Die Blackened Folk Metaller MALNATT vom Stiefelstaat, werden sich am 2. April in das Domination Studios zurückziehen um ihr fünftes Album „Principia Discordia“ aufzunehmen. Ein VÖ Datum ist noch nicht bekannt.

Hier die Tracklist von „Principia Discordia“:
1. Manifesto Nichilista
2. Il canto dell'odio
3. L'amor sen va (poesia di Tarchetti)
4. Don Matteo
5. Ho sceso dandoti il braccio (poesia di Montale)
6. Iper Pagano
7. Nel dì dei morti (poesia di Tarchetti)
8. Ave discordia
9. Ulver Nostalgia
10. Il sentiero dei nidi di Ragnarok (instrumental)
11. Too Old Too Cold (Darkthrone Cover)
12. Norwegian Wood (The Beatles Cover)

Die französischen Black Metal Maniacs VORKREIST sind mit ihrem vierten Album "Sigil Whore Christ" zurück, das am 24. April via Agonia Records das Licht der Welt erblicken wird. Aufgenommen wurde das Album im Drudenhaus Studio (ALCEST, LES DISCRETS). "Sigil Whore Christ" wird als normale CD, im noblen Digipack und als 180g Black Vinyl und einer limitierten Gold Vinyl mit roten Splitter erscheinen. Den ersten Pressungen wird sogar ein exklusives Poster beigelegt. Jetzt wurde der erste Song "Maledicte" zum probehören online gestellt.

Former GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Slash spoke to Loudwire about the band's upcoming induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

The 27th annual ceremony will be held on April 14 in Cleveland, Ohio, home to the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame And Museum. Also scheduled to be inducted are RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, BEASTIE BOYS, THE SMALL FACES/FACES, Donovan and Laura Nyro. Freddie King well enter the Hall Of Fame as an Early Influence, while the late producer and TV host Don Kirshner will receive the Ahmet Ertegun (nonperformer) Award and producers Cosimo Matassa, Tom Dowd and Glyn Johns will receive the Award For Musical Excellence.

The ceremony will be taped for broadcast by HBO, which plans to air it in early May.

Slash told Loudwire, "I would love to play. It's just, one of those things where I know that it's not going to happen, so… I just did an interview and said, 'I don't think we're playing.' [Laughs]. I mean I think it would be cool to play, but very early on when the whole thing came up, it became apparent that it wasn't going to happen — and you know, that doesn't surprise me. We've been at odds for… well, not at odds, but we just haven't had any sort of communication in a long time so… that's basically it. That's all I can tell you."

Ex-GUNS N' ROSES bassist Duff McKagan told RollingStone.com that there has been "no communication" about the original members of the band performing together when the group is inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. Asked if he knew what was going to happen at the ceremony, McKagan answered, "I don't. I know I'm going to go. I can't, at all, speak for anybody else. And won't. I'll be there with bells on." But he added, "There's been no communication about anyone playing. There was probably a day in the mid-1990s where I would have tried to gather the troops, but I'm just not that guy anymore. It's too frustrating to change anyone else . . . I'm not even sure I'd want to change how anyone else sees a situation."

On whether he hoped that the original lineup would perform together at the event, McKagan said, "I think it would be killer. Do I hope to? That's a tricky question. It would be awesome. You have those day dreams like, 'We'll go up and play 'Nightrain' and 'Brownstone' and throw down the microphone and drop off! That'll be killer!' But I doubt that'll happen."

McKagan, singer Axl Rose, guitarists Slash and Izzy Stradlin, and drummer Steven Adler will all be inducted into the Hall, along with later members, keyboardist Dizzy Reed and drummer Matt Sorum.

Photo credit: Travis Shinn

Die Kanadischen Thrash Metaller TITANS EVE, arbeiten zurzeit an ihrem neuen Album mit dem Titel "Life Apocalypse"! Laut Band sind die Aufnahmen der Drum Parts im Kasten und als nächstes wurden die Gitarren Parts aufgenommen. Die Gesangsaufnahmen werden in dieser Woche beginnen. Außerdem hat die Band nach dem "Life Apocalypse" Cover Artwork jetzt auch die Track List veröffentlicht.

"Life Apocalypse" Track List:

01. Overcast (Intro)
02. Destined to Die
03. Road to Ruin
04. The Abyss
05. Dissension (Instrumental)
06. Life Apocalypse
07. A Wound That Never Heals (Instrumental)
08. Hollow Gods
09. Divided We Fall
10. Frozen In Time
11. The Void

Wer es am vergangenen Freitag nicht mitbekommen haben sollte: Völlig überraschend machten die derzeit wegen ihrer kurzfristigen Tourneeverschiebung ins Kreuzfeuer geratenen AND ONE ihren Fans ein Geschenk und rückten (bzw. rücken noch immer) die 6-Track-EP "Shice Guy" mit allem Drum und Dran als kostenlosen Download raus.

Steve dazu: "Die Idee zu dieser E.P. kam mir schon wenige Stunden nach der Ankündigung der Verschiebung der Tour. Diesen Schlamassel habe ich alleine angerichtet und muss das selbst verantworten. Damit haben die anderen nichts zu tun. Deswegen muss ich hier auch alleine durch. Aber keine Angst. Diese Sonder E.P. ist kein Entschuldigungs- oder Wiedergutmachungsversuch. Dafür ist der Schaden bei so vielen Fans einfach zu groß gewesen. Sie ist lediglich ein kleiner Ausdruck meines schlechten Gewissens, und die Arbeit der letzten Tage half mir ein bisschen, über die teilweise echt fiesen Kommentare im Internet hinweg. Musik als Heilung. Funktioniert auf beiden Seiten, wenn sie ehrlich I.S.T."

Darauf befindet sich so manche Überraschung, wie das an "Photographic" angelehnte Titelstück, dessen Text man genauer beachten sollte, das ursprünglich als Single vorgesehene Remake von "Für" sowie einige Schätzchen aus Steves Studioschublade.

Zum Download geht es HIER !

Tracklist "Shice Guy E.P.":

1. Shice Guy
2. Perfect Life
3. Für Zwei
4. Pleasure & Pain (Demo)
5. Wasted (Demo)
6. S.R.Y.

Das Best Of namens "Keine Sonne Mehr" wird 16 Songs beinhalten und ab dem 11. Mai 2012 erhältlich sein! "Keine Sonne Mehr" wird Songs von TOTENMONDs Alben "Lichtbringer", "Fleischwald", "Reich In Rost", "Auf Dem Mond Ein Feuer", "Unter Knochen", "TonbergUrtod", "Thronräuber" und deren "Väterchen Frost" EP beinhalten. Die genaue Tracklist werden wir bald veröffentlichen. "Keine Sonne Mehr" wird lediglich bei iTunes, Amazon MP3, Musicload und anderen Musikdownloadshops erhältlich sein!

"Keine Sonne Mehr" Track List:

01. Honigtraum
02. Väterchen Frost
03. Sagenwelt
04. Die Schlacht
05. Der Misanthrop (Narsaak Cover)
06. Leichen Der Liebe
07. Panzerdampf
08. Arbeiterreserve
09. Polizei SA SS (Slime Cover)
10. Marschieren (EA80 cover)
11. Permafrost
12. Eiswalzer
13. Heroin
14. Blutost
15. Achtung Panzer!
16. Sonnenstrahl

Die Spanische Symphonic Black Metal Band GOTHMOG hat Anfang Dezember mit Produzent Fernando Asensi in den Fireworks Studios mit den Aufnahmen des neuen Albums mit dem Titel "Aeons Of Deception" begonnen. Es ist das erste Album mit dem neuen Sänger Elias Redón "Modgud" und dem neuen Keyboarder Jose Antonio Quiles "Aspherion." Der Mix und das Mastering wird von Dani G. Suárez in den Dynamita Studios in Asturias übernommen. Jetzt wurde das neue Album "Aeons Of Deception" hier auf der Band Webseite als Free Download online gestellt.

"Aeons Of Deception" Track List:

01. Solve et Coagula
02. Escape to Nowhere
03. Beyond the Mist of Time
04 .Deathbringer
---The Cure for the World's Pain---
05. Aeons of Deception
06. The Bargain Struck
07. The Age of Thought
08. Nirnaeth Arnoediad
09. ...And I Shall Be Reborn
10. The Blackest of the Paths

Das neue WAR OF AGES Album wird den Titel "Return To Life" tragen und am 24. April 2012 via Facedown Records in den Handel kommen. "Return To Life" wurde mit Zeuss in den Planet Z Studios (Shadows Fall, Chimaira, Hatebreed) aufgenommen!

"Return To Life" Track List:

01. Immortal
02. Redeemer
03. Fallen Idol
04. Silent Night
05. M.E.B.
06. Song Of Solomon
07. With Honor
08. Psalms
09. Final Act
10. Unite

2012-03-27 01:00 - The circle of fans and followers constantly grows for Finnish heavy metallers BATTLE BEAST. Recently, the song `Show Me How To Die´, taken from their brilliant debut album “Steel” that was released on the 27th of January 2012 via Nuclear Blast, was covered by their fellow countrymen of the traditional Humppa band ELÄKELÄISET! Click here to enjoy the highly entertaining result entitled `Kohta Humpataan´: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uGHwbUyuc0

BATTLE BEAST’s front woman Nitte Valo comments: “It's time for HUMPPA! Finnish humppa combo ELÄKELÄISET has done a cover of our single `Show Me How To Die´ (if you wonder what the hell ELÄKELÄISET means: it's “pensioners”, though the guys aren’t really that old). I personally think that it’s a great thing having someone covering one of our songs, though I wonder where the high notes have gone… Whatever - KEEP IT HUMPPA-METAL!”

Check out BATTLE BEAST live and in pure metal-version on their upcoming tour with their label mates NIGHTWISH:

Swedish heavy rockers GRAND MAGUS will release their new album, "The Hunt", in Europe on May 25 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD's cover artwork was created by Arik Roper (CATHEDRAL, HIGH ON FIRE, SLEEP), who also handled the art on GRAND MAGUS' "Iron Will" LP.

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

Nuclear Blast label manager Andy Siry recently stated about GRAND MAGUS' addition to the label's roster: "We're delighted to welcome GRAND MAGUS to the Nuclear Blast family. These guys class among the best today's heavy metal scene has to offer, though GRAND MAGUS are much more than just that. Both live and on their albums, GRAND MAGUS are terrific, plus they indicate a continuous development. This is why we're happy to turn over a new leaf in the history of band and label."

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

During the band's 10-year history, GRAND MAGUS released two demos, one split EP and five full-length albums, and has received overwhelmingly positive reviews throughout. Their fourth opus, "Iron Will", was voted "Album of The Month" in the German Metal Hammer and Rock Hard magazines.

Drawing hefty influences from the hand-on-heart grandeur of the NWOBHM and the inspirational mythology of their forbears, GRAND MAGUS is steeped in pre-Christian tales of triumph, vengeance, betrayal, wisdom and death. But GRAND MAGUS also stands for energetic live performances, as seen at European festivals such as Sweden Rock, Hellfest, Wacken, Summer Breeze and on tour in Europe with bands like AT THE GATES, CATHEDRAL, CANDLEMASS, TYRANT, SERPENTCULT and ELECTRIC WIZARD.

Fan-filmed video footage of Arizona death metallers JOB FOR A COWBOY performing a new song, "Imperium Wolves", on March 23 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada can be seen below. The track comes off the band's new studio album, "Demonocracy", which will be released on April 10 via Metal Blade Records. The nine-song CD was produced by Jason Seucof (THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, WHITECHAPEL, TRIVIUM) who recorded the band's blistering "Ruination" full-length, at Audiohammer Studios in Sanford, Florida, and features another strikingly detailed concept cover by artist Brent Elliott White.

"Demonocracy" track listing:

01. Children of Deceit
02. Nourishment Through Bloodshed
03. Imperium Wolves
04. Tongueless and Bound
05. Black Discharge
06. The Manipulation Stream
07. The Deity Misconception
08. Fearmonger
09. Tarnished Gluttony

INFINIKA, the new band featuring former KORN drummer David Silveria alongside ANYONE members Riz Story and Miki Black, has released the following statement to BLABBERMOUTH.NET regarding reports that Silveria was arrested for DUI in Huntington Beach, California this past weekend:

"The recent incident will not interfere with the release of the INFINIKA debut single on April 2nd, 2012, nor will it interfere with the band's plan to tour this summer."

INFINIKA, whose lineup is completed by former TRAK 13 bassist Cory Tarallo, recently released a six-and-a-half-minute promotional clip featuring music from the upcoming release "Echoes And Traces". Check it out below.

INFINIKA is:

Riz Story (ANYONE): Lead Vocals, Guitars
Miki Black (ANYONE): Guitar, Keyboards
Cory Tarallo (TRAK 13): Bass
David Silveria (KORN): Drums

David left KORN in late 2006 in order to focus on family life along with running his steak house and sushi restaurant. In December 2009, David changed his steak house into the rock and sports-themed bar Silvera's Rockbar and was said to be no longer 50 percent owner of his sushi restaurant, having agreed to sell his half of ownership over to his ex-wife after a year-long court battle.

Guitarist Roland Grapow of German/Norwegian melodic metallers MASTERPLAN has issued the following update:

"I will finally just work from April on only on the next MASTERPLAN album! I am looking for an album release in January 2013. That means no work for other bands in my studio anymore for the rest of this year! Only MASTERPLAN! We have 15 songs written already! Maybe we write some more! We are looking for a more powerful album this time... still with great melodies and feelings, but also with more orchestration and faster stuff again… just more metal. Right now I am close to finish mixing SARATOGA from Spain and BLACK MAJESTY from Australia 'till April. More news about MASTERPLAN is coming soon!"

In an August 2011 interview with the Czech web portal Kultura21.cz, Grapow stated about the status of the songwriting sessions for the next MASTERPLAN album, "This time we tried not to make demo productions, which have a poor sound — so we wanted to make really nice pre-production [recordings] which sound very close to the album sound, which is very easy [to do] in my studio now. I think we have many, many new ideas which, I guess, are a little bit more modern and more aggressive as well. So we try not to follow any trends of MASTERPLAN — I'm not saying we're reproducing the first album or the third one or the fifth one. I think we always have to try to make some surprises for the people. The 'Time To Be King' album is great, but this new album sounds a bit different again. I always want to do this, because I'm not that kind of guy who wants to make every year the same album."

On the topic of MASTERPLAN's numerous lineup changes, Grapow said, "I think it's always difficult in this band, I guess. If you see, the first album just came out after a big turbulence — leaving HELLOWEEN, Uli [Kusch, drums] and me. I think this band always needs some very bad moments to some great songs. [Laughs] And it looks like MASTERPLAN, basically, is my main band, and whoever will sing and whoever will play in the band, I'm happy with, or if Jorn [Lande, vocals] will stay as long as possible. But, basically, at the moment, I'm thinking the main songwriters are Axel [Mackenrott, keyboards] now and me. Also Jan [S. Eckert], the bass player, who was very involved in different in projects and has a great job now, just called me one week ago. He's happy to continue with MASTERPLAN and he's looking forward to the next album and the next tour. So whatever happens, this band will continue. I'm still very positive. I'm a little bit tired of producing bands the last three years in my studio and I want to continue now with my career in MASTERPLAN. It's very important for me to show that we still have the power and the ability to write beautiful melodies and some aggression and rock and metal songs. Whatever we do, we want just to make good-quality stuff."

MASTERPLAN's last CD, "Time To Be King", was released on May 21, 2010 through AFM Records. The CD's first single, "Far From The End Of The World", was issued on April 16, 2010.

MASTERPLAN vocalist Jorn Lande told Germany's Rock Hard magazine in 2009 about his renewed collaboration with MASTERPLAN, "We never had problems with each other, but professionally, we decided to go separate ways for a while. . . I am happy that we are . . . working together again — mainly because the combination of MASTERPLAN's music and my singing [is] truly something special."

Vocalist Mike DiMeo (RIOT, THE LIZARDS) announced his departure from MASTERPLAN in January 2009 after recording just one studio album with the group — 2007's "MK II".

Die neue Metal Super Group UNISONIC – und wer dahinter steckt, weißt du sicher schon längst…? Michael Kiske (ex HELLOWEEN ), Kai Hansen (GAMMA RAY , ex HELLOWEEN ).Dazu kommen noch Mandy Meyer (ex GOTTHARD ), Dennis Ward und Kosta Zafiriou (beide PINK CREAM 69). Die Jungs haben jetzt das Track by Track Video 9 zum Self-Titled Debut Album online gestellt. In den Handel kommt "Unisonic" bei uns am 30. März 2012.

Frontiers Records will release "Wall Street", the new album from Norwegian hard rockers WIG WAM, on May 18 in Europe and May 22 in North America. The CD's title track was made available as a digital single late last month.

According to a press release, "Wall Street" features WIG WAM's "classic blend of melodies and catchy choruses, blowing your speakers with full-blown rock 'n' roll anthems!"

"Our only mission is to rock the world!" says WIG WAM singer Glam. "And 'Wall Street' sure is more entertaining than the stock market these days. One thing that will shock the world on this album is that it's containing no fillers. Every song has its unique universe, the band sounds better than ever and the songs offer everything from the taste of heavy metal to classic WIG WAM glam rock."

"Wall Street" track listing:

01. Wall Street
02. OMG! (Wish I Had A Gun)
03. Victory Is Sweet
04. The Bigger The Better
05. Bleeding Daylight
06. Tides Will Turn
07. Wrong Can Feel So Right
08. One Million Enemies
09. Try My Body On
10. Natural High
11. Things Money Can't Buy

"Wall Street" audio sample:

The Pulse Of Radio reports: For the 13th year in a row, KISS has been passed up for inclusion into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. Had they been inducted in 1999, the year they were first eligible, they would have entered with Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Dusty Springfield, and Curtis Mayfield, among others. That year, instead of KISS joining those legends in the Hall, the late Del Shannon was inducted — an artist, whose influence and fan-base simply can't be compared to the New York rockers. Over the years, KISS has watched such '70s peers as AEROSMITH, the RAMONES, AC/DC, ZZ TOP, the SEX PISTOLS, the STOOGES, and Alice Cooper enter before them.

Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley spoke about once again being shut out of the Rock Hall, with Simmons telling Rolling Stone: "It's become a joke. We've been thinking about it and the answer is simply, 'We'll just buy it and fire everybody.' In all seriousness for the fans, for something to be called Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame is such an insult to MADONNA, BLONDIE. . . Who the fuck knows what other disco act is in there? It's an insult to them because they don't get to be in the 'Dance Hall Of Fame', because that's what they do. They're legitimate dance, disco artists. They don't belong in rock and roll."

Paul Stanley went on to add: "The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame has reached a point where they're really scrounging and scratching to find someone left that they consider viable. With all due respect, when you get to Patti Smith, you're about two steps away from Pete Seeger."

Gene Simmons told The Pulse Of Radio that awards hold little allure for him, since it's the fans that ultimately decide who stays around and who doesn't: "Our awards are under the 'K' section in record stores. Every time somebody goes out and plunks down their hard-earned money — either for a KISS ticket or for an album — that's the award, and reward."

Paul Stanley told The Pulse Of Radio that he looks at the big picture when considering KISS' career. "When you think of Muhammad Ali, you think of him as the champ," he said. "You don't think of the times he lost — and he did. I'd rather think of us in those terms. Nobody stays on top all the time, but who's been champ longest?"

KISS has just wrapped production on their 20th album, "Monster". No release date has been announced.

They'll next perform on Friday (March 30) in New Orleans at the NCAA Big Dance at Woldenburg Riverfront Park.

German thrash metal veterans KREATOR will release their new album, "Phantom Antichrist", on June 1 in Europe and June 5 in North America via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was recorded at Fascination Street Studios in Örebro, Sweden with renowned producer Jens Bogren (OPETH, KATATONIA, SOILWORK, DEVIN TOWNSEND, AMON AMARTH).

The cover artwork for the standard edition of "Phantom Antichrist" was created by Wes Benscoter (SLAYER, DIO, BLACK SABBATH) and can be seen below.

The limited edition of "Phantom Antichrist" will be made available as two-disc digipack, including a bonus DVD.

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

"Phantom Antichrist" track listing:

CD:

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

Limited-edition bonus DVD:

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

Wacken Open Air 2011:

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

Wacken Open Air 2008:

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

KREATOR will release a seven-inch single containing the "Phantom Antichrist" title track on April 20. The collector's item will be available in colored red vinyl (limited to 250 pieces) as well as in clear vinyl (limited to 250 pieces, exclusively available at the Nuclear Blast mailorder).

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

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

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

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

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

Commented

Canadian technical death metallers GORGUTS have been confirmed as the support act for the "Death To All Tour 2012" in benefit of Sweet Relief. This five-city tour will feature a majority of DEATH's amazing musicians, as well as special guests. This tour is to celebrate the life and music of Chuck Schuldiner, as well as to raise awareness of Sweet Relief Musicians Fund — a charity that provides financial assistance to career musicians faced with illness, disability or age-related problems.

This tour will kick off in San Francisco, California and work its way to Orlando, Florida — stopping in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York along the way. GORGUTS will open all shows up to, but not including, Orlando.

Commented GORGUTS mainman Luc Lemay: “If I owe one person regarding the fact that I chose to become a death metal musician in life, I totally owe this to Chuck Schuldiner.

"Back in '86-'87, I was already a fan of the genre with POSSESSED's 'Seven Churches', CELTIC FROST's 'Morbid Tales' and HELLHAMMER's 'Apocalyptic Raids'. But the day I put my hand on DEATH's 'Scream Bloody Gore' cassette tape, my life changed. All I wanted was to become a guitar player, playing death metal and singing with a raw, evil and brutal voice like Chuck.

"So here I am, twenty five years later, as passionate as day one. Being on stage paying homage to this amazingly visionary and creative artist, Chuck Schuldiner. In my heart I see him as important as any composer of the 20th and 21st centuries. He created a language and a musical esthetic that will never be forgotten."

The drums on the "Death To All Tour 2012" will be handled by Gene Hoglan ("Individual Thought Patterns", "Symbolic") and Sean Reinert ("Human"). On bass will be Steve DiGiorgio ("Human", "Individual Thought Patterns") and Scott Clendenin ("The Sound Of Perseverance"). Guitar duties will be shared by Paul Masvidal ("Human"), Shannon Hamm ("The Sound of Perseverance") and Bobby Koelble ("Symbolic"). The vocals will be taken care of by Steffen Kummerer of OBSCURA and Charles Elliott of ABYSMAL DAWN and BEREFT.

The dates are as follows:

June 22 - The Regency Ballroom - San Francisco, CA
June 23 - House of Blues – West Hollywood, CA
June 26 - House of Blues - Chicago, IL
June 28 - Irving Plaza – New York, NY
June 30 - The Beacham - Orlando, FL

For more information, go to this location.

Chuck died on December 13, 2001 after a battle with pontine glioma, a rare type of brain tumor.

Mark Holmes of Metal Discovery conducted an interview with bassist Derek Boyer of New York death metallers SUFFOCATION before the band's March 15 concert in Liverpool, England. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Metal Discovery: So [drummer] Mike Smith left recently, of course, and he's already spoken out in an interview I've read to say his departure was "inevitable." Did the rest of the band feel that was inevitable as well?

Derek: You know, deep down we love the guy and we just kind of had a different direction in mind and it was nothing personal…I mean, for me personally, nothing personal. It was more we wanted to go full steam ahead and he kind of wanted to do it a different way. And nothing wrong with his way but his way didn't work with the way we were trying to move. We wanted to do more work and it just wasn't the right time today. But still respect for him; a lot of respect and that's that.

Metal Discovery: Mike's been quite critical of the band in the interview I read after he left – was his departure amicable from your point of view?

Derek: We're really not trying to defame anyone. He's speaking his perspective and we're just trying to be professional and move forward and that's pretty much the deal.

Metal Discovery: There have been a few rumors on the Internet lately about SUFFOCATION splitting up. Were you surprised by that kind of overreaction based on just one lineup change?

Derek: It's not over!

Metal Discovery: But were you surprised about people overreacting in that way?

Derek: Er, yeah, some people, you know, let's say you're a diehard Mike Smith fan — if Mike Smith's not in the band, then maybe your feelings are hurt and maybe it's not SUFFOCATION if you're a diehard Mike Smith fan.

Metal Discovery: I gather a new album's set to be released later this year but nothing's actually been recorded yet?

Derek: Well, we have all the pre-production done. We're recording the record ourselves and so now we've gotta get everybody up to speed, teach everybody all the parts, make sure everybody feels comfortable with the tempos, and write the harmonies. There's still some lyrical content that needs to be done but that's the fun part, you know, like putting the icing on the cake.

Metal Discovery: Is the new material much in the same vein as "Blood Oath" or has there been any progression in your sound?

Derek: I feel like it's a little more…I don't want to say aggressive if that's the only word because "Blood Oath" is pretty aggressive, too. It's really chaotic, it's really fast and it's got a lot of really heavy slams and twists. You know, it's the SUFFOCATION you know and love but also some new feel.

Read the entire interview from Metal Discovery.

Jo Schüftan of Horns Up Rocks! conducted an interview with vocalist Dez Fafara of California metallers DEVILDRIVER before the band's March 21 concert at the Gramercy Theater in New York City. You can now watch the chat below.

On what caused DEVILDRIVER's split with longtime label Roadrunner Records:

Dez: "A lot of things, I think — if you talk to them or you talk to us. But I think that the main thing is, yeah, we're label shopping. So [at] tonight's [show in] New York City, at least ten labels are here right now [to check us out] — I just talked to a bunch of them — and it's good to see them coming out for us. I think it shows what we've done in the past. Roadrunner has been my home since '96 [when Dez was still a member of COAL CHAMBER. — Ed.]. We'll really see what happens. For us, it's not about where to go for the money or any of that right now, it's where do we go for the passion? We're all remaining on good terms [with Roadrunner], so that's a good thing, and we're just moving forward."

On the songwriting process for DEVILDRIVER's next album:

Dez: "[The other guys in the band] played me three songs. Two of them, there's maybe bits of. You know, until you find the sound, you don't really go for it. But the other night in Texas, at South By Southwest, they jammed me one that they had recorded that I think is absolutely astounding — reminiscent of our first three records, but with a whole another take on DEVILDRIVER.

"What we do is we try to make every record different without going too much outside of ourselves, so we can remain who we are, really. And I think they touched on a really cool sound with this one tune that I heard. We all started writing lyrics to it and everything right away. We've kind of got a little chorus for it already that I think is amazing. So we'll see what happens.

"It's gonna be a very critical record for us.

"We've always taken time writing. Like, if we put out a record every two years, it was because we had the music, it was demoed and we were ready to go in. This one, I wanna make sure that we're ready. And I think the rest of the band does, too."

DEVILDRIVER bassist Aaron "Bubble" Patrick was released from the hospital on March 21 after receiving treatment for Streptococcus pneumonia, an inflammation and swelling of the lung, caused by an infection with the bacteria.

Patrick is sitting out DEVILDRIVER's Metal Alliance Tour, which kicked off on March 15 at the South By Southwest festival in Austin, Texas. Filling in for him is Aaron's former BURY YOUR DEAD bandmate Chris Towning.

Patrick joined DEVILDRIVER as the replacement for Jonathan Miller, who quit the band in March 2011, calling it "the most difficult decision of my life" but "something that I needed to do for myself."