RUSH's Neil Peart, Eric Clapton, SEX PISTOLS' Johnny Rotten, Carlos Santana and THE ROLLING STONES' Charlie Watts appear in Jay Bulger's documentary on legendary CREAM drummer Ginger Baker called "Beware Of Mr. Baker". The documentary will screen multiple times at SXSW (South By Southwest) in Austin, Texas beginning March 10.

"Beware Of Mr. Baker" synopsis: Ginger Baker is known for playing in CREAM and BLIND FAITH, but the world's greatest drummer didn’t hit his stride until 1972, when he arrived in Nigeria and discovered Fela Kuti's Afrobeat. After leaving Nigeria, Ginger returned to his pattern of drug-induced self-destruction, and countless groundbreaking musical works, eventually settling in South Africa, where the 73-year-old lives with his young bride and 39 polo ponies.

A new "Beware Of Mr. Baker" preview clip can be seen below (courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter).

Finland's most successful metal band NIGHTWISH has designed a can for the Finnish energy drink Battery Energy Drink.

The NIGHTWISH Battery Energy Drink can was designed by NIGHTWISH's animator Janne Pitkänen in collaboration with NIGHTWISH mainman Tuomas Holopainen. This limited edition can holds the energy drink Battery Original and will be available in Finnish stores starting March 19.

NIGHTWISH and Battery Energy Drink signed a marketing co-operation in December 2011. In addition to the design can, the collaboration includes visibility and activations in web, social media as well as at selected NIGHTWISH concerts and festivals during the year 2012.

“Finnish metal music is international and speaks to the masses," says Battery Energy Drink's domestic brand manager Antti Airaksinen. "Heavy, powerful and energetic music such as NiGHTWISH's is a perfect fit for Battery Energy Drink. NIGHTWISH is Finland's most successful and international metal band, just like Battery Energy Drink in its own field. Furthermore, NIGHTWISH's mystical graphic look works very well on the Battery design can."

"A co-operation with another Finnish pioneer always feels good," says Tuomas Holopainen." NIGHTWISH and Battery Energy Drink are the same age, international and pioneers in our respective fields."

NIGHTWISH's first album, "Angels Fall First", came out in 1997, the very same year as Battery Energy Drink was launched in its first market, Finland. Both are hence celebrating their 15th anniversaries in 2012.

Artisan News caught up with bassist Chris Kael of Las Vegas-based metallers FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH in January at the first-ever Rock & Roll Roast at The Grove in Anaheim, California and asked him about the progress of the songwriting sessions for the band's next album (see video below).

"Right now we've got a mobile recording studio with us on the road, writing and recording some ideas," he said. "So, towards the end of the year, we're gonna get everything rolling out and [we'll] bust out the next [album] for you guys."

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH will hit the road in the U.S. and Canada for a spring tour that will kick off on March 23 in Las Vegas.

The group was last seen headlining the Share The Welt tour as the group continues to support its third studio album, 2011's "American Capitalist".

"American Capitalist" debuted at No. 3 on The Billboard 200 chart, selling 91,000 copies in its first week of release. Both the chart and sales numbers were career highs for the group.

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH fans are able to get the brand new cover art for "American Capitalist". It features an illustration of the group's ubiquitous "mascot," Knucklehead, over the backdrop of Times Square in New York City.

The new Knucklehead illustration only replaces the regular edition album version of "American Capitalist", while the deluxe edition artwork remains the same.

"American Capitalist" was released as a standard CD, and a limited-edition deluxe CD format complete with special packaging plus second disc containing a number of exclusive remixes, including one for "Under And Over It". Meanwhile, the iTunes version carries the bonus track "The Tragic Truth".

"Masked Betrayer", the first video from the São Paulo, Brazil-based all-female thrash metal trio NERVOSA, can be seen below.

According to a press release, NERVOSA's music "has strong influences from classic old-school thrash metal bands, such as SLAYER, SEPULTURA and EXODUS, perfectly mixed with original and characteristic features inserted in the songs by each of the bandmembers."

NERVOSA is currently working on material for its debut album, the details of which will be announced in the coming months.

NERVOSA is:

Fernanda Lira (ex-HELLARISE) - Bass, Vocals
Prika Amaral (ex-LAMA NEGRA) - Guitar, Backing Vocals
Fernanda Terra (ex-FOOD4LIFE, FINAL FIGHT) - Drums

Die U.K. Metaller FURYON werden ihr neues Album “Gravitas” am 23. März 2012 via Frontiers Records veröffentlichen. Jetzt wurden HIER Sound Samples vom kompletten Album zum probehören online gestellt.

“Gravitas” Tracklist:

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

* Bonus Tracks

Am 03.Mai wird das neue TOMMY VITALY Album "Hanging Rock" veröffentlicht. "Hanging Rock" ist das 2.Soloalbum des ehemaligen SEVEN GATES Gitarristen und wird, wie bereits das Debüt "Just Me", über IceWarrior Records das Licht der Welt erblicken. Cove Artwork stammt von Felipe Macho (u.a. ICED EARTH, RHAPSODY, BLIND GUARDIAN). Den Offiziellen Video-Trailer gibt es hier auf You Tube zu sehen.

The next album from Canadian musician/producer Devin Townsend to be released under the DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT banner is "Epicloud", a "poppy, proggy" record which will feature a guest appearance by former THE GATHERING frontwoman and previous Devin collaborator Anneke Van Giersbergen.

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

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

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

During an interview with Radio Metal, Anneke stated about what fans can expect from "Epicloud", "For now, I only heard the demos. Initially, [Devin] said it would be a softer album, but I think it's going to be very intense and diverse, and also heavy. It's progressing as we speak. It's going to be very, very nice." She added, "I will record with him in April; I'll be going to Canada to record with him there."

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

"Epicloud" will contain the following tracks:

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

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

U.S. death metal pioneers INCANTATION are continuing work on their long-awaited new album, to be released later this year through Ibex Moon Records, the label run by INCANTATION mainman John McEntee.

Commented McEntee: "We are currently working on our new album, which we have about 80 percent finished. We have a lot more ideas to work on. I am very happy with the way things are coming together. Kyle [Severn, drums], Chuck [Sherwood, bass], Alex [Bouks] and I have killer songwriting chemistry and there is such a high quality of musicianship. This is an amazingly strong lineup that truly understands the essence of INCANTATION's music."

Added Bouks: "I have known John McEntee for about 23 years now. I am going back to a time when there was only a handful of us that played our dark extreme secret music. Things have changed since then and there is a much larger audience, but the hunger is still there for us to create the darkest extreme songs we can come up with. INCANTATION is one of the oldest bands who wave that dark sinister flag proudly.

"It is awesome after all these years to now be playing and writing together with John on the new material.

"I am more then confident that the new INCANTATION record is going to crush your skulls. In my opinion, this is one of the band's darkest and most brutal collection of songs to date and it is my my honor and privilege to be working with two of death metal's finest players in Kyle Severn and Chuck Sherwood."

The members of INCANTATION also comments on the passing of their former bassist Joey "Fingers" Lombard, who died on January 3, 2012 at the age of 42.

"It's still really difficult to believe that Joey is gone," said McEntee. "He was truly a great guy and an awesome and dedicated bandmember. Joey's contribution to the band will never be forgotten. We are fortunate to have written a lot of music with him, so in songs his legacy will live on."

Added Severn: "Joey had stepped up to the plate and joined John McEntee and myself back in 2000 to create some of INCANTATION's finest blasphemy to date! He stuck with us for five-plus long years of writing and traveling the death metal roads!! He was an amazing musician and bass player. He had contributed more than most could imagine to the death metal scene. He had made many new friends through those years on the road; he was such a likable guy. I don't think he had a mean bone in his body. He will be truly missed."

As INCANTATION continues to work hard on new material, the band has released something to tide fans over in the form of a brand new track (the first studio release in six years) as part of the "After Party Massacre" CD soundtrack and limited-edition seven-inch bloodsplatter vinyl.

Die Schwedischen Tech-Deather von SPAWN OF POSSESSION werden ihr drittes Album mit dem Titel "Incurso" am 13. März veröffentlichen. Aufgenommen wurde der Silberling in den Pama Studios in Kristianopel, Schweden zusammen mit Magnus "Mankan" Sedenberg. Das Coverartwork von "Incurso" wurde von Grafiker Pär Olofsson (IMMORTAL, IMMOLATION, DYING FETUS) gestaltet. Das neue Album "Incurso" wurde jetzt hier bei den Kollegen von MetalSucks komplett zum probehören online gestellt.

Fan-filmed video footage of Southern California female-fronted heavy rockers IN THIS MOMENT performing a brand new song, "Blood", on March 2 at the Soundwave Festival in Melbourne, Australia can be seen below.

IN THIS MOMENT recently headed in to the studio to begin work on its fourth album for longtime label Century Media Records. The band has once again tapped producer Kevin Churko (OZZY OSBOURNE, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH) to helm the as-yet-untitled CD, which is slated for a summer 2012 release.

IN THIS MOMENT began work on the new album just a few months following the departures of drummer Jeff Fabb and guitarist Blake Bunzel, who left the band late last year in order to join the backing group of "American Idol" finalist James Durbin. Fabb has since been replaced by former THYATEIRA drummer Tom Hane.

Commented IN THIS MOMENT frontwoman Maria Brink: "There are no words to describe how excited we are... We are on fire with this record. It's by far the most powerful material we have ever written.

"IN THIS MOMENT has gone through some big changes. I admit sometimes change is scary, especially when facing the unknown, but in this case everything has been perfectly meant to be. It's a brave, dark, hard-hitting album that will make you feel dirty inside, but still wanting more."

Added guitarist Chris Howorth: "Over the last six months, we have undergone some interesting changes within the band. As a result, Maria and I were brought closer together united in our mutual determination to top everything we have previously done with IN THIS MOMENT. It's our fourth album and we definitely have something to prove this time. During the writing process Maria, Kevin and I are pushing ourselves to make sure every song is something unique and special. I honestly feel this is the most focused and powerful music we have ever created and I am beyond psyched to get it out there for people to hear."

In a recent interview with Australia's Loud magazine, Maria stated about IN THIS MOMENT's new material, "We brought some stuff to the table that we've never done before and it really sounds like something special, something new. I can't explain it; I mean, if you know our old music, when you hear the new stuff you're going to go, 'Holy shit, okay, I totally get it.' But I don't want to give away anything either, it's just unique; it's something new we've brought to the table. We found something special within us; we found this certain thing, so I'm excited for it."

Regarding IN THIS MOMENT's split with Fabb and Bunzel, Brink said, "You know how sometimes, you don't realize sometimes something happening (that's) traumatic, that it can be the most beautiful thing that could have happened to you? It's like one of those situations. It got really stripped back down to me and Chris [Howorth, guitar], and me and Chris started this band together, just me and him, and then it was like everybody came to the table, everybody brings their own influence. I believe it was all meant to be, all of those albums with them. I love them, I wish them the best. But it was almost like this new, with just me and Chris, this new fire, this new strength within me that I just… magical things started happening between what we started creating. And it's just so meant to be; it's meant to be that they moved on and some other things in my life, it's so cool 'cause it's just like this brand new everything and it feels really awesome. And you're going to be able to hear it."

IN THIS MOMENT took a short break from recording to play at the Soundwave Festival in Australia and has since returned to the studio. Upon completion of the new album and in advance of the summer touring season, the band will head out on a brief run of American tour dates in May including an appearance at Rock On The Range in Columbus, Ohio.

STORM CORROSION is the long-discussed and highly anticipated collaboration between two of the modern progressive rock scene's most innovative and multi-talented artists: Mikael Åkerfeldt of OPETH and PORCUPINE TREE's Steven Wilson. The pair will release "Storm Corrosion" on May 8, but you can pre-order it in two deluxe packages starting today.

The "Storm Corrosion" Special Edition Blu-ray/CD Set & Collector's Edition Double LP Bundle (pre-order link) is $50, and includes the album on 180-gram black virgin vinyl, in a gatefold jacket with exclusive artwork; a digital download of the entire album in high-quality FLAC files; the Blu-ray/CD version of the record, which offers the album on CD; a Blu-ray disc containing a 5.1 audio mix of the entire album, two exclusive demo tracks, and five instrumental tracks; a 24" x 36" fold-out poster; and a separate 12" x 12" poster autographed by both Mikael Åkerfeldt and Steven Wilson.

The "Storm Corrosion" Collector's Edition Double-LP Set (pre-order link) is $35, and includes the vinyl version, the digital download, and the two posters.

"Storm Corrosion" track listing:

CD

01. Drag Ropes (9:52)
02. Storm Corrosion (10:12)
03. Hag (6:28)
04. Happy (4:53)
05. Lock Howl (6:09)
06. Ljudet Innan (10:20)

Blu-ray:

01. Drag Ropes
02. Storm Corrosion
03. Hag
04. Happy
05. Lock Howl
06. Ljudet Innan
07. Drag Ropes
08. Storm Corrosion
09. Hag
10. Happy
11. Lock Howl
12. Ljudet Innan
13. Drag Ropes (demo)
14. Hag (demo)

A little background information on the genesis of this project: Åkerfeldt and Wilson have been friends since the late '90s, when Wilson co-produced OPETH's revered "Blackwater Park" album. Over the years, they'd often spoken of working on a project together, but it wasn't until recently that they managed to make something happen, when Mikael flew over to visit Steven in the U.K. and they ended up in Wilson's home studio throwing ideas around. That visit was the nascence of a whole self-titled album, written and produced by the pair, and mixed by Wilson.

The sound of STORM CORROSION can best be described as enchanting, orchestral, ambient, epic (half the album's tracks clock in around the 10-minute mark) and nothing short of surprising to the new ear. However, the musicians' respective fanbases will be primed to appreciate the new output, with Wilson's recent solo album, "Grace For Drowning", and OPETH's "Heritage" having brought them to a logical place to understand STORM CORROSION. This eponymous collection is almost viewed as one side of a musical triangle.

Says Wilson, "If you'd asked me three months ago about the music, I would have said, 'Expect the last thing you would expect.' But actually, now that 'Heritage' and 'Grace For Drowning' have come out, I don't think it's going to be that much of a shock to people, because it's almost like a third part of the trilogy, in a way. If anything, it's even more orchestral, even more stripped down, even more dark, twisted and melancholic… but it certainly feels like it comes from the same place as 'Heritage' and 'Grace For Drowning', which indeed it does because it was written during the same period.”

"Some of the music on this record I think is the most beautiful music I have participated on ever," adds Åkerfeldt. "There's some magical sections on there. Musically, I think we've created something earthy, a bit frightening, exhausting, profound and rather intense. All at the same time. I can safely say I don't know any other band or artist that sounds anything like STORM CORROSION. I guess that was also one of our goals, so to speak."

Roadrunner Senior VP of A&R, Monte Conner, welcomed STORM CORROSION to the Roadrunner family, commenting, "I am honored to have the Roadrunner logo on the STORM CORROSION album. Steven Wilson and Mikael Åkerfeldt have demonstrated time and time again that they are two of the truest and most important artists working today, and it is not often that I get to work with musicians of this caliber. This album is a beautiful piece of work that will appeal to fans of Steven and Mikael's past records, while at the same time exploring new avenues for both artists."

Tonight's (Friday, March 9) concert by legendary 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 — at Stodola in Warsaw, Poland will be professionally recorded and filmed for the band's fist official live DVD, to be released later in the year via Metal Mind Productions.

Commented Evans: "We're really looking forward to making our first ever official TANK live DVD. It's something we've wanted to do for a long time and gives us the chance to show our fans around the world what a TANK show is all about. The DVD will include old favorites such as 'This Means War', 'Echoes Of A Distant Battle' and 'Power Of The Hunter' plus future classics such as 'Judgement Day' and 'Phoenix Rising' plus many more. Get ready for 'War Machine Live!' DVD."

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 recently entered the studio to begin recording 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.

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.

Photo credit: Tony Mottram

Fan-filmed video footage of KVELERTAK's March 7 concert at the Hood bar in Singapore, where the band — minus the drummer — made its way into the streets during the last song of the group's set, stopping traffic in the process, can be seen below.

The Norwegian blackened punk metallers tweeted afterwards, "Thank you, Singapore, and every single one of you who came out to the show tonight. You guys are fucking awesome!"

KVELERTAK's self-titled debut album was released June 21, 2010 via Indie Recordings. Produced by Kurt Ballou and mixed by Alan Douches with artwork by John Baizley and guest appearances by Hoest (TAAKE), Andreas Tylden (JR Ewing and ALTAAR), Ivar Nikolaisen (SILVER), and Ryan McKenney (TRAP THEM), "Kvelertak" has been dubbed "the best Norwegian debut album of all time," and the band "the new MASTODON."

"Kvelertak" received a North American release on March 15, 2011 via The End Records. The North American edition includes six bonus tracks: live recordings of the songs "Fossegrim", "Sjøhyenar (Havets Herrer)", "Blodtørst" and "Mjød" from the BBC Sessions last year, as well as demo versions of "Ordsmedar av Rang" and "Utrydd Dei Svake".

"Completely Frozen", the brand new video from Barcelona, Spanish melodic metallers ANKOR, can be seen below. The song comes off the band's second full-length album, "My Own Angel", which was released last October via STF Records. The CD was produced by the band and Radish Records in Barcelona.

The "Completely Frozen" video was shot last March at Revolver Studios in Gothenburg, Sweden, with renowned director Patric Ullaeus (IN FLAMES, EVERGREY, WITHIN TEMPTATION, CHILDREN OF BODOM, ARCH ENEMY, EUROPE, SONIC SYNDICATE) and it features appearances by Johanna Snäll and Jake E. Lee from AMARANTHE.

Commented ANKOR guitarist David Romeu: "It was a real pleasure working again with the Revolver team, who are wonderful people, very warm and welcoming. We'll for sure work with them again."

"My Own Angel" track listing:

01. Remaining
02. Completely Frozen
03. It Would Be Easier
04. Awaiting Your Awakening
05. No Matter What
06. My Own Angel
07. Pride
08. Reborn
09. Against the Ground
10. Starting Over

ANKOR is Rosa de la Cruz on vocals, David Romeu and Fito Martinez on guitars, Julio A. Lopez on bass, Javier Casanova on keyboards and Jordi Vidal on drums.

A limited-edition T-shirt and seven-inch vinyl bundle, featuring previously unreleased music from French progressive metallers GOJIRA and artwork from the band's drummer, Mario Duplantier, will be made available via Volcom Entertainment. The songs on the seven-inch single, "End Of Time" and "Bleeding", have never been officially released; both were originally on GOJIRA's 1997 "Possessed" demo when they were still performing under the name GODZILLA. The whole bundle comes in a 12-inch vinyl packaging and is available in all volcom stores in Europe, EMP, Listenable Records and selected music stores or online at VolcomEnt.com.

Mario is known as one of the best metal drummers in the world, but only few know he's a brilliant graphic artist, too. After his artistic debut with a graphic in Volcom's "featured artist" series of t-shirts, Volcom organized two art shows (Biarritz and Bordeaux) in collaboration with Mario to show his works.

GOJIRA recently recorded its new album at Spin Recording Studios in Long Island City, New York with co-producer Josh Wilbur (LAMB OF GOD) for a late spring release via the band's new record label, Roadrunner Records.

GOJIRA is comprised of vocalist/guitarist Joe Duplantier, who has a previous relationship with Roadrunner, having played bass on CAVALERA CONSPIRACY's debut "Inflikted", along with guitarist Christian Andreu, bassist Jean-Michel Labadie and drummer Mario Duplantier, who is also Joe's brother!

The band's Roadrunner debut will be its fifth album overall. It was 2005's "From Mars to Sirius" and 2008's "The Way of All Flesh" which established GOJIRA as a metal force of nature and a key player in the scene.

Austin, Texas-based ANCIENT VVISDOM, whose "diabolical folk-metal" (Classic Rock) has already earned extensive critical acclaim, has announced its official union with Prosthetic Records. The label will reissue the group's latest release, "A Godlike Inferno", in North America on April 24, the U.K. on April 30 and mainland Europe on May 4.

Nominated for "Best Underground Band" at this year's Metal Hammer Golden Gods Award, ANCIENT VVISDOM will begin a European tour — its first time back on the road since supporting GHOST on an über-successful national tour earlier this year — at the Inferno Festival in Norway on April 7. As a precursor to the unholy trek, ANCIENT VVISDOM will spill their serpentine hymns upon unsuspecting ears in Austin on March 17 as part of the Scion-sponsored "Death Comes Ripping" SXSW day party alongside EARLY GRAVES, PRIMITIVE WEAPONS, MUTILATION RITES and more.

ANCIENT VVISDOM was forged 2009 with the order consisting of singer/songwriter Nathan Opposition, Justin "Ribs" Mason on acoustic guitar, and Nathan's brother, Michael Jochum on electric guitar. In 2010, they recorded and released a split 12-inch EP with CHARLES MANSON entitled "Inner Earth Inferno" through Withdrawal Records, which was praised by critics and cultists alike. The band spent the remainder of the year honing their blackened craft, further utilizing acoustic guitars to add a pastoral connection to their nefarious odes. Writing well over an album's worth of material, "A Godlike Inferno" was recorded at The Bubble in Austin with engineer/co-producer Jason Buntz and offers up additional instrumentation including the use of a bowed stand-up bass, machete/bamboo percussion and synths.

Paul Shaffer, the Canadian-American musician who has served as musical director and producer for the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony since its inception in 1986, has shot down the possibility of a performance by the reunited classic lineup of GUNS N' ROSES when the group is inducted into the Rock Hall in Cleveland on April 14.

When asked by the Future Rock Legends web site via Twitter if he had any idea how long the Rock Hall ceremony was going to be this year with so many inductees, Shaffer replied, "GUNS N' ROSES will not be performing, so not as long as you would think."

GUNS N' ROSES keyboardist Dizzy Reed recently told Billboard that all five original members of the band will be present at the induction ceremony. Reed revealed, "I know that all the original band is going to be there. I don't know exactly what's going to go down. It's one of those things I'm sure will all come together and be really cool. I'm just going to go in with a good attitude and a clear head and a grateful heart."

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

With more than 20 years of service, Reed is the longest-standing member of the current GUNS lineup after sole original holdout Axl Rose. He told The Pulse Of Radio that whatever happens at the Hall, he's already honored by the whole thing, "There's a lot of great, great people that I respect and grew up admiring and idolizing that are in that, as part of that institution, and obviously just to be mentioned in the same breath as them, you know, for this band and everything, I take it as an honor."

As for whether any combination of the eight musicians will get together for a jam or full-blown reunion at the induction ceremony, Reed said, "Honestly, we haven't spoken about it. I don't know when or why or how to bring it up. It's not an everyday sort of thing. So we haven't really talked about it — but I'm sure we'll have to at some point."

Although Rose has made his peace with various members of the group over the years, including McKagan, Stradlin and Adler, there doesn't seem to be any change in his non-friendly stance toward Slash.

Slash, McKagan, Sorum and Adler have all expressed uncertainty about the possibility of a reunion at the ceremony.

The current GUNS N' ROSES lineup played a string of small theatre and club shows. The last of three New York City gigs happened on February 15 at Webster Hall, where GUNS played a legendary show in 1988 (when the venue was known as the Ritz) which was broadcast on MTV.

MÖTLEY CRÜE, RUSH and JOURNEY are among the artists who have made Billboard magazine's Music's Top 40 Money Makers 2012 list. The sixth annual Money Makers ranking is based on U.S. income sources, ranking artists based upon how much each of them earned in 2011 from a variety of income streams, including touring, recorded-music sales, publishing royalties and payments from an array of digital services. The calculations were based on each artist's U.S. net earnings, not gross revenue. Due to a lack of sufficient data, the figures do not include revenue from sponsorships, merchandise sales or synchronization deals.

Hard rock artists included on the list:

07. BON JOVI - $19,813,232
12. JOURNEY - $12,313,822
31. FOO FIGHTERS - $6,013,257
32. RUSH - $5,819,304
38. MÖTLEY CRÜE - $5,376,272

You can find the entire list at Billboard.com.

After 12 years, six albums, and tours around the world, singer Roberto "Ramon" Messina has decided to leave long-running Italian power metallers SECRET SPHERE due to musical differences.

Commented the remaining members of the band: "We are very thankful for what Roberto did for the band during all these years. We are friends before musicians. He was with us since the beginning and the fans are really close to his voice.

"The split happened during the recordings of the seventh album, but in a friendly way. We wish Roberto all the best for his future.

"We still have in our hands our best album so far and we are 100% concentrated to give to the band a new incredible voice.

"A new singer means to give a new face to the band and our fans deserve the best and we'll give 'em the best!

SECRET SPHERE's sixth album, "Archetype", was released in Europe in September 2010 via Scarlet Records. The CD was recorded at Authoma Studios and was produced by guitarist Aldo Lonobile and Federico Pennazzato. The album was mastered at Massive Arts Studio, while the cover artwork was handled by Gustavo Sazes.

"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.

Eagle Rock Entertainment is set to release — for the first time in the U.S. — DEEP PURPLE's "Total Abandon: Australia '99" on CD on April 24. Recorded April 20, 1999 at Melbourne Park, the 12-song 76-minute blockbuster, until now, was only available domestically as a DVD in the 2008 "Around The World Live" boxed set (also released by Eagle Rock Entertainment).

"Total Abandon" is a major boon for DEEP PURPLE fans as it musically traverses decades with material mostly from the '70s and the '90s. Lead guitarist Steve Morse, at this point in the band's glorious career, had fully integrated himself into the mix, positively shining on songs from both eras. The lineup of vocalist Ian Gillan, bassist Roger Glover, keyboardist Jon Lord, drummer Ian Paice and guitarist Morse are in rare form: the almost nine-minute-each jam-happy versions of "Pictures Of Home" and "Smoke On The Water" are just two highlights of many. Besides favorites like "Black Night" "Smoke On The Water" and "Highway Star" the band reached into its enormous catalog for an incredibly satisfying evening that included opener "Ted The Mechanic" and "Sometimes I Feel Like Screaming", both off guitarist Morse's album debut with the band, "Purpendicular", in 1996.

Touring in support of 1998's "Abandon" album, the "A Band On World Tour" had DEEP PURPLE criss-crossing the globe like the true road warriors they remain today.

"Total Abandon: Australia '99" track listing:

01. Ted The Mechanic
02. Strange Kind Of Woman
03. Bloodsucker
04. Pictures of Home
05. Almost Human
06. Woman From Tokyo
07. Watching The Sky
08. Fireball
09. Sometimes I Feel Like Screaming
10. Smoke On The Water
11. Black Night
12. Highway Star

Pennsylvania's WAR OF AGES will release its fifth album, "Return To Life", on April 24 via Facedown Records. The CD was recorded with producer Chris "Zeuss" Harris at Planet Z Studios (SHADOWS FALL, CHIMAIRA, HATEBREED) and it features some of the band's "most personal material," according to a press release.

WAR OF AGES has toured with AS I LAY DYING, DEMON HUNTER, SOILWORK, NORMA JEAN, BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME, and more, and will be headlining this year's Facedown Fest on April 7 in Pomona, California.

Commented the band: "We are extremely excited about our 'Return To Life' release in every way. Musically, we stuck to our roots, brought back the heavy rhythmic style and mixed it with the maturity of having four previous albums under our belts. We also joined forces with producer Zeuss, who boasts a catalog with names like TERROR, EMMURE, HATEBREED, etc... Not only is this album instrumentally rhythmic, it is also vocally rhythmic. Leroy [Hamp, vocals] stepped out of his comfort zone and ventured into the realms of RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE, COMEBACK KID, and DARKEST HOUR, and mixed each with his own style. We plan to continue in this direction lyrically, vocally, and musically for our future albums.

"Return To Life" will be released on CD, LP and digital formats.

You can now check out the cover artwork below.

(HED)P.E. frontman Jahred Gomes has set a March 27 release date for his new solo effort, the "Unite" EP, through all digital retailers. Jahred has also released the song entitled "Doomsday Paradise", which addresses the Mayan Doomsday Prophecy that the world will end in December 2012.

"The 'Unite' digital EP is a collection of joints I recorded without a band that sound kind of irie and stoney," says Jahred. "Some of the songs I write don't fit into the (HED)P.E. hardcore catalog, and these songs are for fans who are feeling the same positive vibrations that I do. It is for chilling and smoking. With 'Doomsday Paradise' I pulled inspiration from a lot of the rumors about 2012 and the from that are doomsayers and put it into a total science fiction style form of storytelling. I find it liberating to use story telling techniques in my rhymes, and I enjoy other artists who have done the same thing."

"Unite" EP track listing:

01. Love Comin' Down
02. Kaya
03. When
04. Smash Em Up
05. Unite

(HED)P.E. will kick off the co-headlining "Hed 2 Head 3" tour with MUSHROOMHEAD, AMERICAN HEAD CHARGE and CORVUS on April 19 in Bloomington, Illinois.

In anticipation of their forthcoming release, "Oro: Opus Primum", and the follow-up, "Oro: Opus Alter", Italy's supernatural doom sorcerers UFOMAMMUT have released another video trailer as an early indicator of what to expect from these monolithic new recordings.

The footage was filmed during the recording sessions with Lorenzo Stecconi at Locomotore Studio in Roma, where UFOMAMMUT have recorded their previous albums.

This video offers a unique insight into the formation of their gargantuan riffs, succinct drum blasts, stirring synths and effects and purposeful vocal passages. As the footage draws to a close we are left with an impression of how all of these elements are seamlessly bound together by this dynamic and cohesive trio.

If you thought that "Eve" was a bold step in UFOMAMMUT's sonic adventure, then just wait until you hear these titanic recordings from start to end.

"Oro: Opus Primum" will be released in the U.K. on April 9, throughout the rest of Europe on April 13, and in North America April 17.

"Oro: Opus Primum" track listing:

01. Empireum
02. Aureum
03. Infearnatural
04. Magickon
05. Mindomine

The second chapter in this monolithic two-part album, "Oro: Opus Alter", will be released sometime in September with more details to be unveiled throughout the months following "Opus Primum".

2012 will see UFOMAMMUT expanding their touring circles wider across the face of the planet in support of "Oro". Stay tuned throughout the year as more details on the release and the act's tour schedule are confirmed.

Swedish extreme metallers IMPLODE are working on material for their sophomore album. According to the band, the new CD will feature "a far more brutal and aggressive sound" than that on their debut, last year's "The Hour Has Come".

"The Hour Has Come" was released last May via Supernova Records. IMPLODE has since parted ways with the company and is currently seeking a new label home.

IMPLODE's "Memento Mori" demo earned the band the tag "Best Unsigned Act in Sweden" courtesy of Close-Up Magazine.

The group has previously shared the stage with such acts as THE HAUNTED, ENTOMBED and WITHIN TEMPTATION.

In early 2009, IMPLODE parted ways with vocalist Viktor Brunö and replaced him with Johan Ejerblom. The group's sound began to take the shape, with the band pursuing "a more rough and evil" direction, according to IMPLODE's official bio.

"The Weight Of Oceans", the third full-length album from Swedish progressive death metallers IN MOURNING, will be released on April 18 via Spinefarm Records. The CD was recorded in late 2011 at the Abyss and Black Lounge studios in Sweden with engineer Jonas Kjellgren. The cover art was created by Kristian Wåhlin and can be seen below.

"The Weight Of Oceans" track listing:

01. Colossus
02. A Vow To Conquer The Ocean
03. From A Tidal Sleep
04. Celestial Tear
05. Convergence
06. Sirens
07. Isle Of Solace
08. The Drowning Sun
09. Voyage Of A Wavering Mind

A five-minute YouTube clip containing audio samples of all the tracks that will appear on "The Weight Of Oceans" can be found below.

IN MOURNING's last CD, "Monolith", was released in January 2010 via Pulverised Records. The CD was recorded, mixed and mastered at Black Lounge Studio in Avesta, Sweden in with producer Jonas Kjellgren (SCAR SYMMETRY, CENTINEX, WORLD BELOW). The cover artwork was created by Travis Smith (NEVERMORE, OPETH, KING DIAMOND, AMORPHIS).

IN MOURNING's full-length debut, "Shrouded Divine" (2008), was released on vinyl on November 20, 2009 via Kolony Records. Limited to 500 copies worldwide, it came with new exclusive artwork for this version only and inner sleeve containing all lyrics and info.

IN MOURNING is:

Tobias Netzell - Vocals, Guitar
Pierre Stam - Bass
Björn Pettersson - Guitar
Tim Nedergård - Guitar
Christian Netzell - Drums