitarist Daniel "DL" Laskiewicz. "We are really stoked on this song and are glad people are liking it."

THE ACACIA STRAIN will record its next album over the next few months for an October release via Rise Records. Laskiewicz will produce, engineer and mix the effort in his studio in Western Massachusetts.

Commented vocalist Vincent Bennett: "You all love DL, so it makes sense for us to go ahead and do the album this way and keep it heavy right from the source of where this all comes from. We are still here, talking to you, doing what we have always done. This is such a great time for this band, you have no idea."

THE ACACIA STRAIN's "The Impaler" video can be viewed below. The song comes off the band's latest CD, "Wormwood", which sold around 6,300 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 67 on The Billboard 200 chart.

THE ACACIA STRAIN's previous effort, "Continent", opened with 5,600 units to land at No. 107.

"Wormwood" was recorded at Planet Z Studios in Hadley, Massachusetts with Chris "Zeuss" Harris (HATEBREED, CHIMAIRA, SHADOWS FALL) handling producing, mixing and mastering. The CD features three guest vocalists — HATEBREED's Jamey Jasta, 100 DEMONS' Bruce LePage and Kyle Chard of BORN LOW.

THE ACACIA STRAIN released its first live album, "The Most Known Unknown", in June 2011 via Prosthetic Records.

"Under Black Flags We March", the new video from Swedish/German/American extreme metallers ARCH ENEMY, can be seen below. The clip was filmed last month with Patric Ullaeus of Revolver Film Company, who has previously worked with DIMMU BORGIR, LACUNA COIL, IN FLAMES, SONIC SYNDICATE and KAMELOT, among others.

ARCH ENEMY recently amicably parted ways with guitarist Christopher Amott and replaced him with 26-year-old American musician Nick Cordle (ARSIS).

Commented ARCH ENEMY guitarist Michael Amott: "It was a pleasure as always to work with our friend Patric Ullaeus on this video, which will be the fourth clip he's made for us and he really is a consummate professional — truly excellent stuff! He's captured a very suitable and cool vibe on this one too. The track itself, 'Under Black Flags We March', is a song that we've played at every ARCH ENEMY show since we released the 'Khaos Legions' album last year. We love playing it as it's a change of pace in our frantic live set and it's going down really well with audiences worldwide too. We felt this pounding metal anthem deserved a visual companion, so here it is!

"A couple of things to listen out for: we had a our new guitarist Nick Cordle throw down a little lick on the song and had audio master Andy Sneap remix the song a little... So, a few minor tweaks here and there to make it something special for this visual/sonic assault!"

"Under Black Flags We March" comes off ARCH ENEMY's ninth album, "Khaos Legions", which sold around 6,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to enter The Billboard 200 chart at position No. 78.

ARCH ENEMY's previous full-length studio CD of new material, "Rise Of The Tyrant", debuted at position No. 84 in October 2007 with first-week U.S. sales of around 8,900 — approximately 25 percent less than the opening number (12,000) of its predecessor, 2005's "Doomsday Machine" (which landed at No. 87).

"Khaos Legions" was released in Europe on May 30, 2011 and in the U.S. on June 7, 2011 via Century Media Records. The CD marks the band's return to new, original material, after the release of the "Tyrants Of The Rising Sun - Live In Japan" live DVD/CD (2008) and the re-recordings album, "The Root Of All Evil" (2009). The effort was tracked at Sweet Spot Studio in the south of Sweden with engineer Rickard Bengtsson (who produced 2005's "Doomsday Machine").

The "Khaos Legions" artwork comes courtesy of renowned artist Brent Elliott White (MEGADETH, DEATH ANGEL).

Fan-filmed video footage of SCORPIONS' April 22 concert at Dvoretz Sporta in Chelyabinsk, Russia can be seen below.

The band's setlist was as follows:

01. Sting in the Tail
02. Make It Real
03. Is There Anybody There?
04. The Zoo
05. Coast to Coast
06. Loving You Sunday Morning
07. Living for Tomorrow
08. The Best Is Yet to Come
09. Always Somewhere
10. Holiday
11. Raised on Rock
12. Tease Me Please Me
13. Hit Between the Eyes
14. Kottak Attack
15. Blackout
16. Big City Nights

Encore:

17. Still Loving You
18. Wind of Change
19. Rock You Like a Hurricane

SCORPIONS' "Comeblack", a new album of classic rock covers and fresh performances of signature repertoire recorded last year, sold around 5,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 90 on The Billboard 200 chart.

SCORPIONS' last collection of all-original material, "Sting In The Tail", opened with 18,500 units to land at No. 23. This marked the band's highest chart debut in over 20 years. The CD also landed at No. 6 on the Rock Albums chart.

"Sting In The Tail" was released in North America on March 23, 2010 via Universal Music Enterprises. The CD was recorded at a studio in Hannover, Germany with Swedish producers Mikael "Nord" Andersson and Martin Hansen (the team behind THE RASMUS' "Dead Letters" CD).

Launched by guitarist Rudolf Schenker in 1965, SCORPIONS forged metal, rock and pop into a sound that's come to signify an entire genre through hard rock anthems like "Rock You Like A Hurricane" and hits like "Send Me An Angel", "Wind of Change" and "Still Loving You", selling more than 100 million records in the process.

In January 2010, SCORPIONS announced that the group's "Get Your Sting And Blackout" tour, an epic ongoing worldwide rock 'n' roll odyssey in support of 2010's "Sting In The Tail", would be the group's last before retirement. The tour is slated to run through early 2013 with a string of historic farewell blowouts and festival performances scheduled Europe culminating with shows at the Wacken Open Air festival (August 4, 2012) and Munich's Olympiahalle (October 13, 2012).

At some point during the "Get Your Sting And Blackout" tour ("We can't remember the day, the month or the hour"), SCORPIONS, enjoying the success of "Sting In The Tail" and the emotional rejuvenation of the farewell tour ("Screaming fans everywhere we went!") decided to record one last classic album. "The idea to go back to the studio was born out of pure excitement," said the band who cut an album mixing covers of rock 'n' roll standards that informed and inspired the SCORPIONS alongside new productions and performances of the songs in the band's core catalog that have proved the most meaningful to the members.

The result, "Comeblack", is, according to the band, "an encore for our die-hard fans, to thank them for all the support for so many years. At the same time, this is a tribute to legendary bands from the sixties, like THE BEATLES and THE ROLLING STONES, who have inspired us to follow our dreams. We hope you like it as much as we do... Rock on and ... Comeblack."

Progressive/psychedelic Norwegian black metallers ENSLAVED have inked a new worldwide deal with Nuclear Blast Records. The band's new album will be released in the fall.

ENSLAVED's last two CDs — "Vertebrae" (2008) and "Axioma Ethica Odini" (2010) — were released via Indie Recordings in Europe and Nuclear Blast in North America.

Commented ENSLAVED: "We're very, very (yes, very) pleased and proud to sign this deal with Nuclear Blast worldwide. We've already worked with Nuclear Blast U.S. through our two latest albums; and our personal friendships with Nuclear Blast guys and gals on both sides of the Atlantic are even older. There's no drama — we take great pride in the fact that there seldom is with us — it is simply a matter of one contract ending, and us going for what seems to be our best option at this point in time and space. This time the best choice for ENSLAVED is changing things up somewhat. We're excited to see what the mixture of passion and professionalism at Nuclear Blast can do with the ENSLAVED name in the years to come. There is no doubt that the level of ambition, the experience and seriousness about what we do, form perfect common ground for ENSLAVED and Nuclear Blast. We're in the process of making a new album that will initiate our new partnership, watch out for the approaching wave of news about that. For now, let's just say that the album will be an absolute (Nuclear) blast!”

Added Gerardo Martínez, label manager of Nuclear Blast USA: "ENSLAVED is one of the most amazing bands to ever come from Norway. We've had the pleasure of working with them on their last two albums in North America, and from this day forth worldwide. Looking forward their new masterpiece to be unleashed to the masses later in the year!”

ENSLAVED were the recepients of last year's Norwegian Artists And Songwriters Association honorary award. The award was presented to the band by the Norwegian minister of culture Anniken Huitfeldt on October 31, 2011.

ENSLAVED last year released "The Sleeping Gods" via Scion A/V as a free downloadable five-song EP. Following up on 2010's near-universally praised "Axioma Ethica Odini", the EP found the quintet once again expanding the boundaries of what metal can be, deftly incorporating influences from across the musical spectrum. Mainly recorded in Solslottet Studio in Bergen, and partly in the band's own home studio, the effort finds the group sounding leaner and more confident than ever, part and parcel of maintaining a presence at the foreground of the international metal movement for 20 years.

PALMS is the newly formed Los Angeles-based quartet featuring three former members of ISIS (Aaron Harris, Clifford Meyer and Jeff Caxide) with DEFTONES vocalist Chino Moreno (pictured below).

"Clifford, Jeff and I started PALMS a little over a year ago out of a desire to continue making music together after ISIS ended," explained Harris. "Chino joined shortly after and our sound took shape from there. We've worked really hard on this first release and are excited for people to hear it. It's nice to be back behind the drum kit, and with this lineup."

"Being a huge ISIS fan I've always dug the moods these dudes convey with their sound," added Moreno. "I am excited to combine my sense of creativity with theirs, and to have fun doing so."

PALMS' debut album will be issued by ISIS' former label, Ipecac Recordings, and is slated for a 2012 release. The CD was recorded and mixed by Harris, and produced by PALMS.

PALMS is Jeff Caxide (bass/keyboards), Aaron Harris (drums), Clifford Meyer (guitar/keyboards) and Chino Moreno (vocals).

Die schwedischen Riff-Götter GRAND MAGUS haben nach dem Cover Artwork und der Track List zum kommenden Meisterwerk "The Hunt" nun auch den Titel Song in einer Edit Version veröffentlicht. Entworfen wurde das Artwork von Arik Roper (CATHEDRAL, HIGH ON FIRE, SLEEP), der sich bereits beim GRAND MAGUS Album "Iron Will" um das Artwork gekümmert hatte. "The Hunt" wird am 25. Mai 2012 via Nuclear Blast veröffentlich

Dutch/Norwegian rockers THE GATHERING are putting the finishing touches on their 10th studio album for a late summer release via the band's own Psychonaut Records label. A single will precede the full-length CD at the end of May.

THE GATHERING's new CD will include the song "Heroes For Ghosts", which was made available for free download last year at the group's Bandcamp page. A video for the track was shot in Norway by the band's "dear friend" Marcus Moonen and can be seen below.

THE GATHERING's latest album, "The West Pole", was released in North America on June 2, 2009 via Season of Mist. The CD was issued in most of Europe on May 4, 2009 via the group's own label, Psychonaut Records.

"The West Pole" marks the recording debut of new THE GATHERING singer Silje Wergeland, who was previously in the Norwegian band OCTAVIA SPERATI. It also includes two very talented guest vocalists, Anne van den Hoogen and Marcela Bovio (STREAM OF PASSION), along with other guest musicians.

Singer Anneke van Giersbergen announced her departure from THE GATHERING in 2007. She has since released four albums on her own and with her AGUA DE ANNIQUE solo project: "Air" (2007), "Pure Air" (2009), "In Your Room" (2009) and "Everything Is Changing" (2012).

ARCH ENEMY's front-of-house engineer Clem Bennett has posted a five-minute video recap of the band's recently completed Japanese tour. Check it out below.

ARCH ENEMY made its live debut with new guitarist Nick Cordle (ARSIS) on April 13 at Shibuya Ax in Tokyo, Japan. Check out photos at Creativeman.co.jp.

ARCH ENEMY earlier in the year amicably parted ways with guitarist Christopher Amott and replaced him with 26-year-old Cordle.

Christopher — the brother of ARCH ENEMY's other guitarist Michael Amott — was a member of ARCH ENEMY from 1996 to 2005 and again from 2007 to 2011.

Nick Cordle was raised in a musical family in Virginia by parents who teach classical piano and was immersed in 19th-century piano music as a child. Rachmaninoff, Brahms and Liszt are his early memories. There were piano and violin lessons from a very early age but a rebellious streak led to the guitar at the age of 10, and within a few years he discovered the classic thrash metal albums by MEGADETH, METALLICA, and SLAYER. This was his first real musical passion and gateway into extreme music.

Nick studied jazz and music theory at the University of Virginia from 2003 to 2007 but remains self taught in the ways of "shred" and metal. Shortly thereafter, he joined American death metal band ARSIS playing bass and guitar over a three-year period, performing with them on various European tours and countless gigs across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico as well as performing and writing on their most recent album, "Starve For The Devil" (2010).

In a brand new interview with LA Weekly, guitarist/vocalist Adam "Nergal" Darski of Polish extreme metal veterans BEHEMOTH says that he's quite confused how a metal musician — particularly someone like MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine — or fan can identify as Christian.

"Everyone has their reasons for getting involved with metal music," Nergal says. "To me, it was the rebellious spirit, attitude, and life philosophy of this music. Being Christian in this genre just seems against that. There are religious people in metal that we deal with. That's fucked up and crazy to me. But I'm sure when you talk to Dave Mustaine, he'll give you the opposite angle of the situation."

In the end though, Nergal still welcomes fans and colleagues of all faiths and beliefs.

"There are people that are huge BEHEMOTH fans, but when you look at their life code and their philosophies, they stand on the other side of the barricade yet they like the music that we do," Nergal says. "The biggest compliment I can get is from people that see us and have no clue of what we do, or have opposite opinions to us, but they'll talk about how our energy was undeniable."

Read more from LA Weekly.

According to a new Facebook posting by guitarist John Petrucci of progressive metal giants DREAM THEATER, "writing for the next DT album officially commenced while in Osaka [Japan] the other day." He adds, "Jet lag seems to open up one's creative channels."

When asked why new DREAM THEATER drummer Mike Mangini was not involved in the writing sessions for the band's last album, 2011's "A Dramatic Turn Of Events", Petrucci told The Aquarian Weekly, "I decided to do it this way because I wanted to make sure that we were able to focus on DREAM THEATER's core compositional elements and sounds without a new person coming in. Whatever that Mike might have brought to the table, I thought it was too early to kind of bring in somebody that we didn't really know at all, as far as their compositional abilities."

He added, "I've been writing this music forever and just felt comfortable in that kind of environment. When you can focus on just guitar, keyboards, bass and our singer is there, it's just a more intimate environment and you're not trying to integrate somebody else and feel them out. I just kind of wanted to eliminate that whole process. I mean, it could have been great, but I was more comfortable doing it this way for this album at least.

"At this point, [Mangini has] been in the band for [more than] a year, we've already done a [couple of] tour[s] with him, we're gonna have completed another full world tour, we have a chance to jam with him during sound checks and sit with him — we'll know him way better. I think it'll make more sense to bring him into that process for sure."

DREAM THEATER has annouced a second North American leg of a world tour in support of its acclaimed and globally successful album "A Dramatic Turn Of Events" (Roadrunner). The progressive hard rock icons, who've sold in excess of 10 million records and DVDs worldwide, will launch their summer dates June 15 in Rochester, New York and wrap July 21 in Chester, Pennsylvania. The tour includes stops at the Gibson Amphitheater in Los Angeles and the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, New Jersey plus a two-night engagement at the Paramount Theater on Long Island, New York.

Joining DREAM THEATER, starting June 16 in Columbus, Ohio and for the rest of the tour, is special guest CRIMSON PROJEKCT featuring Adrian Belew, Tony Levin, Pat Mastelotto, Markus Reuter, Julie Slick and Tobias Ralph. They'll be performing the songs of progressive rock legends KING CRIMSON.

DREAM THEATER's new album, "A Dramatic Turn Of Events", sold 36,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to enter The Billboard 200 chart at position No. 8. The band's previous CD, 2009's "Black Clouds & Silver Linings", opened with 40,000 units to land at No. 6. This was roughly in line with the first-week tally registered by its predecessor, "Systematic Chaos", which shifted 36,000 copies in 2007 to enter the chart at No. 19. 2005's "Octavarium" premiered with 27,000 copies to debut at No. 36.

DREAM THEATER was among the nominees in the "Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance" category at the 54th annual Grammy Awards, which was held on February 12 at Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Die nordrhein-westfälische Rockband AXXIS veröffentlicht am 18. Mai 2012 das wohl ungewöhnlichste Album ihrer Bandgeschichte: Mit dem Titel "reDISCOver(ed)" erscheint eine Compilation voller Coverversionen von Klassikern aus den 80er Jahren. Dafür eingeplant sind Hits unterschiedlichster Couleur, wie beispielsweise "Roboter" von Kraftwerk, "Stayin Alive" von den Bee Gees, "Ma Baker" von Boney M, "Life Is Life" von Opus oder gar "My Heart Will Go On" von Celine Dion. Wie bereits die im letzten Jahr erschienene DVD wird die Veröffentlichung erneut über das bandeigene Label Phonotraxx Publishing und im Vertrieb von Soulfood Music erscheinen.

Finnish heavy metal monsters LORDI have recruited a new drummer following the passing of Tonmi "Otus" Lillman in early February. The new member's character's name will not be revealed yet and he will be simply called "the drummer" for now. The mask and the costume are kept to the minimum, but enough to fit him visually into the band for the upcoming shows.

Commented LORDI mainman Mr. Lordi: "We don´t want to introduce a new character yet, because we feel it is still way too close to the time when our drummer Otus passed away. Making any kind of fuss about a new member would simply be too disrespectful. However, we need a drummer in order to play. And since we are LORDI, no one will ever perform in the band as himself, without a character."

He added, "So, the new drummer does have a mask and his costume is more than a t-shirt and jeans, but this is not the outfit of the actual character yet. We could say he is in disguise. The name and the look of the character will be revealed at the same time when the whole band comes out with new costumes and masks. This happens traditionally before a new album comes out."

There are no official photos of the new drummer yet and there will likely be no pictures released before the character is officially introduced.

LORDI's new drummer will make his live debut with the band on May 5 at the Metalitalia.com festival at the Live Music Club of Trezzo Sull'Adda (Milan), Italy.

Members of LORDI always wear masks at interviews and have declared their desire for their personal identities to remain private. Therefore, Lillman's status as a member of LORDI had never been publicly acknowledged until his death in February.

Lillman joined LORDI in October 2010 as the replacement for Kita, who was fired from the band after he "made a decision to pursue his own career publicly as himself [under his real name], without his alter ego Kita." LORDI explained at the time that revealing a member's true identity was "in direct conflict with one of the cornerstones of LORDI's image. Therefore it is not possible for [Kita] to continue as a member of the band anymore."

With their fourth release, "Hair Metal Goes Lullaby", Jammy Jams elevates lullaby music to a whole new level of awesomeness. Whether you are a child of the '80s or are shopping for a little one born yesterday, these gentle lullabies will captivate and delight. You have to listen to believe that songs originally performed by heavy hitters like MÖTLEY CRÜE or BON JOVI could be transformed into these incredibly peaceful and comforting arrangements. Like a hug from your best pair of spandex pants, Jammy Jams' soothing sounds embrace, providing the reassurance needed for you or your little dream warrior to slip into a cozy slumber.

"Hair Metal Goes Lullaby" track listing:

01. Every Rose Has Its Thorn (originally by POISON)
02. Gypsy Road (originally by CINDERELLA)
03. Home Sweet Home (originally by MÖTLEY CRÜE)
04. I Remember You (originally by SKID ROW)
05. Lay It Down (originally by RATT)
06. Honestly (originally by STRYPER)
07. Livin' On A Prayer (originally by BON JOVI)
08. Dream Warriors (originally by DOKKEN)
09. Jet City Woman (originally by QUEENSRŸCHE)
10. Here I Go Again (originally by WHITESNAKE)

Check out audio samples below.

BARONESS, the Savannah, Georgia-based quartet whose two prior releases ("Red Album" and "Blue Record") were awarded record of the year honors from both Revolver and Decibel magazines as well as repeatedly placing on year-end best of lists from Pitchfork and Village Voice, return with a new album titled "Yellow & Green" on July 17 via Relapse Records.

"Yellow & Green" reunites BARONESS with "Blue Record" producer John Congleton (EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY, ST. VINCENT, XIU XIU) following both the band's busiest period (multiple worldwide tours including stops at Coachella, Bonnaroo and Soundwave) and most luxurious year, having taken nearly all of 2011 off to freely write and demo for the 2CD/LP album.

"Yellow & Green" track listing:

Disc 1:

01. Yellow Theme
02. Take My Bones Away
03. March To The Sea
04. Little Things
05. Twinkler
06. Cocainium
07. Back Where I Belong
08. Sea Lungs
09. Eula

Disc 2:

01. Green Theme
02. Board Up The House
03. Mtns. (The Crown & Anchor)
04. Foolsong
05. Collapse
06. Psalms Alive
07. Stretchmarker
08. The Line Between
09. If I Forget Thee, Lowcountry

The cover artwork can be seen below.

"We had been on tour for eight years, and we decided to take a break from our adventure to dig our heels in at home and write a new record," explains John Baizley, frontman for the band and the artist responsible for BARONESS' now-iconic album art. "We spent the entirety of the past year dedicating ourselves to the new album. Without the break from touring and the time we took to rest and reflect, we would have been entirely unable to write this new record. We have become re-inspired. Now it's time to get back out on the road."

Baizley also recently spoke with Alternative Press regarding the recording of "Yellow & Green".

BARONESS will embark on their first tour dates since 2010 as they join MESHUGGAH for a spring trek across North America, previewing material from "Yellow & Green".

BARONESS is John Baizley (guitars, vocals), Pete Adams (guitar, vocals), Allen Blickle (drums) and Matt Maggioni (bass).

AVENUE OF ALLIES freuen sich das Signing der Band HARTMANN und die Veröffentlichung des vierten Studioalbums dieser Formation, "Balance", bekanntgeben zu dürfen. Oliver Hartmann fasste als Frontmann der Heavy Rock Formation AT VANCE Fuß in der internationalen Musikszene. Während seiner erfolgreichen Zeit in der Band nahm er in den späten 90er Jahren vier Alben als deren Leadsänger auf und avancierte zu einem international bekannten und respektierten Sänger. Seither war Olivers kraftvolle Röhre bei Rockopern wie AVANTASIA, AINA und GENIUS, sowie auf Alben von international bekannten Rock Acts wie HAMMERFALL, EDGUY, HELLOWEEN, LUNATICA, RHAPSODY, SOUL SELLER und EMPTY TREMOR zu hören

Nach dem Ausstieg bei AT VANCE konzentrierte er sich auf das Songwriting für seine eigene Band HARTMANN. Frontiers Records nahm die Truppe 2004 unter Vertrag und das erste Album „Out In The Cold“ wurde 2005 veröffentlicht. Das HARTMANN-Debüt stellte für viele die positive Überraschung des Jahres dar, und es wurde von mehreren internationalen Rockmagazinen zum “Album des Monats“ gekürt. Weitere erwähnenswerte Auszeichnungen waren das Prädikat “Debütalbum des Jahres” auf melodicrock.com, „What If I“ als „Song des Jahres” und „Into The light“ als Nr. 2 der “Balladen des Jahres” im Jahres-Poll des gleichen Webzines.

Mit dem zweiten Studioalbum „Home“ (2007) und der Unplugged CD/DVD „Handmade“ (2008) folgten weitere erfolgreiche Veröffentlichungen. 2008 ging Oliver Hartmann als Gitarrist / Sänger mit Tobias Sammet’s AVANTASIA auf Welttour; das international erfolgreiche CD / DVD-Set “The Flying Opera” dokumentiert eindrucksvoll diese Live-Events. Nach Shows in Europa mit HARTMANN als Anheizer für EDGUY im Frühjahr folgte im November 2009 das nächste HARTMANN-Album. Die Songs der treffenderweise “3“ betitelten Scheibe, unter ihnen das atemberaubende Duett “Brothers“ mit EDGUY / AVANTASIA’s Tobias Sammet, knüpften mit ihrem einzigartigen melodischen Rock-Sound nahtlos an die Vorgänger an und waren die Garantie für wiederum beste Kritiken.

Während der letzten beiden Jahre spielte die Band HARTMANN zahlreiche Shows als Support von Bands wie MOTHER’S FINEST, URIAH HEEP und Y&T und im Januar 2012 schloss sich Oliver Hartmann als Gitarrist und Sänger dem Line-up der sehr erfolgreichen ROCK MEETS CLASSIC-Tour an, deren Konzerte die Rockgrößen Ian Gillan/ DEEP PURPLE, Jimi Jamison/ SURVIVOR, Steve Lukather/ TOTO, Chris Thompson/ ex-MANFRED MANN’S EARTH BAND und Robin Beck präsentierten.

Die Aufnahmen für das neue HARTMANN-Album “Balance” wurden im April 2012 abgeschlossen. Das vierte Studiowerk der Band bietet wieder erstklassig produzierten, modernen melodiösen Rock auf höchstem internationalem Niveau. Die vielfältigen, zum größten Teil aus Oliver’s Feder stammenden Songs, setzen auf hohen Wiedererkennungswert mit eingängigen Melodien und ausdrucksstarken Refrains und decken die komplette Bandbreite des Genres ab. Zu den Highlights gehören der unwiderstehliche Midtempo-Opener “All My Life”, der clever arrangierte Rocker “You Are The One”, das relaxte “Dance On The Wire”, das vielschichtige “Fall From Grace”, sowie die Powerballade “After The Love Is Gone” und der atmosphärische Track “From A Star”. Neben dem bandeigenen Material ist auch eine beeindruckende Coverversion des TEARS FOR FEARS-Klassikers “Shout” zu hören.

“Balance” wurde wieder von Sascha Paeth (Avantasia, Edguy, Epica, Kamelot) in den Wolfsburger Gate Studios gemischt und erscheint am 01. Juni 2012 über das AVENUE OF ALLIES Label.

“Balance” Tracklist :

01. All My Life (3:56)
02. Like A River (4:06)
03. You Are The One (3:53)
04. Fool For You (4:07)
05. After The Love Is Gone (5:27)
06. Save Me (4:59)
07. Fall From Grace (5:09)
08. From A Star (4:54)
09. Dance On The Wire (4:25)
10. Shout (5:35)
11. Time To Face The Truth (3:11)
12. The Best Is Yet To Come (5:04)

Bislang bestätigte Tourdates:

11.05. D-Seidenroth, Eulenspiegel
18.05. D-Wiesbaden, Kranzplatz Open Air
19.05. D-Aschaffenburg, Colossaal (release party)
26.05. CH-Tennwil, Rocknacht Open Air
21.07. D-Bensheim, Fürstenlager (unplugged with "Handmade"-line up)

Bay Area Backstage conducted an interview with guitarist Craig Locicero and bassist Matt Camacho of San Francisco Bay Area thrashers FORBIDDEN before the band's April 21 concert at The Avalon in Santa Clara, California. The 49-minute clip, which includes performance footage, can be seen below.

FORBIDDEN is currently writing material for the follow-up to 2010's "Omega Wave" for a 2013 release. Locicero recently described the new songs as "smoking-shit-hot-thrash-attack" and added that new drummer Sasha Horn (ex-NOVEMBER'S DOOM, AVA INFERI) "has been a lightning rod for our original energy since he's joined up. The only issue we have is the amount of time we get to spend together with Steve Smyth [guitar] and Sasha both living elsewhere. . . While we get together to practice, we also work on new songs."

"Omega Wave" was released in Europe on October 22, 2010 and in North America on October 26, 2010 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD landed at position No. 27 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 official lyric video for "Phantom Antichrist", the new single from German thrash metal veterans KREATOR, can be seen below. The song 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 music video for "Phantom Antichrist" was helmed by Poland's Grupa 13 (BEHEMOTH, ELUVEITIE, SONATA ARCTICA, DECAPITATED) and will make its online debut on May 3.

Commented KREATOR guitarist/vocalist Miland "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."

The "Phantom Antichrist" album is 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

Commented Petrozza: "Jan Meininghaus, who did this one, is a cover artist from my hometown, Essen, Germany. I really love the artwork he came up with for the limited edition. It's pure mayhem, powerful and dark!"

"Phantom Antichrist" track listing:

CD:

01. Mars Mantra
02. Phantom Antichrist
03. Death To The World
04. From Flood Into Fire
05. Civilisation Collapse
06. United In Hate
07. The Few, The Proud, The Broken
08. Your Heaven In My Hell
09. Victory Will Come
10. Until Our Paths Cross Again
11. Iron Destiny (Japan exclusive)

Limited-edition bonus DVD:

* Conquerers Of The Ice – The Making Of Phanom Antichrist
* Harvesting The Grapes Of Horror
* Live at Wacken Open Air in 2011 and 2008 (mixed by Klaus Scheuermann, edited by Marcel Schleif and Stephan Lier)

Wacken Open Air 2011:

01. Choir Of The Damned
02. Hordes Of Chaos
03. War Curse
04. Coma Of Souls / Endless Pain
05. Pleasure To Kill
06. Destroy What Destroys You
07. Phobia
08. Terrible Certainity / Reconquering The Throne
09. Flag Of Hate / Tormentor

Wacken Open Air 2008:

10. The Patriarch
11. Violent Revolution
12. People Of The Lie
13. Europe After The Pain

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

When asked about the musical direction of KREATOR's new material, Petrozza stated in a recent interview, "I think it's OK to say that this will be our most epic album so far. There's some classical, a lot of traditional metal, and, of course, a huge dose of thrash metal influences in the new stuff."

Speaking to Aftonbladet journalist Mattias Kling, Petrozza stated about KREATOR's collaboration with Jens Bogren, "He's really good; I like him. I like the sounds that he gets. And I think the combination — Jens Bogren and KREATOR — it will be pretty heavy."

On the topic of how the new material is different from KREATOR's previous output, Mille said, "It will definitely have all the KREATOR trademarks. The lyrics will talk about nowadays stuff, as usual, so it will be like a photography of the year 2012. Also the lyrics will deal a lot of things that are actually happening at this point in time. It will be like reading a newspaper or something [laughs], with all the stuff happening. And, of course, the music will be typical KREATOR, and we also wanna expand the sound and progress as musicians. I mean, this lineup has been the strongest lineup KREATOR ever had since ten years, and now I think we're ready to come out with an album that blows everyone away."

KREATOR has selected Poland's Grupa 13 (BEHEMOTH, ELUVEITIE, SONATA ARCTICA, DECAPITATED) to helm the video for the title track of their forthcoming album, "Phantom Antichrist".

Commented 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."

KREATOR is:

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

Brazil's Radio Evil conducted an interview with guitarist Trevor Peres and bassist Terry Butler of Florida death metallers OBITUARY when the band played at at Hangar 110 in São Paulo, Brazil on April 14. You can now listen to the 30-minute chat below.

Photos of the concert can be found at RadioEvil.com.br.

When asked about what fans can expect from the next OBITUARY studio album, Trevor said, "It's pure OBITUARY, you know. It's what every fan would expect from us — fast, slow, in between, brutal… [vocalist] John Tardy going [imitating growling sound]."

He added, "We're actually in the middle of writing new stuff now. We've been, actually, writing for probably a year. We've got a bunch of songs. When we get home from this trip [to South America], we're gonna record three songs, and we're probably gonna release a seven-inch [containing] two songs, and then one song is probably gonna be digital release only, through our web site. We're talking to Century Media about possibly doing a deal with them. That's still in the works. Hopefully by the end of the year we'll have the full-length album out."

OBITUARY's current touring lineup includes MONSTROSITY drummer Lee Harrison on second guitar.

Guitarist Ralph Santolla, who joined OBITUARY in 2007 as the replacement for Allen West, has not played any shows with the group since last year.

OBITUARY's next album will be the follow-up to the "Darkest Day" full-length CD, released in 2009 via Candlelight Records.

"Darkest Day" landed at position No. 32 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.

Interview:

"Seeking No Peace", the new digital single from Cleveland, Ohio-based metallers ETERNAL LEGACY, has been released via iTunes, Amazon and other major digital retailers. The song is the title track to the band's forthcoming album, which is due out this summer via Auburn Records. The CD was recorded, mixed and mastered at Mercinary Studios in Cleveland and produced by ETERNAL LEGACY vocalist/guitarist Jason Vanek. The cover art was created by Larry Weber. The layout and design was handled by Claudia von Bihl.

"At last, the new ETERNAL LEGACY album is complete," says Vanek. "Here's a culmination of all our past efforts and influences. This track speaks for the whole album. We hope our fans enjoy it as much as we do."

ETERNAL LEGACY has toured Germany twice, including appearances at the Wacken Open Air (2010) and Headbangers Open Air (2007) festivals, and released two previous albums on Auburn — "The Coming Of The Tempest" (2007) and "Lifeless Alive" (2009).

ETERNAL LEGACY is (left to right in photo below):

Jason Vanek - Vocals/Guitar
Shaun Vanek - Guitar
Steve Dukuslow - Drums
Tim Frederick - Bass

Chicago heavy rockers SOIL will release their first-ever DVD, entitled "Re-LIVE-Ing The Scars", on May 8 via Bieler Bros. Records. The two-disc set, which was recorded live on October 14, 2011 at Electric Ballroom in London, England, will contain an audio CD version of the same concert. Also included is over one hour of backstage and behind-the-scenes bonus footage and photos.

SOIL's current lineup consists of founding members Ryan McCombs (vocals; ex-DROWNING POOL), Tim King (bass) and Adam Zadel (guitar) alongside former STAIND drummer Jon Wysocki.

"Re-LIVE-Ing The Scars" track listing:

01. Breaking Me Down
02. Need To Feel
03. My Own
04. Redefine
05. Cross My Heart
06. Inside
07. The One
08. Wide Open
09. Black 7
10. Unreal
11. Halo
12. Pride

The "Breaking Me Down" performance clip, taken from the "Re-LIVE-Ing The Scars" DVD, can be seen below.

The 10th-anniversary edition of SOIL's breakthrough album "Scars" — featuring the hits "Halo" and "Unreal" — was made available digitally on October 10 through Sony Music. The release features the rare B-side "Center" and the previously unreleased track "Damaged You" from the "Scars" recording sessions.

"The Unknown", a brand new song from Massachusetts metallers SHADOWS FALL, can be streamed using the SOundCloud player below (courtesy of MetalSucks). The track comes off the band's new album, "Fire From The Sky", which is scheduled for a May 15 release via Razor & Tie. Recorded at Zing Studios in late 2011, the CD reunites SHADOWS FALL with longtime friend, producer/engineer and KILLSWITCH ENGAGE/TIMES OF GRACE guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz (THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, ALL THAT REMAINS). The album was mixed by Brian Virtue and features some of the band's most complex and melodic material in years.

Commented SHADOWS FALL vocalist Brian Fair, "'Fire From The Sky' is not a concept album by any means, but a few common themes do link these songs together. These days, the world seems to be spiraling out of control into a frantic state of confusion, corruption and chaos. It's as if we are living under the shadow of an impending apocalypse. The songs on this album were inspired by this chaos and the struggle to find answers in these dark days."

Pre-order bundles are available in five different configurations offering a variety of items including music, t-shirts and limited edition band merch. All pre-order bundles include a poster, and both a physical copy and digital download of "Fire From The Sky". Special bundles offer a selection of different bands t-shirts and a limited edition SHADOWS FALL flag. Pre-order bundles are available for purchase here.

"Fire From The Sky" track listing:

01. The Unknown
02. Divide And Conquer
03. Weight Of The World
04. Nothing Remains
05. Fire From The Sky
06. Save Your Soul
07. Blind Faith
08. Lost Within
09. Walk The Edge
10. The Wasteland

The cover artwork for "Fire From The Sky" was designed by Aaron Marsh of Forefathers and can be seen below.

Commented Marsh: "When presented with the idea, I wanted to deliver an aesthetic that would go beyond the 'typical' or ‘assumed.’ I wanted to embrace a perspective and emotive value that could be carried with the context of the record itself. While I knew this would be challenging and end up stylistic to one degree or another, I still wanted the viewer to get this overwhelming and brooding sense of chaos that could otherwise be imagined when putting themselves in that very scenic situation — supposing this record was the soundtrack to their own apocalyptic movie."

Added SHADOWS FALL singer Brian Fair: "[I] couldn't be happier with how the artwork for 'Fire From The Sky' came out. Thanks to Forefathers for doing such an amazing job!"

"The Unknown" audio stream:

"When Worlds Collide", the full-length album from THE CORY SMOOT EXPERIMENT — the solo project of GWAR guitarist Cory Smoot before his untimely death last fall — will be released on June 5 via Metal Balde Records.

THE CORY SMOOT EXPERIMENT's CD was recorded in 2010 at Cory's Karma Studios, where GWAR, MUNICIPAL WASTE and many others have laid down tracks. The songs were originally meant for a concept album called "Religion Is Fiction". Cory was going to lay down all the tracks and then get some of his favorite singers from the internationally acclaimed Richmond metal scene to do the vocals, including GWAR lead singer Dave Brockie and LAMB OF GOD's Randy Blythe. Unfortunately, this didn't happen due to scheduling problems, but that didn't mean the end of the project. Cory went ahead and recorded the vocals himself and renamed the project THE CORY SMOOT EXPERIMENT, completing the entire package just before his final tour with GWAR in the fall of 2012.

After his passing, GWAR and Metal Blade set up the Smoot Family Fund to help provide for Cory's family. All proceeds from this album will be donated to this fund.

Metal Blade Records Chairman and CEO Brian Slagel commented on the album's release: "Metal Blade Records is donating all the proceeds of the Cory Smoot solo album to the Smoot family. Please help us by getting the CD and enjoying the immense talent he was."

Dave Brockie, a.k.a. Oderus Urungus, lead singer of GWAR, shared his memories of Cory: "Cory Smoot is one of the great unsung heroes of metal. His musical abilities transformed GWAR from a splatter-thrash phenomena into a top metal act. And though he may have left us way too early, he left us a lifetime of music to listen to. He tore it up like few others, and will always be remembered as the true Flattus Maximus. We really loved the man, and there is not a day that goes by or a GWAR show that is played where he is not sorely missed"

"When Worlds Collide" track listing:

01. The Blood Red
02. Fortunate Son
03. Religion is Fiction
04. Rebirth
05. Brainfade
06. Mandatory Purgatory
07. Countdown to Oblivion
08. The Gauntlet
09. When Worlds Collide
10. Mutilation
11. Hollow Tree
12. Sloth Loves Chunk

Smoot died from a coronary artery thrombosis brought about by his pre-existing coronary artery disease

Cory, who had played the character of Flattus Maximus for over ten years, was discovered dead on the band's tour bus on November 3, 2011. He was 34 years old.

Smoot joined GWAR in 2002 and first appeared on the band's 2004 album "War Party". He was the fifth guitarist to play the character of Flattus Maximus, known by his red face, white dreadlocks, dinosaur-head shoulder pads and reptile feet.

Born August 25, 1977, Smoot previously played in metal bands MISGUIDED and LOCUS FACTOR and continued to play with MENSREA, in addition to establishing his own solo project, THE CORY SMOOT EXPERIMENT.

Swedish "punk ass rot 'n' roll" band HELLTRAIN will release its new album, "Death Is Coming", digitally on May 15 through iTunes, Spotify and other digital music sites. The effort will also be made available as a free download from the band's official web site. Physical albums will be released by TPL Records (Scandinavia) and Metalism Records (Russia, Baltic states). The group syas, "We are looking into options for physical release for the rest of Europe as well. Still, if we have no label for physical albums for Europe at the date, TPL Records will handle mail-orders for it."

HELLTRAIN's new album was finalized at Dug Out Productions with producer Daniel Bergstrand (MESHUGGAH, BEHEMOTH, IN FLAMES) at the helm.

A promotional clip for "Death Is Coming" featuring the song "The Killer Come" is available below.

Ever since parting ways with Jimmy Franks Recording Company, the record label owned by BLOODHOUND GANG lead singer Jimmy Pop, HELLTRAIN has been working hard on establishing its own indepence. The group has built its own studio and is working with a model where fans can get HELLTRAIN's music for free.

"Death Is Coming" promotional clip:

Swedish deathcrust ensemble BOMBS OF HADES has completed work on its second full-length album, "The Serpent's Redemption", for a summer release via Pulverised Records. The cover artwork was conceptualized by Polish illustrator Rafal Kruszyk, who had previously worked with such bands as INTERMENT, HOODED MENACE, MACHETAZO and CIANIDE.

"The Serpent's Redemption" track listing:

01. Crawl Away And Bleed Forever
02. Darkness, My Soul
03. Burn
04. The Serpent's Redemption
05. Forgotten In Graves
06. Incubus Descending
07. Skull Collector
08. Scorched Earth
Part 1: Into Chaos
Part 2: The Throne Of Flesh
Part 3: Rapture

Spawned in 2002 as a crustpunk act, BOMBS OF HADES quickly mutated into a gristly old-school Swedish death metal direction, while still retaining a strong d-beat/crust vibe. Fronted by Jonas Stålhammar (GOD MACABRE, UTUMNO) who recently served briefly with legendary Swedish thrashers THE CROWN, the band released its debut album, "Chambers Of Abominations", in 2010 through Blood Harvest Records.

Commented Stålhammar: "BOMBS OF HADES are psyched to have the next album released through Pulverised.

"'A Serpent's Redemption' will satisfy souls starved for some true old-school death metal and will be unleashed before the summer of 2012."

Added Pulverised Records A&R manager Calvin Chiang: "BOMBS OF HADES are one band that have been on our radar for some time now. We finally thought it was time to seize the opportunity to grab them for a brand new record. To further confirm that our gut feeling was correct, our good old friend Ayong (founder of Pulverised Records) coincidentally recommended the band and strongly insisted we get BOMBS OF HADES on our roster by hook or by crook! Expect full-blown death metal abomination!"

BOMBS OF HADES is:

Jonas Stålhammar – Vocals, Guitar
P-O Söderback - Guitar
Magnus Forsberg - Drums
Anders Ekman - Bass

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/bombsofhades.

Here’s a brief extract of an interview with Steven Wilson to be aired on Planet Rock Radio on April 6th….. But not 100% confirmed!

“In essence, Porcupine Tree has probably run its course, I believe the band have reached a peak both musically and commercially and with my own change in musical direction, it would seem to me to be the appropriate time to put the band on a hiatus. I’ve enjoyed the extra freedom of being a solo artist and how it allows me to be more diverse than within the context of a band. I’m sure the band will appear again in some form, but not in the foreseeable future, I have a large backlog of musical ideas, I would like to see them come to fruition outside a band context, I trust most Porcupine Tree fans will see the greater picture and look forward to these exciting projects”

Finnish/Swedish symphonic metallers NIGHTWISH kicked off the current leg of their European tour on April 10 in Gothenburg, Sweden.

In a new posting on her official blog, NIGHTWISH singer Anette Olzon writes, "So, time to write some words about how the tour is going after these first shows.

"Well, it has been so great seeing so big audiences everywhere and even if every crowd is different, you all have made us so happy and energized, which is needed when you do so many gigs and travel so much.

"For me, the tour has started good but I got the finger injury and also have had a bad flu that Tuomas [Holopainen, keyboards] had and I got it quite fast after starting this leg. I feel better now, so that's good.

"Being on tour always makes you tired and ill here and there, and for me, as the singer, I of course feel a bit more stressed when I get a bug or get really tired and exhausted. Being on stage for 1 hour 45 minutes singing almost every night is a hard job and if you then have a bad throat or something that affects the voice, it makes it an ever harder job. But when you go out on stage and are feeling ill, just hearing you in the audience scream and sing along makes it much easier so just so you know — keep on screaming and sing — we love it!!

"Tonight it's Frankfurt and not the biggest crowd, like tomorrow in Zurich, but sometimes the smaller crowds actually are louder than the bigger crowds so we'll see tonight.

"Now I'll rest and eat, I always meditate before a show to relax my mind and fill my energy levels. Then I put on my outfit, start doing make-up and 45 minutes before the show I start to warm up the voice. I sing all day to keep it open but the real warm-up happens 45 minutes before. We play at 8:45 p.m. most nights but some nights it's 9 or 9:15 and I like the earlier nights more, 'cause that makes me get more sleep before we need to travel to next place. Tomorrow it's about 5.5-6 hours of drive so a bit early wake-up for me. I am that kinda person that needs at least 8 hours of sleep to sing well and not be all cranky.

"And this week we have our off-day in Milan and that's the off day I've longed for 'cause I'll do some shopping there. Fashion mecca."

NIGHTWISH will embark on a North American headlining tour in September with support from KAMELOT.

For more information, visit EnterTheVault.com.

NIGHTWISH released a limited-edition "Trials Of Imaginaerum" 10-inch picture disc for Record Store Day (April 21). The effort includes four previously unreleased demo recordings with Marco Hietala on lead vocals. It also comes with a download of the previously unreleased track "The Heart Asks Pleasure First", a cover with lyrics from the movie "The Piano".

"Trials Of Imaginaerum" features a picture of "The Crew, The Owl And The Dove" on one side, and the "Imaginaerum" grounds on the other side.

"The Crow, The Owl And The Dove", the second single from NIGHTWISH's latest album, "Imaginaerum", entered the official chart in Finland at position No. 1. The single features the title cut in three versions — radio edit, album version and instrumental — and the previously unreleased song "The Heart Asks Pleasure First" (theme from the movie "The Piano") in two different versions.

NIGHTWISH released a special "tour edition" of "Imaginaerum", on April 13 via Nuclear Blast Records. It is a 2CD+DVD digibook in slipcase.

"Imaginaerum" sold 12,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 27 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous CD, 2007's "Dark Passion Play", opened with 11,000 units to land at No. 84.

"Imaginaerum" was released in North America on January 10 via Roadrunner Records.

During a press conference in Italy to promote his second solo album, "Apocalyptic Love" (see video below), legendary guitarist Slash (VELVET REVOLVER, GUNS N' ROSES) was asked what it felt like to be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame without singer Axl Rose, who refused to attend the ceremony and be inducted with his former bandmates.

"I specifically don't talk about [Axl]," Slash replied. "But being at the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, in and of itself, turned out to be a really great experience. It was a mixed feeling going into… in the months leading up to the induction. It was not necessarily positive, but once I sort of decided, 'OK, I'm gonna go, and Duff [McKagan, former GN'R bassist] decided he was gonna go and Gilby [Clarke, former GN'R guitarist] and Steven [Adler, former GN'R drummer], and all that. Actually being there, being inducted was a really positive and pleasant experience. We recruited Myles Kennedy [of ALTER BRIDGE and Slash's solo band] to sing [at the induction] at the very, very last minute — like the morning of the flight [on our way to Cleveland]. It wasn't my idea this time [to get Myles involved]; it was Duff's idea."

In addition to Axl Rose, who announced earlier in the month that he would not attend and was not accepting his induction, other missing members included original guitarist Izzy Stradlin and longtime keyboardist Dizzy Reed, who still plays in the current version of the band.

For the Rock Hall induction performance, Slash, McKagan and Adler were joined by drummer Matt Sorum and Clarke for three songs — "Mr. Brownstone", "Sweet Child O' Mine" and "Paradise City" — from the band's classic 1987 debut, "Appetite For Destruction".

GREEN DAY's Billie Joe Armstrong delivered the induction speech for GN'R, saying, "The first time I saw GUNS N' ROSES on MTV, I thought, 'One of these guys could end up dead or in jail,'" He raved about "Appetite For Destruction", calling it "the best debut album in the history of rock and roll."

The 27th Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame will air on HBO Saturday, May 5 at 9:00 p.m. EDT/PDT.