According to Metal Sludge, original RATT bassist Juan Croucier is rumored to be rejoining the Californian rockers for their upcoming show at the M3 Rock Festival, set to take place on May 11-12 at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland.

In an October 2011 interview with Legendary Rock Interviews, Croucier stated about the possibility of him returning to RATT, "I never say never, because I can't predict the future but there have been some very nasty things said and done to me by my former bandmates in RATT. It has destroyed the trust, bond and respect we once had among each other."

He added, "I have had many offers to go back to RATT (ironically, sometimes while they were deriding me in the press at the same time) and the main reason I have not gone back to the band is because we had a very problematic situation in the first place, and nothing had (or has) changed — we don't get along, it's not fun and things that should be easy are hard. . . Some people like being in tumultuous relationships; I don't. I have been fortunate enough to be able to work in my recording studio, still play in bands and be a father that is present in my children's lives at the same time. It's not 'all about Juan.'"

Bassist Robbie Crane, who had played with RATT since 1997, quit the band last month to focus on LYNCH MOB. During an appearance on the March 22 edition of the "Headbangers At 11" show on the 93.3 KDKB radio station with host Mike Gaube, Crane stated about his decision to leave RATT, "I've been playing in LYNCH MOB since October of 2010. It's a thing that I've always loved doing, and I love playing with the band. . I'd been with RATT for 15 years and it was time to move on. I love being in LYNCH MOB and this is where my heart's at."

"Infestation", the first studio record in 11 years from RATT, sold around 14,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 30 on the Billboard 200 chart. The CD was released on April 20, 2010 via Loud & Proud.

"Infestation" was produced by Michael "Elvis" Baskette (CHEVELLE, ALTER BRIDGE) at his Virginia studio, marking the first time the band has recorded outside of Los Angeles. The album is full of attitude and of reflection, cycling through a range of emotions. There are party anthems that RATT are known for alongside more contemplative, thoughtful tunes.

"The Voice", the new video from London, England-based, female-fronted metallers MORTAD, can be seen below. The song comes off the band's debut album, "The Myth Of Purity", which was made available with the February 2012 issue of Metal Hammer magazine. The CD, which will receive a more "official" release later in the year, was recorded last October with producer Russ Russell (NAPALM DEATH, DIMMU BORGIR, EVILE).

"The Voice" honors the memory of Neda Agha Soltan, a young Iranian woman who was killed during the pro-democracy up risings in Iran in on June 20, 2009.

MORTAD will release a follow-up video explaining the song, the making of the video, Neda's life and the Iranian freedom movements on June 20.

Commented MORTAD frontwoman Somi Arian, "Lyrically, 'The Voice' is the most important song in 'The Myth Of Purity' album, also the only song that contains some Persian lyrics. I felt that I had something to say, I want to be 'the voice' of the voiceless and to honour the memory of thousands of men and women who lost their lives in a battle to revive the basic human rights for others."

"The Myth Of Purity" track listing:

01. All That's Born Must Be Destroyed
02. Waste Of My Rage
03. The Heights
04. Mirage
05. Feels Like Suffocation
06. The Myth Of Purity
07. I'm Not Interested In Being Interesting
08. By Default
09. The Voice
10. That Which Is Humane

MORTAD was formed in 2009 by Iranian vocalist Somi Arian , whose lyrics take aim at the hypocrisy of religion and the government as well as seeking inner truth and strength in the face of such oppression.

MORTAD released a music video and an EP, entitled "Pandemic Paranoia", in early 2011. This effort brought the band immense attention on the social media sites, placing the group as the No. 1 metal band on ReverbNation London metal chart, and attracting over 40,000 Facebook fans.

MORTAD's "Waste Of My Rage" video was sponsored by the Alchemy apparel clothing brand and produced by the Manchester-based video production company Video Ink. More than a dozen actors were cast for the clip, including Collette Von Tora, who agreed to have her head shaved for this video shoot.

MORTAD will enter the studio in November with Russ Russell to begin recording its sophomore album for a 2013 release.

"The Voice" video:

Norwegian black metal band BLODHEMN will release its new album, "Holmengraa", on May 18 via Indie Recordings. The CD's first single, "Djevelen i Menneskeform", can be streamed below.

BLODHEMN saw the light of night in 2004 as a one-man black metal band formed by Invisus as an outlet for his need to spread his music and lyrics. The first demos raised a lot of eyebrows in the underground scene in 2008, and the critically acclaimed EP "Brenn Alle Bruer" from 2010 made it clear that Invisus and BLODHEMN were very serious about what they were doing. BLODHEMN became an underground phenomena, and also earned a reputation as a stunning live band which amongst others resulted in them being handpicked to play the Norwegian industry festival By:Larm in 2011 at the main stage. The title track from "Brenn Alle Bruer" was also played a lot on national rock radio.

Season 4 of "Metalocalypse" — the smash hit animated series on Adult Swim featuring the fictitious metal band DETHKLOK — premieres Sunday, April 29 at 12:15 a.m. ET/PT. This season will include special guest voice work from members of SOUNDGARDEN and 3 INCHES OF BLOOD; American stand-up comedian, writer, actor and voice actor Patton Oswalt; musician Dweezil Zappa; and Jon Hamm of "Mad Men".

"Metalocalypse" co-creator Brendon Small spoke about the show's upcoming season and BRENDON SMALL'S GALAKTIKON "A High Stakes Intergalactic Extreme Rock Album", the debut release from his long-awaited side project, during an interview with Metal Injection conducted at the fourth annual Revolver Golden Gods awards, which was held on April 11 at Club Nokia in downtown Los Angeles, California. You can now watch the chat below.

Brutality wields its uncomfortable deth-hammer in the fourth season of "Metalocalypse". Excruciating horrors loom, waiting for the right moment to crush us all into a smooth repugnant paste, with very few lumps. Experience the lurking blackness of dating, the vomitous torture of job insecurity, the repulsive abhorrence of reality, the emasculating woe of dating a co-worker, and the pinching, sweaty waking DETH of flying coach. Will our beloved DETHKLOK survive these deathly trials or will they perish like a flaming serpent cast down by Odin? The Metalocalypse indeed looms nearer.

Created by Small and Tommy Blacha ("Da Ali G Show"), the "Metalocalypse" television series launched in 2006. One of the most popular series on the cable network, "Metalocalypse" portrays DETHKLOK as a Norwegian band with unheard-of popularity, even ranking them as the seventh-largest economy on earth.

"Metalocalypse" is produced at Titmouse Inc. in Hollywood, California.

Adult Swim, launched in 2001, is Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.'s network offering original and acquired animated and live-action series for young adults. Airing nightly from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. (ET, PT), Adult Swim shares channel space with Cartoon Network, home to the best in original, acquired and classic entertainment for youth and families, and is seen in 99.4 million U.S. homes.

Die Hard Rocker HEAVEN RAIN kommen aus Bósnia-Herzegowina und werden ihr neues Album mit dem Titel "Second Sun" am 1. Juni 2012 via Music Buy Mail veröffentlichen. Das Label hat jetzt das "Second Sun" Cover Artwork und die Track List enthüllt. Aufgenommen wurde "Second Sun" im Herbst 2011 in den Chainroom Studios in Serbien!

"Second Sun" Track List:

01. Close To Dawn (intro)
02. Heaven Rain
03. Dreamless
04. My Only One
05. Second Sun
06. Face Of Misery
07. Nowhere
08. Raven In Heart
09. When Day Fades To Dark
10. At The End Of Time
11. Veijte Snegori (bonus track)

AFFECTOR — the highly skilled, new international band consisting of German guitar-player Daniel Fries, Dutch drummer Collin Leijenaar (NEAL MORSE, DILEMMA) as well bass player Mike LePond (SYMPHONY X) and vocalist Ted Leonard (SPOCK'S BEARD, ENCHANT, THOUGHT CHAMBER), both from the United States — has been preparing for the release of its debut album, "Harmagedon", that will be out on May 22 (North America, May 21 Europe) via InsideOut Music. A first listen of the elaborate, atmospheric songs is now available with the release of a five-minute online album teaser including excepts from various songs off "Harmagedon". Check it out below.

Commented Leijenaar: "With this teaser we hope to give the listener a bit of an idea what 'Harmagedon' sounds like — but since these are only small excerpts of an album that contains about 65 minutes of music, there is much more music to explore, so the best way to really experience it, is to buy it."

He added, "The album cover has been made by designer Daniel Latsch. After he heard parts of the demos when we were writing the album and we told him our story concept, he made this beautiful artwork. We are very proud of it. It really adds something to the complete package. Especially with the vinyl version; one of the benefits of being able to release our album on vinyl also — the artwork is just stunning!"

"Harmagedon", was mixed and mastered at The Mouse House in Los Angeles by Rich Mouser (SPOCK'S BEARD, TRANSATLANTIC, NEAL MORSE). Alex Argento, Neal Morse (TRANSATLANTIC, FLYING COLORS), Jordan Rudess (DREAM THEATER) and Derek Sherinian (PLANET X, BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION). Also featured on the album is the Polish orchestra Sinfonietta Consonus. This concept album fuses a dark, apocalyptic scenery with themes of hope and light and features heavy riffs and lightning fast solos, but also has softer and more fragile moments, where the soulful singing of Ted Leonard opens a wide spectrum of vocal harmonies.

Citing broad musical influences and diverse inspirations between prog and classic as well as modern rock acts, AFFECTOR is like an open marriage between progressive rock/metal and orchestral minimalism, destined to appeal to everyone into bands ranging from DREAM THEATER, A.C.T., SYMPHONY X, DARKWATER to QUEEN or RUSH.

"Harmagedon" track listing:

01. Overture Pt. 1: Introduction
02. Overture Pt. 2: Prologue
03. Salvation
04. The Rapture
05. Cry Song
06. Falling Away & The Rise Of The Beast
07. Harmagedon
08. New Jerusalem

AFFECTOR is:

Daniel Fries - Guitar
Collin Leijenaar - Drums
Mike LePond - Bass
Ted Leonard - Vocals

For more information, visit www.affector.net.

Dutch blackened metal masters ONHEIL have entered the studio with producers Bart Hennephof (TEXTURES) and Yuma van Eekelen (EXIVIOUS, ex-PESTILENCE) to begin recording their new album, "Storm Is Coming", for a fall release via German metal specialists Cyclone Empire.

ONHEIL is known for having three guitarists and the new set of songs take full advantage of this triple axe attack. "Because of this the album will also sound like a raging storm," vocalist/guitarist Amok comments. "But as there are many different kind of storms, definately do not expect one long blastbeat. We still play our diverse mix of black, thrash, death and heavy metal."

ONHEIL's latest album, "Razor", was released in 2009 via Cyclone Empire. The CD was produced at the Final Focus studio by Bart Hennephof (TEXTURES) and Yuma van Eekelen (PESTILENCE).

BENEDICTUM has announced its continued collaboration with Jeff Pilson on the development of the band's next album, to be released before the end of the year via Frontiers Records. The result will bring back the magic BENEDICTUM and Pilson captured during their earlier releases, 2008's "Seasons Of Tragedy" and 2006's "Uncreation".

This year and 2013 will be exciting for BENEDICTUM following the recent addition of drummer Rikard Stjernquist, known for his exceptional talent in JAG PANZER for 25 years.

Pilson is known for his bass playing in such legendary acts as FOREIGNER, DOKKEN and DIO, as well as for working as a producer with LYNCH MOB and ADLER'S APPETITE, among others.

States Pilson: "I'm very excited about producing the new BENEDICTUM record. I'm very passionate about their music and love working with the band. V's vocals, Pete's guitars, the band's energy and the songs are all something that are very close to my heart. This record will be their crowning achievement — of that I have no doubts!"

BENEDICTUM was formed in 2005. After they were noticed by Craig Goldy (DIO, GUIFFRIA, BUDGIE), the wheels were set in motion and eventually led to their debut CD, "Uncreation".

BENEDICTUM is:

Veronica Freeman (lead vocals)
Pete Wells (lead guitar)
Chris Shrum (bass)
Rikard Stjernquist (drums/percussion)

Fan-filmed video footage of the new lineup of Australian thrash metal veterans MORTAL SIN performing the song "Deny" on March 31 at The Patch in Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia can be seen below.

last month recruited Dave Tinelt (NEKROFEIST) as their new vocalist.

Vocalist Mat Maurer quit MORTAL SIN in February month "for personal reasons and irreconcilable differences." He added, "Last year was an incredibly difficult year for me personally and I have decided to put my family first."

MORTAL SIN's latest album, "Psychology Of Death", was released in Europe on November 18, 2011 via NoiseArt Records. The effort includes the group's classic debut LP, "Mayhemic Destruction", as a bonus disc in the limited digipak version. The follow-up to 2007's "An Absence of Faith" was mixed with producer/engineer Darren "jENK" Jenkins and marks the recording debut of guitarist Ryan Huthnance, who replaced Mick Sultana.

Once hailed as the next METALLICA, MORTAL SIN have become legends in their home country Australia, having been inducted into the Kerrang! Heavy Metal Hall of Fame in 2005 and being the only Australian band to have played with the big five of thrash — METALLICA, SLAYER, ANTHRAX, MEGADETH and TESTAMENT — on tours in Australia and overseas.

Rock icon Ozzy Osbourne — who served as 2011's Record Store Day Ambassador — will again support the day's fifth annual celebration with two releases: "Ozzy Live", a double LP set taken from 2011's "Blizzard Of Ozz"/"Diary Of A Madman" 30th Anniversary Collector Box, and a seven-inch live version of "Diary Of A Madman"'s classic Ozzy track "Believer". Both are limited-edition, numbered vinyl editions which contain never-before- published archival photos.

For the first time ever, a vinyl version of the "Ozzy Live" CD — recorded on the "Blizzard Of Ozz" tour — will be released as a stand-alone title and issued on 180-gram vinyl. Beyond the live music, side 4 of the double LP features the 2010 Guitar & Vocal Mix of "Goodbye to Romance", along with the lost Randy Rhoads guitar solo "RR".

In another first, the seven-inch vinyl live version of "Believer", taken from the "Ozzy Live" CD, will be issued as a special polka-dot picture disc, inspired by Randy Rhoads' famous polka dot guitar. The track is being released to honor the 30th anniversary (March 19) of the acclaimed guitarist's passing.

Both are available for Record Store Day 2012:

* "Believer" seven-inch single
* "Ozzy Live" double LP

The complete track listing for the "Ozzy Live" double LP is as follows:

Side One

01. I Don't Know
02. Crazy Train
03. Believer
04. Mr. Crowley

Side Two

05. Flying High Again
06. Revelation (Mother Earth)
07. Steal Away (The Night)

Side Three

08. Suicide Solution
09. Iron Man
10. Children Of The Grave
11. Paranoid

Side Four

12. Goodbye to Romance (2010 Guitar and Vocal Mix)
13. RR

The song "The Law", from "Stop The Chaos", the upcoming mini-CD from Warsaw, Poland's revolutionary grind/metal assassins ANTIGAMA, can be streamed below.

The band recorded "Stop The Chaos" at Warsaw's Progresja Studio with sound engineer Pawel "Janos" Grabowski, and commissioned the mixing and mastering duties to longtime friend and prominent Polish music producer Szymon Czech (NYIA, THIRD DEGREE). Featuring six tracks of the band's monolithic crushing power and cutting-edge grindcore tactics, "Stop The Chaos" will be released on May 18 through Selfmadegod Records. The album will be available in a standard CD pressing as well as a limited-edition CD in special screen-printed jewel case box with patch and pin (limited to 100 pieces), and via digital download, with a vinyl version coming later this year.

ANTIGAMA has already begun confirming live attacks throughout Poland to promote the mini-album, beginning with a three-day killing spree in mid-May, including a record-release party in Warsaw on May 18, followed directly by shows in Turek and Poznan. Guitarist Sebastian Rokicki comments: "We are totally stoked about new recordings and can't wait to get them released. So far feedback has been more than great. We look forward to promoting 'Stop The Chaos' on stage this May!"

"Stop The Chaos" track listing:

01. E Conspectu
02. The Law
03. Stop The Chaos
04. Find The Function
05. Intricate Trap
06. The End

This year ANTIGAMA will also release a three-way split with NOISEAR and THE KILL, and will record a new full-length album later in the year.

SLAYER drummer Dave Lombardo confirmed to Metal Injection at the fourth annual Revolver Golden Gods awards — which was held on April 11 at Club Nokia in downtown Los Angeles, California — that the band will release a new EP prior to taking part in this summer's Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival.

During an interview with The Nervous Breakdown, Lombardo stated about SLAYER's current status, "[We're] writing new music. Kerry [King, guitar] and I are writing new material. We have nine songs and everything's moving forward."

When asked what the new material sounds like, Lombardo said, "[It sounds like] SLAYER. . . Traditional fans will be pacified and non-traditional fans will be like, 'Again?'"

On the topic of when SLAYER fans can expect to hear some new music from the band, Lombardo said, "I don't know, but we're going to do a three- or four-song EP to keep the fans pacified until we come out with the full-length record. Kind of like what we did with 'Psycopathy Red', which was like a two-song 45."

Lombardo's side project PHILM — which also features guitarist/vocalist Gerry Nestler (CIVIL DEFIANCE) and bassist Pancho Tomaselli (WAR) — will release its debut album, "Harmonic", on May 15 via Ipecac Recordings.

Several hard rock musicians have commented on the passing of broadcast legend Dick Clark, the creator and longtime host of the "American Bandstand" show.

Clark became a national icon in the late 1950s, having hosted "American Bandstand" for more than 30 years.

KISS frontman Paul Stanley stated about the 82-year-old the youthful-looking television personality, who was dubbed "America’s Oldest Teenager": "As a little boy, I sat transfixed to our television every afternoon and Saturday night watching 'American Bandstand'. Dick Clark was the face of rock and roll and its best ambassador. His decades of successes both in and outside of the music industry are unparalleled. He championed KISS when others turned away and was instrumental in breaking us through his show 'In Concert'. Through the years, Dick was always available when I had a question or wanted guidance. Dick Clark was the rare exception who was a bigger person in real life than the public image or legend that was also to be his legacy. I will remember him with great respect and gratitude."

David Draiman (DISTURBED): "So sad, really thought he might be a vampire. Never seemed to grow old."

Jeff Scott Soto (TALISMAN, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, JOURNEY): "RIP, a legend, a pioneer of rock and roll, the guy who set the bar for DJs around the world, Dick Clark, you are an important part of history that will never be forgotten!!"

Glenn Hughes (BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION, BLACK SABBATH, DEEP PURPLE): "RIP to old friend Dick Clark: thanx for bein' part of our Cal Jam TV show."

Kip Winger (WINGER): "RIP Dick Clark, we thought you'd live forever! Rockin' the heavens and beyond!

Michael Sweet (STRYPER): "RIP Dick Clark — it was an honor to perform on 'American Bandstand' and to meet you back then. There was no one like you nor will there ever be."

A 43-second clip featuring behind-the-scenes footage from the recording sessions for the first new SOUNDGARDEN song in almost 16 years, "Live To Rise", can be seen below. The track was made available as a free download on iTunes beginning April 17 as part of the promotion of "Marvel's The Avengers". The seven-day promotion includes an exclusive clip, "The Face Off", from the superhero team-up movie coming out on May 4.

"Live To Rise" was written specifically for "Marvel's The Avengers" after SOUNDGARDEN was approached about contributing a song to the film.

"The hard part of writing a song for a film is it has to act as a SOUNDGARDEN song, first and foremost, then obviously, it has to coexist with the film," SOUNDGARDEN singer Chris Cornell told Billboard.com.

Cornell told Seattle radio station KISW that fans should not think of "Live To Rise" as an indication of what the rest of the group's new record will sound like. Chris explained, "Some of the songs on our new album are pretty far left of center, and sort of zero in on more of a hardcore SOUNDGARDEN fan and not necessarily a family that goes to see a film like that. Although ['Live To Rise' is] not really what I think of as a necessarily family-friendly song, but it's as close as we've ever come."

The singer added that the tune wasn't specifically based on the movie, saying, "I think a film like this appeals to little kids all the way to old people because it's an action film, it's comic book characters, but it's also pretty witty dialog and accomplished actors doing it. So it had to be somewhat open to all of that. But also first and foremost it has to be a SOUNDGARDEN song."

SOUNDGARDEN officially reunited in early 2010 after disbanding in 1997. Since then, the group has played one full-length North American tour, a batch of festival and club gigs, and some overseas shows.

The group also released a career retrospective called "Telephantasm" as well as a concert album titled "Live On I5", which was recorded on its last tour before breaking up.

A release date and title for the new SOUNDGARDEN album have yet to be announced.

Rocker-turned-director Rob Zombie has joined forces with the newly launched Nerdist Channel to bring you "My Name Is Eugene", a new comedy series.

"My Name Is Eugene" follows the sad and hilarious life of Eugene S. Van Dekak, an angry, sex-starved television repairman living in Eagle Rock, California.

Cry not for our hapless hero, Eugene has dreams beyond broken electronics and his lost love Julie… he dreams of the big time. What exactly his idea of the big time is, well, you will have to tune in an find out.

Check out one of the many touching songs he’s written about his lost love Julie in the YouTube clip below.

Zombie's latest film, "The Lords Of Salem", is currently in the final stages of post-production and promises to be Zombie's most insane film yet. "I am enjoying taking my time finishing this film. I hate rushing things at this stage of the process, so it is a luxury to take it slow and really fine-tune every part of the production," stated Zombie. No release date is set yet for the film.

Kevin Lyman, Vans Warped Tour founder and producer of the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival, has confirmed to Metal Insider that The Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival Boat will take place December 7-11. The floating festival will feature performances by LAMB OF GOD, ANTHRAX, MACHINE HEAD and SUICIDE SILENCE as well as other, yet-to-be-announced acts from the Metal Blade, Sumerian, Roadrunner and Century Media labels. KORN's Jonathan Davis and SLIPKNOT's Sid Wilson will DJ on the cruise as J-Devil and DJ Starscream, respectively, and there will also be a film festival presented by Fangoria and SLIPKNOT's Shawn "Clown" Crahan, who will also curate a charity art show.

"We are just excited to get to put this together," Lyman told Metal Insider. "It has been a fun process for both of us and really allows us to expand the Mayhem brand and good times."

Legendary rock guitarist Ronnie Montrose (MONTROSE, GAMMA) has been playing music for over 40 years, and believe it or not, "Live At The Uptown" is the one and only live DVD recording of his career, which sadly ended on March 3 when he committed suicide after a five-year battle with prostate cancer.

Ronnie and his band created a very wonderful evening filmed at the Uptown Theater in Napa, California this past January 27, 2012. This DVD includes acoustic pieces, songs you never heard him perform before, and ones you haven't heard him do for years and years and years.

Ronnie rocked the house with a great set list that included many of his big hit songs, including "Rock the Nation", "I Got The Fire", "Make It Last", "20 Flight", "I Don't Want It", "Space Age Sacrifice", "Rock Candy", "Bad Motor Scooter" and "Good Rockin' Tonight".

"Live At The Uptown" will begin shipping on May 1 and is available as a regular DVD, DVD with limited poster and DVD with limited edition poster (no metallic). The limited edition, numbered poster is 12.5" x 19", black Speckletone paper, with three-color — "a very special and historic item!"

For more information and to place an order, go to this location.

According to Sick Drummer Magazine, Los Angeles cyber metallers FEAR FACTORY have tapped Mike Heller (MALIGNANCY, SYSTEM DIVIDE) as their new touring drummer.

Commented Heller: "It is an incredible honor to be chosen as the new drummer for FEAR FACTORY! It's something I never would have dreamt of as a kid listening to 'Soul Of A New Machine' and 'Demanufacture' over and over again in middle school. It's also an incredible honor to be following in the footsteps of two of the most amazing and influential drummers in metal drumming history. I hope to continue their legacy, creating some of the most forward-thinking and innovative music available today."

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

Bell notes, "The protagonist (The Industrialist) is the incarnation of all industries in the form of an automaton. The mechanical, technological, and scientific advances through the industrial age led to the creation of The Industrialist. In the story, the automaton becomes sentient as it collects memories with each passing day. Through observation and learning, it gains the will to exist. What was meant to help man, will eventually be man's demise."

"The Industrialist" again pairs FEAR FACTORY with producer Rhys Fulber. Mixed by Greg Reely (PARADISE LOST, SKINNY PUPPY, MACHINE HEAD), with additional tracking by Logan Mader (GOJIRA, DIVINE HERESY), the album is the second written by Bell and guitarist Dino Cazares since reuniting in 2009 after a seven-year split. Cazares says, "Collaborating with Burton again on the new album was like magic. Everything just fell into place naturally. It felt good to recapture the true sound of FEAR FACTORY, taking it back to where it all started while raising it to new levels." Regarding Fulber, Cazares says, "Rhys has been our secret member. He is the one producer who has been able to understand what we have been trying to accomplish from the beginning and has opened our eyes to new things without sacrificing our original sound. His production and keyboard talents has made FEAR FACTORY stand out amongst the many bands of our genre."

"The Industrialist" track listing:

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

* Available on deluxe digibook only

The album's lead single, "Recharger", will be available via iTunes, Amazon and other online retailers beginning April 24.

FEAR FACTORY's first tour dates since 2011 kick off with four performances in South America, including Brazil, Argentina, and Chile, before starting American dates in San Antonio on May 1. Support on the trek will come from SHADOWS FALL, THE BROWNING, THE DEVASTED and LEGACY OF DISORDER.

Two month ago, Nuclear Blast Records started a videocontest for the second NIGHTWISH single „The Crow, The Owl And The Dove“ - out of their top seller „Imaginaerum“.
About 200 creative fans uploaded their unique creations up on YouTube – and the results were simply unbelievable! The band members, their management and label were totally flashed by the different clips, the great ideas and the amazing results any participant showed. Tuomas Holopainen comments: „We were overwhelmed about the effort people had put into making these videos, wow! This truly caught us by surprise. Wonderful job everyone!“
It wasn’t easy tho choose a winner, as everyone would have deserved a price!
Anyway, the whole band, members of their Management KingFoo and their label Nuclear Blast have decided. The winner is Pedro José Antunes Hipólito Calvo from Portugal!
His beautiful clip simply touched our heart. „The winner has a beautiful thought behind the video and is truly sympathetic and touching in its naivety“, says Tuomas Holopainen.
Pedro will receive a special award, free access to any NIGHTWISH concerts on this tour, a meet and greet with the band and lots of merchandise items.
The 2nd price goes to: Daniel McCarthy from England
The 3rd price goes to: Wolfgang Stefan Jungwirth from Austria
And since we were all so impressed, Nuclear Blast decided to also add more prices for a 4th and 5th place:
The 4th price goes to: Jennifer Klug from Canada
The 5th price goes to: Elizabeth Cooper from Australia

Former GUNS N' ROSES members Slash, Duff McKagan, Steven Adler, Matt Sorum and Gilby Clarke performed three "Appetite For Destruction" songs with Myles Kennedy at the band's Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony this past Saturday night (April 14) in Cleveland, Ohio. Kennedy, who handles lead vocals in Slash's solo band and ALTER BRIDGE, sang "Mr. Brownstone", "Sweet Child O' Mine" and "Paradise City", with "Use Your Illusion"-era member Sorum sitting behind the drum kit on "Brownstone" and the man he replaced in GN'R, Adler, pounding the skins for the other two songs.

"The rest of the guys/inductees suggested we get Myles to sing," says Slash, "and I thought it was a great idea."

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."

"It turned out to be a very special evening," says Slash.

In addition to singer 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.

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

Check out photos of the event:

* Wire Image - Inside
* Wire Image - Show
* Wire Image - Arrivals
* Wire Image – Press Room
* Film Magic - Show
* Film Magic - Press Room
* Getty Images - Show
* Getty Images - Press Room
* Getty Images - Arrivals

Fan-filmed video footage of the Marseille, France-based female-fronted metalcore band ETHS performing on March 16 at Ferrailleur in Nantes, France can be seen below.

ETHS's new video, "Adonai", was shot in the Frioul Islands and the band's hometown with director Louis Vignat of Scandale Productions.

"Adonai" comes off ETHS' third album, "III", which was released on April 6 via Season Of Mist. The CD was recorded at Studio Fredman in Gothenburg, Sweden with producer Fredrik Nordström, who has previously worked with AT THE GATES, IN FLAMES, DARK TRANQUILLITY, ARCH ENEMY, SOILWORK and BRING ME THE HORIZON, among others.

The track listing for the album is as follows:

01. Voragine
02. Harmaguedon
03. Adonaï
04. Gravis Venter
05. Inanis Venter
06. Sidus
07. Proserpina
08. Hercolubus
09. Praedator
10. Anatemnein

The first leg of ETHS tour in support of "III" features support from fellow French metallers KELLS, who released their new album, "Anachromie", on January 20.

As previously reported, ETHS was recently rejoined by the band's original drummer, Guillaume Dupré.

ETHS' sophomore album, "Tératologie", was released in France in October 2007 and was made available in other parts of Europe in April 2008 via Season of Mist. The band's sound is described in a press release as "dark and powerful metal with tortured atmospheres, led by charismatic female singer Candice Clot, who with her amazing voice sings, talks, whispers and growls."

Swiss hard rockers GOTTHARD will release a new single, "Starlight", on Friday, April 20. The title track will be made available in two versions: a rock and an acoustic variation.

"Starlight" was one of the first songs that the band wrote with new singer Nic Maeder.

"The chemistry between us worked immediately," says guitarist Leo Leoni. "It is really unusual to be able to sit down together and straightway write a song which is later the single."

"Right from the get-go, we had a really laid-back atmosphere between us," agrees Nic. "It was therefore not hard to come up with good ideas. It was really good fun from the start!"

A 30-second preview of "Starlight" is available below.

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

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

"Firebirth" track listing:

01. Starlight
02. Give Me Real
03. Remember It's Me
04. Fight
05. Yippie Aye Yay
06. Tell Me
07. Shine
08. The Story Is Over
09. Right On
10. S.O.S.
11. Take It All Back
12. I Can
13. Where Are You? (dedicated to Steve Lee)

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

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

Commented Leoni: "We are delighted with the new album. Songwriting with Nic and Freddy was a real explosion of inspiration and new ideas! Regarding sound and production, we have returned to our roots and we deliberately produced it with a pure — and for GOTTHARD — typical sound. For us, 'Firebirth' is the comeback album with the rating: back to basics!"

Added Marc Lynn: "Collaboration with Nic was unbelievable — it feels that we have known each other forever and the euphoria in the band is now burning like a new fire. It is a true rebirth of the zest of 20 years ago, when the band took off 'to conquer the world.' Producing this album with the new lineup was a real 'birth of fire' — we are very proud of our new baby."

GOTTHARD's first recording with Maeder, a song called "Remember It's Me", was made available late last year as a free download via the GOTTHARD web site and was met with a firestorm of enthusiasm and positive feedback.

Stated Maeder: "It was absolutely amazing to experience the positive feedback from the GOTTHARD fans and the media after the release of 'Remember It's Me'. Now I am looking forward to the reaction to our first album together. The chemistry in the band feels fantastic and we are very much looking forward to being onstage in a couple of weeks and rocking with the fans."

GOTTHARD's first live shows with Maeder will take place in May in South America before the band makes several European festival appearances. The new group's German live debut will take place on July 14 at the Bang Your Head!!! festival in Balingen.

The reactivated original lineup of SPINESHANK — featuring Jonny Santos (vocals), Tommy Decker (drums), Mike Sarkisyan (guitar) and Rob Garcia (bass) — will release its long-awaited fourth album, "Anger Denial Acceptance", on June 19 (one day earlier internationally) via Century Media Records. Produced by Sarkisyan and Decker and mixed by Mike Plotnikoff (PAPA ROACH, BUCKCHERRY), the CD promises to surpass everyone's expectation of what SPINESHANK is capable of.

Commented guitarist Mike Sarkisyan, "It was very important to us, as artists, to make this record. We felt like we had something to say as a band." Their message was urgent and unambiguous, a sonic exorcism of sorts. "Some of us were going through divorces, others lost people very close to them and that's what basically surrounded us during the creative process."

"Anger Denial Acceptance" track listing:

01. After The End
02. Nothing Left For Me
03. Anger Denial Acceptance
04. I Want You To Know
05. Murder Suicide
06. The Endless Disconnect
07. I Am Damage
08. Ploratio Morbus (interlude)
09. Everything Everyone Everywhere Ends
10. The Reckoning
11. God Complex (Anger)
12. Motive Method Opportunity (Denial)
13. Exit Wound (Acceptance)

The official "lyric video" for the song "Murder Suicide" can be seen below.

In a recent interview with FrontRowRock.com, Decker stated about "Anger Denial Acceptance", "It's three of the stages of grieving, rearranged a bit. I think it's something a lot of people can relate to; things ending, relationships, people. Members of this band have been through a lot in the last few years and it all came out in this record. This is the most personal record we've ever done. Everything you hear is real. The pain, anger and sadness come from a real place. It was not a fun record to make."

When asked about the recording process for the new CD, Decker said, "The recording process was a lot different this time. It was the first record where we didn't have an outside producer come in, we did it completely on our own. We also did it in different sessions. We'd write three or four songs and then go record them. Write three or four more and record them in a different studio. We actually took our Pro Tools rig to a cabin in Big Bear and did a lot of the vocals there. We were totally isolated from the outside world; we were able to fully focus and concentrate on the songs. It was a really cool way to record."

Speaking to Valerie Bastien of RockSource360, Sarkisyan stated about "Anger Denial Acceptance", "I think the biggest difference in making this record was that it was done by us from the writing stage all the way to tracking. We didn't have a label rep up our asses all the time and we just kind of had the freedom to do what we wanted, when we wanted and how we wanted. Musically, it's light years ahead of what 'Self-Destructive Pattern' was, as it should be. We all have grown as writers and performers, and we've gotten better at expressing ourselves in our music.

On the topic of the new album's title track and why the band felt it was a perfect fit to name the whole album after it, Mike said, "That song was like my 'baby' on this record. I had come up with the skeleton of it before bringing it up to the guys. I had a pretty clear idea of where it needed to be, musically. Those three words just kept ringing in my head the whole time I was putting this together. It's some of the stages of dealing with loss. Any kind of loss. It was the first time that me, Tommy and Jonny collaborated on lyrics. It sort of became the centerpiece of the record and although it's not a full concept album, the album does tie together in more ways than one. And it's not structured like a basic song either. It's not that 'verse/chorus/verse…' thing. It has three distinct and different parts that sorta tie in together and represent 'Anger Denial Acceptance'. I'm super happy with the way it came out and am very proud of it."

SPINESHANK's third and last album, "Self-Destructive Pattern", was released on September 9, 2003. The album's lead single, "Smothered", was nominated for a Grammy in the category of "Best Metal Performance".

Following his departure from SPINESHANK, Santos formed SILENT CIVILIAN, which released its debut album, "Rebirth of the Temple", in May 2006. A follow-up effort, "Ghost Stories", came out in May 2010 via Mediaskare/Century Media.

Canadian viking/folk metal band VALFREYA has inked a worldwide deal with Toronto's Maple Metal Records. The six-piece group's debut album, "Path To Eternity", will be released in late May.

Formed in February 2009, the Montreal-based VALFREYA is fronted by Crook, whose singing style ranges from symphonic clean vocals to guttural growls.

Although Crook is VALFREYA's main composer, the material on "Path To Eternity" features key contributions from guitar player Graz'zt, drummer Mawhjey, and the rest of the band.

"Path To Eternity" was produced by VALFREYA and was recorded, mixed and mastered in the fall of 2011 at Silver Wings Studio in Montreal.

Influenced by bands like MOONSORROW, EQUILIBRIUM and WINTERSUN, VALFREYA is known for its dynamic, crowd-pleasing, theatrical stage shows. They have shared the stage with such acts as DESPISED ICON, ARKONA, UNEXPECT, CANCER BATS, NORDHEIM, and many others

"Path To Eternity" track listing:

01. Path To Eternity
02. Deity's Grace
03. Inferno
04. Beyond Illusions
05. Ocean's Assault
06. Confront Immensity
07. Condemned The World
08. Alefest
09. My Everlasting Scar
10. Glorious Death

VALFREYA is:

Crook - Lead Vocals
Graz'zt - Guitars, Vocals
Karhu - Guitars
Pinch - Bass
Shark - Keyboards
Mawhjey - Drums, Vocals

Melodic metal band ARTIZAN will enter legendary Morrisound Studios in Tampa, Florida in August with producer Jim Morris (ICED EARTH, SAVATAGE, CRIMSON GLORY, DEATH) to record its new album, "Ancestral Energy", for release via Pure Steel Records at the April 2013 edition of the Keep it True Festival in Germany. The title track reveals a deep backstory of the Artizan character.

Commented ARTIZAN founder Ty Tammeus, "We have created a rich, unique and quite dark concept which describes the lineage and source of power for our Artizan character. The new material continues in the vein of the first album along with some more up-paced and heavier songs. There is more emphasis on the progressiveness elements, and, of course, we continue to focus on strong melodies."

ARTIZAN's full-length debut, "Curse Of The Artizan", came out in April 2011 through Pure Steel.

ARTIZAN, hailing from Jacksonville, Florida, was formed by original members of the acclaimed Century Media recording artist LEVIATHAN, and released its self-titled debut EP in late 2009. With a strong resemblance to such great bands as IRON MAIDEN, QUEENSRŸCHE, FATES WARNING and CRIMSON GLORY, ARTIZAN is undoubtedly one of the best exponents of what classic heavy metal is all about.

Video footage of Finnish melodic metallers SONATA ARCTICA performing a new song, "I Have A Right" at the PPM Fest, which was held April 6-8 at the Lotto Mons Expo in Mons, Belgium can be seen below.

"I Have A Right" is the first single from SONATA ARCTICA's new album, "Stones Grow Her Name", which will be released on May 18 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was recorded in several studios all over Finland, mixed at Sonic Pump Studios by Mikko Karmila and mastered at Chartmakers by Svante Forsbäck. The effort will be released as a limited-edition digipak, standard jewel case, vinyl and download.

"Stones Grow Her Name" track listing:

01. Only The Broken Hearts (Make You Beautiful)
02. Shitload of Money
03. Losing My Insanity
04. Somewhere Close To You
05. I Have A Right
06. Alone In Heaven
07. The Day
08. Cinderblox
09. Don't Be Mean
10. Wildfire II
11. Wildfire III

Commented SONATA ARCTICA vocalist Tony Kakko: "I've had a very hard and work-filled two-year period writing the songs while touring extensively with our previous album, 'The Days of Grays'. But it has all been worth it!

"Yet again we are introducing new things to keep the music alive and interesting. New elements, styles and new moods, talented quest artists and ideas for the enjoyment of the loyal friends of our music."

Gunnar Sauermann, a writer for the German edition of Metal Hammer magazine, was one of the first media people to hear a rough-mix version of "Stones Grow Her Name" at this past February's Finnish Metal Expo in Helsinki. He comments, "SONATA ARCTICA was never more exciting and more versatile as on 'Stones Grow Her Name'. Every single song is a hit!"

Gunnar Sauermann, a writer for the German edition of Metal Hammer magazine, was one of the first media people to hear a rough-mix version of "Stones Grow Her Name" at this past February's Finnish Metal Expo in Helsinki. He comments, "SONATA ARCTICA was never more exciting and more versatile as on 'Stones Grow Her Name'. Every single song is a hit!"

Dutch multi-instrumentalist and AYREON mastermind Arjen Lucassen will release his new concept solo album, "Lost In The New Real", on April 23 in Europe (three days earlier in Germany, Austria and Switzerland) via InsideOut Music.

CD1:

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

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

CD 2:

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

* Bonus CD-ROM section: "The Artwork"

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

Musicians

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

The "Lost In The New Real" title track is now available for streaming in the YouTube clip below.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Guest musicians: