Vocalist Neil Turbin (DEATHRIDERS, ANTHRAX), drummer/vocalist Jeff Martin (RACER X, MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP, BADLANDS, DOKKEN, PAUL GILBERT, GEORGE LYNCH) and bassist Rev Jones (STEELHEART, MOUNTAIN, MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP, FUEL, BLACK SYMPHONY) are among the musicians who took part in the NAMM Metal Jam 2012 on January 18 at Chain Reaction in Anaheim, California. According to a press release, these musicians ripped "through hits by JUDAS PRIEST, DEEP PURPLE, THIN LIZZY, RAINBOW, ACCEPT, MOTÖRHEAD, WHITESNAKE and much more!" They also paid tribute to Gary Moore and the one and only Ronnie James Dio.

Fan-filmed video footage of the event can be seen below.

New York hardcore/metal veterans BIOHAZARD have pulled the plug on their previously announced plans to give away their new album, "Reborn In Defiance", in its entirety "for free" to all fans in the United States starting January 20.

In what what was being billed as "the first such promotion ever launched," the record was supposed be made available for free download off Revolver magazine's web site, RevolverMag.com, as well as through the technology offered by Repudo.com. Fans were being encouraged to check into BIOHAZARD "Containment Zones" (record stores, venues, and more) across the United States using the Repudo app on their smart phones and download the new record directly to their phones or send it to their email inbox.

A new message on BIOHAZARD's official Facebook page reads as follows:

"We regret to inform you all that due to circumstances beyond our control, we will not be able to offer our new record, 'Reborn In Defiance', in the U.S. at this time. We love all of you who have continued to support us through the years and can't wait to share with you a record that we are extremely proud of. Thank you so much for your understanding and patience and a special thanks to our partners Revolver, Repudo and Google for their hard work setting this up. All of our touring plans are still solidified and we are excited to see you all out on the road!"

"Reborn In Defiance" was released in Europe today (Friday, January 20) via Nuclear Blast Records.

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. 9:IIIX6.941
02. Vengeance Is Mine
03. Decay
04. Reborn
05. Killing Me
06. Countdown Doom
07. Come Alive
08. Vows Of Redemption
09. Waste Away
10. You Were Wrong
11. Skullcrusher
12. Never Give In
13. Season The Sky

"Skullcrusher" can also be streamed using the audio player below.

"It's literally almost impossible to rely on the music industry to pay your bills," Billy Graziadeitold Noisecreep. "It's such a crap shoot to begin with. These days it's even harder. So for me, I don't rely on BIOHAZARD to pay my bills, so when we had a chance to go on tour and to reunite... it was on a personal level, it was amazing. And not having to do it as a job or to pay bills is a fucking great place to be. For me, I feel like I came full circle. I do it because I love it. I love to be on stage. It's kind of similar in a lot of ways — we're a lot more savvy with what is up now; we've been through so many different labels. We get up there, we have a blast. We made a record, we worked really hard to make a record we're all really proud of and we're doing it for the love of it. The industry is not the same as when we started. . . At the end of the day, most of this record will be given away but it's a different era and for us. You gotta love what you do, otherwise it's not worth it."

"Skullcrusher" audio stream:

"Dark Adrenaline", the new album from the Italian rock/metal band LACUNA COIL, will be released in North America on January 24 via Century Media Records. Produced by Don Gilmore (LINKIN PARK, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE), the CD promises to deliver the melodic, sensual, metallic rush for which the band has come to be known.

LACUNA COIL fans both old and new will have a variety of options to choose from, as "Dark Adrenaline" will be 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 will feature exclusive artwork designed by the band and will be limited to 3000 units. The Hastings edition will feature 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 will be 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.

A two-minute video featuring the unveiling of the "Darkest Adrenaline" box set can be seen below.

Fans worldwide will be able to check out a special virtual acoustic performance and question-and-answer session with LACUNA COIL on Tuesday, January 24 via www.stageit.com. The event will be broadcast live at 7:00 p.m. EST from acclaimed record store Vintage Vinyl in Fords, New Jersey.

Fans who purchase the new album at any Metal Club store will receive an exclusive code to watch the performance for free.

All proceeds will be donated to Rezophonic, a project with which the band is actively involved, that is dedicated to providing medical assistance to remote regions of East Africa.

Fans lucky enough to live near Vintage Vinyl can actually witness this special acoustic performance in person.

Pre-order LACUNA COIL's new album, "Dark Adrenaline", to get a wristband that will get you into into the in-store performance on January 24. Order online or in person at the store while supplies last. The event is on release date, so you can pick up your copy of the album at the performance.

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

Fan-filmed video footage of former NIGHTWISH singer Tarja Turunen's January 17 performance at Forum Palace in in Vilnius, Lithuania can be seen below.

Turunen's new project, HARUS, last month released a CD/DVD/Blu-ray, entitled "In Concert - Live At Sibelius Hall".

The HARUS live album/DVD was made available worldwide by earMUSIC in collaboration with Edel's classic music division Berlin Classics. This joint venture from two music labels apparently far away from each other would probably sound bizarre at first sight (a label operating in alternative and metal music with one representing traditional classical music artists). The reason lies beneath the many sides of Tarja Turunen's music.

The first output of HARUS features traditional and emotional music from Finland presented together with more international repertoire.

Tarja's sophomore solo album, "What Lies Beneath", sold around 1,300 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 24 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.

"What Lies Beneath" was released in North America on September 14, 2010 via The End Records.

Demo versions of four songs that were written during the sessions for CHIMAIRA's latest album, "The Age Of Hell", are available for streaming below. Two of the tracks ("Clockwork" and "Scum Of The Earth") were subsequently re-recorded for the final CD while the last two did not make the cut and had been unreleased until now.

CHIMAIRA's "Chimaira Christmas" concert on December 30, 2011 at the House Of Blues in Cleveland, Ohio marked the band's final performance with guitarists Matt DeVries and Rob Arnold.

Going forward, CHIMAIRA's lineup will be as follows:

Mark Hunter - Vocals
Matt Szlachta (DIRGE WITHIN) - Guitar
Jeremy Creamer (DAATH) - Bass
Emil Werstler (DAATH) - Guitar
Sean Zatorsky (DAATH) - Keyboards
Austin D'Amond (BLEED THE SKY, THE ELITE) - Drums

CHIMAIRA last month released a free digital EP, "The Age Of Remix Hell", via Multiupload.com. The effort, as the title suggests, contains remixed versions of songs from "The Age Of Hell".

"The Age Of Hell" sold more than 7,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 54 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous CD, "The Infection", opened with 15,000 units back in April 2009 to land at No. 30. This figure was roughly in line with the first-week tally registered by CHIMAIRA's 2007 album, "Resurrection", which shifted 16,000 copies to enter the chart at No. 42.

"The Age Of Hell" was released in the U.S. on August 16, 2011 via eOne Music; in Germany on August 26; and in the United Kingdom, Australia and the rest of Europe on August 29 through Long Branch Records.

"Scum Of The Earth" demo:

Deep in the heart of Hell Paso Texas, MINISTRY's Al Jourgensen re-opened the doors of his industrial compound studio in fall 2011 and invited his favorite co-conspirators Mike Scaccia (RIGOR MORTIS), Tony Campos (STATIC-X), Tommy Victor (PRONG) and Casey Orr (RIGOR MORTIS, GWAR) to climb on board the MINISTRY pirate ship and de-construct and re-construct Jourgensen's monsterpiece, "Relapse".

Thirty years and 12 albums later, as well as a near-death experience in 2010, Jourgensen rises as a phoenix from the ashes with "Relapse" — still angry, still political and very very pissed off. Relapsing back into the music industry after a four-year hiatus, Jourgensen launches his audio assault with "Ghouldiggers", a no-holds-barred metal bullet aimed directly at the pitfalls of the industry he has survived. Everything Jourgensen predicted on "Houses Of The Molé", "Rio Grande Blood" and "The Last Sucker" has transpired and as we approach the Mayan calendar of the End of Days in 2012, Jourgensen, re-invigorated by the global 99 Percenters and Occupy Wall Street movement, navigates through "Relapse" once again as a reluctant prophet accusing, dissecting, cajoling and exhorting greed, corruption and lies.

Reaching back to his punk rock roots, Jourgensen and his MINISTRY pirates cover S.O.D.'s "United Forces" — a track written 20 years ago still relevant today as a call to arms for the unrighteous and to those who feel disenfranchised by the "system" as it stands today.

Cited as the driving force behind a cross-section of metal genres from industrial's NINE INCH NAILS and STATIC-X to nu metal's KORN, LINKIN PARK and LIMP BIZKIT, and receiving six Grammy nominations for "Best Metal Performance", Jourgensen returns with his greatest achievement to date with "Relapse".

"Relapse" track listing:

01. Ghouldiggers
02. Double Tap
03. FreeFall
04. Kleptocracy
05. United Forces
06. 99 Percenters
07. Relapse
08. Weekend Warrior
09. Git Up Get Out 'n Vote
10. Bloodlust
11. Relapse Defibrillator Mix (Special Limited Edition)

"Double Tap" will be released as a maxi-single on February 24.

Jourgensen spoke to U.K.'s Metal Hammer magazine in August about his band's decision to reform for a new album and tour, including an appearance at next year's Wacken Open Air festival in Wacken, Germany.

When asked how the resurrection of MINISTRY came about, Jourgensen said, "While I was working on [the BUCK SATAN record], me and Mike Scaccia from RIGOR MORTIS fucked around to pass the time and we had like, 5,6,7 songs and I didn't really want to do anything with them but Mikey was like, 'Dude, these songs are awesome.' They weren't country, they were more like MINISTRY. So he's coming by in September and Tommy Victor's [PRONG; guitar] coming by in October with Tony Campos [SOULFLY, ex-STATIC-X; bass] and we're gonna finish up another MINISTRY album by Christmas called 'Relapse'."

Regarding the sound of the new MINISTRY material, Al said, "I think this is actually gonna wind up being the fastest and heaviest record I've ever done. Just because we did it as anti-therapy therapy against the country music we would just take days off and thrash faster than I've done in a long time, faster than Mikey's done in a long time. He did a RIGOR MORTIS tour and said it was easy compared to this MINISTRY stuff so it's gonna be brutal and it's gonna freak a lot of people out."

Stockholm, Sweden-based apocalyptic post-rock/metal band ATOMA has inked a worldwide deal with Napalm Records.

The group's debut album, "Skylight", will be released on the following dates:

Spain, Finland, Sweden: March 28
Rest of Europe: April 2
North America: April 3

Commented the band: "We've inked a deal with Napalm Records, to leave earth behind and explore other worlds. Goodbye, planet earth."

"Skylight" track listing:

01. Atoma
02. Skylight
03. Hole in the Sky
04. Highway
05. Bermuda Riviera
06. Resonance
07. Solaris
08. Rainmen
09. Saturn & I
10. Cloud Nine

ATOMA is:

Ehsan Kalantarpour – Vocal, Synth
Markus Hill - Drums
Siavosh Bigonah – Bass, Guitar

Relapse Records has announced the re-signing of Swedish goregrind legends GENERAL SURGERY.

Originally formed in 1988, GENERAL SURGERY (Joacim Carlsson - guitar, Andreas Eriksson - bass, Andreas Mitroulis - drums, Erik Sahlström - lead vocals) released the seminal "Necrology" EP via Relapse in 1991 before going on a long hiatus until 2002. The band issued numerous splits, EPs, and two full-length albums since then and will be coming back in a blood-soaked rage in 2012!

"A Collection Of Depravation", a compilation of 30 GENERAL SURGERY choice cuts will see its official release via Relapse on March 27. The collection was digitally remastered by PIG DESTROYER's Scott Hull and contains a 24-page booklet with extensive liner notes from the band.

In other news, GENERAL SURGERY will release a new seven-inch EP and record a full-length album in the near future.

Commented GENERAL SURGERY's Dr. Carlsson: "We are honored to announce that we will once again be working with the label that started us off (and in a way, we helped get off to a good start too back in 1990). Things are indeed coming full circle as we enter another phase of our gristle spattered career. The seeds for this collaboration were sown during the process of re-releasing the 'Necrology' EP last year, where both parties felt that further co-operation would be just the right thing for the future.

"Coming up immediately is our new 30-track collection CD, 'A Collection of Depravation', brimming with old putrefying cuts from our earlier split releases. Following that will be a 5-track 7" EP entitled 'Like An Ever Flying Limb', recorded during fall 2011 at Audiohammer (Sweden) studio. As if that wasn't enough, there will be a third full-length album to look forward to in the not so distant future."

Fans that have seen Massachusetts metallers UNEARTH perform live on their recent trips to Alaska, Japan and on their U.S. and Canadian tour with CHIMAIRA may have noticed a new face on stage. The guy behind the kit has been none other than up-and-coming musician Nick Pierce.

Pierce is a self-taught drummer who's been playing since age 10. He grew up playing for local bands in the Seattle/Tacoma area (CULLING THE WEAK, ETERNA NOCTURNA, EMBALMED) as well as Los Angeles-based band THE FACELESS. Nick first sat in behind the kit for UNEARTH in May of 2011 during their two show trip to Alaska. UNEARTH discovered Pierce on YouTube where he had been covering UNEARTH songs, among many other bands, on a series of videos on his YouTube channel.

Comments UNEARTH vocalist Trevor Phipps: "Nick is a beast of a drummer and a great guy to hang with. I look forward to jamming with him around the world for years to come." Guitarist Buz McGrath adds that Pierce has a "great attitude, energy and the knowledge that we can throw the most insane riffs at him and he can create and adequately perform next level beats for said riffs makes it a little easier to sleep at night."

Stated Nick Pierce: "I've been a fan of UNEARTH for many years and I'm excited to shred with a great group of guys and support our fans."

A video clip of Pierce performing the UNEARTH song "Watch It Burn" live can be viewed below.

UNEARTH's new album, "Darkness In The Light", sold 6,400 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 72 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous CD, "The March", opened with around 11,000 units back in October 2008 to land at No. 45.

"Darkness In The Light" was recorded at Zing Studios in Westfield, Massachusetts with producer (and KILLSWITCH ENGAGE guitarist) Adam Dutkiewicz. The effort was mixed by Mark Lewis (THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, WHITECHAPEL, DEVILDRIVER, TRIVIUM) from Audiohammer Studios in Sanford, Florida.

On November 19, 2011, '80s hard rock queen Lita Ford and her current collaborator and producer, rock guitarist Gary Hoey, took part in an interview at the studios of Chicago's WLUP-FM 97.9 (Loop 97.9) radio station with afternoon personality Byrd. Check out the video footage below.

Lita Ford recently signed a worldwide deal with SPV/Steamhammer. Her new album, "Living Like A Runaway", is tentatively due in May.

"Balor", the new video from German melodic folk/death metallers SUIDAKRA, can be viewed below.

"Balor" comes off SUIDAKRA's tenth album, "Book Of Dowth", which was released on March 25, 2011 via AFM Records. The CD was recorded at Gernhart Studio in Siegburg, Germany with producer Martin Buchwalter. Famous Belgian graphic artist Kris Verwimp once again created the cover artwork and lyrical concept.

Inspired by the darker side of Celtic lore, the concept of "Book Of Dowth" chronicles the mythology of a mysterious race of demonic beings known as the "Fomor." Starting with the discovery of an ancient book at the excavation of Dowth (a Neolithic passage tomb in the Boyne Valley, Ireland), it unveils the yet untold story of the rise and fall of the Fomorian horde throughout history and far, far beyond…

"Book Of Dowth" track listing:

01. Over Nine Waves
02. Dowth 2059
03. Battle-Cairns
04. Biróg's Oath
05. Mag Mell
06. The Dark Mound
07. Balor
08. Stone Of The Seven Suns
09. Fury Fomoraigh
10. Otherworlds Collide

Digipak bonus tracks:

11. Rise Of Taliesin (classically re-arranged version)
12. When Eternity Echoes (classically re-arranged version)
13. Dowth 2059 (video)

SUIDAKRA's ninth album, "Crógacht", was released in the U.S. in March 2009 through Wacken Records/SPV.

Audio samples of three songs that will appear on "Private Sessions", the forthcoming fourth album from Kentucky rockers HYDROGYN, can be streamed using the ReverbNation TuneWidget below (click on "Songs" tab). 13 songs were recorded for the CD, which is due this spring, at guitarist Jeff Westlake's Ridgeline Studio in Ashland, Kentucky and Patrick Liotard's Peek Studio in Boisseron, France.

The U.S. version of "Private Sessions" will feature the following track listing:

01. Something To Say
02. Forbidden Kind
03. Scream
04. I Don't Know
05. Heated Nights
06. Creeper
07. Don'tcha Walk Away
08. Roseline's Song
09. Feeling
10. Un Monde Perdu
11. It Doesn't Matter

The European release is not yet finalized but that will be announced as soon as it is all in place.

After months of uncertainty surrounding the band because of singer Julie Westlake's health, the green light was given to Julie and the rest of the band last year to proceed ahead with the new album recordings.

Commented Julie: "This is the quickest we have ever completed a project to date.

"We decided in June that we were going to do another CD after I got clearance from my doctors to get back to work and by August we were in the studio."

For "Private Sessions", things changed up a bit as far as production. For the past two albums, Jeff Westlake handled the production, engineering, mixing, etc., to go along with the writing and song prep. Jeff said he wanted a chance to just worry about the songs on this release with limited production going on from his end. Enter the team of Anthony Dura and Patrick Liotard (who co-wrote the song "Alone" on HYDROGYN's last album, "Judgement"). Anthony and Patrick stepped in and teamed up with Julie and Jeff for this project, not only from a production standpoint but also in the creation of the project itself.

"I love these guys and what they bring to the table," said Julie. "To be able to turn to them and have a new team in the mix for the entire process with fresh ideas and a great perspective as well is just priceless. We were all introduced by our French team at Musiconlights (Mike Jublin) back in 2007 and as time has gone on, we have gotten to know each other. The working part of the relationship is just a natural progression for us all and takes some pressure off Jeff for a change."

A HYDROGYN live CD and a digital-only best-of release called "Phase 1" are also in the works.

As previously reported, former DIO guitarist Tracy "G" Grijalva has joined forces with Julie Westlake to record a collection of songs Tracy had written with Ronnie James Dio for the DIO releases "Strange Highways" and "Angry Machines" along with some of the guitarist's post-DIO material. The recordings are taking place at Tracy's G Factory studios and will include musicians that played on Grijalva's 2011 album, "Controlled Chaos" — Johnny B on drums and vocals and Eddie Frisco on bass. There is also talk of live shows taking place in the Los Angeles area this spring or summer.

"This is a a very ultra cool project that I am honored to be a part of," stated Julie.

Los Angeles-based, female-fronted metallers HUNTRESS will release their debut album, "Spell Eater", on April 27 via Napalm Records.

The official video for the CD's first single, "Eight Of Swords", can be viewed below. The clip was directed by Simon Chan of Artificial Army and was produced/engineered by Chris Rakestraw of Sunset Lodge Recording.

According to a press release, "HUNTRESS lead singer Jill Janus is an operatic banshee with an unparalleled four-octave range and lust for the occult. Born and raised in the Catskill Mountains of New York, she toured Europe as a teenage opera starlet. Upon her return to the States, Janus embraced Manhattan nightlife, creating Felliniesque cabarets and parties in a nihilistic club scene. Years later, Janus moved to Los Angeles and began the gestation period of HUNTRESS. In 2009 she met underground metal band PROFESSOR. The universe spread her legs and delivered HUNTRESS to Janus, combining former members of PROFESSOR, DARK BLACK and SKELETONWITCH."

HUNTRESS is:

Vocals: Jill Janus
Lead Guitar: Blake Meahl
Rhythm Guitar: Ian Alden
Drums: Carl Wierzbicky
Bass: Eric Harris

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/huntresskills.

KISS singer/guitarist Paul Stanley celebrated his 60th birthday yesterday (Friday, January 20) at a surprise party Soho House in Los Angeles thrown by his wife Erin Stanley and KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons. The party was attended by Paul's family, friends and all of his current bandmates, including drummer Eric Singer and guitarist Tommy Thayer.

Video footage of Stanley performing a cover of LED ZEPPELIN's version of "You Shook Me" (originally by MUDDY WATERS) with Ty Taylor of VINTAGE TROUBLE at last night's party can be seen below. Also available is a photo of the birthday cake (courtesy of KissOnline.com).

KISS' official web site, KissOnline.com, has posted the following birthday greetings from Paul's bandmates:

Gene Simmons: "Paul, my very best wishes on your birthday. You're the brother I never had. You've always been there. For me. For the band. For the fans."

Tommy Thayer: "Happy birthday, Paul! You're a great friend & a brother in arms... We just made a kick-ass album together and had a great time doing it. You are THE rock & roll champion! Happy 60th!!

Eric Singer: "Paul Stanley, Happy Birthday to the Grand Master of Ceremonies! You're still the best and I wish you only better days ahead..."

Paul Stanley (real name Stanley Harvey Eisen) was born January 20, 1952 in New York City.

Stanley and his wife Erin welcomed daughter Emily Grace Stanley last August in Los Angeles.

Emily, who weighed in at 7 lbs., 10 oz, joined elder siblings Sarah Brianna, 2, Colin Michael, 5, and Evan Shane, 17, Stanley's son from a previous relationship.

San Francisco Bay Area metallers TESTAMENT have tapped Gene "The Atomic Clock" Hoglan (DARK ANGEL, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, FEAR FACTORY, DETHKLOK) to sit behind the kit for their upcoming tour with ANTHRAX and DEATH ANGEL.

The dates are as follows:

Jan. 22 - Las Vegas, NV @ House of Blues
Jan. 23 - Anaheim, CA @ House of Blues
Jan. 24 - Tempe, AZ @ Marquee Theatre
Jan. 26 - Kansas City, MO @ Midland Theater
Jan. 27 - Indianapolis, IN @ Egyptian Room
Jan. 28 - Ft. Wayne, IN @ Piere's
Jan. 29 - Louisville, KY @ Expo 5
Jan. 30 - Asheville, NC @ Orange Peel
Feb. 02 - Atlanta, GA @ Tabernacle
Feb. 03 - Columbus, OH @ The LC Pavilion
Feb. 04 - Cincinnati, OH @ Bogart's
Feb. 06 - Allentown, PA @ Crocodile Rock
Feb. 07 - Baltimore, MD @ Rams Head Live!
Feb. 08 - New York, NY @ Best Buy Theater
Feb. 10 - Libertyville, IL @ Austin's Fuel Room
Feb. 11 - Traverse City, MI @ Ground Zero
Feb. 13 - Omaha, NE @ Waiting Room
Feb. 15 - Salt Lake City, UT @ The Depot (SLC)
Feb. 17 - Sacramento, CA @ Ace of Spades
Feb. 18 - Reno, NV @ Knitting Factory
Feb. 19 - San Jose, CA @ The Avalon

TESTAMENT's new album, "The Dark Roots Of Earth", is tentatively due in late April/early May 2012 via Nuclear Blast Records. Due to a "serious injury," TESTAMENT drummer Paul Bostaph was unable to take part in the recording sessions for the CD and was replaced by Hoglan. Bostaph has since announced his departure from the group.

LAMB OF GOD drummer Chris Adler plays on one track on "The Dark Roots Of Earth", which was helmed by veteran British producer Andy Sneap (MEGADETH, EXODUS, NEVERMORE, MACHINE HEAD, ARCH ENEMY).

Gene Hoglan recently released his long-awaited instructional DVD, "The Atomic Clock". Available on Hoglan Industries in the U.S. and on Reversed Records in Canada, the disc showcases Hoglan's three decades of experience of performing and recording with the world's most well-known metal bands such as DEVIN TOWNSEND, DARK ANGEL, DEATH, DETHKLOK, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, TESTAMENT, ZIMMER'S HOLE, and most recently FEAR FACTORY, along with many others on his resume.

American power metal band STEEL PROPHET is recording its long-awaited follow-up to 2004's "Beware".

Commented guitarist Steve Kachinsky: "We finished all drum tracks for 13 songs. Rhythm guitars are done on eight songs. Seven songs have bass guitar. Leads and orchestrations are being worked on for all. Lyrics are complete for 10 songs. Vocal melody lines have been constructed for six songs (includes new version of 'Oleander' and 'Bohemian Rhapsody').

"We are continuing to make constant progress! It's coming out very well so far. We are certainly trying to make it the best album of our careers, and we won't rush it. We know as fans what it's like to get a subpar album from a group after much anticipation. Definitely want to avoid that!"

Songtitles set to appear on the new STEEL PROPHET CD:

* Funeral For Art
* Tree Of Knowledge
* When I Remake The World (A Key Flaw)
* Aliens
* Spaceships And Richard M. Nixon
* Through Time And Space
* 666 Is Everywhere

The recording lineup for the new STEEL PROPHET album is as follows:

Rick Mythiasin - Vocals
Vince Dennis - Bass
Chris Schleyer - Guitar
Jimmy Schultz - Drums
Steve Kachinsky - Guitar

STEEL PROPHET will perform at the Keep it True festival in April 2013 at Tauberfrankenhalle in Lauda-Königshofen.

CHILDREN OF BODOM was honored in the "Metal Album Of The Year" category at this year's Emma Gaala (Finnish Grammy equivalent), which was held last night (Friday, January 20) at Barona Areena in Espoo, Finland. Meanwhile, MICHAEL MONROE walked away with the "Rock Album Of The Year" (for "Sensory Overdrive") and "Band Of The Year" awards at the annual event, which was televised on Finnish TV channel YLE TV2. NIGHTWISH's "Imaginaerum" disc, which has only been out since late November, was named "Best-Selling Album Of The Year".

"Metal Album Of The Year" nominees were as follows:

* KOTITEOLLISUUS - "Kotiteollisuus"
* CHILDREN OF BODOM - "Relentless Reckless Forever"
* AMORPHIS - "The Beginning Of Times"
* MOONSORROW - "Varjoina Kuljemme Kuolleiden Maassa"

A photo of CHILDREN OF BODOM keyboardist Janne Wirman accepting the "Metal Album Of The Year" award at last night's Emma Gaala can be seen below.

For a complete list of winners (in Finnish), visit www.emmagaala.fi.

"The Great Denial", a brand new song from DEDVOLT, the San Francisco Bay Area rock/metal band featuring SKINLAB frontman Steev Esquivel on guitar, can be streamed using the ReverbNation TuneWidget below.

DEDVOLT played its first show on December 10, 2011 at the Mutiny M.F.B. in Antioch, California. Video footage of the performance can be seen below.

DEDVOLT is currently recording a five-song EP for an early 2012 release.

Commented Esquivel: "[I'm] really excited about this band. [It's] in the vein of [Steev's previous group] RE:IGNITION — just a little more metal... more distortion and heavy as hell!"

DEDVOLT is:

Brian Giguere - Vocals
Steev Esquivel - Guitar
Carlos Barrientos - Guitar
John Riggs - Drums
Slim Vengince – Bass

For more information, visit DEDVOLT's Facebook pageFacebook page.

PHARAOH, the American heavy metal band featuring vocalist Tim Aymar (CONTROL DENIED), has inked a deal with Cruz Del Sur Music for the release of three albums. The first effort, "Bury The Light", will contain 10 new songs for a total running time of 48 minutes, and will be made available on February 24 in Europe and March 6 in the U.S. The CD will feature guest appearances by Mike Wead (KING DIAMOND) and Jim Dofka (DOFKA).

When asked how PHARAOH has evolved on the new album, guitarist Matt Johnsen said, "We tried to add more textural elements to our songs while continuing to cut as much extraneous material as possible. The songs on this album are dense, but hopefully they never overstay their welcome. The basic template is the same as on 'Be Gone', but the album is less dark overall, and perhaps a little faster."

He added, "I think anyone who stuck it out with us after we shed the remainders of our obvious IRON MAIDEN worship after 'The Longest Night' will be happy with our progression on this album. It's still crammed full of traditional elements, of course, but we're not trying to be retro or old fashioned. We want to move melodic metal forward."

"Bury The Light" track listing:

01. Leave Me Here To Dream
02. The Wolves
03. Castles In The Sky
04. The Year Of The Blizzard
05. The Spider's Thread
06. Cry
07. Graveyard Of Empires
08. Burn With Me
09. In Your Hands

The song "Castles In The Sky", which features a guest appearance by Wead, is available for streaming using the Bandcamp player below.

Queens, New York-based deathcore act EMMURE is preparing to release its fifth full-length album, "Slave To The Game", after re-signing with Victory Records. Due on April 10, the CD is currently being recorded with producer Joey Sturgis (ASKING ALEXANDRIA, THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA), who previously worked with the band on 2011's "Speaker Of The Dead".

Commented EMMURE vocalist Frankie Palmeri: "Victory Records is the big reason why EMMURE’s been able to continuously connect to our fans, and our fans are the number one reason why we’re still here today and continue to do what we do."

"Slave To The Game" will mark the recording debut of EMMURE's new drummer, Mark Costillo, who has previously played with BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME and BURY YOUR DEAD.

Commented EMMURE guitarist Jesse Ketive: "Mark Costillo has been a good friend for a few years now.

"Mark approached us as he heard through the grapevine that EMMURE needed a helping hand, so at that point I chatted with him about possibly recording our new CD and playing some shows. After jamming the set a few times, we all decided that Mark was the perfect fit for us and undoubtedly should be our new drummer. He is the utmost professional and his work on the new effort in going to really help us bring everything to another level. Everyone better watch out."

EMMURE will support "Slave To The Game" with a full North American tour this spring, hitting 31 cities with WE CAME AS ROMANS and more beginning in March. The band was recently added to this year's Bamboozle lineup for the May 19 date.

EMMURE is:

Frankie Palmeri - Vocals
Jesse Ketive - Guitar
Mike Mulholland - Guitar
Mark Davis - Bass
Mark Costillo - Drums

EMMURE's fourth album, "Speaker Of The Dead", sold around 10,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 68 on The Billboard 200 chart. The group's previous CD, 2009's "Felony", opened with 7,800 units to land at No. 68.

SOULFLY will release its eighth album, "Enslaved", on March 13 via Roadrunner Records. The CD was recorded at TallCat Studios in Phoenix, Arizona and was produced by Chris "Zeuss" Harris, the seasoned knob twiddler behind some of the most notable bands in metal today, such as SHADOWS FALL, HATEBREED, THE RED CHORD and more.

"Enslaved" standard CD features the following 11 tracks:

01. Resistance
02. World Scum
03. Intervention
04. Gladiator
05. Legions
06. American Steel
07. Redemption of Man By God
08. Treachery
09. Plata O Plomo
10. Chains
11. Revengeance

The digital-only edition includes the following three bonus tracks:

12. Slave
13. Bastard
14. Soulfly VIII

SOULFLY has tapped Thomas Mignone (MEGADETH, SEPULTURA, DANZIG) of Doom Incorporated to direct the video for the song "World Scum". In addition, they will be giving away a free MP3 of the track for 48 hours starting Wednesday, January 25.

SOULFLY's current lineup features Max and guitar dynamo Marc Rizzo, with STATIC-X's Tony Campos taking up the bass. The lineup is rounded out by drummer David Kinkade (BORKNAGAR, ARSIS, MALEVOLENT CREATION), a new-school, extreme skinsman whose brutality behind the kit brings a new flavor to the band.

While many groups barely make it to a third album, SOULFLY is still going strong two decades deep. 2012 also marks the band's 15th anniversary of making a tribally-influenced metallic racket and what better way to celebrate than with a new record? The album will be released via longtime label Roadrunner, which has been SOULFLY's home for the course of its career. The label has also been Cavalera's home for the duration of his career, which began in the '80s as a member of SEPULTURA, who essentially rewrote the rules of heavy music when they arrived on the scene; Max continues to do the same today.

As is customary with SOULFLY, the band will introduce some new and unexpected elements into the mix, including a guest violinist. SOULFLY also collaborates with two metal veterans: Dez Fafara of DEVILDRIVER and Travis Ryan of CATTLE DECAPITATION. With Dez and Max sharing a longtime connection through the Roadrunner family, it was only a matter of time before Fafara guested on a SOULFLY album.

Cavalera wrote a song, "Revengeance", about his slain stepson Dana Wells, whose death was the catalyst for the creation of SOULFLY. He partners with his sons Igor and Richie on vocals, while his other son Zyon plays drums. It is the first time Max has performed with three of his sons.

Travis Ryan — who was a replacement for SOULFLY's original choice, OCEANO's Adam Warren — recorded his portion of the vocals at Frick'in Studios in San Marcos, California with engineer Dan Frick.

Commented Ryan: "It's an honor to receive a call from someone you had pictures of on your wall as a kid asking you to be on a new album of theirs. I literally had a picture of Max [Cavalera, SOULFLY mainman] and Gloria [Max's wife and manager] holding [Gloria's son] Richie in her arms that I ripped out of a copy of Metal Maniacs on my wall when I was 15 or 16. Now they're asking for my artistic hand in one of their creations; [it] just doesn't get much more surreal than that. Very honored and the song is very 'death metal-ish' and completely crushes. Happy to be a part of it!"

Zeuss stated about Travis' contribution, "The vocals fucking rule!!!! Fits the song perfect… Very refreshing for me to hear these days."

"Omertá", the full-length debut from ADRENALINE MOB — the band featuring drummer Mike Portnoy (DREAM THEATER, AVENGED SEVENFOLD), SYMPHONY X frontman Russell Allen and guitar virtuoso Mike Orlando (SONIC STOMP) — will be released in Europe on March 19 in Europe via Century Media Records. The CD will be made available in the U.S> on March 13 through the newly formed Elm City Music in conjunction with EMI Label Services.

The 11-song CD — which was produced by ADRENALINE MOB and mixed by Jay Ruston, who has previously worked on ANTHRAX's "Worship Music" and STEEL PANTHER's "Balls Out" — includes a blistering reinterpretation of DURAN DURAN's classic "Come Undone" featuring guest vocals by Lzzy Hale of HALESTORM.

"Omertá" track listing:

01. Undaunted
02. Psychosane
03. Indifferent
04. All on the Line
05. Hit the Wall
06. Feelin' Me
07. Come Undone (feat. Lzzy Hale)
08. Believe Me
09. Down to the Floor
10. Angel Sky
11. Freight Train

The "Undaunted" video can be seen below.

ADRENALINE MOB's first-ever headline tour made stops in various markets, including Chicago, Denver and San Francisco. ADRENALINE MOB also opened for GODSMACK on select dates of the Massachusetts act's headlining tour.

ADRENALINE MOB formed in early 2011 when Orlando approached Allen with some material the guitarist had written. Allen and Orlando refined those ideas, at which time Allen reached out to longtime friend Portnoy to see if he had any interest in playing with them. Portnoy jumped on board and soon thereafter DiLeo and Ward were recruited to join the family. From the very first note, the chemistry was apparent and the beast that is known as ADRENALINE MOB was born.

Guitarist Rich Ward (STUCK MOJO, FOZZY) and bassist Paul DiLeo (FOZZY) announced their departures from ADRENALINE MOB earlier in the month due to scheduling conflicts with their other projects.

Veteran technical death metallers GORY BLISTER have inked a new deal with Bakerteam Records for the release of their long-waited new album, 'EarthSick’, consisting of 10 brand-new technical and brutal Death Metal tracks in the signature style that has always identified the band over the past 20 years.

Here’s how guitarist Raff commented the event: “This new album is probably the best we’ve ever done. It displays the raw energy we always put into our shows but also the passion that drives us through good and hard times. Death metal is not about money, nor about fashion, it’s a way of live, that requires no compromises. We do this because we believe in it and we want to keep the flame high. Our fans are going to love ‘EarthSick!” Nile frontman Karl Sanders has also been announced as a very special guest on 2 songs.

RUDRA is proud to announce the new guitarist, Subash, who has just joined the band.

Vinod would like to invite the new member on board: "Being in a band is like living with a family. Nothing can be better than to have someone like a brother on board. Subash has helped us a lot in the past and knowing what a talented guitarist he is, definitely a perfect member to join us on this journey."

Subash would like to say the following: "I am honoured to join RUDRA and am excited to embark on this Vedic journey with them. I look forward to bringing my ideas and working with the band."