Atlantic recording group HALESTORM will release its new album. "The Strange Case Of…", on April 10.

Produced by Howard Benson (who previously collaborated with the Pennsylvania-based hard rock band on their self-titled 2009 debut), "The Strange Case Of…" was recently named among Revolver's "Most Anticipated Albums of the Year." "Led by one of our favorite rocker babes, singer-guitarist Lzzy Hale, (HALESTORM) promise a more personal album for their follow-up," the magazine noted. "But don't expect them to get all sappy on us. There should still be more than enough of the band's now signature raucous attitude and righteous riffs for any headbanger to get off."

HALESTORM will hit the road hard to support "The Strange Case Of…", beginning with a major U.S. trek alongside GODSMACK and fellow Atlantic recording group STAIND. The dates get underway April 13 at Augusta, Georgia's John Paul Jones Arena and then continue through mid-May.

Formed by frontwoman Lzzy Hale and her brother, drummer Arejay Hale, HALESTORM has been hailed far and wide as an incendiary new force in modern hard rock. "Halestorm" made a top 5 debut on SoundScan's "Hard Music" chart upon its 2009 release, simultaneously bursting into the top 40 on the comprehensive The Billboard 200. The album subsequently sold more than 300,000 copies, and half a million cumulative tracks. Produced by Howard Benson (DAUGHTRY, MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE, FLYLEAF), the album earned extensive acclaim for its infectious hard rock anthems, sexy hooks, and rough-and-tumble grooves.

"The Strange Case Of…" marks HALESTORM's first release since last year's "ReAniMate: The CoVeRs eP", which saw the band putting their unique stamp on a diverse collection of classic songs, including tracks by GUNS N' ROSES, THE BEATLES, HEART, TEMPLE OF THE DOG, SKID ROW, and LADY GAGA. HALESTORM also unleashed their first-ever live CD/DVD, "Live In Philly 2010", featuring such favorites from the band's self-titled debut as "It's Not You", "Familiar Taste of Poison" and the rock radio smash "I Get Off".

True road warriors, HALESTORM made its bones as a major league hard rock outfit via countless North American gigs alongside such artists as SHINEDOWN, AVENGED SEVENFOLD and DISTURBED. Last year saw the band traveling the country on the blockbuster "Avalanche Tour 2011", joining such hard rock luminaries as STONE SOUR, THEORY OF A DEADMAN, ART OF DYING, and fellow Atlantic recording group SKILLET.

"The Strange Case Of…" track listing:

01. Love Bites (So Do I)
02. Mz. Hyde
03. I Miss The Misery
04. Freak Like Me
05. Beautiful With You
06. In Your Room
07. Break In
08. Rock Show
09. Daughters Of Darkness
10. You Call Me A Bitch Like It's A Bad Thing
11. American Boys
12. Here's To Us

Check out the "The Strange Case Of…" cover artwork below.

Inner Wound Recordings has announce the signing of the Brazilian female-fronted metallers SHADOWSIDE. The band's third album, "Inner Monster Out", will be released on May 11 in Europe and May 22 in North America. The CD was produced, mixed and mastered at Studio Fredman in Gothenburg, Sweden by Fredrik Nordström, who has previously worked with AT THE GATES, IN FLAMES, DARK TRANQUILLITY, ARCH ENEMY, SOILWORK and BRING ME THE HORIZON, among others. It features guest vocals from Björn "Speed" Strid (SOILWORK), Mikael Stanne (DARK TRANQUILLITY), and Niklas Isfeldt (DREAM EVIL).

Commented SHADOWSIDE vocalist Dani Nolden: "We are very excited about the worldwide release of 'Inner Monster Out' and extremely proud to work with Inner Wound Recordings! As if by fate, even the label name and our album title fit. A hardworking, artist-friendly company, and it's safe to say it's the best place SHADOWSIDE has ever been! We can't wait to have you all listening to the album, it's the heaviest and surely the best one we've done so far. Play it loud!"

"Inner Monster Out" track listing:

01. Gag Order
02. Angel with Horns
03. Habitchual
04. In the Name of Love
05. Inner Monster Out (feat. Björn "Speed" Strid, Mikael Stanne, Niklas Isfeldt)
06. I'm Your Mind
07. My Disrupted Reality
08. A Smile Upon Death
09. Whatever Our Fortune
10. A.D.D.
11. Waste Of Life
12. Ace Of Spades (bonus track)

The "Angel With Horns" video can be seen below. The clip was filmed in Campinas, Brazil with director Thiago Pinheiro of Studio Kaiowas.

"The song is about someone trying to escape their own boring reality by putting their hopes in one disturbing and mysterious person that's pure evil, though innocent as an angel at the same time," said Dani Nolden.

"I believe it's safe to say this is our best material to date," Nolden stated about the 11 new tracks on "Inner Monster Out". "It's very heavy and angry, but also very musical. We worked a lot on the melodies to make them catchy, yet elaborate, just to the right extent."

She added, "Working with Fredrik was fantastic and everything went smoothly. He is a perfectionist, and really helped push ourselves to our best. We were pretty much living in the studio for a month, so the whole band was completely focused on the album and on nothing else.

"I can't wait to have this album out and play these songs live. That's what they were written for!"

Nolden previously stated about SHADOWSIDE's new CD, "'Inner Monster Out' is about letting your hidden persona show through, and about everything we always classify as not normal in human beings. The lyrics deal with everyone's fears, reactions, perversions, personality disorders and although it can be seen as a dark album, it also makes it clear that we all have a little bit of crazy and disturbed in a certain way. It's a musically intense album, with lots of angry guitars, bringing together the best of 'Dare To Dream' and 'Theatre Of Shadows', but with new and better things that we didn't try before. I'm especially proud and happy about the result we achieved on this album... we wrote and recorded songs that we like to hear and play and it's by far our best material so far."

BENEDICTUM has announced the addition of drummer Rikard Stjernquist to the group's ranks.

Rikard, who started his career with Stockholm-based BRONZE PUPPET, brings a multitude of talent from his longevity as the drummer for power metal legends JAG PANZER of 25 years and nine records to his studio production capabilities.

States Rikard: "I have been very fortunate in my long career to have recorded and performed with some exceptional people/musicians, and BENEDICTUM is no exception. I'm very excited about the future with BENEDICTUM and having the opportunity to perform for their amazing fans all over the world. Thank you, Veronica Freeman, Pete Wells, and Chris Shrum, for this amazing opportunity."

BENEDICTUM played select U.S. dates on the East Coast in late November 2011 in support of their current release, "Dominion".

"Dominion", was released in February 2011 in Europe and in March 2011 in North America via Frontiers Records.

BENEDICTUM is:

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

Photo credit: Mark Briody

Fan-filmed video footage of DIMMU BORGIR's March 4 concert at Groove in Buenos Aires, Argentina can be seen below.

Tablature for three DIMMU BORGIR tracks from 2007's "In Sorte Diaboli" — "The Chosen Legacy", "The Sacrilegious Scorn" and "The Serpentine Offering" — is now available to fans on Jammit.com.

This is the first time official DIMMU BORGIR tablature has been made available (online or in print).

Jammit.com's software allows musicians to isolate the instrument they want to learn (ex: guitar, bass, drums, keyboards) and also features a variable slow mode plus scrolling notation.

Tracks can be purchased at this location. View a How It Works video here.

DIMMU fans are encouraged to request more songs via this online form.

The band has just completed a South American tour and will make several summer festival appearances in Europe.

"Abrahadabra", the ninth album from DIMMU BORGIR, sold 9,400 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 42 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous CD, "In Sorte Diaboli", opened with 14,000 units back in May 2007 to debut at No. 43. This was more than double the 6,400 first-week tally achieved by its predecessor, "Death Cult Armageddon", which came out in September 2003 and landed at position No. 169 on The Billboard 200 chart.

"Abrahadabra" was released in Germany on September 24, 2010, in the rest of Europe on September 27, 2010, and it was made available in North America on October 12, 2010 via Nuclear Blast Records.

Two songs from BORN OF THE STORM — the new collaborative project featuring DEVILDRIVER vocalist Dez Fafara and LAMB OF GOD guitarist Mark Morton — are available for free download from Medaifire using the links below.

* "Nowhere Fast": Download
* "Dust": Download

According to Morton, Kevin Talley (SIX FEET UNDER, DAATH, MISERY INDEX, CHIMAIRA) played drums on the demos, with Morton handling the bass on "Dust".

"Nowhere Fast" features a guest appearance by Ryan Lake of ALABAMA THUNDERPUSSY on the first guitar solo.

Writing on his Twitter profile, Fafara previously compared the music to CIRCUS OF POWER meets "Badmotorfinger"-era SOUNDGARDEN while Morton cited Chicago doom legends TROUBLE as an influence on the material. At least 14 "killer tunes" have been written so far.

In a recent interview with NZRock, Morton stated about BORN OF THE STORM, "It's interesting how [the collaboration with Dez] happened because essentially this is a project that Dez and I have been playing with for a long time. But what it really is, it's two friends sending songs back and forth via email and just tinkering with stuff purely for fun. We made the mistake, I suppose… or overlooked the fact… we were tweeting with someone or I answered a question about it. I don't even remeber exactly how it went down, it might've even been me and Dez tweeting back and forth. Someone caught wind of it and decided to make it a heavy metal news headline that Dez and I have a side project. [Laughs] It's really not anything we are promoting, it's not anything that we are necessarily working to release, it's really just two friends having fun writing music. I think the fact that so many people are now asking questions about it and that it has generated so much interest, we may wind up putting a song or two out there just to let people put their ears on it and maybe get some feedback. But, really, the catalyst for it was that… I mean, I'm sure you talk to a lot of musicians and you probably hear this… but when you get signed to a label or when your band reaches a certain status, or when you're on the road a lot, a lot of times the business side of things and the press… interviews, the touring, all the things that don't have to do with strapping on your guitar or grabbing a mic and singing, a lot of the time those things can overshadow the actual creative process and I think it's really important to do music for the sake of pure creativity and that's the story with the project that Dez and I have. We're not exactly sure if or when we're going to release it. It's really just two friends having fun."

QUIET RIOT has recruited Scott Vokoun as its new lead singer. The band is scheduled to play in Scottsdale, Arizona at the end of the month before embarking on a short tour in mid-April.

QUIET RIOT played several shows in early February with ex-MONTROSE vocalist Keith St. John following the departure of Mark Huff.

Commented QUIET RIOT drummer Frankie Banali: "I spoke several weeks ago with my friend and vocalist Keith St. John to once again thank him for lending his talents to QUIET RIOT during our time of need. Keith stepped in on very short notice so that QUIET RIOT could meet our live dates in February. Keith knocked it out of the park with great vocals and performances and we are forever in his debt."

Upcoming QUIET RIOT shows:

Mar. 28 - Scottsdale, AZ - Westworld Scottsdale
Apr. 14 - Lyons, TX - Carts Bikers And Babes
Apr. 15 - Chicago, IL - Mayne Stage
Apr. 20 - Boca Raton, FL - Sunset Cove Amphitheater
Apr. 21 - Cape Coral, FL - Legends Of Rock
May 11 - Peterburg, VA - Old Towne Civic Center
May 12 - Columbia, MD - M3 Festival
Jun. 23 - Idaho Falls, ID - Sandy Downes Race Track
Sep. 08 - Las Vegas, NV - Sunset Station Casino

QUIET RIOT released a statement on January 12 announcing that it had split with Mark Huff. A short time later, Mark posted a message on his Facebook page, stating, "As I sit in hospital… wait for my brain surgery… I have been let go from QUIET RIOT. And nobody's had balls to tell it to my face. Interesting … the rock 'n' roll business. I have to read the news in a post that's not even directed to me?… WTF?"

He continued, "Let me tell all my friends… don't count me out… Watch what happens. It's obvious what I ever meant to this situation… I deserve better treatment… Don't worry about me… Worry about your own bad selves. And I am gonna take the high road… I have so much shit I could speak… Stay tuned, my friends."

This was followed by a Facebook post from Banali, who wrote, "With regards to Mark Huff: My policy has always been not to air out the dirty laundry in public. That policy remains the same even in light of those who chose to make accusations. The fact is that Mr. Huff's medical condition had nothing to do with the decision that was made, though it is unfortunate that it comes at such a time. His wife assured me that Mark would be home this week, and as legal protocol dictated, a certified letter was sent informing Mark of the decision that was made and why it was made. This was days ago. The content of that letter is a private matter unless Mr. Huff decides to make the reason for his dismissal made public, which I believe would be counterproductive for him. I will not go tit for tat with this issue. If certain persons wish to villainize me, that is their prerogative."

QUIET RIOT's current touring lineup is as follows:

Scott Vokoun - Vocals
Frankie Banali - Drums
Chuck Wright - Bass
Alex Grossi - Guitar

QUIET RIOT singer Kevin DuBrow died in November 2007 of an accidental cocaine overdose. He was 52 years old.

QUIET RIOT was perhaps best known for its 1983 cover of "Cum On Feel The Noize". The song, featuring DuBrow's powerful, gravelly voice, appeared on the band's album "Metal Health" — which was the first by a metal band to reach No. 1 on the Billboard chart.

Masters of Sumerian black/thrash metal MELECHESH will release a digital EP called "Mystics Of The Pillar II" on April 27 in Europe and May 1 in the U.S. via Nuclear Blast Records.

The EP will contain the following tracks:

01. Mystics Of The Pillar (Alternate Ending)
02. Sacred Geometry (Instrumental)
03. The Epigenesis (Instrumental)

Commented MELECHESH mainman Ashmedi: "We recorded two different ending version of 'Mystics Of The Pillar' — this one changes tempo and picks up steam. Why? Because we felt like it; a song with two different endings is not too common in this day and age. Last minute we chose one to be included on the album, thus the second version was not mixed and mastered 'till a much later date. We also decided to release a couple of instrumental versions to our songs, namely 'The Epigenesis' title track, which is a 12-13 minute epic, and 'Sacred Geometry'. Both are multi-faceted and work perfect just as instrumental works. We actually have an instrumental version of the entire album mixed and mastered so enjoy these couple of tracks."

"The Epigenesis" was recorded in the recently built Babajim Studios in Istanbul, Turkey and was mixed by Reuben de Lautour and mastered by Pieter Snapper.

The "The Epigenesis" cover art was created by the U.K.-based renowned occult artist John Coulthart, who had already collaborated with MELECHESH in the past.

Portuguese gothic metallers MOONSPELL will release their new album, "Alpha Noir", on April 27 via the band's new label home, Napalm Records.

The cover artwork for the CD — an intricate, marvellous and symbolic creation by Seth Siro Anton, the Greek artist who collaborated with the band on "Night Eternal" — can be seen below. Also available is a preview image of the strictly limited edition "Alpha Noir" deluxe box set containing the limited-edition double album mediabook, including two album covers, and "Alpha Noir"'s counterpart "Omega White" and an exclusive MOONSPELL logo pendant.

"Alpha Noir" deluxe box set track listing:

CD 1

01. Axis Mundi
02. Lickanthrope
03. Versus
04. Alpha Noir
05. En Nome Do Medo
06. Opera Carne
07. Love is Blasphemy
08. Grand Stand
09. Sine Missione

CD 2

01. White Omega
02. White Skies
03. Fireseason
04. New Tears Eve
05. Herodisiac
06. Incantatrix
07. Sacrificial
08. A Greater Darkness

Commented MOONSPELL frontman Fernando Ribeiro: "A true band has to have to a glorious past, a solid present and a bright future. More than that, a true band has to know how to live throughout all these seasons, dealing with their ghosts, their shadows, their aim at the light, moulding darkness with personality, with the impulse to be better, to do better while getting close to theirselves. Their true heart, soul and flesh.

"Never a MOONSPELL album came so close to be absolute like the new opus magna (masterpiece) 'Alpha Noir', scheduled to be proudly released by Napalm Records on April 27th, when spring racks through the wastes of winter, bursting new colours over familiar sights, once silent and white, now fiery under the blackest of suns.

"The concept of this new record, painstakingly composed by the Portuguese gothic metal knights over the past three years, after the public and critically acclaimed 'Night Eternal', is bulletproof. The band managed to split their heart and soul in half and the result is that they came even closer to themselves, the ambitious band they always were, with a undying wish not to claim any throne but to build their own ships that would take them and their fans to 'give new worlds to the world,' like in the age of discovery where the Portuguese were a leading force in the world.

"With their country drowned in a corrosive crisis, MOONSPELL filled their lungs with pride and created an incendiary album, with nine outbursts of their rockiest and thrashier riffs made superiorly dimensioned by the reindivictative lyrical content and songs structure that take you by storm from the first listen on. MOONSPELL has tapped a notch into their energy filled gothic metal by adding a guitar wall forjed by timeless artists like BATHORY, KING DIAMOND or in a twist ofthe knive to old thrash metal legends like ONSLAUGHT, METALLICA early works or even TESTAMENT and ARTILLERY, making 'Alpha Noir' a truly surpring and fresh record where all the songs have a climax effect about them, an high tension charm that will for sure electricize audiences when played on a stage.

"Songs like the title track ('Alpha Noir'), the infectious 'Versus', the wolf hymn 'Lickanthrope' or the Portuguese sung 'Em Nome Do Medo' (In The Name Of Fear) and the closing epic 'Grandstand', might get you a welcoming chilling of the past but make no mistake: 'Alpha Noir' is a leap of faith and belief in their writing skills and progressive musicianship.

"Together with 'Alpha Noir' packed in a deluxe and special edition on digipack, MOONSPELL and Napalm offers no live DVD, making-of or any kind of filler. Instead they put in the table another offerend: 'Ómega White', the musical twin of 'Alpha Noir', a collection of eight songs of pure atmosphere and shadow, close to their breakthrough album 'Irreligious', in a just homage to their TYPE O NEGATIVE and SISTERS OF MERCY roots. Tracks like the erotic 'Herodisiac', the catchy 'White Skies' or the heartbreaking 'Whiteomega' will for sure keep you in dark company through a night of fear and loss, both soothing and provoking.

"Both masterpieces were produced and mixed by Tue Madsen, pre-produced by Benny Richter.

"Each song a jewel, each song a stronghold!

"Keep your watch and do not miss this new MOONSPELL record, for it is a true mortal sin to stay away from these eighty minutes of music, beautifully and violently craved by one of the most legendary and imaginative bands ever to surface the European scene. Do not forget to get your hands on this masterpiece and to watch the band live in the summer festivals around Europe. 'Alpha Noir'/'Ómega White' will also be played in their entirety in Lisbon's Campo Pequeno, that holds 5,000 fans, in their homeland Portugal in the most daring stage set and visuals the band has ever tried."

MOONSPELL released a DVD, "Lusitanian Metal", in December 2008 in Europe via Century Media Records.

The band's latest album, "Night Eternal", entered the national chart in Portugal at No. 3 and in Germany at No. 62. The follow-up to 2006's "Memorial" was recorded at Antfarm studios in Denmark with producer Tue Madsen (THE HAUNTED, DARK TRANQUILLITY, HALFORD).

"Alive In The Night", the first live album from multinational metallers POWERWOLF, was recorded exclusively for Metal Hammer, Germany's leading metal magazine. The CD is only available with the April 2012 issue of Metal Hammer, which hit newsstands on March 14.

"Alive In The Night" track listing:

01. Lupus Daemonis
02. Sanctified With Dynamite
03. Prayer In The Dark
04. Raise Your Fist, Evangelist
05. We Drink Your Blood
06. Werewolves Of Armenia
07. Dead Boys Don't Cry
08. Resurrection By Erection
09. Saturday Satan
10. Lupus Dei

Check out audio samples below.

POWERWOLF will embark on a headlining tour at the end of March with support from MYSTIC PROPHECY, STORMWARRIOR and LONEWOLF.

POWERWOLFs' "We Drink Your Blood" video can be seen below (courtesy of Metal Hammer magazine). The clip was filmed in an ancient monastery church.

"We Drink Your Blood" comes off POWERWOLF's fourth album, "Blood Of The Saints", which was released last August via Metal Blade Records. The CD was made available as a regular CD, a limited-edition digibook 2-CD and on vinyl. The cover art was created by POWERWOLF guitarist Matthew Greywolf.

Legendary guitarist Slash (VELVET REVOLVER, GUNS N' ROSES) is featured in Season 18 Episode 7 of BBC's "Top Gear", which is described by The Economist as "an inexplicably popular television program in which three paunchy Englishmen drive slender foreign sportscars." Slash appears in the show as a "Star In A Reasonably Priced Car."

The entire 10-minute segment containing Slash's appearance on the program can be seen below.

As previously reported, Slash has recorded a six-part series for BBC Radio Two, which he has described as "blistering" and "full of hard rock and metal that was a major influence on me." The series is scheduled to air in April.

British progressive metallers THRESHOLD are in the final stages of recording their ninth studio album, "March of Progress", for a late 2012 release via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD is being produced by Karl Groom and Richard West at Thin Ice Studios (DRAGONFORCE, PENDRAGON), with additional production at Eightspace Studio (LEAGUE OF LIGHTS, THE MORNING AFTER).

Vocal duties on "March of Progress" were performed by THRESHOLD's original frontman Damian Wilson (STAR ONE, HEADSPACE), who's been back touring with the band since the release of their previous studio album, "Dead Reckoning", in 2007.

Commented Wilson: "I've really enjoyed being back in the studio with Rich and Karl. It feels like the good old days, wailing away at Thin Ice Studios again! My voice has been strong and powerful; it feels like my best work."

Provisional songtitles set to appear on the CD include:

* Ashes
* Return of the Thought Police
* Colophon
* Staring at the Sun
* Liberty Complacency Dependency
* Divinity
* The Hours
* Don't Look Down
* That's Why we Came
* The Rubicon
* Coda

"Dead Reckoning" was released in 2007 and featured vocals by Andrew McDermott, who sadly passed away last year. The album entered the charts at position No. 64 in Germany, No. 95 in The Netherlands and No. 37 in the U.K. rock chart.

THRESHOLD's most recent output was the 2009 limited-edition box set "Paradox: The Singles Collection", a 24-song collection including a number of unreleased songs and recordings with vocals by Wilson, Glynn Morgan and McDermott.

THRESHOLD is:

Damian Wilson - Vocals
Karl Groom - Guitar
Richard West - Keyboards
Johanne James - Drums
Steve Anderson - Bass
Pete Morten - Guitar

"Zombietrain", the new video from NITROGODS — the German rock and roll band featuring guitarist Henny Wolter (THUNDERHEAD, PRIMAL FEAR, SINNER), drummer Klaus Sperling (FREEDOM CALL, PRIMAL FEAR) and bassist/vocalist Claus "Oimel" Larcher — can be seen below. The clip was produced by the Australian studio Awesome Fighter Animation and features the band as animated characters, crashing a subway train full of zombies after a ride through an apocalyptic city.

"Zombietrain" comes off NITROGODS' self-titled debut album, which was released in February via Steamhammer/SPV. The CD features guest appearances by NAZARETH singer Dan McCafferty and ex-MOTÖRHEAD guitarist Fast Eddie Clarke in the songs "Whiskey Wonderland" and "Wasted In Berlin".

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Black Car Driving Man
02. Demolition Inc.
03. At Least I'm Drunk
04. Gasoline
05. Whiskey Wonderland (feat. Dan McCafferty)
06. Licence To Play Loud
07. Lipsynch Stars
08. The Devil Dealt The Deck
09. Rifle Down
10. Riptide
11. Wasted In Berlin (feat. Fast Eddie Clarke)
12. Zombietrain

No more endless studio fakes, sound samples, artificial drum overdubs and computer-controlled corrections of suboptimal lead vocals. The time has come to return to the true values of rock music, namely honesty, solid craftsmanship and real lifeblood. To cut a long story short: the time has come for NITROGODS! The motto of this spectacular new rock trio: three men, three corners, and down-to-earth no-bullshit rock'n'roll!

The band may still be unfamiliar to the public at large, but the three members are renowned musicians with illustrious histories to look back on. Guitarist Henny Wolter founded THUNDERHEAD in 1988, played with PRIMAL FEAR and SINNER for number of years and was part of the Rock Meets Classic touring band. Drummer Klaus Sperling (FREEDOM CALL) was also with PRIMAL FEAR for a long time. And at the epicenter of the NITROGODS soundquake is a heavyweight who is impressive in every respect: Claus "Oimel" Larcher, a bear of a musician whose bass performance stands for sheer power and whose voice unmistakably reflects countless liters of beer and whiskey.

"I wanted to return to playing the music that I love," says Henny Wolter, "and that only works if you play it with your best friends."

Fast Eddie Clarke comments on his collaboration with the NITROGODS: "I first met Claus from the NITROGODS in 2005 when I did a benefit gig for the victims of the tsunami in Indonesia. So I was happy to say yes when asked to do a solo on their new album on the track 'Wasted In Berlin'. I have to say the tracks they sent me sounded great. The band has great spirit and they all play extremely well together. So if you like fast and furious rock, you should give this a listen. I can assure you you will not be dissapointed..."

Dan McCafferty on NITROGODS: "I have just had the pleasure to record a song with a new band called NITROGODS. Henny and I met and became good friends on the Rock Meets Classic tour 2010. Having heard other material for the album, I think it will be a fine one. Hope you enjoy my contribution on 'Whiskey Wonderland'. I wish the GODS the best of luck. Welcome to the rock 'n' roll world!"

"Zombietrain" video:

Video footage of bassist Philip "Landphil" Hall of the Richmond, Virginia crossover act MUNICIPAL WASTE training with instructor, MMA fighter, pro wrestler and heavy metal music fan Josh "The Warmaster" Barnett can be seen below.

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).

On March 11, keyboardist/mainman Tuomas Holopainen of Finnish/Swedish symphonic metallers NIGHTWISH answered a number of fan-submitted questions for his official web site prior to the band's concert in Tampere, Finland. You can now watch the question-and-answer session below.

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

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

"Trials Of Imaginaerum" track listing:

Side A

01. Storytime (Demo)
02. The Crow, The Owl And The Dove (Demo)

Side B

01. I Want My Tears Back (Demo)
02. Slow, Love, Slow (Demo)

Price: $16.99

About Record Store Day: Record Store Day is managed by the Music Monitor Network and is organized in partnership with the Alliance Of Independent Media Stores (AIMS), the Coalition Of Independent Music Stores (CIMS) and celebrates the culture of independent record stores by playing host to in-store events/performances, signings and special product releases on a global scale.

Record Store Day takes place annually on the third Saturday of April.

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

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

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

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

Long-running German metallers ATROCITY will release a new DVD, "Die Gottlosen Jahre" (English translation: The Godless Years), on March 30.

Commented the band: "After years of preparation, rediscovering old treasures and unveiling unforgettable memories of our musical adventures, we are finally able to share our history which extends over a period of more than two decades since we formed the band in 1985. The DVD features the three-hour long anthology 'Die Gottlosen Jahre', including tons of unreleased and rare footage, moreover, more than 80 inteviewes from the global metal and gothic scene. It makes us unbelievably proud that so many people helped us during this long and detailed production process. The movie chronicles happenings around the scene bound to each period, evolving into its own chapter. Additionally, the double DVD including audio CD release includes the 25th-anniversary special show at Wacken Open Air 2010, as well as a number of bonus clips, such as the short, Dreath-Sidestory Underground."

"Die Gottlosen Jahre" features more than 80 interviews, including those with members of CARCASS, ARCH ENEMY, KREATOR, DIMMU BORGIR, DEICIDE, OBITUARY, SODOM, LACRIMOSA, DAS ICH, OOMPH!, PAIN, CREMATORY, ENTOMBED, MORGOTH, NAPALM DEATH, PUNGENT STENCH, UMBRA ET IMAGO, SAMSAS TRAUM, as well as journalists, label staff, DJs, photographers, and fans. Reels and reels of rare unreleased film material and hundreds of photographs accompany the 25-year career of this German cult band. Of course, no ATROCITY retrospective would ever be complete without the legendary 25th-anniversary concert (performed at Wacken Open Air 2010 to a red-hot crowd led by frontman Alex Krull) or without an abundance of bonus material such as the documentary "No Sleep 'Til Wacken", the short "Dreath Sidestory Underground", featuring Alex Krull and Ralf Scheepers (PRIMAL FEAR), as well as a substantial collection of the band's video clips, including some of their greatest hits ("Taste of Sin", "Love Is Dead" and "Cold Black Days"), which were completely remastered to guarantee their fans the utmost enjoyment. As with all Mastersound Studio releases, the remaining material also boasts of a state-of-the-art production.

"Die Gottlosen Jahre" track listing:

DVD 1:

Documentary - Die Gottlosen Jahre (The Godless Years)

01. Prolog
02. Untergrund
03. Aufbruch
04. Turbulenzen
05. Transilvanien
06. Weltmusik
07. Zusammenkunft
08. Hass und Feuer
09. Neue Ufer
10. Zweigeist
11. Verlorenes Paradies
12. Dunkle Schönheit
13. Stimmen der Vergangenheit
14. Epilog

DVD 2:

Live in Wacken 2010 + Bonus Clips

01. No Sleep 'Til Wacken
02. Fatal Step
03. Necropolis
04. Blut
05. Willenskraft
06. Seasons in Black
07. Clash of the Titans
08. Die Todgeweihten
09. Danse Macabre
10. The Great Commandment
11. Fade To Grey
12. The Sun Always Shines on TV
13. Shout

Bonus Clips:

01. Blut
02. Cold Black Days
03. The Sun Always Shines on TV
04. Reich of Phenomena (Liveclip)
05. Die Liebe (feat. Das Ich)
06. Taste of Sin
07. Shout (Liveclip)
08. Love is Dead
09. Fade to Grey (Liveclip)
10. Calling the Rain (feat. Yasmin)
11. The Great Commandment (Liveclip)
12. Miss Directed
13. Dreath - Sidestory "Underground"

DVD Specification:

Aspect Ratio: 16:9 PAL DV
Sound: Stereo 2.0
Language: English/German
Subtitle: English / German
Regional Code: All Regions
Running Time DVD I: 180 minutes
Running Time DVD II: 116 minutes

Bonus Audio CD:

Live in Wacken 2010

01. Fatal Step
02. Necropolis
03. Blut
04. Willenskraft
05. Seasons in Black
06. Clash of the Titans
07. Die Todgeweihten
08. Danse Macabre
09. The Great Commandment
10. Fade To Grey

A four-minute trailer for the "Die Gottlosen Jahre" DVD can be seen below.

In other news, drummer Roland Navratil left ATROCITY "for private reasons and has been replaced by Joris Nijenhuis. The band states, "Not only is he a great guy; he also totally blew us away during his audition. He is the perfect match for the new ATROCITY material!"

States Joris: "I'm really excited to announce that I'm the new drummer for ATROCITY. After quitting DRDOOM, it wasn't easy to find a new band, but then [bassist] J.B. [Van Der Wal] told me that ATROCITY was looking for a new drummer. So I recorded an audition video of 'Reich Of Phenomena' and was asked to come to the studio a few weeks later to meet everyone. I'm really looking forward to play on the upcoming album and play a lot of shows."

"Systematic Suicide", the new video from New York thrash metallers CASTROFATE, can be seen below. The clip was filmed last month in Ardsley, New York while the story scenes were done in San Diego, California where the first CASTROFATE music video was shot.

"Systematic Suicide" is the title track of CASTROFATE's fourth album, "Systematic Suicide", which was released on October 2, 2011 via Cataclysmic Metal Records. The CD is only available through the band for $8 and features 12 songs and cover art by Eliran Kantor, who has previously worked with TESTAMENT, SIGH, ANACRUSIS and GWAR, among others.

CASTROFATE's new drummer John "Sinner" Lonergan appears in the new video playing to session drummer Dmitriy Shnaydman's drum parts from the "Systematic Suicide" album.

British power metal mercenaries TANK — featuring Mick Tucker and Cliff Evans on guitar alongside ex-RAINBOW/YNGWIE MALMSTEEN frontman Doogie White and ex-BRUCE DICKINSON bassist Chris Dale and drummer Steve Hopgood — are putting the finishing touches on their new album, "War Nation", for a June 5 release via MVD (one day earlier in Europe through Metal Mind Productions). The follow-up to 2010's "War Machine" is being helmed by new hotshot producer Phil Kinman at his west London studios.

Commented Evans: "The [cover] painting was done by infamous London graffiti artist Jay Bryce exclusively for TANK. We've always admired his work and it's an honor to be the first band to feature his artwork on an album cover."

"War Nation" track listing:

01. War Nation
02. Song For The Dead
03. Justice For All
04. Don't Dream In The Dark
05. Grace Of God
06. Wings Of Heaven
07. Hammer And Nails
08. One Good Reason
09. State Of The Union
10. W.M.L.A.

TANK's March 9 concert at Stodola in Warsaw, Poland was professionally recorded and filmed for the band's fist official live DVD, to be released later in the year via Metal Mind Productions. Apart from the material recorded in Warsaw, the DVD will also contain footage of TANK's appearance at Metal Hammer Festival (August 10, 2011 in Katowice, Poland), a warm-up gig in Chorzów (March 8, 2012), along with interviews with bandmembers and other bonus material.

TANK's most recent album, "War Machine", was released on October 25, 2010 in Europe via Metal Mind Productions (December 7, 2010 in the U.S. through MVD). The production was handled by Pedro Ferreira (THE DARKNESS, THERAPY?, MEAT LOAF) and the bulk of the recording was done at Pedrock Studios in London. Drums were laid down by Tony Newton at Steve Harris' (IRON MAIDEN) Barnyard Studios.

VAN HALEN frontman David Lee Roth stopped the band's concert earlier tonight (Tuesday, March 13) in Manchester, New Hampshire to berate fans who had been fighting in the crowd. The rock icon was doing his thing during VAN HALEN's performance of the ROY ORBISON classic "(Oh) Pretty Woman" at the Verizon Wireless Arena when he noticed some violence going down in the crowd. This did not please him.

"Knock off the fucking fighting. Fuck you!" screamed Roth to the applause of fans. "What do you think this is, a fucking mosh pit? You've got all the best-looking women on the fucking East Coast here and all you can fucking think of is fucking fighting?!?

"Ladies, I'm on your side, yeah," Dave added, to more applause.

He ended his tirade by instructing the band's drummer, Alex Van Halen, to "start it back at the top... Let's do the whole thing over again."

Fan-filmed video footage of the incident can be seen below. (Roth's rant begins around the 48-second mark.)

French doom metallers MONOLITHE have inked a deal with Debemur Morti Productions. The band will enter the studio later this month to begin recording its new album, "Monolithe III", which will once again consist of a single long track. A tentative late 2012/early 2013 release is expected.

Shortly after the release of the "Interlude Premier" EP back in 2007, MONOLITHE started to work on a new full-length album that was supposed to become "Monolithe III". This effort was also supposed to be released in 2008 via Appease Me…/Candlelight Records. However, for many reasons (including issues with Candlelight and mixing troubles), the effort never got completed and released.

In 2011, MONOLITHE decided to revisit and complete the music that had been recorded for the unfinished "Monolithe III" album and release it as a new EP. That became 2012's "Interlude Second", consisting of the tracks "Harmony Of Null Matter" Sections 1 and 2.

The next MONOLITHE album, "Monolithe III", will contain brand new material and will not feature any of the music that had been announced in 2008.

Whereas both EPs lean toward experimentation, "Monolithe III" is a continuation of what had been done with the "Monolithe I" and "Monolithe II" albums.

The "Interlude Premier" (2007) and "Interlude Second" (2012) EPs have been released via the Internet free of charge.

TRIOSCAPES, the new project featuring bassist Dan Briggs (BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME), will release its debut album, "Separate Realities", on May 8 (one day earlier internationally) via Metal Blade Records.

TRIOSCAPES started in the summer of 2011 when bassist Briggs contacted Walter Fancourt (tenor saxophone/flute) and Matt Lynch (drums) about working up a rendition of the MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA classic "Celestial Terrestrial Commuters". The group also messed around with a few original ideas with the intent of playing a one-off live show. However, after rehearsing the material and playing the show, the group decided the music was so demanding and fun to perform that there should be more of a future for the project. A few more songs were written near the end of the summer and a full length album was recorded the first week of October with Jamie King in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

TRIOSCAPES combines elements of '70s fusion with progressive rock, dark syncopated grooves, a flare for the psychedelic, and an unabashed love for both quirky Zappa-ish melodies and thunderous abrasive trade-off lines.

TRIOSCAPES currently has one show confirmed for this May to celebrate the release of the CD on Metal Blade Records. The 12-inch LP is also available via Dan Briggs's own Hogweed & Fugue Records. Both will be available for purchase at this show. More shows are currently being confirmed.

YES! Weekly, the Greensboro, North Carolina entertainment magazine, just named Briggs the region's best bassist and TRIOSCAPES the best new band. YES! praises Briggs' work: "His marathon bass runs for the progressive death metal quintet [BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME] are well noted, Briggs' work with the newly formed TRIOSCAPES to this point is equally impressive. The abrupt time signature changes remain, but his style in the fiery jazz-fusion trio recalls Jonas Hellborg considered cadences in the MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA mixed with a little bit of Bill Laswell fuzz bass."

TRIOSCAPES is also currently working on live dates for June, July and September.

For more information, go to this location.

Guns N’ Roses guitarist DJ Ashba (who is not a DJ) has confirmed that he has 12 songs written and ready to go for the new Guns N’ Roses album. We’re good, cheers.


It’s the news we’ve all not been waiting for – current Guns N’ Roses guitarist DJ Ashba (who is not a DJ) has said in a new interview that he has 12 songs ready for the band’s next album.

“I can’t give anybody a definite date, because I’m not gonna give anybody false hope,” he says of the next album, which would serve as a follow-up to 2008′s spectacularly average ‘Chinese Democracy’. “But what I can say is [making a new album] absolutely is our main priority. And I cannot wait to get [working on it]. I mean, Axl [Rose, GN'R lead singer] has tons and tons of stuff recorded as it is. I mean, he sits there in his hotel room and he’ll play me hours of stuff.

“And I’ve written over ten songs — I think 12 songs now — for him that he really likes. And I think now that we’re off tour, we’re gonna kind of start talking about, ‘Hey, let’s start piecing together what we feel would be the next best GUNS N’ ROSES record.’ It’s absolutely everybody’s goal to get out an album within a reasonable amount of time. That is everybody’s focus.”

Read the rest of the interview here.

"Caged In", the new video from Louisiana rockers LILLIAN AXE, can be seen below. The song comes off the band's new album, "XI: The Days Before Tomorrow", which was released in Europe on January 27 through Germany's AFM Records and in North America on February 14 via CME Records.

"XI: The Days Before Tomorrow" was recorded at Sound Landing Studio in Covington, Louisiana, with the band's guitarist/songwriter Steve Blaze acting as producer and Rob Hovey engineering. The mixing duties were handled by Sylvia Massey (TOOL, JOHNNY CASH, DEFTONES, SYSTEM OF A DOWN, PRINCE, BLACK CROWES).

"XI: The Days Before Tomorrow" track listing:

01. Babylon
02. Death Comes Tomorrow
03. Gather Up The Snow
04. The Great Divide
05. Take The Bullet
06. Bow Your Head
07. Caged In
08. Soul Disease
09. Lava On My Tongue
10. My Apologies
11. Angels Among Us (European bonus track)

"This is the best record I have ever written for LILLIAN AXE," says guitarist/songwriter Steve Blaze.

"XI: The Days Before Tomorrow" marks the debut of new lead vocalist Brian Jones of Jackson, Mississippi.

LILLIAN AXE has recorded an impressive amount of songs, earned the loyalty of a devout fan base worldwide and amassed an extensive amount of effusive critical acclaim from their peers. Brian Jones brings an amazing new voice and incredible vocal range to LILLIAN AXE. His vocal style complements Steve Blaze's songwriting and in turn has inspired Steve to write some of his most passionate, deep and soulful new songs to date.

The songs on "XI: The Days Before Tomorrow" reflect Steve Blaze's passionate beliefs in the power of music. Steve's compositions are as emotional as they are infectious. They are in your face songs of truth, war, neglect, Mother Nature, the innocent victim, the state of the world, current issues and spirituality. Personally charged rock 'n' roll is what makes Steve's songwriting so melodic and drenched with deep lyrical insight.

With the creative momentum in the studio, LILLIAN AXE took seven months to write and record the new album. Blaze recounts, "I had so many ideas and we experimented with a lot of sounds, we took our time to make the album we wanted to for ourselves and the fans. We took no shortcuts recording this album."

Although LILLIAN AXE has been through some tough times and taken the long road; they still create new music that is both relevant and exciting and continue to tour while others have forsaken the live performances. LILLIAN AXE respects its past but looks forward to the future by reinventing themselves with the current times. Steve Blaze reflects, "I continue to learn about writing songs, recording, performing and growing as a complete human being. My life experiences are those that make its way into the songs I write for LILLIAN AXE."

"Caged In" video:

"Uncontrolled", a compilation of all three demo taptes from the acclaimed Raleigh, North Carolina-based progressive doom metal band CONFESSOR, will be relased on May 8 via Divebomb Records.

CONFESSOR made a name for itself by writing unapologetically heavy riffs, with a unique flare for timing changes. The band had created quite a stir by playing all over the Southeast and landing two tours in Europe, including the now legendary "Gods of Grind" tour with CARCASS and ENTOMBED. With the release of their debut album, "Condemned", the band felt as though their chance was at hand to show the world what they knew, that CONFESSOR was unlike anything else out at the time. Unfortunately, label merging and politics forced CONFESSOR off of the U.S. leg of that famous tour in favor of the latest "new band." CONFESSOR's struggles with their label led to lineup changes that seriously altered the band's trajectory and eventually they disbanded after only a single album was released. Luckily, over the years CONFESSOR's controversial-yet-pioneering sound became accepted and adored by many in the metal community and in 2004 the band reunited for some festival appearances. They have reunited once again for a special appearance at the Maryland Deathfest in 2012.

"Uncontrolled" is the first time all three CONFESSOR demo tapes have been released officially. These are the demos that helped the band get signed to Earache Records back in 1990 and led to the eventual release of "Condemned".

For the diehards, Divebomb has unearthed raw archival live footage as part of both an enhanced CD and bonus DVD. Jeff Wagner, author of "Mean Deviation: Four Decades Of Progressive Metal", has also contributed a brand new essay to the liners.

The demos themselves were converted from original reels and/or DAT by The Kitchen Mastering in 2004. Jamie King remastered the entire set in 2012 at his Basement Studios.

"Uncontrolled" track listing:

01. Collapse Into Despair
02. Alone
03. Condemned
04. Uncontrolled
05. Prepare Yourself
06. Suffer
07. The Secret
08. Deception
09. Eve Of Salvation
10. Uncontrolled ("Vile Vibes" version)
11. The Secret ("Metal Massacre X" version)

"Die-Hard" Bonus Tracks

12. Words Of Praise (Live at Fame City)
13. Addictive Bind (Live In Raleigh)

"The Secret" is now available for streaming using the SoundCloud player below.

CONFESSOR released its latest full-length album, "Unraveled", in 2005 via Season of Mist. The CD was produced by Dick Hodgin (ex-CORROSION OF CONFORMITY producer) and is "a wonderful representation of the classic CONFESSOR twisted guitar riffing and complex drumming, meshed with some more straightforward parts and a toned down and very melodic vocal approach," according to Jeffreys.

CONFESSOR split up in the early '90s after releasing one full-length album (1991's "Condemned") and EP (1992's "Confessor"), with the with the rhythm section going on to form FLY MACHINE. CONFESSOR reformed in 2002 following the death of guitarist Ivan Colon, who passed away due to cardiac complications.

Veteran female-fronted German thrashers HOLY MOSES have parted ways with longtime guitarist Michael Hankel and have replaced him with Peter "Pete" Geltat (ex-DESILENCE). The band states, "This difficult decision is based on personal reasons and we please you to respect that this is a matter between the band and Michael, so we won't explain this in detail."

"Even though musicians are part of the public in general there are some things which have to stay private.

"We thank Michael for everything he did for the band and wish him all the best for his future with DEW-SCENTED and EROSION.

"Geltat, who already ennobled our 30th-anniversary album, 'In The Power Of Now', with his guitar skills, will lay the stages in ashes with us for the upcoming shows, which he already proved last weekend at our rehearsals at the Absurd Studios in Hamburg."

The "30th Anniversary - In The Power Of Now" double album will be released on April 30 in Germany, April 23 in the rest of Europe and early May in North America via SPV/Steamhammer. The CD contains re-recorded versions of 20 of the most important songs in HOLY MOSES' 30-year catalog along with two brand new tracks.

A 45-second video teaser for "30th Anniversary - In The Power Of Now" can be seen below.

"30th Anniversary - In The Power Of Now" track listing:

CD 1

01. Clash My Soul (02:36)
02. Jungle Of Lies (03:46)
03. Finished With The Dogs (02:29)
04. Symbol Of Spirit (03:42)
05. World Chaos (03:12)
06. SSP (03:40)
07. Borderland (03:27) (brand new song)
08. Lost In The Maze (05:51)
09. Walpurgisnight (02:58)
10. Welcome To The Real World (03:31)
11. Near Dark (05:30)

CD 2

01. Reborn Dogs (03:50)
02. DefCon II (04:26)
03. I Feel Sick (03:48)
04. Nothing For My Mum (03:51)
05. Disorder Of The Order (04:14)
06. Corroded Dreams (04:04)
07. Entering The Now (03:40) (brand new song)
08. Creation Of Violation (03:56)
09. Panic (03:13)
10. Decapitated Minds (03:40)
11. Master Of Disaster (03:45)

HOLY MOSES is:

Sabina Classen - Vocals
Michael Hankel - Guitars
Oliver Jaath - Rhythm Guitar, Backing Vocals
Gerd Lücking - Drums
Thomas Neitsch - Bass

"Agony of Death", the latest album from HOLY MOSES, was released in September 2008 in Europe via Wacken Records/SPV. The CD was recorded at the Blue Castle Studio near Hamburg with producer/guitar player Michael Hankel. DESTRUCTION, OBITUARY and AXEL RUDI PELL members are among the guest musicians who appear on the album.

Vocalist Melissa Ferlaak (VISIONS OF ATLANTIS) has confirmed her departure from ECHOTERRA, the band featuring keyboardist Jonah Weingarten (PYRAMAZE), guitarist Yan Leviathan (AVIAN), bassist Sam Van Moer (GRACEPOINT) and drummer Adam Sagan (INTO ETERNITY). She says, "[There is] no real drama, it just didn't work out. Not sure what I'll do next."

Fan-filmed video footage of ECHOTERRA's October 22, 2011 performance in St. Paul, Minnesota can be viewed below.

ECHOTERRA's latest album, "Land Of The Midnight Sun", was released on October 17, 2011 via Blinding Force Recordings. The effort was made available for sale in digital and physical formats. The physical copies have a 16-page booklet filled with spectacular artwork, band pictures and lyrics.

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. After The Rain
02. The Best Is Yet To Come
03. All The Lies
04. Midnight Sun
05. The Ghost Within My Heart
06. Welcome My Friend Of Misery
07. Memories Of Another Time
08. A Different Story
09. From The Gutter To The Throne
10. Unleash The Flood
11. Genes Of Isis

According to a press release, "Land Of The Midnight Sun" is "full of energy and excitement. Every one of the 11 brand new songs draws on a different facet of the symphonic metal genre; including influences from rock, power metal, opera, and progressive rock / metal, while offering a raw / live production instead of a polished, over-produced style."

ECHOTERRA's "In Your Eyes" EP featured Ferlaak on the three re-recorded songs from the band's debut CD — "In Your Eyes", "A Tear of Her Heart" and "Say, Try, Lie, Die".

Gothenburg, Sweden-based metallers ENGEL will release their third album, "Blood Of Saints", on May 18 via Season Of Mist. The CD was recorded at Antfarm studios in Aabyhøj, Denmark. According to the group, the new album "is going to be a good mixture between both [previous ENGEL efforts] 'Threnody' [2010] and 'Absolute Design' [2007], but with some new angles as well! If you liked 'Threnody', you will LOVE 'Blood Of Saints'!"

"Blood Of Saints" track listing:

01. Question Your Place
02. Frontline
03. Feel Afraid
04. Numb
05. Cash King
06. One Good Thing
07. Blood of Saints
08. Down to Nothing
09. Drama Queen
10. In Darkness
11. Journeys End

ENGEL filmed a video for the new song "Question Your Place" on February 10 at Sticky Fingers in Gothenburg.

A trailer for the CD can be seen below.

ENGEL features guitarists Marcus Sunesson (THE CROWN) and Niclas Engelin (PASSENGER, ex-GARDENIAN, IN FLAMES), vocalist Mangan Klavborn, drummer Jimmy Olausson (ex-MARIONETTE) and bassist Steve Drennan (LOCUS).

"Threnody" was released in Europe on November 8, 2010 and in the U.S. on January 11, 2011 via Season Of Mist. The CD was issued in Japan on April 20, 2010 via Avex.

The band was previously signed to SPV Records which issued ENGEL's debut album, "Absolute Design", in 2007.

Das neue Album Album mit den Namen "Obsidium" der Belgier ENTHRONED erscheint am 20.03.2012 in Europa und am 10.04.2012 in Nord Amerika via Agonia Records. Das neunte Studioalbum der Band wird auch im noblen Digipak und als 12“ Black Vinyl veröffentlicht. Ebenfalls wird es eine Spezial Colour Vinyl Edition geben, die streng auf 100 Stück limitiert ist. Jetzt könnt ihr euch den neuen Song "Nonvs Sacramentum" hier anhören.

Jetzt wurde das neue Album HIER komplett zum probehören online gestellt.

"Obsidium" Track List:

01. Sepulchred Within Opaque Slumber
02. Nonus Sacramentvm - Obsidium
03. Horns Aflame
04. Deathmoor
05. Oblivious Shades
06. The Final Architect
07. Petraolevm Salvia
08. Oracle ov Void
09. Thy Blight Vacuum

Noel Smart of SickDrummerMagazine.com recently conducted an interview with former SUFFOCATION drummer Mike Smith. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

SickDrummerMagazine.com: Why did you decide to step down from the drum throne of SUFFOCATION?

Mike: The decision was pretty much inevitable. When we first reunited, the economy was in a much different place, and I was able to make SUFFOCATION my full-time job. Over the last few years, the ability to tour and support a house, family and all it entails became a strain on myself and my family. Once you reach a certain point financially, decisions have to be made before falling to a point of no return.

SickDrummerMagazine.com: Are you happy with your replacement in SUFFOCATION being Dave Culross?

Mike: My position in SUFFOCATION isn't as simple as mounting a drum throne. The position I held within the band as president, founder, manager, songwriter, spokesperson, and all else pertaining to the working business of the band can never be replaced. Anyone drumming for the group now is just enjoying a moment in time, on me.

SickDrummerMagazine.com: Do you think the new drummer of SUFFOCATION is going to have a difficult time getting down the material from "Souls To Deny", "Blood Oath" and the SUFFOCATION self-titled release?

Mike: The new drummer won't have a hard time, because the hired guitarists can't play the songs, so he will have nothing to worry about. Whatever songs are played will be the same ones we've been playing for the last 1000 shows or so. Forcing the crew to learn and practice all the SUFFO songs was a battle that later became not worth fighting for. You're only as strong as the weak links in a band.

SickDrummerMagazine.com: Is there any bad blood between you and any of the members of SUFFOCATION?

Mike: There are only two members that I need to consider grudges with concerning SUFFOCATION. I only direct my concerns with founding stake-holding members. The respect that the brand gained and deserves was always a sour issue. In my opinion, it was always a simple concept to respect and protect the brand/band you created. No exceptions. Anyone who knows the dynamics of the band and the individual members already have a realistic understanding of why things could turn for the worst at any moment.

Read the entire interview from SickDrummerMagazine.com.

While playing several shows in Turkey at the end of February, Israeli oriental metal ambassadors ORPHANED LAND received the Friendship And Peace Award from the Turkish government — despite the fact that the two countries have no diplomatic relations at the moment.

Commented ORPHANED LAND vocalist Kobi Farhi: "We always knew that our efforts for peace in the Middle East and between the three religions are highly appreciated but we were so surprised that we got contacted by the secretary of Turkey's Prime Minister's advisor Mr. Huseyin Tugcu. He contacted our manager in Turkey and we met him in Ankara on February 24th. He gave us an amazing peace award, with the flags of Turkey and Israel as well as the symbols of Judaism and Islam, both carried by a dove of peace. Mr. Tugcu explained that despite the political conflict between the countries his country appreciates ORPHANED LAND as a great friend to Turkey and he wanted also to thank us for donating our Istanbul show income to the victims of the devastating Van earthquake last year.

"Our tour in Turkey was amazing, supported by a great audience as always and it is for a good reason that Turkey is always described as ORPHANED LAND's second home.

"Once again we have proven that music stands above politics, above conflicts, and we ORPHANED LAND, a metal band from Israel are literally the unofficial ambassadors of Israel in the Arab world and Turkey. Hail oriental metal. Peace, Shalom, Salam!"

In related news, Kobi Farhi recently compiled the world's first "Oriental Metal" compilation, which is available now through Century Media Records.

"Oriental Metal" track listing:

01. ORPHANED LAND – Sapari (04:04)
02. AMASEFFER - Slaves For Life (06:43)
03. ARKAN - Deus Vult (04:58)
04. PENTAGRAM - Lions In A Cage (06:13)
05. MYRATH - Merciless Times (03:25)
06. ALMANA SHCHORA – Elohim (03:53)
07. NERVECELL - The Taste Of Betrayal (03:39)
08. KHALAS - Haz El Adala Mayel (02:47)
09. NILE – Kaffir (06:49)
10. MELECHESH - Grand Gathas Of Baal Sin (05:54)
11. AHL SINA - Fountains Of Muses (03:32)

Das 11. Studioalbum der deutsch/schwedischen Hardrockband JADED HEART ist im Kasten! Das Werk trägt den Titel "Common Destiny" und wird am 25.05.2012 über Fastball Music/Soulfood veröffentlicht. Zum Song "With You", einem der elf Tracks auf "Common Destiny" wird es ein Video geben, das JADED HEART mitten im größen Karnevalstrubel am 19.02. im Helvete Club in Oberhausen gedreht haben.