PHILM — the Los Angeles-based experimental post-hardcore triumvirate featuring drummer Dave Lombardo (SLAYER), guitarist/vocalist Gerry Nestler (CIVIL DEFIANCE), and bassist Pancho Tomaselli (WAR) — will release its debut album, "Harmonic", on May 15 via Ipecac Recordings.

"Harmonic" track listing:

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

The song "Area" is now available for streaming using the SoundCloud player below (courtesy of Terrorizer magazine).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For more information, visit the PHILM Facebook page.

"Area" audio stream:

Earlier today (Tuesday, April 17), Finnish melancholic dark rock/metal icons AMORPHIS played a special acoustic set at YleX Studio B Live in Helsinki, Finland. The complete show can now be streamed at this location.

AMORPHIS's setlist for the performance was as follows:

01.Empty Opening
02. I Of Crimson Blood
03. Enigma
04. Sign From The North Side
05. Rusty Moon

AMORPHIS is in the middle of a tour of special concert halls in their homeland where they are performiing rarely heard material and special acoustic versions of their classics.

AMORPHIS' latest album, "The Beginning Of Times", entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 16 — the best chart position ever scored by an AMORPHIS album in that country. The CD also landed at position No. 1 on the Finnish chart.

Released on May 27, 2011 via Nuclear Blast Records, "The Beginning Of Times" is described as "the most challenging AMORPHIS album so far in terms of both music and lyrics." Its central character is the iconic hero of Finnish mythology, Väinämöinen, whose tale has been masterfully retold by lyricist Pekka Kainulainen.

"The Beginning Of Times" was produced by the band; vocals were recorded under the guidance of Marco Hietala (NIGHTWISH, TAROT) in his home studio in Kuopio. Like its predecessors, the album was mixed by Mikko Karmila. Its cover artwork shows Travis Smith's magnificent interpretation of the mythological birth of the world from a goldeneye's egg.

Fan-filmed video footage of QUEENSRŸCHE's April 14 concert at HSBC Brasil in São Paulo, Brazil can be seen below.

The band's setlist was as follows:

01. Get Started
02. Damaged
03. I Don't Believe In Love
04. Hit The Black
05. I'm American
06. My Empty Room / At 30,000 Ft.
07. Desert Dance
08. Real World
09. NM 156
10. Screaming In Digital
11. The Lady Wore Black
12. Walk In The Shadows
13. The Right Side Of My Mind
14. Silent Lucidity
15. Take Hold Of The Flame

Encore:

16. Jet City Woman
17. Empire
18. Eyes Of A Stranger / Anarchy-X

QUEENSRŸCHE's classic first full-length album, "The Warning", which was originally released on September 7, 1984, was reissued on limited-edition 180-gram audiophile vinyl with a gatefold cover on February 14.

"The Warning" was re-released on May 6, 2003 with three bonus tracks.

QUEENSRŸCHE's latest album, "Dedicated To Chaos", sold 8,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 70 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous CD, the epic concept album "American Soldier", opened with 21,000 units back in April 2009 to enter the chart at No. 25. This was roughly half the first-week tally registered by QUEENSRŸCHE's "Operation: Mindcrime II" album, which shifted 44,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release back in April 2006 to debut at No. 14 on The Billboard 200 chart.

QUEENSRŸCHE's 2003 effort, "Tribe", sold 20,000 copies in the first week while 1999's "Q2K", opened with sales of 28,000.

QUEENSRŸCHE's top-selling album by far is 1990's "Empire", which was certified triple-platinum in October 1994 for sales in excess of three million copies in the United States. The original "Operation: Mindcrime" release (1988) attained platinum status in August 1991, while 1994's "Promised Land" reached the same plateau in December 1994.

Fan-filmed video footage of PRONG performing a brand new song, "Eternal Heat", on April 14 at the Marquis Theater in Denver, Colorado can be seen below.

"Eternal Heat" comes off PRONG's new album, "Carved Into Stone", which will be released on April 24 in North America via Long Branch Records/SPV. The CD was recorded with producer Steve Evetts, who has previously worked with THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, SYMPHONY X, SEPULTURA and HATEBREED, among others. The cover artwork was created by Vance Kelly (DOWN, THE SWORD) and can be seen below.

According to a press release, "Carved Into Stone" "is quintessentially PRONG. It stretches into the band's earliest and dirtiest foundations on which the band was founded on New York's Lower East Side to the present as a staple of today's post-metal and rock scenes."

Comments PRONG mainman Tommy Victor: "It was hardest I've ever worked in the studio on any record I've ever been involved with."

PRONG — whose lineup is rounded out by bassist Tony Campos and drummer Alexei Rodriguez — has taken a major step forward in their constantly evolving brand of sonic schematics.

"I always believed there were many dimensions to PRONG," says Tommy. "Every record we've been associated with different scenes — hardcore, metal, industrial — even dance! I think this record brings all of that together and sounds very modern at the same time."

"Carved Into Stone" track listing

01. Eternal Heat
02. Keep On Living In Pain
03. Ammunition
04. Revenge ... Best Served Cold
05. State of Rebellion
06. Put Myself to Sleep
07. List of Grievances
08. Carved Into Stone
09. Subtract
10. Path of Least Resistance
11. Reinvestigate

The song "Ammunition" is available for streaming below (courtesy of AOL's Noisecreep).

Founded in 1986, PRONG is considered to be a pioneer of the American post-hardcore and post-metal scenes whose influence is still being felt today.

PRONG's last release was "Power Of The Damn Mixxxer", the remix counterpart to the band's 2007 album "Power of The Damager".

"Eternal Heat" performance footage:

Christian hard rockers P.O.D. (PAYABLE ON DEATH) have released their first official single, "Lost In Forever", from their forthcoming studio album, "Murdered Love". The single is now available for download on iTunes and you can listen to an exclusive stream of the song at RevolverMag.com (also available below)

"Lost In Forever" is getting a great reception at radio, with adds coming in early in over 25 markets across various formats including Active/Mainstream/Alternative and Christian. The song debuts this week on the Active and Christian rock charts one week before impact date.

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

"Murdered Love" is scheduled for release on June 19 via Razor & Tie. The band's long-awaited follow-up to "When Angels & Serpents Dance" sees the band reunited with longtime producer Howard Benson, who also produced the band's massive "Satellite" album alongside hit CDs for Kelly Clarkson, THEORY OF A DEADMAN, DAUGHTRY, THE ALL AMERICAN REJECTS and MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE.

P.O.D. will kick off a series of tour dates and festival shows on April 28 and will stay on the road throughout 2012.

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

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

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

U.S. progressive metal icons FATES WARNING tapped Mike Portnoy (ADRENALINE MOB, TRANSATLANTIC, DREAM THEATER, AVENGED SEVENFOLD) to sit behind the kit for their first-ever visit to South America as special guests for QUEENSRŸCHE this past Saturday (April 14) in São Paulo, Brazil. Fan-filmed video footage of the concert can be seen below.

Commented FATES WARNING: "We had a great time playing with Mike back in 2005 at the Headway festival in Holland and [we were] happy that [he was] able to help us out again. We'd also like to make it clear that Bobby Jarzombek is still the drummer for FATES and will be . . . on [our] new record we're currently working on. Unfortunately, Bobby committed to another gig on the same day (ironically, in the same city) before this show was planned."

In a recent interview with Bulgaria's Tangra Mega Rock, FATES WARNING singer Ray Alder stated about the progress of the songwriting sessions for the new CD, "We're trying as hard as we can. We have these shows [in Europe] and then we go to Brazil in April. And in the meantime we are working as hard as we can to finish the album. Hopefully we'll have it out by the end of this year, If not, the beginning of next year. We're trying our best."

He added, "We need to finish writing right now. We finished the first song. The demo version is already done. We'll continue writing as we have a lot of ideas that we need to put together. But the first song is done and I can tell you it's seven minutes long. The recording process itself usually takes about two months and then after that it's another three more months before the album is released. So, we are talking five months out there after the album has been written."

The "Parallels" lineup of FATES WARNING played a number of shows in 2010 in support of the released special edition of the album, which was made available through Metal Blade Records. In addition to remastered audio, there is a second audio disc of live and demo material. The package also includes a DVD with nearly three hours of material, including a complete live show from the 1992 "Parallels" tour and a documentary on the making of "Parallels" which includes live, studio, and current day interview footage with all the band members, Terry Brown (producer) and Brian Slagel (CEO of Metal Blade Records).

FATES WARNING's latest CD, "X", was released in 2004 on Metal Blade Records. The follow-up to 2000's "Disconnected" was recorded at Carriage House studios in Stamford, Connecticut and features cover artwork by renowned record-cover artist Ioannis (DREAM THEATER, SEPULTURA, DEEP PURPLE, BLUE ÖYSTER CULT, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, KING CRIMSON, BIOHAZARD, VOIVOD, UFO, OVERKILL).

According to Greg Prato of RollingStone.com, VELVET REVOLVER guitarist Dave Kushner has launched an "animated" rock band called PUSHERJONES, featuring "The Simpsons" creative director Dave Warren, singer Frankie Perez (CAMP FREDDY, SCARS ON BROADWAY), bassist Scott Shriner (WEEZER) and drummer Joey Castillo (QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE). The group's first single, "Count Me Out", will be released on May 1. The song, which is included on "Avengers Assemble", a 14-track compilation of music from and inspired by the film "Marvel's The Avengers", is currently available for streaming at RollingStone.com.

Kushner describes PUSHERJONES' sound to RollingStone.com as "a cool riff-rock thing. We're all influenced by everything from ZEPPELIN and SABBATH to newer bands," he says. "A lot of it has been based on different stuff that has happened to me or stuff I've heard being in VELVET REVOLVER for eight years. It's basically about a big, notorious rock band, and there's a new guy that's coming into the band. You're basically seeing all of the dysfunction and insanity, and the things that make for great rock bands through the eyes of the new guy."

Co-creators Kushner and Warren currently have a TV pilot for the "PusherJones" animated series and a music video in development while the band is putting the finishing touches on an as-yet-untitled five-song EP, to be released in early summer 2012. "

"Dave and I had a mutual love of music and animation and wanted to mash up the two," explains Kushner. "We asked ourselves, what if the GORILLAZ were more like GUNS N' ROSES? We took it a step further and merged a real band and music with a fictional storyline and characters that are entertaining, relatable and funny. The music, art and the story has to co-exist in the same world while being able to kick ass on their own."

Co-creator Warren adds, "Kushner has all these amazing, crazy stories about growing up in Hollywood, working at Tower Records and eventually touring the world with VELVET REVOLVER. We'd get together and swap stories about the music and television worlds and laugh our asses off. We realized this is our own life story, our experiences in the crazy world of show biz and we started to imagine this 'South Park On The Sunset Strip' idea which became this imaginary band from Hollywood called PUSHERJONES."

Finnish metallers GHOST MACHINERY have released a new single on which they pay tribute to two great Finnish traditional heavy metal bands that paved the way for modern-day melodic metal.

Commented GHOST MACHINERY: "From the northern part of Finland comes ZERO NINE with 25 years of hard rocking and 10 albums under their belt. In southern Finland IRON CROSS was founded in 1976 and the band recorded 3 stunning albums that haven't had the publicity they should've had.

"The super-catchy ZERO NINE song called 'Never Stop Running' can be found on their 'White Lines' album. On this one our special quest is an original member from ZERO NINE, guitarist Timo Käsmä, who plays one hell of a solo on this tribute.

"The IRON CROSS masterpiece 'Fight For The Strangers' can be originally found on their 'Too Hot To Rock' album. We had an honour to have a visit from two guitar heroes from Taage's other band KILPI, Aleksi Summe and Pete Kilpi. These guys had a majestic sword fight in the studio and the result can be heard on this one."

GHOST MACHINERY is currently working on material for its third album. According to the band, "The demos are done and it's going to be yet another killer album with elements that have been found appropriate for a mighty melodic metal album."

GHOST MACHINERY's second album, "Out For Blood", was released in August 2010 via Germany's Limb Music. The cover artwork was designed by Rainer Kalwitz, who has previously worked with such artists as METAL CHURCH, SHADOW GALLERY, PRAYING MANTIS and DARE.

GHOST MACHINERY in 2009 recruited Taage Laiho (KILPI, ALTARIA) as the band's new vocalist.

Laiho sang on two ALTARIA albums — "Divinity" and "The Fallen Empire" — and he also took part in an extensive European tour with the band in 2006.

Formed in 2002 by Pete Ahonen (BURNING POINT), GHOST MACHINERY released its debut album, "Haunting Remains", in December 2004. Since then, the band has been very active behind the scenes and the guys in the group have been in and out from the studio recording the second GHOST MACHNERY CD, "Out for Blood". Taage was able to put his "mark" on the record with his great singing as well as his lyrics.

GHOST MACHINERY is:

Taage Laiho (KILPI, ALTARIA) - Vocals
Pete Ahonen (BURNING POINT, STARGAZERY) - Guitar
Mikko Myllylä (KING'S RUIN) - Guitar
Sami Nyman - Bass
Jussi Ontero (BURNING POINT, KING'S RUIN) - Drums, Keyboards

Frontiers Records has set a June 5 North American release date four days earlier in Europe) for "Nine", the third album from Norwegian progressive metallers CIRCUS MAXIMUS.

Five years after the release of the concept album "Isolate", CIRCUS MAXIMUS is back with what is described in a press release as "a strong and mature CD."

"A lot happened in our personal lives during the past few years," explains drummer Truls Haugen. "Three of us had kids, plus we also had a several bumps in the road with the production. So it has not exactly been a joyride, but it feels great to finally be done, and after all this time we are ready to unleash our new monster!"

CIRCUS MAXIMUS worked hard to further refine its sound. The band's musical formula is not easy to accomplish — take jaw-dropping musicianship, add a singer like Michael Eriksen with a voice from heaven and toss it together with hooks, anthemic melodies and enough groove and heavy riffing that really gets into your head.

For this new record, CIRCUS MAXIMUS presents the best of both worlds — offering their most melodic and at the same time heaviest moments of their repertoire, with class and maturity which is really from another world.

"The majority of the material on the new record was written by Mats Haugen and he has taken the music to a kind of simpler and more accessible approach, yet kept the progressive elements and the 'nerve' that is CIRCUS MAXIMUS," says Truls. "We're actually more melodic and heavier on this new record than we've ever been."

"Nine" track listing:

01. Forging
02. Architect Of Fortune
03. Namaste
04. Game Of Life
05. Reach Within
06. I Am
07. Used
09. The One
10. Burn After Reading
11. Last Goodbye

"Reach Within" will be released as a digital single on April 27. A video for the song is also in the works.

"Reach Within" audio snippet:

LOVE AND DEATH, the new band led by former KORN guitarist Brian "Head" Welch, performed its new single, "Chemicals", live for the first time this past Thursday, April 12 at the Music Hall in Curitiba, Brazil. Fan-filmed video footage of the concert can be seen below.

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

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.

Norwegian avant-garde black metal outfit VULTURE INDUSTRIES has inked a deal with Season Of Mist. The band is currently writing and recording demos for its forthcoming album.

Commented vocalist Bjørnar Erevik Nilsen: "We have sold our collective souls to the record company known as Season Of Mist... we are sure Season Of Mist has the musical integrity for a thriving relationship and we have pledged them the release of our next album."

Based in Bergen, and with two critically acclaimed releases on Dark Essence Records under their belts, VULTURE INDUSTRIES' lineup is composed of Bjornar Nilsen (BLACK HOLE GENERATOR) on vocals, keyboards and programming, Øyvind Madsen (SULPHUR, ex-ENSLAVED) and Eivind Huse (SULPHUR) on guitar, Kyrre Teigen on bass and Tor Helge Gjengedal (ex-TAAKE) on drums.

Massachusetts metallers THE ACACIA STRAIN have inked a deal with Rise Records. The band's new album will be released in October.

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 in June 2011 via Prosthetic Records. "The Most Known Unknown" is a double-disc set, limited to 5,000 copies, which came out just in time for the band's first appearance on the long-running Vans Warped Tour. The music on the album comes from two separate shows — a sold-out concert at the Worcester Palladium in December 2008 and a gig at the much smaller and more intimate Waterfront on the band's home turf of Holyoke, Massachusetts — which were documented on 2009's "The Most Known Unknown" DVD. The unique digipack features a pop-out "thumbs up," which you can see front man Vincent Bennett demonstrating and discussing below.

"This Is The Sweetest Kind Of Lie... You Are The Deadliest Surprise", the sophomore full-length album from former NOTHINGFACE bassist Bill Gaal's IN FOR THE KILL project, can be streamed in its entirety at InForTheKillBand.com. The CD will be released on April 17 via S6 Records.

IN FOR THE KILL's melodies are the product of Gaal's methodical devotion to crafting hypnotic rock 'n' roll rife with massive hooks and pounding grooves. For the album, the former NOTHINGFACE bass player stepped into the role of musical auteur — penning all ten songs, playing guitar and singing, producing and mixing the music — in his Van Nuys studio, Elektrik Sound. Enlisting NOTHINGFACE basher Chris Houck behind the kit, Gaal created a deadly dream of a record.

A successful producer and composer, Gaal's work can be heard on hit television shows like "The Ghost Whisperer" as well as films such as "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" and "3,000 Miles to Graceland". However, IN FOR THE KILL is closest to his heart.

"A big part of what makes IN FOR THE KILL work is that I'm capable of handling every aspect of the project on my own," explains Gaal. "From songwriting to mixing, I don't have to rely on anyone else. Since I'm not on a schedule, I can take the time to make the best record possible. Also, I can be selective about the musicians involved."

He certainly chose the right guys for "This Is The Sweetest Kind Of Lie… You Are The Deadliest Surprise", starting with longtime collaborator Chris Houck. "He was the perfect fit for this record," Gaal goes on. "Chris and I grew up together on a lot of the same music, so he really understood where I was trying to go with these new songs. Because of our history, it was great recording and writing again. There is a special thing that happens when we play together. It's in the first three NOTHINGFACE albums, and it's in this new one."

Some of Gaal's other co-conspirators include CAPRA drummer Michael Johnson, who co-produced vocals, and PRONG's Mike Longworth, who dropped in some "really killer leads" on the tunes. Together, they tapped into something corrosively catchy. Think The BLACK KEYS produced by Trent Reznor…

About the sound, Gaal affirms, "I've always listened to more rock than metal. Although IN FOR THE KILL is not a metal band per say, the music on the new record is still pretty dark. Some of themes deal with heavy things that have happened in my life. I still have the same aggression in me that I did when I was writing for NOTHINGFACE; it's just filtered more through my lyrics now. The guitars are heavy, the bass playing is heavier, and the drumming is undeniably great."

You can hear loud and clear on the likes of "The Gold And The Gun" and "If Darkness Could Kill". Both tracks illuminate the dangerous diversity at the heart of Gaal's songwriting and performing. The latter even shows another side of the artist punctuated by his airy croon and haunting Mellotron organ. "That's my version of a love song," he reveals. "I wrote the lyrics in a moment of desperation when all I wanted to do was be alone with my wife and cut out all of the bullshit of the outside world. I wanted to flip a switch and get rid of everyone else except us. It's not exactly the most gentle sentiment."

In many ways, "The Gold And The Gun" sums up where Gaal is right now. "It's about the false idea of 'success.' When we were trying to achieve what we thought was success in NOTHINGFACE, I spent so much time trying to get somewhere that I didn't even take the time to enjoy the moment. You have to be careful how you define the world or you'll miss out on a lot of great moments."

Swedish metallers SABATON kicked off their North American tour this past Sunday night (April 15) at Backstage Live in San Antonio, Texas. Fan-filmed video footage of the concert can be seen below.

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

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

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

SABATON's new album, "Carolus Rex", will be released in Europe on May 25 via Nuclear Blast Records. The lyrics for the CD, which will be made available in both English and Swedish, deal with the Swedish Empire (referring to the Kingdom of Sweden between 1561 and 1721).

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

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

Multi-camera video footage of b>CHIMAIRA's March 22 concert at 02 Academy 2 in Oxford, England can be seen below. Metalhead Media, which shot the footage, states, "We start with camera audio until 01:46 where we then change to a desk/camera audio mix."

CHIMAIRA's current lineup is as follows:

Mark Hunter - Vocals
Matt Szlachta (DIRGE WITHIN) - Guitar
Jeremy Creamer (DAATH) - Bass
Emil Werstler (DAATH) - Guitar
Sean Zatorsky (DAATH) - Keyboards
Austin D'Amond (BLEED THE SKY, THE ELITE) - Drums

CHIMAIRA's "Chimaira Christmas" concert on December 30, 2011 at the House Of Blues in Cleveland, Ohio marked the band's final performance with guitarists Matt DeVries and Rob Arnold.

CHIMAIRA in December released a free digital EP, "The Age Of Remix Hell", via Multiupload.com. The effort, as the title suggests, contains remixed versions of songs from "The Age Of Hell".

"The Age Of Hell" sold more than 7,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 54 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous CD, "The Infection", opened with 15,000 units back in April 2009 to land at No. 30. This figure was roughly in line with the first-week tally registered by CHIMAIRA's 2007 album, "Resurrection", which shifted 16,000 copies to enter the chart at No. 42.

"The Age Of Hell" was released in the U.S. on August 16, 2011 via eOne Music; in Germany on August 26; and in the United Kingdom, Australia and the rest of Europe on August 29 through Long Branch Records.

Performance:

"Don't Follow", the new video from U.K. metallers FURYON, can be seen below. The song comes off the band's debtu album, "Gravitas", which was released on March 23 in Europe and March 27 in North America via Frontiers Records.

FURYON is a new band from the U.K. who like nothing more than to challenge expectations. Raised on a diet of heavy metal, prog, and classic rock, FURYON mix all these components for a truly unique and contemporary sound. Delivering huge rock-radio-friendly songs, with technically-challenging-yet-infectiously-catchy musicianship, they are dedicated to one sole purpose: making hard-hitting songs that will stand the test of time.

"Our music is good songs with touches of intelligence," says singer Matt Mitchell, "There are a many different moods that come out from this album and all the songs have meaning and substance. Heavy and melodic! That is what FURYON and this album, 'Gravitas', is about."

What separates FURYON from the crowd is the sheer quality of their musicianship. Boasting two truly world-class guitarists in the form of Chris Green and Pat "The Shred" Heath, FURYON have few peers when it comes to the quality of their iconic riffs and jaw-dropping solos. Backing them up is one of the tightest rhythm sections the rock world has to offer, with the awesome combination of Lee Farmery and Alex "Nickel" Bowen. Leading from the front is the outstanding vocal versatility of Matt Mitchell, whose emotion drenched voice effortlessly moves between melodic and crunchingly heavy.

"We really have been inspired by many bands over the time, as all musicians and writers are," continues Matt, "but for this album, inspirations from bands like SOUNDGARDEN, ALICE IN CHAINS, TOOL, MASTODON, ALTER BRIDGE and IRON MAIDEN spring to mind."

In 2009, after a sell-out tour and accompanying EP, FURYON set about the serious business of writing their debut album. The early demos reached the ears of U.S. producer Rick Beato (SHINEDOWN, FOZZY), and a powerful and symbiotic relationship was formed.

"Our hookup with Rick Beato was through Kip Winger," recalls Matt. "We toured with WINGER on their 'Karma' tour and we had spoken with Kip about the band SHINEDOWN and how we liked there productions. Kip hooked us up with Rick and to our delight he was interested in doing the album. Rick is a truly great producer and writer."

Released independently on a low profile and later covermounted on Metal Hammer U.K., "Gravitas" was made available on Frontiers Records with the following track listing:

01. Disappear Again
02. Stand Like Stone
03. Souvenirs
04. Don't Follow
05. New Way of Living
06. Voodoo Me
07. Fear Alone
08. Wasted on You
09. Our Peace Someday
10. Desert Suicide
11. Voodoo Me (acoustic) *
12. Souvenirs (acoustic) *

* Bonus tracks

FURYON is:

Matt Mitchell - Vocals
Chris Green - Guitars
Pat Heath - Guitars
Alex "Nickel" Bowen - Bass
Lee Farmery - Drums

InsideOut Music has set a September 24 tentative release date for "Epicloud", the next album from Canadian musician/producer Devin Townsend to be released under the DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT banner.

"Epicloud" is a "poppy, proggy" record which will feature a guest appearance by former THE GATHERING frontwoman and previous Devin collaborator Anneke Van Giersbergen.

Anneke, who recently recorded her vocals for "Epicloud" at Devin's studio in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, wrote in a Facebook posting, "Mister Devin Townsend is a genius. I cannot tell you how awesomely fantastic his album will be. Epic! Epic! Epic! And he made me do 20 hours of the loudest and most gorgeous vocals I've ever done."

Townsend debuted a song from "Epicloud" called "Back Where We Belong" during an acoustic performance this on March 31 at Club Saw in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada as part of this year's Junofest.

The idea for "Epicloud" came about while Devin was attempting to write material for the follow-up to his 2007 "Ziltoid The Omniscient" concept album about a fictional extraterrestrial being named Ziltoid from the planet Ziltoidia 9.

In a recent interview with Soundwave TV, Devin stated about how "Epicloud" was conceived, "In this sort of process of writing that I've discovered that I guess I'm capable of now, with a sober frame of mind, part of that is just not second-guessing it, so if I write something like that, I just do it, and just finish it."

He continued, "Over the past couple of years, I thought, 'OK, I've gotta write this next 'Ziltoid' thing; I'm inspired to make this epic space opera and, like, really overdo it, and [make it] really dark. And so I sat down to write, but every time I went to write, I'd write some poppy hard rock thing. And I was like, 'OK, we'll get that one out of the way and then I'll write 'Ziltoid'.' And I got it out of the way and I'd go write 'Ziltoid'. And I'd write another one. So I'm thinking, 'OK, it's pretty obvious to me that I've got this that wants to come out before that.'"

Regarding the musical direction of "Epicloud", Devin told Noisecreep, "Over the course of the full record, there's sort of new agey stuff, jazzy stuff, really heavy stuff. We basically cover the gamut. 'Epicloud' is the first record that I felt confident enough to include all those things on one record so it goes between melodic hard rock to schizophrenic heavy metal to country to really ambient stuff and it's all in one place. I'm using a gospel choir, a string section and a horn section for this one as well. On [the DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT album] 'Deconstruction', I got to use the Prague Philharmonic [orchestra] and really go far into making an absurd album as over the top as possible and on 'Epicloud' I'm trying to take the same advantages to make some things musically very pleasing, as opposed to just claustrophobic."

"Epicloud" will contain the following tracks:

* Taurus
* Animals
* Liberation
* Back Where We Belong
* Save Our Now
* Kingdom (re-recording of PHYSICIST song)
* Divine
* Grace
* More!
* Heatwave
* Hold On
* Angels

On the topic of his decision to re-record "Kingdom", a song from his PHYSICIST album, which came out in 2000 on Townsend's label, HevyDevy Records, Devin said, "We re-did 'Kingdom' because it's a live set staple, and so much better now than the PHYSICIST recording."

Drummer Mike Portnoy (DREAM THEATER, AVENGED SEVENFOLD), bassist Billy Sheehan (STEVE VAI, DAVID LEE ROTH), guitarist Tony MacAlpine (neo classical-metal style, STEVE VAI) and keyboardist Derek Sherinian (DREAM THEATER, PLANET X, BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION) will join forces this fall, embarking on an extended tour of Europe and Asia. The virtuoso band will play an all-instrumental set consisting of material from each of their solo records and their previous collaborations as well as classic instrumental covers and extended solo spots.

Portnoy formed the lineup to perfom at two drum events at the NAMM show last January (footage below). Due to overwhelming response, that band has decided to take their show on the road.

"I knew when assembling this lineup that it would be a magical musical experience that would be a blast for us as well as the fans! I can't wait to play again with these tremendous musicians and share the experience with you all at these special shows!" says Portnoy.

The dates are as follows:

Oct. 17 - [to be announced] - Opole, Poland
Oct. 18 - [to be announced] - Wroclaw, Poland
Oct. 20 - Jukebox Club - Bucarest, Romania
Oct. 21 - Boerderij - Zoetermeer, Holland
Oct. 25 - Reading 3 - Tel Aviv, Israel
Oct. 26 - Bingo Club - Kiev, Ukraine
Oct. 27 - Izvestia Hall - Moscow, Russia
Oct. 28 - Glav Club - St. Petersburg, Russia
Oct. 31 - [to be announced] - Beijing, China
Nov. 02 - [to be announced] - Shanghai, China
Nov. 04 - [to be announced] - Taipei, Taiwan
Nov. 06 - [to be announced] - Manila, Philippines
Nov. 08 - [to be announced] - Bangkok, Thailand
Nov. 10 - [to be announced] - Fort Gate, Singapore

Poly-instrumentist Ettore Rigotti and screamer Claudio Ravinale from DISARMONIA MUNDI (the Italian death metal act known for the presence of Björn "Speed" Strid from SOILWORK on its ranks) have joined forces with guitarist Elliot Sloan (also known for being a professional skater in the Tony Hawk team) in a brand new band called THE STRANDED. Keyboard player Alessio NeroArgento was subsequently added to the lineup.

THE STRANDED's debut album, "Survivalism Boulevard", is scheduled for release on July 2 via Coroner Records, while the Japanese version, featuring an exclusive bonus track, will hit the stores via Media Factory.

"Survivalism Boulevard" is described in a press release as "a modern combination of powerful extreme elements such as feral vocals and fast riffing mixed with more melodic and catchy moments provided by emphatic choruses and industrial keys."

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Blood Like Gasoline
02. Only Death Can Save Us Now
03. Blackout Season
04. Ill Will Future
05. Sulphur Crown
06. Eclipse
07. Carnival Shroud
08. Post-Human Archetype
09. National Breakdown
10. Survivalism Boulevard

"Pitch-Black Universe", the new video from Finnish dark melodic death metal icons BEFORE THE DAWN, can be seen below. The song comes off the band's new album, "Rise Of The Phoenix", which will be released on April 27 via Nuclear Blast Records.

Commented directors OneManArmy Productions: "The video was shot in an abandoned garage in probably one of the ugliest towns in Finland (Kouvola) which seems to be made completely out of concrete so the scenery was pretty much ideal. It was very pleasant to work with a band that was cool with playing with real fire instead of relying on digital effects and we managed to cause only one small second-degree burn to the hand of Tuomas — so it all went pretty well!"

After the departure of Lars Eikin (bass/clean vocals) and Atte Palokangas (drums), Finland's BEFORE THE DAWN experienced a rebirth of sorts. What could formerly be described as dark metal started to flow much more into melodic death metal waters.

Armed with new members Pyry Hanski (bass) and Joonas Kauppinen (drums), BEFORE THE DAWN will surprise you with a totally new, incredibly thrilling listening experience on their seventh studio album.

The perfectly fitting phoenix symbolism was chosen prudently as mainman, vocalist and mastermind Tuomas Saukkonen explains. "Massive changes in the line-up during 2011 ended an era of great frustration and brought back 110% dedication and professionalism into the band," he says. "The newfound energy and motivation steered us into a victorious European tour and made it possible to produce the strongest, fastest, heaviest and definitely the most epic BEFORE THE DAWN album so far!"

"Rise Of The Phoenix" track listing:

01. Exordium
02. Pitch-Black Universe
03. Phoenix Rising
04. Cross To Bear
05. Throne Of Ice
06. Perfect Storm
07. Fallen World
08. Eclipse
09. Closure

Bonus tracks:

10. Unbreakable (2012 version)
11. Deliverance
12. Reflection (taken from the very first demo, 1999)

"Pitch-Black Universe" video:

"This Is My Life", the first song from I AM I, the new band led by former DRAGONFORCE singer ZP Theart, can be streamed using the audio player below.

I AM I will release a promotional video for the song "Silent Genocide" in late April. The group, whose lineup is completed by Paul Clark Jr. on drums, Jacob Ziemba on guitar and Neil Salmon on bass, will make its live debut on Sunday, May 27 at Birmingham, England's O2 Academy 2.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"This Is My Life" audio stream:

AOL's Noisecreep has posted video footage of ADLER — the new band featuring former GUNS N' ROSES drummer Steven Adler, bassist Johnny Martin, ex-LYNAM vocalist Jacob Bunton, and ADLER'S APPETITE guitarist Lonny Paul — performing an acoustic version of the song "Waterfall" in what marked the group's first-ever appearance as a four-piece act. Check out the clip below.

"The One That You Hated", the first single from ADLER, can be streamed below. The cover for the single was created by the band's guitarist, Lonny Paul.

ADLER filmed a video for "The One That You Hated" earlier in the month in the Los Angeles area.

In addition to Steven and Lonny, ADLER features Jacob Bunton (LYNAM, MARS ELECTRIC) on vocals/guitar. The group has been recording its debut album in Los Angeles with producers Jeff Pilson (former DOKKEN and current FOREIGNER/TOOTH AND NAIL bassist) and Jay Ruston (ANTHRAX, STEEL PANTHER, ADRENALINE MOB).

ADLER's CD will feature guest appearances by ROB ZOMBIE/ex-MARILYN MANSON guitarist John 5 and Steven's former GUNS N' ROSES bandmate Slash (guitar).

"I love the music that we're creating!" states Adler. "I haven't been this excited about my band since the GN'R days. Jacob is exactly the singer I have been searching for. He has an amazing range and is a great writer and frontman. Lonny is an amazing guitarist and songwriter and the vibe is amazing!" He added, "I'm so excited for everyone to hear this record!"

Steven spent the past several years touring and recording with ADLER'S APPETITE, which played original material alongside cover versions of songs from GUNS' classic debut album, "Appetite For Destruction".

In 2010, Adler collaborated with Slash on the latter's self-titled debut solo album. He appeared on the track "Baby Can't Drive", along with RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS bassist Flea, Alice Cooper and Nicole Scherzinger. The song was featured on an expanded edition of the album released by Classic Rock magazine.

Adler, Slash, bassist Duff McKagan, singer Axl Rose and guitarist Izzy Stradlin were all inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame this past Saturday, April 14 in Cleveland, along with later GUNS N' ROSES members, keyboardist Dizzy Reed and drummer Matt Sorum.

"Waterfall" acoustic performance:

Legacy will release "Playlist: The Very Best Of Alice Cooper" on May 29. The collection features remastered tracks from Alice's catalog. No further details are currently available.

As previously reported, a new book spanning the career of Alice Cooper will be published on June 13 in the U.K., and September 1 in the USA via Omnibus Press. Titled "Welcome To My Nightmare: The Story Of Alice Cooper", it is written by Dave Thompson, who has many rock books under his belt.

EMPIRES OF EDEN — the brainchild of PAINDIVISION/ex-DUNGEON guitarist Stu Marshall — will release its third album, "Channelling The Infinite", on June 1 in Japan through Rubicon, and on June 6 in rest of the world June 6 through Music Buy Mail. The CD features guest appearances by some of the most influential voices in metal, including:

* Udo Dirkschneider (ACCEPT, U.D.O.)
* Rob Rock (IMPELLITTERI, DRIVER)
* Steve Grimmett (GRIM REAPER, LIONSHEART)
* Mike Dimeo (MASTERPLAN, RIOT)
* Sean Peck (CAGE)
* Carlos Zema (OUTWORLD, VOUGAN)
* Ronny Munroe (TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA, METAL CHURCH)
* Alessandro Del Vecchio (HARDLINE, EDEN'S CURSE, EDGE OF FOREVER)
* Danny Cecati (EYEFEAR, PEGAZUS)
* Louie Gorgievski (CRIMSONFIRE)
* Vo Simpson (DARKER HALF)

Loaded with 12 tracks of brain-blasting power metal, "Channelling The Infinite" features killer production and powerful, hook-laden music that will appeal to any aficionado. Each song is carefully crafted specifically to suit the singer involved, and designed to best complement their range and style. From there, the vocalists have complete freedom to write the lyrics and melodies, providing a unique insight into what truly inspires these artists. It is also available as a limited-edition digipak that includes bonus tracks for each territory.

In addition to the spectacular vocals, face-melting lead breaks and riffs that could take on a nuclear arsenal. EMPIRES OF EDEN once again showcases the incredible cover art by Los Angeles-based artist Alex Ruiz.

Commented Marshall: "I am overwhelmed by the power and emotion of the vocal performances that these amazing singers have brought to the album. It's pushed my playing to levels I never thought possible and has created the most well-rounded release I have ever been involved with. Writing for these incredible artists is a dream come true and the finished product has actually exceeded my expectations. Every song is filled with a passion and spirit that immediately grabs the listener; I am very excited for people to hear this album."

"Channelling The Infinite" track listing:

01. Cry Out (feat. Rob Rock)
02. Hammer Down (feat. Udo Dirkschneider)
03. This Time (feat. Steve Grimmett)
04. Channelling the Infinite (feat. Sean Peck)
05. Lions For Lambs (feat. Alessandro Del Vecchio)
06. Cyborg (feat. Carlos Zema)
07. World On Fire (feat. Louie Gorgievksi)
08. Your Eyes (feat. Mike Dimeo)
09. Born A King (feat. Danny Cecati)
10. As Flames Scorch The Ground (feat. Vo Simpson)
11. White Wings (feat. Ronny Munroe)
12. Hammer Down (all-star version) (feat. Udo Dirkschneider, Rob Rock, Sean Peck, Carlos Zema, Vo Simpson, Ronny Munroe) (bonus track)
13. Born a King (feat. Sean Peck) (bonus track)

A digital single, "This Time", featuring Steve Grimmett, is scheduled for release on May 26.

Norwegian metallers PURIFIED IN BLOOD have inked a deal with Indie Recordings. The band's new album, "Flight Of A Dying Sun", will be released in Europe on June 15.

Commented the group: "Needless to say, we are extremely proud to be a part of the Indie family. We play metal and why not release our heaviest album on the finest metal label around which happens to be a Norwegian one. This is the beginning of a new era for PURIFIED IN BLOOD."

In Norway, the "Flight Of A Dying Sun" digital release of will happen through a unique cooperation between Indie Recordings and Universal Music.

PURIFIED IN BLOOD's "Under Den Svarte Himmel" video can be viewed below. The song comes off the group's sophomore full-length album, "Under Black Skies", which was released in June 2010 via Spinefarm Records. The CD was produced by Ashley Stubbert (a U.S. producer/engineer/mixer who moved to Norway two years ago) in the band's hometown of Stavanger, and mixed by Matt Bayles (MASTODON, ISIS, BOTCH) in Seattle.

Since first coming together in 2003, PURIFIED IN BLOOD has toured throughout Europe and the U.S., shared stages with the likes of SLAYER, MASTODON and IN FLAMES, and picked up the occasional award along the way (i.e. the Alarm award for "Best Live Act" in 2006).

Brazilian metallers ALMAH have announced the addition of 34-year-old guitarist Gustavo Di Padua to the group's ranks.

Di Padua (pictured below) is a professional guitarist and music producer from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He started his musical career playing with various local bands when he was 14.

Gustavo released his first solo CD, "The Stairs", in 2008 and was a member of such metal bands as GLORY OPERA, AQUARIA and ENDLESS. He was also one of the finalists in the worldwide Guitar Idol 2008 contest.

Di Padua will make his live debut with ALMAH on April 20 at the Metal Open Air festival in São Luis, Maranhão, Brazil.

Guitarist Paulo Schroeber recently left ALMAH"due to health problems."

Schroeber recorded two studio albums with ALMAH, "Fragile Equality" (2008) and "Motion" (2011).

Reunited Los Angeles heavy metal legends MALICE will release their new album, "New Breed Of Godz", on May 22 in the U.S./Canada, May 25 in Germany and May 28 in the rest of Europe through SPV/Steamhammer. The band recently entered Silvercloud Recording studio in Redondo Beach, California with producer Joe Floyd (HALFORD, BRUCE DICKINSON, WARRIOR) to record updated versions of eight classic MALICE metal anthems such as "Stellar Masters" and "Sinister Double" as well as "four killer new tracks" for the CD, which will be made available as a high-class digipak with a bonus DVD.

"New Breed Of Godz" track listing:

CD:

01. New Breed Of Godz (new song)
02. Hell Rider
03. Against The Empire
04. Branded (new song)
05. Sinister Double
06. Circle Of Fire
07. Stellar Masters
08. Winds Of Death (Angel Of Light) (new song)
09. Air Attack
10. Chain Gang Woman
11. Slipping Through The Cracks (new song)
12. Godz Of Thunder

DVD contents (running time: approximately 60 minutes)

* Rare live footage from 1987
* Three live tracks from 2011 edition of Keep It True festival in Germany
* Making of "New Breed Of Godz" album

A snippet of the re-recorded version of "Hell Rider" can be streamed in the YouTube clip below.

MALICE will hit the road in the fall, with dates to be announced soon. Stepping in for Mark Behn on the live front will be Robert Cardenas (AGENT STEEL), who also laid down the bass tracks on the new songs in the studio.

"We were all amazed at the great crowd response and turnout for the gigs we played in 2011, and it feels great to have a well-known label like SPV behind us, be in the studio with a veteran lineup and have a killer producer," stated MALICE guitarist Jay Reynolds. "There will no longer be an absence of MALICE!"

In an early 2011 interview with KNAC.COM, Zane stated about MALICE's present incarnation, "Pete's been out on the road with MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP for the last ten years and he's doing some dates with BLACK 'N BLUE. . . We're excited to have James Rivera come in and [play] with us. He did a great job on the VICIOUS RUMORS 'Warball' record. . . Brian Allen, who did our last reunion show, is now singing with VICIOUS RUMORS and we even approached Tim 'The Ripper' Owens (JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN) at one point."

Regarding MALICE's forthcoming album, Zane told KNAC.COM, "We have some killer new songs in the can and we're really stoked at the thought of getting back in the studio and releasing a new MALICE record. We released a new CD of rare and unreleased tracks [in 2010] on Retrospect Records that's been doing very well. Everyone's really going to like the new stuff."

The band released an album titled "The Rare And Unreleased" in 2010 on Retrospect Records.

MALICE's two Atlantic releases — "In the Beginning" (1985) and "License to Kill" (1986) — are available Stateside on WEA label Wounded Bird and have continued to sell over the years.

MALICE is:

Jay Reynolds - Guitar
Mick Zane - Guitar
Mark Behn - Bass (on re-recorded versions of old songs)
Robert Cardenas - Bass (on new songs)
James Rivera - Vocals
Pete Holmes – Drums

For more information, visit MALICE's official web site, www.malicemusic.com.

Pictured below (from left to right): Mick Zane, Jay Reynolds, James Rivera, Robert Cardenas, Pete Holmes

THE BLACK LOCUST PROJECT, the Norwegian band featuring former THEATRE OF TRAGEDY drummer Hein Frode Hansen, ex-THE CREST guitarist Kristian Sigland, and TO CAST A SHADOW guitarist Marcus Granlien, has made its debut demo available to the general public. There are two versions available: a limited-edition hand-numbered physical CD (limited to only 50 copies), and a free digital copy with MP3s and printable cover artwork (not handnumbered).

THE BLACK LOCUST PROJECT's demo features the following four tracks: "Gallows", "We Remain Strangers", "Funeral Pyre" and "Wounded Sky".

THE BLACK LOCUST PROJECT was formed in late 2010 after the demise of THEATRE OF TRAGEDY. The music can be described as a mix of progressive rock, industrial, doom, death and thrash metal with melodies.

For more information, go to this location.

Former SKID ROW singer Sebastian Bach performed at Carioca Club in São Paulo, Brazil last night (Saturday, April 14) as part of a short South American headlining tour. Fan-filmed video footage of the concert can be seen below.

After the show, Bach posted the following message on his Facebook page:

"Well, that was crazy. Thank you, São Paulo, for being an incredible crowd tonight.

"It is frustrating for us to play in smaller venues sometimes. The crowds are insane and we just got physically attacked trying to leave the venue. Hair was pulled, crew members got punched, my ears are blown because of the sheer excitement and pandemonium playing this place tonight.

"I know you all want a picture, but we can only do so many pictures with you all. It's impossible to take a picture with every single one of you.

"After playing stadiums here for years, playing the theatre tonight just didn't make sense. We had to do an early show to make room for the samba band coming in after us and it really wasn't fair to the band or the fans.

"Doing four cities in four nights by plane is insanely gruelling and it's hard for the fans to understand how physically demanding this is.

"I would love to hang out with you all, but everyone gets so excited they just grab and pull and scream and it's not that much fun to be grabbed and yanked and pulled at for hours on end.

"We try to give all our energy onstage, so please try and realize we are just human beings when we are done with the show.

"If I dont feel like posing for pictures for hours on end, it doesn't mean I don't like you. It means that I would rather maybe talk, hang out, relax a little.

"I love you all!

"Please try and understand we are people just like you.

"If I walked up to you and pulled your hair or screamed at you, maybe you wouldn't like it either.

"We are on a crazy schedule, so please bear with us.

"Don't shoot me — I'm only the piano player, okay!

"Thanks, São Paulo. See you again in a couple of days!"

Bassist Jason Christopher — who filled in for Shawn Economaki during STONE SOUR's spring 2011 tour and who previously played with SLIPKNOT/STONE SOUR frontman Corey Taylor in the JUNK BEER KIDNAP BAND — recently joined Bach's solo group. Bach said, "I have known Jason for years, ever since he tried to pickpocket me at the Rainbow [in West Hollywood] aeons ago."

Bach completed a short run of North American dates in February and is scheduled to take part in the Rock 'N' Roll Allstars tour, which will hit the road in South and Central America in late April/early May.

Sebastian's new album, "Kicking & Screaming", sold 6,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 73 on The Billboard 200 chart. The singer's previous CD, "Angel Down", opened with 6,400 units back in November 2007 to debut at No. 190.

BENT SEA, the grindcore formation lad by drummer/guitarist Dirk Verbeuren (SOILWORK, ABORTED, DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT), has been joined by legendary NAPALM DEATH bass player Shane Embury. Completed by vocalist Sven De Caluwé (ABORTED, SYSTEM DIVIDE), the trio is currently recording new music for several upcoming releases.

"Working with Shane is a dream come true for both Sven and myself," said Verbeuren. "First Devin, now Shane — it doesn’t get much better than that in my book! We're super-excited about our new songs and impatient to get them out there."

Formed in January 2011 by Verbeuren, BENT SEA self-released its Devin Townsend-produced debut EP, "Noistalgia", in November. Townsend played bass on the 11-song EP, which is due out shortly as a limited cassette via Tankcrimes. The digital version of "Noistalgia" is available directly from the band through their webstore.

Decibel magazine describes "Noistalgia" as "rousing, ripping, aptly-titled . . . a dead-on evocation of NAPALM DEATH and REPULSION, which remembers just how catchy and deceptively dynamic those old classic albums were." Blistering.com calls it "grindcore done right" and VoicesFromTheDarkside.de says it's BENT SEA's "firmly drawn allegiance to the old that makes this EP so great."

"Noistalgia" track listing:

01. Noistalgia
02. Digital Disaster
03. Blast Beat Barrage
04. A Common Affliction
05. In One Word
06. Grind Control
07. Tripwire Target
08. Sustained Idiocy
09. Dead Meat
10. Truth Will Out
11. Fool For Life

"Noistalgia" (song) audio stream: