Former/current members of MEGADETH, ANTHRAX and PILEDRIVER have commented on the passing of Mark Reale, the founding guitarist of the legendary metal band RIOT. Reale died yesterday (Wednesday, January 25) in a San Antonio hospital due to complications of Crohn's disease — an ailment he had battled for most of his life. He was 56 years old.

Marty Friedman (ex-MEGADETH): "I just heard that Mark Reale from RIOT passed away. 'Rock City', 'Narita' and 'Fire Down Under' are three of my favorite albums of all time. I wore all three of them out and have loads of great memories attached to all those great songs. Thank you for the music. Friends please take care of yourselves."

Gord Kirchin (PILEDRIVER): "'Rock City'... 'Narita'... 'Fire Down Under'... 'Restless Breed'... 'Born In America'... 'Thundersteel'... 'The Privilege Of Power'... 'Nightbreaker'... 'Brethren Of The Long House'... 'Inishmore'... 'Sons Of Society'... 'Through The Storm'... 'Army Of One'... 'Immortal Soul'... Sickly underrated, but not by me. Indeed. An immortal soul if ever there was one. You will be missed, Mark... you will be missed."

Neil Turbin (DEATHRIDERS, ex-ANTHRAX): "RIP Mark Reale 1955-2012 RIOT guitarist and founder. My favorite metal band in high school and one of my greatest musical inspirations of all time. 'Fire Down Under' was such a huge influence on me when I was writing songs like 'Metal Thrashing Mad'. My sincere condolences to Mark's family, friends, fans and bandmates. Shine on, warrior."

Reale had reportedly been in a coma for the past two weeks after suffering a subarachnoid hemorrhage on January 11.

Mark is survived by his father, Anthony Reale, and was preceded in death by his mother, Frances Reale.

Mark spent most of his life working and performing while enduring almost constant pain and the side effects of treatment for Crohn's disease. He was in Texas bravely attempting to practice for the shows, but was felled by a severe onset of Crohn's symptoms, leaving him in the Intensive Care Unit at an undisclosed facility. Mark was struggling with these symptoms throughout the production of RIOT's new album, "Immortal Soul", and guitarist Mike Flyntz recorded a major portion of the guitars on the LP with Mark's creative direction while Reale was unable to perform.

Swedish hard rockers EUROPE have set "Bag Of Bones" as the title of their ninth studio album, tentatively due in April. The CD is being produced by Kevin Shirley, who has previously worked with IRON MAIDEN, JOE BONAMASSA, BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION, BLACK STONE CHERRY and JOURNEY, among others.

Regarding the new CD title, EUROPE drummer Ian Haugland said, "It's not [called 'Bag Of Bones'] because we all have lost tons of weight or found a new interest in archeology or dogs... It's just because it sounds fuckin' cool!"

In a July 2011 press release, EUROPE singer Joey Tempest stated about the bands' new CD, "We still feel we have one hell of a rock record to make. Kevin's the man for the job. We love his work with BONAMASSA, BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION, and BLACK STONE CHERRY. He's the real deal. We're ready to do some serious damage."

Last year, EUROPE met up with Shirley in Stockholm to discuss the direction of the next album. Based on reactions from the fans and media, EUROPE's 2009 album, "Last Look At Eden", proved to be the band's most important record since "The Final Countdown". "I've been a big fan of EUROPE's work for many years," said Shirley. "The band is influential and highly underrated. I can't wait to make the upcoming album their most explosive to date."

The new material suggests a more straightforward rock approach evident in "Doghouse" — a new song EUROPE performed on their most recent U.K. tour (see video below). The song is also featured on EUROPE's "Europe: Live at Shepherd's Bush" DVD, released in August 2011 via earMUSIC CDs and DVDs.

earMUSIC last year released a limited deluxe book with pictures by Denis O'Regan. "Live Look At Eden" features exclusive live audio and the stunning performance at 2010's iTunes Festival in London.

Video footage of MASTODON's January 22 performance at Coliseu dos Recreios in Lisbon, Portugal can be seen below.

MASTODON bassist/vocalist Troy Sanders recently confirmed that the band will team up with Sweden's OPETH and GHOST for a North American tour in April.

MASTODON is among the nominees for the 54th annual Grammy Awards, which will be held on Sunday, February 12, 2012 at Staples Center in Los Angeles. The band's Grammy nomination is for "Curl Of The Burl", the first single from MASTODON's new album, "The Hunter".

MASTODON received its first Grammy nomination in 2006 for the single "Colony Of Birchmen", from the band's Reprise Records debut album, "Blood Mountain".

Riff-Mag.com conducted an interview with Troy Sanders before the Lisbon concert. You can watch the chat below.

Performance videos:

Reformed Montreal, Quebec, Canada rockers SLAVES ON DOPE will release their new album, "Over The Influence", on February 28 via THC: Music/Rocket Science Ventures. The CD, which was produced and mixed by Kevin Jardine, will feature a guest appearance by Jonathan Cabana, lead singer of Quebec deathcore band BLIND WITNESS, on the track "Dear Enemies".

SLAVES ON DOPE will launch the release of "Over The Influence" with a free show at Foufounes Electriques in Montreal on Wednesday, February 29. The band will play the entire album, from start to finish, and debut the new video for the track "Pork Sword".

"Over The Influence" track listing:

01. No One To Blame
02. Burn The Evidence
03. Cavalry
04. The Jokes On You
05. Hollywood
06. Dear Enemies (featuring BLIND WITNESS singer Jonathan Cabana)
07. The Land Of Make Believe
08. Pork Sword
09. Unraveling
10. Careless Coma

A one-minute trailer for "Over The Influence" can be seen below.

SLAVES ON DOPE's digital-only EP, "Careless Coma", came out on November 1, 2011. The effort featured three new studio tracks, as well as remixes and a radio edit of the title cut.

SLAVES ON DOPE is:

Kevin Jardine - Guitar
Jason Rockman - Vocals
Peter Tsefaris - Drums
Sebatien Ducap – Bass

SLAVES ON DOPE's "Inches from the Mainline" album was released through Ozzy Osbourne's now-defunct Divine Recordings label. After Divine Recordings lost its distribution deal with EMI's Priority Records, the band was left without a label. After a long search, a deal was struck with Bieler Bros. Records. SLAVES ON DOPE's second major album, "Metafour", was released in 2003.

In March 2004, SLAVES ON DOPE announced it was going on hiatus due to Jason Rockman leaving the band. The group officially reformed in 2009.

For more information, visit www.slavesondope.com.

Norway's TRAIL OF TEARS has issued the following update:

"Today we have to announce that our longtime drummer, Cato Jensen, has parted ways with the band. Cato has decided to make some changes in his life and focus on other priorities.

"While the band was more than willing to continue the co-operation, we have to accept and support Cato's decision that it would be too hard to combine these changes with playing in a band that demands a lot of focus and dedication.

"We want to thank our friend Cato for his commitment over the years and wish him all the best for the future.

"This brings us to announce that TRAIL OF TEARS is hereby looking for a new person to fill the drum stool. Interested candidates should have both studio and live experience, must be dedicated, and able and willing to tour.

"The band is currently putting the finishing touches to their seventh album and festivals and tour dates around the world has been booked for 2012 with more to follow.

"Interested candidates (preferably European residents), can contact ronny@trailoftears.no. Make sure that you include your personal information, biography, a photo and some video links to your work."

The first teaser for the forthcoming seventh album from TRAIL OF TEARS is available below.

TRAIL OF TEARS in September finished recording its as-yet-untitled new CD at Sound Suite Studio in Marseille, France with producer Terje Refsnes. The band is currently seeking a suitable record label to release the effort.

Commented the band: "Cathrine [Paulsen] came through the extreme schedule with flying colours, putting the finishing vocals on the end result and delivered a performance for the history books!

"We believe that we have created something extraordinary and can't wait to share it with you all. Never before has a recording process involved so much blood, sweat and tears!"

TRAIL OF TEARS in 2010 parted ways with guitarist Pål Olsen and opted to carry on as a five-piece.

TRAIL OF TEARS's sixth album, "Bloodstained Endurance", was recorded and mixed over a six-week period at Sound Suite Studio in Marseille, France with producer Terje Refsnes. Mastering duties were handled by Mika Jussila at Finnvox Studios in Finland. The cover artwork for the album was designed by acclaimed artist Travis Smith (AMORPHIS, OPETH, NEVERMORE).

In 2007, TRAIL OF TEARS was rejoined by vocalist Cathrine Paulsen, who sang on the group's 2002 album, "A New Dimension of Might".

Brendan "Brush" Shiels, founding member of the late 1960s/early 1970s Irish blues-rock act SKID ROW — which is best known as legendary guitarist Gary Moore's first professional band — has posted a YouTube video in which he invites Sebastian Bach, the former frontman of the American rock group SKID ROW, to sing on his upcoming album, which will be released under the SKID ROW name.

Shiels previously released a video message in which he accused the American SKID ROW of using the band name without his permission. He also talked about how he believed the story that Moore received a $35,000 payoff by the American band for the use of the name is nonsense and revealed that he unsuccessfully tried to contact Jon Bon Jovi (with whom the Sebastian Bach-fronted SKID ROW reportedly signed a publishing deal prior to releasing its first album) and Doc McGhee, early manager of the the American SKID ROW, to resolve the SKID ROW name issue once and for all.

In the latest video message, which can be seen below, Shiels addresses Bach directly, stating, "In my opinion, you're one of the greatest frontmen in American rock of all time. For me, you're up there with Ozzy Osbourne, Jon Bon Jovi, Steve Tyler from AEROSMITH. Man, you've got it all. The reason I'm trying to get in contact with you… Can you imagine this: Sebastian Bach and SKID ROW? When I say SKID ROW [pointing to his chest]… When Rachel [Bolan, bassist of American SKID ROW] and Snake [guitarist of American SKID ROW] and Bon Jovi were in kindergarten, I was trucking around America playing for very little, blessed to be playing with Frank Zappa at the Fillmore West, played with the ALLMAN BROTHERS. Up and down Canada with BECK, BOGERT & APPICE… The reason I'm trying to get in contact with you is very simple: I have a new album [coming out]. Now I've been waiting 25 years for this opportunity and it only comes along once in a lifetime. Well, Sebastian . . . if you were singing my songs, we couldn't fail. 'I'll] give you 50 percent of the songs — 50 percent of the roaylties. I'll split the band with you, 50/50. Your name is top of the bill — Sebastian Bach and SKID ROW. We could do the ultimate . . . tour; it can't fail. I'm in New York this Saturday, [January 28]. I'd love to meet you, I'd love to get together with you, I'd love to talk with you. But I'll tell you something: me and you together, we can't fail. I'm one of the greatest Irish rockers of all time. I know for a fact, I've seen you… you have the voice, you have the looks, you have the charisma, you have the passion. Man, I need you, but you need me. Now think about it: Sebastian Bach and SKID ROW. We split everything 50/50, we call the shots together; we can't fail, Sebastian. We're unstoppable. Let's get together and do it."

Shiels' video message can be seen below. Also available is a separate YouTube clip containing a track from Brush's new SKID ROW album.

It turns out that "Blood And Fire", the newly previewed song from VAN HALEN's "A Different Kind Of Truth" album, is not so new after all. After a 90-second sample of track was released earlier today, the band's hardcore fans were quick to point out that it is based on an instrumental called "Ripley" from "The Wild Life" movie.

Released on VHS in 1984 and starring Chris Penn, "The Wild Life" featured a score written by VAN HALEN guitarist Eddie Van Halen. Only one song ("Donut City") was included on the movie's official soundtrack, while others, including "Ripley", are heard throughout the Cameron Crowe-directed film.

The first single from "A Different Kind Of Truth", "Tattoo", was released on January 10. The song itself said to be is a rewrite of a very old VAN HALEN track "Down In Flames", which the band used to play in its late Seventies club days but never recorded for any of its albums. The new version has a slightly different arrangement and fresh lyrics from singer David Lee Roth.

According to The Pulse Of Radio, at least two other songs on the new record, "She's The Woman" and "Bullethead", date back to the band's early days as well. "She's The Woman" appeared on a 1976 VAN HALEN demo produced by KISS bassist Gene Simmons, and was performed by the group earlier in the month during its show at the tiny Cafe Wha? in New York City.

Guitarist Eddie Van Halen has said in numerous interviews over the years that he has "10 albums" worth of unreleased material in his archives from throughout the band's career.

Ironically, it was former singer Sammy Hagar who hinted that VAN HALEN might be digging into the vaults on the new album. Hagar recently told Rolling Stone, "I heard this record is old outtakes from the old days. I mean, stuff from before I even joined the band . . . Because from what I heard, they aren't working with new material. Ed and Dave didn't actually write new songs."

VAN HALEN will kick off a North American tour on February 18 in Louisville, Kentucky. KOOL AND THE GANG will open for VAN HALEN on selected tour stops.

"A Different Kind Of Truth", will arrive on February 7 via Interscope.

IMPERIAL STATE ELECTRIC, the Swedish rock band led by THE HELLACOPTERS architect and former ENTOMBED drummer Nicke Andersson, will release its new album, "Pop War", on March 9 via Psychout. The ten-song CD was recorded at Gutterview Studios in Stockholm.

For all the vinyl lovers out there, "Pop War" will be out on a strictly limited clear vinyl version limited to 300 copies only on February 24, and as a red vinyl version limited to 600 copies on March 2. On March 9, the album will be made available as a regular CD, as a limited CD version in 10-inch sleeve with an exclusive "Iron On", and on black vinyl with download code.

Since the release of its self-titled debut album in 2010, IMPERIAL STATE ELECTRIC has played most of the big festivals, played support to both GUNS N' ROSES and KISS, toured in Sweden, Spain, Germany, and also found time to release the EP "In Concert" containing studio versions of their live favorites.

IMPERIAL STATE ELECTRIC consists of Andersson, Dolf de Borst on bass, Thomas Eriksson (ex-CAPTAIN MURPHY) on drums and Tobias Egge of THE OBJECTS on guitar.

"Pop War" track listing:

01. Uh Huh
02. Narrow Line
03. Can't Seem To Shake It Of My Mind
04. Back To Main
05. Waltz For Vincent
06. Sheltered In The Sand
07. Empty Hands
08. Monarchy Madness
09. Deride And Conquer
10. Enough To Break Your Heart

IMPERIAL STATE ELECTRIC is:

Nicke Andersson - Lead Vocals, Guitar
Tobias Egge - Guitar, Vocals
Dolf De Borst - Bass. Vocals
Tomas Eriksson - Drums, Vocals

A special incarnation of DIO DISCIPLES took part in the "Living Legends Jam" on January 20 on the main lobby stage at at the 2012 NAMM (National Association Of Music Merchants) show, a massive music-products convention that took place at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. You can now watch video footage of the performance below (courtesy of Bay Area Backstage).

DIO DISCIPLES' lineup for this show was as follows:

* Robert Sarzo (HURRICANE) - Guitar
* Rudy Sarzo (OZZY OSBOURNE, DIO, QUIET RIOT, WHITESNAKE) - Bass
* Scott Warren (DIO) - Keyboards
* Robin McAuley (SURVIVOR, MSG) - Vocals
* Simon Wright (AC/DC, DIO, UFO, RHINO BUCKET) - Drums

DIO DISCIPLES pays tribute to the legendary heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio and is fully supported by Dio's widow/manager, Wendy, who posted that "there will never be another Ronnie, but we want to keep his music alive and hope you will support the band and become one of the DIO DISCIPLES."

DIO DISCIPLES' regular lineup features former DIO members Wright, Craig Goldy (guitar), Warren and Rudy Sarzo alongside singers Tim "Ripper" Owens (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, BEYOND FEAR, JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH) and Toby Jepson (LITTLE ANGELS, GUN).

Sarzo was unable to take part in DIO DISCIPLES' European tour and was temporarily replaced by James Lomenzo (MEGADETH, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, WHITE LION).

This year's NAMM marked the 110th anniversary of the legendary trade show and was the meeting place for musical instrument retailers to view and purchase the latest musical innovations being shown by more than 1,400 manufacturers.

"Hank Is Dead", the new Whitey McConnaughy-directed video from Portland, Oregon's RED FANG, can be seen below. The song comes off the band's critically acclaimed release "Murder The Mountains", which was recorded with THE DECEMBERISTS' Chris Funk and was mixed by three-time Grammy Award winner Vance Powell (THE WHITE STRIPES, THE RACONTEURS).

"Murder The Mountains" is now available on CD, 12-inch vinyl, and deluxe digital.

Commented drummer John Sherman: "Another great concept from the brilliant mind of Whitey McConnaughy. This one came together super quick with the help of some insane Portland locals and their sick air guitar skills. We basically just threw a big party and had a blast while a bunch of cameras ran. That is my shower Aaron and Bryan and Bobcat are in at the intro, by the way. It still has a weird ring around it..."

RED FANG is currently on tour in Europe with MASTODON. The tour runs through February 11 in London and includes RED FANG headline dates in addition to the shows with MASTODON.

"Hatred", the new video from Norway's EL CACO, can be seen below. The song comes off the group's new album, "Hatred, Love & Diagrams", which is scheduled for release on January 27 in Europe and January 31 in North America via Indie Recordings.

Commented EL CACO: "'Hatred' is our first single from the upcoming album 'Hatred, Love & Diagrams'. It has a pretty rigid beat around 125 bpm and that is not very usual in the EL CACO camp. So, you can say 'Hatred' is a bit different but at the same time EL CACO made."

"Hatred, Love & Diagrams" track listing:

01. After I'm Gone
02. Hatred
03. Autopsy
04. Equivalence
05. Go Forward
06. Confessions
07. Sixty To Zero
08. Skeleton
09. She Said
10. Disconnect

EL CACO has been an institution and a well-kept secret in the Norwegian music scene for the past decade. The band's music is a culmination of three very talented individuals, each with a very eclectic taste in music. Inspired by the best, but never stripping themselves of their own unique identity, they have the rare ability to grasp the finer elements of their influences and mould them into their own diverse sound.

On their new album, EL CACO "push the envelope even further than they have done before," according to a press release. "Having explored the melodic aspects of rock and metal for more than a decade, this album shows us yet another side of this multi layered band. With an organic and natural sound the trio displays true musicianship and great songwriting skills on this 10-track album which is their definitive peak, their Opus Magna. It sounds more like a band than most other bands. A true organic unit moving fluently with the songs, expressing the underlying emotions through their instruments in a way we know from the greater bands of history."

Finnish folk metallers KORPIKLAANI have entered the studio to begin recording their new album, "Kunnia", due in August via Nuclear Blast Records.

A new KORPIKLAANI song called "Metsälle" was originally recorded late last year when the band was competing to represent Finland in the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest. The track, which will also appear on the forthcoming CD, has since been released as a single and can be downloaded at this location.

According to KORPIKLAANI, "Metsälle" "is about the hunt on Hiisi’s magical moose in the Northland. He (Lemminkäinen) puts on his charmed ski’s and takes off for a prolonged hunt through forests and meadows, marshlands and woodlands, rapids and rivers. This song describes part of the Kalevala story, the national epic of Finland."

KORPIKLAANI last fall took part in the "Ukon Wacka" North American tour with support from Russia's ARKONA. POLKADOT CADAVER and FORGED IN FLAMES completed the package.

KORPIKLAANI recently parted ways with longtime violinist Jaakko "Hittavainen" Lemmetty and replaced him with "a young prodigy" by the name of Teemu Eerola. According to a press release, "There is a mutual understanding between [Hittavainen] and the rest of the band and there is no big drama involved. His personal health issues made the constant touring and recording impossible."

Eerola made his live debut with KORPIKLAANI on September 24, 2011 in Rotterdam, Holland.

KORPIKLAANI's latest album, "Ukon Wacka", was released in North America on February 25, 2011 via Nuclear Blast Records.

Italian rock/metal band LACUNA COIL took part in a special acoustic performance and question-and-answer session on Tuesday, January 24 at the acclaimed record store Vintage Vinyl in Fords, New Jersey. Fan-filmed video footage of the event can be seen below.

LACUNA COIL's new album, "Dark Adrenaline", was released on January 24 via Century Media Records. Produced by Don Gilmore (LINKIN PARK, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE), the delivers "the melodic, sensual, metallic rush for which the band has come to be known," according to a press release.

Fans both old and new have a variety of options to choose from, as "Dark Adrenaline" was released in a number of formats, including standard-edition CD and vinyl, deluxe-edition digipak with a bonus DVD, sticker, poster and guitar pick and as an iTunes LP with expanded packaging, five bonus audio tracks and video. The Metal Club edition features exclusive artwork designed by the band and is limited to 3000 units. The Hastings edition features a bonus 10-track LACUNA COIL sampler, and the Amazon digital edition comes with a free five-track sampler.

For true fans of LACUNA COIL, the "Darkest Adrenaline" box set is available. It includes both the digipak and vinyl versions of the album along with a hardcover photo book, a LACUNA COIL custom syringe pen and ink, a lyric pad, signed lithographs created by the band and more, all housed in a LACUNA COIL medical box. This box set is limited to 500 pieces and is available exclusively through CM Distro.

As previously announced, LACUNA COIL will support MEGADETH on their critically-acclaimed Gigantour. This run will also feature MOTÖRHEAD and VOLBEAT.

Keyboardist/mainman Tuomas Holopainen of Finnish/Swedish symphonic metallers NIGHTWISH recently answered a number of fan-submitted questions for the NIGHTWISH fan site Oceansouls Of America. A couple of excerpts from the question-and-answer session follow below.

Oceansouls Of America: How much of a culture shock was it coming to the U.S. when you were a teen? I'm from the area you stayed (Missouri/Kansas), what were your impressions of the area?

Tuomas: It was a huge shock. The thing is, I came here when I was 15, and I was quite a different person back then. Well, not that different; but back then, I was incredibly shy. I remember that during the year that I was here, I didn't make but one friend, for example, besides my host family. You know, I didn't hate anybody, nobody hated me; but I was just a quiet kid in the school corridors. I really was just playing the clarinet in the band, and being real, real quiet. So that's what I remember; that everything was so new, and I was quite scared. It was truly a nice lesson of independence and everything. Afterwards, I'd been thinking that maybe I did it, like 1 or 2 years too early. I was just so secluded. But only good memories living here; fantastic host family and everything.

Oceansouls Of America: This show at Gibson [Ampitheater in Universal City, California on January 21] will be the band's first opportunity to bring their elaborate stage show to their American audience. What kind of things can we expect? While it's likely that much of it will be part of the stage show for this tour, are there any special surprises that will be exclusive only to this show?

Tuomas: We had some big plans, but then we got the budget and we had to cut a lot of that away. I'm being really honest here. Because, for example, pyrotechnics, they cost about four times here, more than in Europe. So there was no way we could pay for…astronomical, the expenses. So we basically just have flames, some confetti… but that's it. We couldn't bring the screens, for example; there's no way. It's the first time we have fire on U.S. soil, so that's something special.

Oceansouls Of America: Seeing as how the "Imaginaerum" movie was filmed in Canada, is there a likelihood of the movie being shown in Canadian theaters? Is there any possibility of the movie being shown in theaters throughout other North American countries?

Tuomas: I have my doubts, I really do. I'm sure it will be shown in theaters in Finland; it's gonna be quite an event over there, no doubt. But maybe Canada, because it was shot in Canada. But I would be highly surprised if it got any kind of theatrical release in the U.S. or UK or Europe, even. Because, I mean, it's a lot on the "cult" side; it doesn't really have blockbuster written all over it. But you know, when we have asked the directors, "Does this movie have any chance of hitting the theaters?" They always say, "Give us a two-minute trailer and we'll decide." So we'll know more in March, when we get the trailer done.

Oceansouls Of America: Have you written any other songs that didn't make it onto the album, that you will release as bonus tracks later on?

Tuomas: We don't have any bonus tracks, not a single one. We just did those 13 songs, and that's it. But we are coming up with a separate score album, because all the music that you hear in the movie are the same songs, but completely rearranged. We're going to release the score album with those songs.

Oceansouls Of America: In my opinion, "Dark Passion Play" was an album full of sorrow with a little bit of anger. But now, in "Imaginaerum", all energy changed: sorrow gave way to hope and there is a full harmony sensation in each song. So, the question is: what changed since "Dark Passion Play", in your head and in your heart, to have such a wonderful change in NIGHTWISH's music?

Tuomas: I just don't want to go through the "Dark Passion Play" era ever again. That's something I decided when I started to do the songs for the new album; not all this melancholy… well, not melancholy, that's good. But enough of the anger, and sorrow, and being really, really depressed all the time. I mean, it's just a waste of life. So we deliberately decided that, "OK, let's do the more optimistic album." Which doesn't mean that it's, like, all positive and just major chords. Melancholy and sorrow and darkness needs to be there, but the overall feeling is so much more optimistic. It's all about imagination and the beauty of the world and all that.

Oceansouls Of America: Are there any songs you don't like to perform, or are tired of performing?

Tuomas: "Wishmaster". It's just that we decided with the band that let's, on this tour, let's just do the songs that everybody enjoys doing. Because that's how you keep up the energy, and the smiles, and it reflects to the people. So "who wants to do 'Wishmaster'?" Nobody raised their hands. Some other songs as well; for example, I wanted to do "The Wayfarer", we even practiced it. It was Marco [Hietala, bass/vocals] who said that this is not a really good song. I really like that song, and I wanted to do it, but yeah, they were like, "Maybe something else." And then it was Anette's [Olzon, vocals] idea, that why don't we… because everybody was sick and tired of "Nemo" as well… Let's re-arrange it, acoustic.

Read the entire interview frm Oceansouls Of America.

Die deutschen Symphonic Metaller VOICES OF DESTINY haben das Artwork und die Tracklist ihres kommenden Albums „Power Dive“ veröffentlicht. Das Album wird am 27. Jänner 2011 via Massacre Records veröffentlicht.

Der Titel Track kann unter folgenden Link gestreamt werden:

http://listn.to/massacrerecordseurope/player

Tracklist:

1. Prologue
2. Power Dive
3. My Separation
4. Dreams Awake
5. Kami
6. The Untouchable
7. Being Worth
8. Dedication
9. Your Hands
10. Red Winter's Snow I (Prophets of Doom)
11. Power Dive (Reprise)

PIGEON TOE, the German progressive rock band featuring TRIPTYKON drummer Norman Lonhard, has inked a deal with Lifeforce Records. The band's debut album will be released later in the year.

Brothers Martin Fischer and Hans Fischer, who were previously in such bands as FEAR MY THOUGHTS, BACKSLIDE and MONGOUSE, got the idea to form a new project in 2008. After coming up with several rough song ideas, they asked their then-FEAR MY THOUGHTS bandmate Lonhard to sit behin the kit for the new group. A short time later, bassist Ben Krahl (FINAL KINGS) joined the fold, to be followed by Patrick Hagmann on third guitar and synths.

PIGEON TOE played several shows in 2010 and 2011 with such acts as KARNIVOOL and LONG DISTANCE CALLING, whom they supported on their "Into The Black Wide Open" tour through Germany and Switzerland.

PIGEON TOE is:

Martin Fischer (Marsn) - Guitar/Vocals
Hans Fischer (Hanson) - Guitar/Vocals
Norman Lonhard - Drums
Patrick Hagmann - Guitar/Synths
Ben Krahl - Bass

Norwegian symphonic black metallers DIMMU BORGIR performed one very exclusive show on May 28, 2011 at the Oslo Spektrum in Norway with a special, never-to-be-repeated setlist with 53 members of KORK (the Norwegian Radio Orchestra) and 30 members of the Schola Cantorum choir, who were musical guests on the band's ninth studio album, "Abrahadabra".

The concert, dubbed "Forces Of The Northern Night", was professionally filmed and was broadcast as part of a one-hour documentary in June 2011 on NRK (Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation), the Norwegian government-owned radio and television public broadcasting company and the largest media organization in Norway.

In a new posting on DIMMU BORGIR's Facebook page, the band writes, "We have noticed that a few different bootleg versions from the 'Forces Of The Northern Night' show in Oslo last year is in circulation and that it has also been falsely advertised for sale on various distribution sites on the net. We can assure every anticipating and impatient fan that this is nothing more than stuff filmed by the audience or in best case footage taken from the NRK TV broadcast in very low quality. We're still working on the DVD (release date to be announced) which will, of course, consist of the whole setlist, including documentaries and bonus material etc... Not only that but the sound has been totally remixed and enhanced since the broadcast and the footage has also been re-edited. We just want to let you guys know before you decide to waste your money on something that's fake and not an official DIMMU BORGIR DVD release."

Photos of the "Forces Of The Northern Night" concert from NRK:

* Per Ole Hagen
* Kim Erlandsen

The setlist was as follows:

01. Xibir
02. Born Treacherous
03. Gateways
04. Dimmu Borgir (orchestral)
05. Dimmu Borgir
06. Ritualist
07. A Jewel Traced Through Coal
08. Eradication Instincts Defined (orchestral)
09. Vredesbyrd
10. Progenies Of The Great Apocalypse
11. The Serpentine Offering
12. Fear And Wonder (orchestral)
13. Puritania
14. Kings Of The Carnival Creation
15. Mourning Palace
16. Perfection Or Vanity

DIMMU BORGIR's most recent touring lineup included Geir Bratland (APOPTYGMA BERZERK, THE KOVENANT) on keyboards and Terje Andersen (a.k.a. Cyrus; SUSPERIA) on bass.

"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.

The word "abrahadabra" (which roughly translates into "I will create as I speak") first publicly appeared in Chapter III of "Liber AL vel Legis" (commonly referred to as "The Book of the Law") written by Aleister Crowley in Cairo, Egypt in 1904.

"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.

"Pyro", the weekly hard rock/metal heavy metal show which airs on the national radio station NRK in Norway, recently conducted an interview with Dani "Filth" Davey (vocals; CRADLE OF FILTH), Rob Caggiano (guitar; ANTHRAX, THE DAMNED THINGS), Tom Cato Visnes (bass; a.k.a. King ov Hell; OV HELL, GOD SEED, GORGOROTH) about their collaborative project TEMPLE OF THE BLACK MOON. The five-minute chat, which includes audio snippets of songs that will appear on the band's forthcoming debut album, can be streamed at this location.

In addition to Filth, Caggiano and King, TEMPLE OF THE BLACK MOON features John Tempesta (drums; formerly of WHITE ZOMBIE and now drumming with THE CULT) and Arve "Ice Dale" Isdal (guitar; ENSLAVED).

Imagine a cauldron bubbling over with the unsavory flavors of TOOL and CELTIC FROST, and seasoned with the likes of IMMORTAL and AT THE GATES, and you'd be about halfway to describing the uncouth racket these guys have spat upon an unsuspecting planet.

Calling themselves the TEMPLE OF THE BLACK MOON, the group (who describe their output as "music for an evil film noir') are an eclectic stew of musicians/hell-raisers/miscreants who are putting the finishing touches on an album's worth of material in the darkest depths of Bergen, Norway. Songtitles thus far include "Infernal Desire Machine", "Don't Call Up What You Can't Put Down", "Dark Eyes For Trouble", "Beautifully Perverse" and "C.N.T (All That's Missing Is You)".

When asked about how the idea for the project came about, Caggiano said, "Years ago, I was in the U.K. working with CRADLE OF FILTH on the 'Nymphetamine' record. And I think it was at the end of the session, I was just about to go back to New York, I decided to stay in London for a couple of days. And GORGOROTH was actually playing. So I went to the show, and that's when Tom and I met; it was back in 2005, I think. We got really drunk and we started talking about working on music together, doing something different. Prior to that, Dani and I were talking about possibly doing something. One thing led to another, Tom and I started working on music, and we realized that we worked really well together and it just came naturally. . . But the whole thing is, we're all super busy with our other projects, so just scheduling has been a nightmare for a long time."

Regarding the TEMPLE OF THE BLACK MOON sound, Dani said, "A lot of people have speculated, 'Wow, it's got a guy from CRADLE OF FILTH, ANTHRAX and [GORGOROTH].' It's got a real rock base to it; and I know it sounds strange [to say]. It's heavy, but it's not too extreme. It's not [all] blast beats or anything like that, although we do have a couple of songs a bit like that — really fast. But it's catchy. I don't like using the word 'commercial,' because will think it's watered down, sort of, power pop, or pop rock. I think it's gonna surprise a lot of people. It's really hard to put it into context and say, it's a bit of CRADLE OF FILTH, ANTHRAX, GORGOROTH and THE CULT [laughs] . . . which sounds ridiculous." Caggiano added, "I don't think it sounds like any of our other bands. If it did, what would be the point?"

On the topic of TEMPLE OF THE BLACK MOON's plans for the immediate future, Filth said, "The reason we're here [in Norway] is to polish the songs. I mean, they've all been demoed extensively. It's just like putting the icing on the cake, really, so to speak. And, obviously, then to prepare the stuff for us to go into the studio, which is gonna be inevitable, soon. At the moment, we're just sort of negotiating with managers and labels. But the main important thing is the music stuff rather than the other way around. Rather than being on a label and then [going], 'Shit, we've gotta write an album now. We've got the funky hair, but we haven't got any songs.' We've got the funky hair and the songs."

Added Caggiano: "We are in the process of buiding our team right now, and obviously, it starts with the music. So that's kind of why we're here — just tightening up some of these songs so that we have a real solid representation of where we're at to show people. We could sit here all day and project when we're gonna do this record; none of it matters, 'cause there's so much stuff out of our hands."

Explaining the origins of the name, Filth had this to mutter on the subject: "We had an innumerable amount of names that never seemed likely to stick, that was until we put our proverbial heads together and narrowed it down to just three or four, and then tossed for it (proverbially of course) using a silver Norwegian crown (we couldn't find any proper money). The name TEMPLE OF THE BLACK MOON represents the rigorous worship of desire, (the black moon astrologically has always held association with the dark Goddess Lilith) and of course the ramifications of the lunar eclipse, always a herald for death and ill-omen."

Richie Kotzen (MR. BIG, POISON) has commented on the rumors that he has been tapped by Mike Portnoy (DREAM THEATER, AVENGED SEVENFOLD, ADRENALINE MOB) and Billy Sheehan (MR. BIG) to be the guitarist/vocalist of their new project following the recent departure of John Sykes (WHITESNAKE, BLUE MURDER, THIN LIZZY).

Said Kotzen in a post on his Facebook page: "I wanted to address the recent rumor about the project with Billy, Mike, and I... Although we did throw some ideas around, neither of us decided to make any public announcements, so today's Internet buzz was a surprise. I will say I am a fan of both Mike and Billy. I'm sure a collaboration would produce some interesting results."

Although Portnoy and Sykes demoed a dozen or so songs at a Los Angeles studio last year, their vastly different work ethics and conflicting schedules were solely to blame for the dissolution of their collaboration. Portnoy explained on Twitter, "Sad but true... I tried my best to make it work... Me and [Billy Sheehan] couldn't wait around any longer... [Billy] and I are moving on and have already begun work with another guitarist/vocalist, keeping the original 'power trio' concept."

Portnoy and Sheehan were joined by guitarist Tony Macalpine and keyboardist Derek Sherinian (DREAM THEATER, PLANET X, BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION) for an appearance at the SABIAN Live event on Friday, January 20 at the Sheraton Park Hotel (next to the Hilton) in Anaheim, California as part of the the 2012 NAMM (National Association Of Music Merchants) show. Portnoy, Sheehan, Macalpine and Sherinian also performed together on January 14 at the twenty-third annual Guitar Center's Drum-Off, the nationwide search for the next great undiscovered drummer, at Club Nokia in Los Angeles, California.

Portnoy, who co-founded DREAM THEATER more than 20 years ago, abruptly quit the band in September 2010 while on tour with AVENGED SEVENFOLD. He has since been replaced by Mike Mangini (ANNIHILATOR, EXTREME, JAMES LABRIE, STEVE VAI).

Portnoy played on AVENGED SEVENFOLD's latest album, "Nightmare", following the death of that band's drummer, Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan, and toured with them for the entire second half of 2010.

Italian death metal band HOUR OF PENANCE has set "Sedition" as the title of its fifth album, due on March 27 in North America, April 2 in the U.K. and April 6 in mainland Europe via Prosthetic Records. The follow-up to 2010's "Paradogma" (Unique Leader) was recorded at Cellar Studio in Rome with producer Stefano Morabito.

The band will hit North American shores for the first time the week of release, to support THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, NILE and SKELETONWITCH on a full U.S. tour, which includes a stop at the New England Metal & Hardcore Festival.

HOUR OF PENANCE's fourth album, "Paradogma", came out in March 2010 via Unique Leader Records. The CD cover art was created by Gyula Havancsàk, who has previously worked with such acts as ANNIHILATOR and DESTRUCTION.

"Paradogma" was recorded at 16th Cellar studios in Rome with producer Stefano Morabito and was mastered at Hertz Studios in Poland.

HOUR OF PENANCE's current lineup:

Giulio Moschini - Guitar
Simone Piras - Drums
Silvano Leone - Bass
Paolo Pieri - Vocals

British heavy metal legends SAXON are about to begin writing sessions for the follow-up to last year's acclaimed "Call To Arms" effort. The band's drummer, Nigel Glockler, writes on Facebook: "Working on getting the home studio tidy and then off next week for writing sessions for the next SAXON album…busy busy busy!"

SAXON will release a new concert DVD, "Heavy Metal Thunder Live: Eagles Over Wacken", in early 2012. According to Classic Rock, it will feature performances from Germany's Wacken Open Air festival.

"There are five in all, from 2002 to 2009," Byford told Classic Rock magazine. "But we've not got all five shows, in their entirety, because even I would get bored watching that! The most interesting one is 2009, which was Wacken's 20th anniversary and our 30th. We did a set that included songs from all of our studio albums, as voted for by the fans. And we did it with the most recent at the start working backwards to our debut album, 'Saxon', at the end."

SAXON's new album, "Call To Arms", sold around 700 copies in the United States in its first week of release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The CD debuted at No. 51 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200. The digipack version of "Call To Arms" includes a glorious bonus — a free seven-track CD, "Live At Donington 1980".

NEOANDERTALS, METSATÖLL and X-PANDA have been nominated in the "Metal" category at the 15th annual Estonian Music Awards (the Estonian equivalent to the Grammy Awards). The largest and oldest Estonian music awards show will be held Thursday, February 2 at the Nokia Concert Hall in Tallinn, Estonia and will be broadcast live on the Estonian channel TV3.

The nominees in the "Metal" category are as follows:

* NEOANDERTALS - "Ebu Gogo Gutting the Child"
* METSATÖLL - "Ulg"
* X-PANDA - "Flight Of Fancy"

For more information (in Estonian), visit www.muusikaauhinnad.eu.

Already named peta2's "Sexiest Female Vegetarian" and one of Revolver magazine's "Hottest Chicks In Metal" in 2011, THE AGONIST's Alissa White-Gluz can now add yet another title to her ever-growing list of achievements: MTV "Made" coach! As one of the leading women in extreme metal, Alissa coached Julia, a straight-laced high school junior who's been bullied since middle school, on how to be a hardcore metal screamer — and more importantly — how to gain the confidence she needs to stand up for herself.

The full episode, which originally aired on Monday, January 23, can be seen in its entirety below.

Now in its eleventh season, MTV's two-time Emmy-award-winning series "Made" is all about making dreams come true. The series' producers want to demonstrate that with hard work (and a little help from MTV), any goal is attainable.

There are numerous kids out there with unlimited potential. However, in their eyes, intimidating obstacles exist that keep them from pursuing their dreams. Perhaps they're painfully shy or fall short on self-confidence. Maybe they feel as though they don’t fit in or lack the right look. Perhaps they've been told that they lack the skills; and then there's plain old fear.

MTV seeks out the kids who are eager to overcome those obstacles! These kids want to be "Made."

Once the producers find their "Made kids," they allow for at least one month of intensive training towards achieving their goals. This includes providing a mentor or life coach who will support them and plot out personalized training schedules. Such training could consist of counseling on confidence or attitude, personal training sessions, or specialized lessons in whatever task they're trying to achieve.

Whether they succeed at their goal or not, the "Made" producers strive to give these kids a chance at a dream. Ideally, they learn valuable traits and lessons about themselves and others along the way. They ultimately realize that it takes hard work, persistence, and commitment to make one's dreams come true.

Currently finishing up the vocal tracking for their new melodic death metal masterpiece, THE AGONIST recently released "The Escape" EP, which features two songs from this upcoming full-length release. Mixed by Tue Madsen (THE HAUNTED, DARK TRANQUILITY, SUICIDE SILENCE), "The Escape" is fans' first taste of what's to come from THE AGONIST in the New Year.

After successfully completing their North American run with KAMELOT last year, THE AGONIST will be back on the road again this spring with the heavy metal maidens in KITTIE.

A six-minute trailer for "XI: The Days Before Tomorrow", the new album from LILLIAN AXE, can be seen below. The CD will be 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 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."

VELVET REVOLVER/ex-GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Slash was part of the NFL on Fox broadcast of the NFC Championship game between the New York Giants and the San Francisco 49ers this past Sunday, January 22. Shot on location last week at the Rose Bowl in Los Angeles, Slash's segment saw him performing a "unique intro," which can now be seen in the YouTube clip below.

As previously reported, the first feature film produced by Slash, called "Nothing To Fear", has been picked up for distribution by Anchor Bay Entertainment. The movie is the first of a proposed series of horror films produced by Slash's company, called Slasher Films, which he launched last year in partnership with two other producers. The film will begin shooting next month in Louisiana under the direction of Anthony Leonardi III, with Anne Heche and others confirmed for the cast.

Slash is currently recording his second solo album for release in April.

A CANCEROUS AFFAIR, the new project featuring ex-DARKEST HOUR members Kris Norris and Ryan Parrish, has announced the addition of keyboardist/vocalist Kristen Randall (ex-WINDS OF PLAGUE) to the group's ranks. They are currently in the pre-production phase with their new material and are set to release a video with interviews and behind-the-scenes footage.

According to a press release, A CANCEROUS AFFAIR's music has been described as "melodic swedish metal with a touch of prog, ambient, and rock. Fans of Kris and Ryan's work together on 'Undoing Ruin' and 'Deliver Us' will have a lot of new music to enjoy with some suprises and twists, including the varying vocal talents of Dave Sheldon."

Norris previously stated about A CANCEROUS AFFAIR, "I love all styles of music — from pop and jazz to black metal — and with this being a project band with no intentions other than to write music we enjoy, I'm not pigeonholed into oh this song needs a fast riff or a crazy solo. It's a nice relief from the other projects and bands I'm involved in and have been involved in. I get to take my experiences from all of them and combine it into one."

Regarding the project's name, Norris said, "The title comes from Dave. I liked it alot because it fits what we are doing. Just a bunch of musicians from different parts of the world, getting together behind their other various music projects backs almost, and creating something. His voice to me is just infectious, so when he said the name, I was, like, 'Hmmm, that's it.'"