Die Deutschen Melodic Death Metaller RUIN OF REMEMBRANCE kommen aus Koblenz und haben jetzt ihr neue EP mit dem Titel "Second World" HIER als Free Download online gestellt. Die Band schreibt folgendes: "Unsere EP steht ab sofort als kostenloser Download zur Verfügung. Die ersten Töne entstanden im Dezember 2009 durch eine musikalische Kooperation von Maximilian und Holger. Diese wurd fortgeführt und Februar 2010 gab man sich den Namen "Ruin of Remembrance". Im August 2010 komplettierte Timo als Sänger den elitären Zirkel. Was in dieser Zeit bis 2012 entstanden ist, ist seit März 2012 unter dem Titel "Second World" zu hören. Wir wünschen viel Vergnügen beim Hören. Wenn es euch gefällt, fühlt euch so frei es weiterzugeben; wir würden uns über etwas Unterstützung bei der Verbreitung freuen."

Finnish melodic death metallers PAIN CONFESSOR have inked a deal with Spinefarm Records. The band will enter the studio this summer to record its fourth album for a late 2012 release.

Commented PAIN CONFESSOR: "'Three down, fourth to go.' Finally, someone utters. But what's the deal with the new full length? We are rowing a truly grim river. The renewed lineup boasts with vigor to go through a stone wall, the material heavy as a murderer's burden. Is it better than 'Turmoil'? No, it is a completely different record and stands on its own upon fresh soil. The crew's newest inmates bring along a whole new bag of tricks with which to drill deeper into the hidden reaches of human mind with newborn fervor."

PAIN CONFESSOR is:

Make Kivistö - Vocals
Mikko Kivistö - Bass
Pasi Laihanen - Keyboards
Jaakko Kunnas - Guitar
Tuomas Kuusinen - Guitar
Aki Kuusinen - Drums

PAIN CONFESSOR's third album, "Purgatory Of The Second Sun", entered the Finnish chart at position No. 15 back in March 2007. The CD was recorded at Fantom studio and was previously described by the band as "raw and furious."

PAIN CONFESSOR's "Ne Plus Ultra" single entered the Finnish national chart at position No. 1. In addition to the title cut, the single included a cover of SURVIVOR's "Eye of the Tiger", which had "gone through a serious metal facelift," according to the group.

Dutch female-fronted progressive metallers ALERION have announced the addition of singer Laura ten Hoedt to the group's ranks.

Commented the band: "Laura joined the band in December and has since worked with us on our existing songs, as well as on some new material.

"Laura is probably best known as singer-songwriter LADYLAU. Although less in the public view, she has also been active in several projects in progressive rock and metal. These include the German projects VOXAGER and ESCAPEDIA as well as live performances with DIAL and in AYREON tribute projects.

"Starting in April we will do some shows so you will all be able to hear Laura sing yourselves. Two gigs and a live radio performance have been scheduled so far, as well as a small acoustic performance to be recorded and aired on Radio Rijnmond."

ALERION's most recent two-song promotional CD, "Turn Of Fate", was released in 2009.

ALERION is:

Laura ten Hoedt - Vocals
Bas Willemsen - Lead Guitar, Keyboards
Nico Lammers - Rhythm Guitar
Ronald van Schaik - Bass
Jeroen Nagel - Drums

MY RUIN — the Los Angeles-based band featuring the husband-and-wife rock duo of vocalist Tairrie B. Murphy and multi-instrumentalist Mick Murphy — has been rejoined by drummer and longtime friend Marcelo Palomino.

Commented Tairrie: "Many of you will be familiar with Celo from his days we spent together in MANHOLE and TURA SATANA, but he also toured with MY RUIN in 1999 and again 2008 when we recorded our live DVD, 'Alive On The Other Side'. Our most recent collaboration has been behind the scenes for MY RUIN's latest video, 'Tennessee Elegy', which he filmed and co-directed with me and Tor Burrows.

"It's great to have Celo back with us. It feels like home. At the moment he's getting familiar with our last two albums and Mick, Luciano and I are all looking forward to playing live with him soon and shooting our next video!"

"Tennessee Elegy", the latest video from MY RUIN, can be seen below. The song comes off MY RUIN's seventh album, "A Southern Revelation", which was made available as a free download and gift to fans starting December 7, 2011 exclusively via www.myruin.net. The CD was produced by Mick Murphy and Joel Stooksbury at Soundtrack Black Studio deep in the snowy mountains just outside of Knoxville, Tennessee in the cold January winter of 2011.

Spanish death metallers AVULSED have parted ways with drummer Ricardo "Riky" Mena.

Commented the group in a statement: "We're sorry to communicate you that since last 20th of March, Ricardo Mena (Riky) is no longer the band's drummer. Due to differences on how to deal with different internal issues within the band, we've decided, after a reunion, that the best thing for both parts is not to continue together. No hard feelings, beyond the sadness that all this means for us all.

"Due to this, we must announce the cancellation of the performance on the two upcoming festivals in April where AVULSED was going to participate: Thrashway Fest (Oviedo) and Barroselas SWR Fest (Portugal). However, there's a possibility that the last show with the current line-up with Riky might happen at Hellfest in France.

"We just want to thank Riky for his eight years of total devotion and profesionalism as a musician and his friendship, that we'll keep, of course. And to wish him the best both on personal and professional on musical matters."

AVULSED last year scrapped plans to release a 20th-anniversary CD, "Fleshcube", due to "several problems regarding the recording sessions that delayed the whole project, to the point that it was going to be impossible to release it [in 2011], so… who knows, perhaps for our 25th anniversary!!" However, this cancellation was taken in a positive way, because this helped the band concentrate on the songwriting of their upcoming album, "Ritual Zombi", to be recorded later this year.

Swedish black metal legends MARDUK have added a string of Russian dates to their Serpent Sermon World Tour 2012 with openers KATAKLYSM and VADER. Dates include:

May
11 - Irkutskt, Russia - Megapolis
13 - Krasnojarsk, Russia - DK Kraza
14 - Novosibirsk, Russia - Rock City
16 - Ekaterinburg, Russia - Tele Club
17 - Magnitogorsk, Russia - Universal
19 - Nizhny Novgorod, Russia - Premio Centre
20 - Moscow, Russia - TBA

Dutch melodic death metallers DISINTEGRATE have inked a deal with Massacre Records. The band's debut album, "Parasites Of A Shifting Future", which was originally released independently in 2010, will be made available via Massacre on July 27.

According to a press release, "DISINTEGRATE, hailing from the north of Holland, has a definite preference for well-balanced arrangements and raw, energetic vocal lines, nicely served with a feisty death metal-sauce. Every musician in DISINTEGRATE has the freedom to develop his skills and show his musical prowess, thus creating a grooving mixture of aggression and melody.
"DISINTEGRATE is the brainchild of Danny Boonstra (vocals, keyboards), Leo van Leijen (guitar) and Jos Hindriks (guitar). When they started the band in 2005, a clear statement was defined outlining the structure and content for DISINTEGRATE: intelligent melodic death/thrash metal with no boundaries. The band really took flight with the addition of Joran Dijkstra (drums) and Sander Stegeman (bass). By releasing the MCD 'Destructive Capacity', the band received a lot of attention and also played on the prestigious Waldrock festival in 2009 alongside bands like CARCASS, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE and HEAVEN & HELL."

DISINTEGRATE is:

Danny Boonstra - Vocals, Keyboards
Jos Hindriks - Guitar
Leo van Leijen - Guitar
Sander Stegeman - Bass
Joran Dijkstra - Drums

Swedish dark rockers KATATONIA recently entered the studio to begin recording their ninth album, to be released later in the year.

A new video update from studio can be seen at this location.

KATATONIA previously stated about the band's new material, "Well, you got the lush textures, the moody melodies, the heavy parts, the progressive touches, the mellow bits and so on... Is it metal? Is it rock? Is it alternative? Is it singer/songwriter? Actually at times it feels like we're exploring territories where KATATONIA would be an orphan in the land of 'genres.' We can't tell where and to whom we belong and the goal is that it doesn't even matter, because before and above any genre, there's first an acceptance level of music being good, or being bad. KATATONIA might be bad people, but we create good music."

The group added, "We also hooked up again with keyboard maestro extraordinaire Frank Default and regardless of the Internet speculations, he's not to 'blame' for the increased use of electronics since the last album. That part has been called for as we simply feel that it has grown to fill a hole in our sound inside, or alongside, the classic formation of instruments. In our world, we allow mellotrones, Hammonds, rhodes and strings to integrate with loops, distortion and filters to manifest in the katatonic maelstrom. It's our time to marry contemporary with vintage."

KATATONIA played four shows in Scandinavia in December, hitting the capital cites of Copenhagen, Oslo, Helsinki and, of course, the band's hometown of Stockholm. The concerts, which were part of the 20th-anniversary "Last Fair Day Gone Night Tour 2011", saw the band perform two sets. The first set consisted of a performance of the entire "Last Fair Deal Gone Down" album front to back. The second set was a mixture of carefully picked songs from the band's extensive catalogue.

KATATONIA's May 6, 2011 concert at Koko in London, England was professionally filmed/recorded for a future DVD release.

NEUROSIS, which is cited as one of the most influential bands of heavy music's experimental underworld, has finished mixing its long-awaited new studio album. The follow-up to 2007's "Given To The Rising" was recorded last November and is due out before the end of the year.

NEUROSIS released a live album, "Live At Roadburn 2007", in August 2010 via Neurot Recordings. The CD was recorded in 2007 in Tilburg, Holland, at the annual Roadburn festival where NEUROSIS headlined to a diehard audience.

"Live At Roadburn" was made available alongside the reissue of NEUROSIS' groundbreaking 1993 release "Enemy Of The Sun". The "Roadburn" album featured the iconic artwork/layout skills of visionary artist/NEUROSIS live visual master Josh Graham, also responsible for the redesigned "Enemy Of The Sun" layout. Both albums were released on CD as part of the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the legendary act.

San Francisco Bay Area technical death metallers INANIMATE EXISTENCE have inked a multi-album deal with Unique Leader Records. The band's debut CD, "Liberation Through Hearing", will be released this summer.

According to a press release, INANIMATE EXISTENCE "brings an onslaught of crushing, true death metal, while pushing the musical envelope with their other-wordly compositions and painstaking writing."

Commented the band: "We are honored to be joining the ranks of death metal titans like SPAWN OF POSSESSION, DEEDS OF FLESH, VILE, DISGORGE, and more. Much of our influence is drawn from the roots of brutal death metal spawned from Unique Leader, and we are extremely excited to be able to share our work with the world alongside it and everybody else on the label. Expect no less than the absolute pinnacle of creative and brutal technicality on our debut release, and even more to come."

INANIMATE EXISTENCE is:

Cameron Porras - Vocals
Joel Guernsey - Guitar
Ian Rittmaster - Guitar
Mitch Yoesle - Bass
Ron Casey - Drums

Gothenburg, Sweden's RUINED SOUL, which was started by Johnny Johansson a one-man metal project due to Johnny's focus on DISDAIN, has evolved into a full-blown band.

Commented Johnny: "Yes, RUINED SOUL was supposed to be a solo project, but… no more! The urge of playing these songs live and spending more time on RUINED SOUL has grown since day one. I really feel that it's time to get this machine started. I can't wait to get this machine going and get out there and play for you guys! The guys that complete the band are the right guys to play with, so I'm pretty excited."

RUINED SOUL lineup (right to left in photo below):

* Johnny Johansson (DISDAIN) – Guitars
* Jonathan Thorpenberg (TRENCHES) – Guitar
* Janne Jaloma (DEALS DEATH) – Drums
* Patrik Johansson (ARISE) – Vocals

A bass player for the group has not yet been chosen.

RUINED SOUL filmed a video for the song "Rewind" on March 16 with Greenworks. The track comes off the band's debut album, "My Dying Day", which was released in 2010 via Suicide Records.

Greenworks previously helmed RUINED SOUL's music video for the track "My Dying Day".

"My Dying Day" features guest appearances by the following musicians:

* Jonas Kjellgren (SCAR SYMMETRY)
* Matias Kupiainen (STRATOVARIUS)
* Niklas Stålvind (WOLF)
* Olof Mörck (NIGHTRAGE)
* Eric Rauti (DREAMLAND)
* Marios Iliopoulos (NIGHTRAGE)
* Benny Jansson (RIDE THE SKY)
* Jonas Hörnqvist (TREASURE LAND)
* Tobias Jansson (THE LAW)
* Patrik Johansson (ARISE)
* Peter Huss (SHINING)
* Janne Stark (CONSTANCIA)

Johnny has already written 10 songs for RUINED SOUL's as-yet-untitled forthcoming sophomore album. The CD, which is expected to be recorded later in the year, will feature guest appearances by the following musicians:

* Patrik Johansson (ARISE)
* Christofer Malmström (DARKANE)
* Carl Johan Grimmark (NARNIA, ROB ROCK)
* Eric Rauti (DREAMLAND, TORCH)
* Jonas Jarlsby (AVATAR)
* Simon Andersson (ex-AVATAR)
* David Sücz (DEGRADEAD)
* Anders Nyström (DEGRADEAD)
* Jake Fredén (NOSTRADAMEUS)

Los Angeles cyber metallers FEAR FACTORY have revealed the cover artwork and package details for their forthcoming album, "The Industrialist". Set for North American release 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

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.

The organizers of the U.K. edition of the Sonisphere festival have confirmed the cancelation of this year's event, which was due to take place July 6-8 at Knebworth House in Hertfordshire.

The news first broke online last night when headliners QUEEN posted a message on their web site that their much-anticipated performance with "American Idol" alum Adam Lambert was being called off. By yesterday afternoon, however, all mention of the Knebworth show had disappeared from QUEEN's web site.

Aside from QUEEN and Lambert's performance, the festival's bill also included KISS — who has also performed with Lambert during the "Idol" Season 8 finale — INCUBUS, THE DARKNESS and EVANESCENCE.

Sonisphere was reportedly struggling to sell tickets for this year's edition of the festival, despite being one of the U.K.'s few remaining true rock events.

Commented the organizers: "It is with very heavy hearts and much regret that we announce the cancellation of Sonisphere Knebworth 2012.

"Putting the festival together in what is proving to be a very challenging year was more difficult than we anticipated and we have spent the last few months fighting hard to keep Sonisphere in the calendar. Unfortunately circumstances have dictated that we would be unable to run the festival to a standard that both the artists and that Sonisphere's audience would rightly expect.

"We want to express our deepest regrets to the artists and to thank all the staff, suppliers and contractors who worked so hard with us to try and pull off what has proven to be an impossible task and we know how much they share in our disappointment. We also want to send a huge thanks to the Sonisphere fans who stuck by us and we are so sorry that we can't fulfil what we set out to do.

"Ticket holders will automatically receive a full refund direct from their ticket agents."

Professionally filmed video footage of Swedish metallers AVATAR performing the song "Let It Burn" can be seen below. The track comes off the band's fourth full-length album, "Black Waltz", which was released on February 14 via eOne Music. The CD was produced by Tobias Lindell (EUROPE, MUSTASCH, HARDCORE SUPERSTAR) and includes songs from a limited-edition EP that was released in Sweden at the end of October 2011.

"Black Waltz" track listing:

01. Let Us Die
02. Torn Apart
03. Ready For The Ride
04. In Napalm
05. Black Waltz
06. Blod
07. Let It Burn
08. One Touch
09. Paint Me Red
10. Smells Like A Freakshow
11. Use Your Tongue

The "Black Waltz" clip, which was directed by Johan Carlén and shot in Sweden's largest amusement park, features an appearance by the world-famous American circus sideshow Hellzapoppin.

AVATAR's third, self-titled album was released in 2010.

AVATAR is:

Johannes Eckerström - Vocals
John Alfredsson - Drums
Jonas Jarlsby - Guitars
Simon Andersson - Guitars
Henrik Sandelin - Bass

Century Media Records is auctioning off special rarities via the label's official eBay store. These "Treasures From The Vault" have been collected over the years and stored at the Century Media office, but they will now be given away to the highest-bidding fan. The store currently has test pressings available from MAYHEM, KATATONIA, ...AND THEY WILL KNOW US BY THE TRAIL OF DEAD, 3 INCHES OF BLOOD, LACUNA COIL and NACHTMYSTIUM, in addition to the LACUNA COIL Medical Box.

Check out the official Century Media Records eBay store now and place your bid.

"Two In One", the new video from Stockholm, Sweden-based progressive hardcore heroes C.B MURDOC, can be seen below. The clip was filmed in the northern part of Sweden by Jakob Arevärn.

"Two In One" comes off C.B MURDOC's debut album, "The Green", which was released on March 21 via Spinefarm Records.

According to a press release, "C.B MURDOC is nothing less than an agressive onslaught to the human ear and could only be described as jaw-dropping insanity if it weren't for the musical stretch and diversity of the tracks they throw at us. They leave no listener untouched and no viewer unbroken.

"With a mix of blasting drums, gutteral vocals and blistering riffs, it all successfully hoovers on top of an intricate and mind bending structure with melodies that compell you to dig deeper,... faster, harder, scooter!"

"The Green" track listing:

01. Devon
02. Patch
03. Changeling
04. Adore
05. Two In One
06. Trinkets Of Deceit
07. D.I.D.
08. By Omission

C.B MURDOC is:

Johan Ljung - Cast Iron Throat
Johan Larsson - Synths/Noise
Thomas Hellgren - Oomph!
Fredrik Boëthius Fjärem - Djent
Kim Wenneström - Djent
C-G Bäckström - Perplexing Polyrhythms

Swedish extreme metallers ARCH ENEMY are currently filming a video for the song "Under Black Flags We March" in Gothenburg, Sweden. The clip is being directed by Patric Ullaeus of Revolver Film Company, who has previously worked with DIMMU BORGIR, LACUNA COIL, IN FLAMES, SONIC SYNDICATE and KAMELOT, among others.

A couple of photos from the video shoot can be seen below.

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

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

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

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

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

What happens when legendary producer Rick Rubin, David Lee Roth (VAN HALEN), Axl Rose (GUNS N' ROSES) and Sebastian Bach (SKID ROW) are in a car together? In the two-minute video below, Sebastian reveals the details for his "best story ever" (clip courtesy of CBC's of "George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight" show).

In an October 2011 interview with the QMI Agency, Bach stated about meeting David Lee Roth, "There was a knock on the door — bang, bang, bang — and he sticks his head in and goes, 'Sebastian?' And I go, 'Oh, my God! It's David Lee Roth.' And he sits next to me and I go 'Hey Dave, you want to roll up a joint?' And he goes 'Sebastian, you do the honours.' But then that night he took me and Axl to the Rainbow and Rick Rubin drove the car. And can I remember sitting next to Axl in the back seat of Rick Rubin's car throwing up going down Sunset Boulevard, and him holding my hair. I was puking out the door."

The video for "The Fatal Feast", the title track off the new MUNICIPAL WASTE album, can be seen below. The clip was filmed with director Jeff Speed of Halo Of Flies in Los Angeles on the former set of the space western television series "Firefly".

Commented MUNICIPAL WASTE vocalist Tony Foresta: "We've been wanting to work with Jeff again since we did the 'Sadistic Magician' video with him years ago. We felt that his vision and talent was exactly what we needed to help tell the tale of this cannibalistic space voyage. We hope this video makes people headbang, laugh, and puke all at the same time."

Added guitarist Ryan Waste: "As a huge sci-fi horror movie enthusiast, it was amazing to work on this type of film set. Jeff Speed and his crew have really raised the bar with this video and we couldn't be happier. Prepare for space terror and feast on our latest clip!"

Jeff Speed shares the following about working with MUNICIPAL WASTE for a second time: "One glimpse at this video and you will understand why my brother Chris [Speed, production designer] and I love to work with these guys. Anything goes! They have a great sense of humor, shredding tunes and bloodlust that is only matched by our own. Accepting the invitation to collaborate on more debauchery with MUNICIPAL WASTE was a no-brainer. A cannibalistic space voyage?! Where do we sign? We had a lot of fun making this vid and we were thrilled with the end product. I hope the world is hungry because the 'feast' will be festering on their plates and minds for a long time. Thanks for the opportunity, dudes! The Speed brothers will always be down to spill blood with the WASTE!"

MUNICIPAL WASTE's fifth studio album, "The Fatal Feast", will be released on April 10 in North America and April 13 in Europe via Nuclear Blast Records. The cover artwork for the CD was created by Justin Osbourn of Slasher Design and can be seen below.

"The Fatal Feast" track listing:

01. Waste In Space
02. Repossession
03. New Dead Masters
04. Unholy Abductor
05. Idiot Check
06. Covered In Sick/The Barfer
07. You're Cut Off
08. Authority Complex
09. Standards And Practices
10. Crushing Chest Wound
11. The Monster With 21 Faces
12. Jesus Freaks
13. The Fatal Feast
14. 12 Step Program
15. Death Tax
16. Residential Disaster

Both the digipack and vinyl editions will include the bonus track "Eviction Party".

"The Fatal Feast" features guest appearances by John Connelly (guitarist and vocalist for NUCLEAR ASSAULT), Steve Moore (who plays bass and synthesizers for ZOMBI), and vocalist Tim Barry (ex-AVAIL).

Brian Lew, co-author of "Murder In The Front Row: Shots From THE Bay Area Thrash Metal Epicenter" (Bazillion Points Books), has posted a previously unpublished 1983 interview with Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman of SLAYER. The interview, typed by Kerry King, was originally intended for the second issue of Lew's pioneering Whiplash fanzine, and covers a time period prior to the release of SLAYER's 1984 debut album, "Show No Mercy".

The interview can be viewed at this location.

Among the subjects covered are SLAYER's early history, band influences, the Los Angeles heavy metal scene, and writing songs "as heavy and evil as possible."

Kerry King on SLAYER's influences: "I think it's kind of obvious that we like VENOM and METALLICA. I also think [MERCYFUL] FATE's new album has some of the hottest riffs ever written."

Jeff Hanneman on the Los Angeles heavy metal scene: "L.A. has got to be the poser capital of the world. Around here QUIET RIOT, MÖTLEY CRÜE, and RATT are the heaviest in the world. So if that's heavy we must be molten steel."

"Murder In The Front Row", by Harald Oimoen and Brian Lew, is a stunning collection over 400 color and black-and-white photos of the birth of thrash metal in San Francisco, capturing historic moments including the earliest shows by SLAYER, METALLICA, and MEGADETH, and events such as the first night SLAYER met the young members of METALLICA. The book also includes passionate personal accounts by Bay Area veterans Harald Oimoen, Brian Lew, Ron Quintana of Metal Mania, Gary Holt of EXODUS, Alex Skolnick of TESTAMENT, and Robb Flynn of VIO-LENCE/MACHINE HEAD. From DIY origins to world domination, the Bay Area thrash metal scene screams to life in these fearless pages.

For more information, visit www.murderinthefrontrow.com.

Miami, Florida's THICK AS BLOOD has inked a deal with Rise Records. The band has entered The Sunset Lodge Studios in Silverlake, California with producer Nick Jett (TERROR) to begin recording its third album for a late 2012 release.

A demo version of a new THICK AS BLOOD song called "Unruly" can be streamed in the YouTube clip below.

THICK AS BLOOD merges hardcore and metal influences with crushing riffs and brutally honest lyrics. They have been building a loyal following since 2004 with two Eulogy releases (2007's "Moment of Truth" and 2009's "Embrace") along with their hard-hitting live show. Having toured with such bands as EVERY TIME I DIE, EMMURE and TERROR on more than four continents and in 13 countries, THICK AS BLOOD is a force to be reckoned with.

THICK AS BLOOD will launch a tour around the release of the new record later this year.

THICK AS BLOOD is:

Gino Vento - Vocals
Randy Gonzalez - Guitar
Heavy Jerry - Guitar
Brandon Stastny - Bass

The lyric video for "The Syndicate", a brand new song from the West Coast hard rock outfit MODERN DAY ESCAPE, can be seen below. The track comes off the group's sophomore album, "Under The Gun", which was released earlier this week via Standby Records.

According to MODERN DAY ESCAPE vocalist James Vegas, "The Syndicate" is dedicated to the band's legion of die-hard devotees. "'The Syndicate' is about us and our amazing fans," he said. "They're so supportive and badass. They will do anything to come to our shows, and we will do anything for them."

MODERN DAY ESCAPE relied on the never-ending support of the "Syndicate" to provide the visuals for this one-of-a-kind lyric video, and the response was overwhelming.

"Under The Gun" track listing:

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

MODERN DAY ESCAPE's music video for the "Under The Gun" title track can be seen below. The clip was directed by Scott Hansen, who has previously worked on videos for ILL NIÑO, ANIMALS AS LEADERS, WILLIE NELSON, THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA and A DAY TO REMEMBER, among others.

MODERN DAY ESCAPE is:

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

"The Syndicate" lyric video:

Joe Daly of The Nervous Breakdown recently conducted an interview with SLAYER drummer Dave Lombardo. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

The Nervous Breakdown: Looking back, some of those [SLAYER] songs are coming up on thirty years. How does it feel to still get that big response when you play them?

Lombardo: Lucky. It feels very lucky. For anybody to last more than five years in this business is rare. You have to count your blessings in this business because you never know when it's gonna end. I'm very fortunate and proud of the fact that I'm part of a band that's legendary.

The Nervous Breakdown: What's happening with you personally? What's on tap for the year ahead?

Lombardo: I have a new album coming out May 15. The band's called PHILM. It's my first production — I actually produced it and I'm really excited. It's very old school. Very reminiscent of the old CREAM, LED ZEPPELIN, Jimi Hendrix style of playing. I play a four-piece drum set, instead of the big double bass kit, with a single pedal instead of the double pedal. And it's a trio–bass player and guitar player who sings. It's fifteen songs, there's improvising, there's very moody soundscape stuff, and some very heavy songs but yet very bluesy songs. It's very diverse and very different. And it doesn't have any "Pro Tools paralysis."

The Nervous Breakdown: How did you like producing?

Lombardo: I loved it. It's what I want to continue doing. I asked the other guys — although I am the main person in the band, but it is a band — but I asked them for production of the first three records of this band. And if there's a different reputable producer coming into the picture, then I'll say, "OK," but I don't want some fly-by-night producer coming in and taking over…

The Nervous Breakdown: Are you going to tour behind it?

Lombardo: I'm hoping to pick up some shows in between SLAYER or during SLAYER. If SLAYER's on tour and there's an opportunity to fly PHILM out, it's only two other guys, so it's easy. Or even between SLAYER dates, maybe book a week of special shows, and then when SLAYER's off the road, then I'll maybe set up a tour.

The Nervous Breakdown: So what's happening with SLAYER?

Lombardo: Writing new music. Kerry [King, guitar] and I are writing new material. We have nine songs and everything's moving forward.

The Nervous Breakdown: What does it sound like so far?

Lombardo: SLAYER.

The Nervous Breakdown: So old-school fans will be happy?

Lombardo: Traditional fans will be pacified and non-traditional fans will be like, "Again?"

The Nervous Breakdown: Any estimation when the album could see the light of day?

Lombardo: 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.

Read the entire interview from The Nervous Breakdown.

"Fire From The Sky", the title track of the new album from Massachusetts metallers SHADOWS FALL, is available for streaming using the audio player below (courtesy of AOL's Noisecreep). Due on May 15 via Razor & Tie, the CD was recorded at Zing Studios in Westfield, Massachusetts with longtime friend, producer/engineer and KILLSWITCH ENGAGE/TIMES OF GRACE guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz. Adam D., who has previously manned the boards on albums by ALL THAT REMAINS, AS I LAY DYING, UNEARTH, THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA and EVERY TIME I DIE, was also intimately involved in the writing of the new SHADOWS FALL material.

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

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

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

SHADOWS FALL filmed a video for an as-yet-undisclosed new song on March 21 at an abandoned building in Brooklyn, New York.

The band recently wrapped up a string of intimate headlining warm-up shows in select cities before heading to Australia for this year's Soundwave Festival.

SHADOWS FALL's last album, "Retribution", came out on September 15, 2009. A concert DVD/CD, "Madness In Manila: Shadows Fall Live In The Philippines 2009", followed on October 25, 2010 via Everblack Industries/Ferret Music. The set included over 60 minutes of footage that was shot on April 30, 2009 at the Pulp Summer Slam in Manila, Philippines as well as a live audio CD.

"Fire From The Sky" (song) audio stream (courtesy of AOL's Noisecreep):