QUEENSRŸCHE frontman Geoff Tate made a surprise appearance at James Durbin's wedding reception on New Year's Eve, launching into a duet with Durbin of QUEENSRŸCHE's1984 classic "Take Hold Of The Flame". The song is a favorite of Durbin and his new bride Heidi Lowe. You can now watch video footage of their performance at RevolverMag.com.

Durbin, who turned 23 on January 6, was the token "rocker" contestant of the 10th season of "American Idol" last year and had showcased his struggle as a musician diagnosed with Asperger and Tourette Syndrome. He released his first album, "Memories Of A Beautiful Disaster", on November 21.

Tate recently revealed plans for a selection of acoustic solo dates on the West Coast, billed as "Geoff Tate and Friends".

Portuguese gothic metallers MOONSPELL have set "Alpha Noir" as the title of their new album, due on April 27 via the band's new label home, Napalm Records.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Each song a jewel, each song a stronghold!

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

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

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

Austria's pride and joy - and Side-Line darlings - L'Ame Immortelle have started the club promotion for their new single "Banish". A first listening impression of the song can be found here or right after the jump.

The band also announced the video trailer for the song "Wie Traenen im Regen" which was shot by director Carlo Roberti (Solobuio Visual Factory) in Rome last December. You can view it here or - indeed - right after the jump!

Out on January 27th, 2012 is the band's new studio album "Momente". Be sure to also note that on April 27th, 2012, a very special L'Ame Immortelle surprise will see the light of day.

According to The Pulse Of Radio, organizers of England's Download festival are saying that BLACK SABBATH still intends to perform at the event, scheduled for June 8-10, despite guitarist Tony Iommi's cancer diagnosis.

SABBATH was reportedly also slated to play at this April's Coachella festival in California, but pulled out of that show one day before its lineup was announced when Iommi's illness was revealed.

Download organizer Andy Copping said, "I've been told that BLACK SABBATH are going to be playing Download. I don't want people to worry unduly about that, we should all just send our thoughts and best wishes to Tony Iommi."

Other acts on the bill include METALLICA, SOUNDGARDEN, THE PRODIGY, ANTHRAX, LAMB OF GOD, UGLY KID JOE and more.

Iommi told The Pulse Of Radio that ever since re-learning how to play guitar after severing two fingertips as a teenager, he's always been determined to fight his way through anything. "I've always been the same," he said. "I always have to try to get over that barrier, whatever it may be, and do it, you know. And that's continued in what I do with the music. People have said over the years, 'Well, why do you still keep playing and why do you still hold BLACK SABBATH together through the different lineups?' Because I'm determined to do it, I'm determined to carry on. And it's been with everything like that."

Iommi's bandmate in SABBATH and HEAVEN & HELL, legendary heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio, died of stomach cancer in May 2010 at the age of 67.

French progressive technical death metallers GOROD have inked a deal with Listenable Records. The band's fourth full-length album, "A Perfect Absolution", will be released in March. The CD was mixed by producer Frédéric "Elmobo" Motte, who oversaw the recording of the drums, bass and vocals, while all guitars were tracked by GOROD's mastermind Matthieu Pascal at his Bud Records Studio. The mix and the mastering were done at Elmobo's Conkrete Studio by Pascal and Elmobo.

The lyrical concept of "A Perfect Absolution" is based on the history of Kievan Rus during the 10th century.

In the year 945, Igor, King of Kiev, was killed while collecting a "tribute" when he visited a neighbor pagan tribe (the Derevlians) who lives in the forest. He left a widow, Olga, who avenged him in an extremely harsh manner before converting to Orthodox Christianity.

"A Perfect Absolution" features guest guitar solos by Christian Muenzner (OBSCURA) and Mike Keene (THE FACELESS).

GOROD will join OBSCURA for the "Omnivium Europe 2012" tour in March/April. Also appearing on the bill are SPAWN OF POSSESSION and EXIVIOUS.

GOROD's latest full-length album, "Process Of A New Decline", came out in 2009 via Listenable Records. The follow-up to 2006's "Leading Vision" marked the recording debut of GOROD's new drummer, Samuel Santiago.

GOROD's "Transcendence" EP came out last spring. The disc included a 15-minute-long new song, one acoustic track, a CYNIC cover and two re-recorded songs from the band's first two albums.

THIS ENDING, the Swedish death metal band featuring AMON AMARTH drummer Fredrik Andersson, has completed work on a new three-song EP titled "Systematic Worship". The effort was recorded during late 2011 at guitarist Linus Nirbrant's studio Audiohammer, which the band calls "an environment where we are used to rehearse, so it's been the most natural and organic recording for us. This has allowed us to not only deliver more of the same THIS ENDING that our fans have come to appreciate, but also experiment with some new stuff that we hope you'll enjoy as well."

"Systematic Worship" will be released on all official web pages in digital format one song at a time, starting in a matter of days.

"Systematic Worship" track listing

01. Our Creation
02. Army Of (N)one
03. No More Silence

The song "Army Of (N)one" can now be streamed using the SoundCloud player below.

THIS ENDING's second album, "Dead Harvest", was released in January 2009 via Metal Blade Records.

THIS ENDING is:

Mårten Hansen - vocals
Leo Pignon - guitar
Linus Nirbrant - guitar
Jesper Löfgren - bass
Fredrik Andersson – drums

Formed in 2005, THIS ENDING existed in a previous incarnation as A CANOROUS QUINTET. After several years of absence from the metal scene the guys decided that the time was right for a new era. Members of the band are/have been active in the following acts: AMON AMARTH, GUIDANCE OF SIN, NIDEN DIV. 187 and SINS OF OMISSION, among others.

"Army Of (N)one" audio stream:

In October of last year, Swedish death metal veterans UNCANNY entered the studio to record two new songs for a seven-inch single, to be released in late January through Dark Descent Records. One of these tracks, "The Path of Flesh" — which marks the first new material from UNCANNY since 1994's "Splenium For Nyktophobia" album — is now available for streaming in the YouTube clip below.

UNCANNY is:

Jens Törnroos - Vocals
Fredrik Norrman - Guitars
Kennet Englund - Drums
Johan Jansson - Guitars
Mattias Norrman - Bass

Formed in Sweden in 1990, UNCANNY recorded two demos (1991's "Transportation To The Uncanny" and 1992's "Nyktalgia"), a split release in 1993 with ANCIENT RITES and one full-length album (the aforementioned "Splenium For Nyktophobia"). Last year, Dark Descent Records released all one and a half hours of this classic-era Swedish death metal together on one double-disc package. Like the limited run 3LP UNCANNY box set released by The Crypt in 2010, this 2CD is titled "MCMXCI - MCMXCIV" and features original artwork from "Splenium For Nyktophobia" as well as artwork from the demo era.

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/uncanny666.

Canadian metal legends ANVIL have recruited Sal Italiano (pictured below), a member of the Long Island, New York IRON MAIDEN tribute band LIVE AFTER DEATH and original progressive metal act THE NIGHTMARE STAGE, as well as a former member of the acclaimed '80s heavy metal group CITIES, as their new touring bassist.

ANVIL's longtime bassist Glenn Gyorffy (a.k.a. Glenn Five or G5) announced his departure from the band two days ago, citing creative differences.

Glenn Five joined ANVIL in 1996 and has appeared on seven of the band's albums, including "This Is Thirteen" and the group's latest release, "Juggernaut Of Justice", on which he wrote and sang the song "This Ride".

Commented Glenn: "Playing in ANVIL has given me some of the best years of my life. However, after nearly 16 years with the band, the time has come to move on and try new musical endeavors. Although ANVIL has been a great band to play in, I have been limited creatively. I have a wide taste in music and I feel that it’s time to broaden my horizons."

Speaking to Metal Shock Finland about Glenn's exit and Italiano's addition to ANVIL, guitarist/vocalist Steve "Lips" Kudlow said, "We hired an old friend to do the tour and are currently working with a new, improved bassist. There was no major issue in fixing this at all and in fact everything was sorted out within a few hours of Glenn departing. Glenn tried to make it difficult by leaving without proper notice but we've been preparing for this for quite sometime. This did end up for the better as it is a huge improvement with our new guy both musically as well as personally."

The End Records celebrated ANVIL's career with "Monument Of Metal: The Very Best Of Anvil", a 19-track career retrospective that will earn "must-own" and "must-hear" status for fans both fans new and old.

Released on September 27, 2011, this set collects choice cuts from ANVIL's career and the track listing was hand-selected by the members of ANVIL and spans their three-decade career. It is designed to show you why the aforementioned likes of GUNS 'N ROSES, METALLICA, MOTÖRHEAD, ANTHRAX, SLAYER and more have praised ANVIL as pioneers and way pavers in the heavy metal world. It's a retrospective spanning the band's entire iconic career and a comprehensive heavy metal history lesson captured on record.

ANVIL's latest album, "Juggernaut Of Justice", was released in Europe on June 20, 2011 (three days earlier in Germany) via SPV/Steamhammer. The effort was made available as a limited-edition digipak (including two bonus tracks), double gatefold LP in blue vinyl, standard version and a digital download.

"Juggernaut Of Justice" sold around 1,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 12 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.

A four-and-a-half-minute audio preview of the as-yet-untitled new album from Italian metallers MURDER THERAPY is available in the YouTube clip below. The follow-up to last year's "Molochian" EP was recorded at Regrexion Studios in Bologna and mixed/mastered at Studio73 (EPHEL DUATH, AT THE SOUNDAWN, THE SECRET, EXTREMA). The band is currently seeking a suitable label to release the effort.

MURDER THERAPY is:

Sean Worrell - Guitar, Vocals
Francesco D'Adamo - Guitar
Andrea Burgio - Bass
Marco Bolognini - Drums

SPIN.com is currently streaming "Dark Adrenaline", the new album from the Italian rock/metal band LACUNA COIL. It is also available below. Due in North America on January 24 via Century Media Records, the CD was helmed by acclaimed producer Don Gilmore (LINKIN PARK, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE) and "promises to deliver the melodic, sensual, metallic rush for which the band has come to be known," according to a press release.

Fans both old and new will have a variety of options to choose from, as "Dark Adrenaline" will be released in numerous 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 3,000 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. Finally, for true fans of the band, is the "Darkest Adrenaline" box set, which 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.

"Dark Adrenaline" track listing:

01. Trip The Darkness
02. Against You
03. Kill The Light
04. Give Me Something More
05. Upsidedown
06. End Of Time
07. I Don't Believe In Tomorrow
08. Intoxicated
09. The Army Inside
10. Losing My Religion
11. Fire
12. My Spirit

The "Trip The Darkness" video can be seen below. The visually stunning performance clip was directed by Sitcom Soldiers (FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND, THE BLACKOUT).

In a recent interview with Revolver magazine, LACUNA COIL singer Cristina Scabbia stated about "Dark Adrenaline", "I really feel that it is really, really a good album with good songs. I think that it totally captures the essence of LACUNA COIL because it's definitely a mixture of our roots and something completely new. We never repeated ourself with any album, but this one, it's a perfect balance between the old stuff and the new. And the new stuff, it's more obscure than the usual. It's definitely heavier — the sound is way heavier than we did before. A lot of people will be surprised. I think so. . . I believe that, you know, it's something that they don't really expect from us. They probably expect us to go, I don't know, more melodic and mellow and actually this is not the direction we are taking. [Laughs] We're kind of getting heavier while everybody else is getting mellower. [Laughs]"

When asked if she and her bandmates had specific aims when they went into the studio, Cristina said, "No, not really, because I think that when you are writing songs, it's not about what you want to achieve. You just go with the flow and you just like what you hear. And if you like something, you just, like, work on it. I don't think it would make sense for us just to think about a song or like, Oh, the album is going to sound like that. That wouldn't be honest and that wouldn't be hard, you know? Of course, you kind of know what you want to do, just because you know that's your taste, but you don't really know what's gonna be the final result. You just, you know, put down layers and layers and layers and layers, and then you just hear the result at the very end. Actually, after the mixing you're just like, Oh, wow! [Laughs] It's hard to see things, you know. You just kind of draw the image of what you think it's gonna be, but you don't really know what's gonna be in the end."

In 2007, Uli Jon Roth conduceted his Sky Academy in Hollywood, California. Two concerts highlighted the week-long event. Soon after, many recordings of the show surfaced. Combining these sources, Uli and his team were able to capture the magic of one of these nights.

"Live In Hollywood" is an NTSC-only DVD which contains footage of Uli playing material from the SCORPIONS, solo and ELECTRIC SUN. This is a very limited pressing and is only being made available for Uli's North American tour in January and February. Once sold out, it will not be pressed again.

"Live In Hollywood" track listing:

01. Intro Jam
02. Firewind
03. Land Of Dawn
04. We'll Burn The Sky
05. Fly To The Rainbow
06. Pictured Life
07. In Trance
08. Polar Nights
09. Going Down
10. Sails Of Charon
11. Catch Your Train

To order a copy, go to this location (scroll down).

Sky Academy was conceived by Uli to provide knowledge and inspiration to those who take guitar seriously and to help them reach a new plateau.

The seminars are designed to open people's eyes to new possibilities and to trigger an awakening of the student's full awareness.

The philosophy and approach of Sky Academy is consistent with the ideals of its founder.

The teaching center on achieving the student's transition to a noticeably higher level of ability. This includes raising their general and specific musical awareness, as well as facilitating an increase in their technical abilities. The participants are able to receive invaluable direct insights into the way Uli approaches the art of guitar playing, as well as concerning his philosophy of music in general.

IRON MAIDEN vocalist Bruce Dickinson, who is a licensed commercial pilot, has set up a state-of the-art Boeing 737 flight simulator at London's Heathrow Airport and is holding training sessions for members of the Iron Maiden Fan Club.

New footage from some of last month's training sessions can now be seen below.

After the success of the first Bruce Air Flight 666 Experience, fan have another chance to fly Bruce Air in a state-of-the-art full motion 737 flight simulator with personal instruction from Bruce.

This full motion flight simulator has been purchased by Bruce and ex-Astraeus colleague Mario Fulgioni as part of their aviation business, training and checking pilots and crews from many airlines. In fact, Bruce did his own pilot training in a 737 simulator just like this one.

For those of you with good memories you might also recall that a 737 was the very first plane to bear the Bruce Air moniker when Flight 666 took its maiden voyage to Paris back in November 2003.

You will taxi the aeroplane around a major international airport, line up on the runway and perform the take off. If you're good enough, you'll do the landing too!

In between take off and landing, you will be shown the real performance capabilities of a modern airliner and experience the most advanced cockpit visuals.

You can book a slot and have an hour of Bruce's one-to-one tuition all to yourself, or you can split it between 2 or 3 of you and divide up the hour of flying time between you and your friends. Or if you just want to bring a couple of people to sit in the observers seats (directly behind the pilots seats), you can do that, too.

All participants will be given a personally signed commemorative Bruce Air Flight 666 certificate as a souvenir of their experience.

The Bruce Air Flight 666 Experience costs £666 + VAT (at 20%) for one hour of simulator time with Bruce.

For more information, visit www.bruceair.co.uk.

In a press release that was issued in November, Bruce commented, "I can't wait to sit in the simulator with fans and share the buzz of what it is really like to fly a modern passenger jet such as Flight 666 and all the challenges that entails."

Bruce Dickinson has a huge passion for flying — so much so that he is a commercial airline captain and a talented originator — devising an ingenious method of converting a Boeing 757 to allow him, the band, their crew and tons of equipment to tour three times around the world in their customised plane "Ed Force One", call sign "Flight 666".

Not content with just entertaining fans on the ground, Bruce then instigated a series of highly acclaimed "Bruce Air Flight 666" excursions, filling the plane with fans and personally flying them to and from various IRON MAIDEN concerts around Europe.

Dickinson told CNN.com in a 2007 interview, "Aviation's been kicking around my family for as long as I can remember; my uncle was in the RAF. But I always thought I was too stupid. I was useless at maths and majored in history at university, so I thought history majors don't become pilots, let alone rock stars. And then our drummer learned to fly so I said if a drummer can learn to fly then anyone can."

He added, "I never dreamed I would end up flying an airliner. I ended up flying IRON MAIDEN around on tour in a little eight-seat, pressurized, twin-engine plane. Basically we were flying round all the world's major airports, flew across the Atlantic and back, which was quite an adventure. At the end I thought I really want to fly something bigger, but I can't afford it — I can't buy my own 707. If I'm going to do that I have to get a job."

On how the thrill of piloting a 757 compares to taking to the stage with MAIDEN:

"It's a different kind of buzz. Obviously you aren't leaping around the flight deck yelling and screaming, but you have to manage situations... Flying at 35,000 feet is an internal thing, really. Whereas 35,000 people, that's just showing off."

On whether he will be hanging up his leopard-skin spandex forever:

"I could never contemplate giving up music. I have to say I've always been interested in planes, the only difference is I started to fly the darn things 15 years ago. I don't see why I should give up either of them. People say 'Why do you need a second job?' I say 'Why do you need to breathe?'"

Los Angeles-based goth-metallers VAMPIRES EVERWHERE! are preparing to enter the studio to begin recording their sophomore album, due later in the year via Hollywood Waste Records.

The band spent the last few months in pre-production for the CD, expanding its sound and adding a healthy dose of testosterone to its already aggressive musical foundation.

Commented VAMPIRES EVERWHERE! vocalist Michael Vampire: "We will be co-producing the record with Mike Sarkisyan and Tommy Decker from Grammy-nominated alternative-metal band SPINESHANK and we couldn't be more pumped about it. We're changing it up a bit from the last album but our fans will still love it. The new record will be darker and more message-driven and will abandon ALL Auto-Tune effects! I want this record to have a '90s industrial shock rock feel with a mixture of 2012 technology. We plan on releasing the record around Vans Warped Tour. See you there!!"

VAMPIRES EVERYWHERE!'s full-length debut, "Kiss The Sun Goodbye", was released in May 2011 through Hollywood Waste/Century Media Records. The CD was recorded with producer Fred Archambault, who has previously worked with AVENGED SEVENFOLD and DEFTONES.

VAMPIRES EVERYWHERE lit the scene on fire with the release of the "Lost In The Shadows" EP. The band also completed tours across the nation with the likes of BLACK VEIL BRIDES, X JAPAN and ALESANA, among others.

Guitar prodigy Jeff Loomis has locked himself in the studio for the past few months perfecting his highly anticipated sophomore solo record, to be released later this year via Century Media Records. A full U.S. tour will kick off in April.

After Jeff's departure from NEVERMORE and the release of his solo debut — 2008's "Zero Order Phase" — fans have been craving a new album. With a number of influential musicians appearing on the upcoming release, Loomis is more than ready to deliver.

Commented Jeff: "A couple of years ago I achieved my childhood dream of releasing a solo album. With the releasing of my second record coming up, I'm proud to announce another dream come true... or should I say dreams... Marty Friedman [ex-MEGADETH], Tony Macalpine and Chris Poland [ex-MEGADETH] have all done guest solos for it. These guys must have given me hundreds of blisters on my fingers when I was a kid trying in vain to emulate their work. Hell, I'm still trying to figure out some of their solos. To have three guitar players that I looked up to as a young player and still hold in such high regard is simply amazing. I can't thank those guys enough."

In other news, Loomis will appear at this coming weekend's NAMM show in Anaheim, California. He states, "I have two new Schecter models that I'll be showing and I'll be doing a signing Saturday, [January] 21st at their booth at 1 p.m. as well as another one later that day with Engl amps at 5."

Jeff was the lead guitar player and main songwriter of NEVERMORE, a band that has certainly made its mark on modern music by forging a unique sound that fuses different forms of metal that has given birth to an authentic and very influential style. His solo CD, "Zero Order Phase", took the #4 spot in a April 2009 Guitar World magazine's readers' poll in the "Best Shred Album Of The Year" category — a notable accomplishment when you consider the top three vote-getters, Paul Gilbert, Yngwie Malmsteen and Joe Satriani. Jeff has become one of his generation's most recognizable guitarists and the source of many of the last decade's best riffs.

Jeff's complex shredding has been a central part of the progressive power guitar scene since 1992 and is responsible for some of the most awe-inspiring riffs modern metal has ever heard. Nearly every aspiring musician who has been listening to metal for the past 10 years or so has undoubtedly had the pleasure of hearing Jeff Loomis' progressive and technically superior playing.

Loomis' first solo album, "Zero Order Phase", was released in September 2008 through Century Media Records.

U.K. metallers FURYON will release their debut album, "Gravitas", on March 23 in Europe and March 27 in North America via Frontiers Records.

FURYON is a new band from the U.K. who like nothing more than to challenge expectations. Raised on a diet of heavy metal, prog, and classic rock, FURYON mix all these components for a truly unique and contemporary sound. Delivering huge rock-radio-friendly songs, with technically-challenging-yet-infectiously-catchy musicianship, they are dedicated to one sole purpose: making hard-hitting songs that will stand the test of time.

"Our music is good songs with touches of intelligence," says singer Matt Mitchell, "There are a many different moods that come out from this album and all the songs have meaning and substance. Heavy and melodic! That is what FURYON and this album, 'Gravitas', is about."

What separates FURYON from the crowd is the sheer quality of their musicianship. Boasting two truly world-class guitarists in the form of Chris Green and Pat "The Shred" Heath, FURYON have few peers when it comes to the quality of their iconic riffs and jaw-dropping solos. Backing them up is one of the tightest rhythm sections the rock world has to offer, with the awesome combination of Lee Farmery and Alex "Nickel" Bowen. Leading from the front is the outstanding vocal versatility of Matt Mitchell, whose emotion drenched voice effortlessly moves between melodic and crunchingly heavy.

"We really have been inspired by many bands over the time, as all musicians and writers are," continues Matt, "but for this album, inspirations from bands like SOUNDGARDEN, ALICE IN CHAINS, TOOL, MASTODON, ALTER BRIDGE and IRON MAIDEN spring to mind."

In 2009, after a sell-out tour and accompanying EP, FURYON set about the serious business of writing their debut album. The early demos reached the ears of U.S. producer Rick Beato (SHINEDOWN, FOZZY), and a powerful and symbiotic relationship was formed.

"Our hookup with Rick Beato was through Kip Winger," recalls Matt. "We toured with WINGER on their 'Karma' tour and we had spoken with Kip about the band SHINEDOWN and how we liked there productions. Kip hooked us up with Rick and to our delight he was interested in doing the album. Rick is a truly great producer and writer."

Released independently on a low profile and later covermounted on Metal Hammer U.K., "Gravitas" will be made available on Frontiers Records with the following track listing:

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

The "Disappear Again" video can be seen below.

FURYON is:

Matt Mitchell - Vocals
Chris Green - Guitars
Pat Heath - Guitars
Alex "Nickel" Bowen - Bass
Lee Farmery - Drums

"Skullcrusher", a brand new song from New York hardcore/metal veterans BIOHAZARD, is available for free download at this location. The track can also be streamed using the audio player below.

"The message of the music has always been to rise above obstacles," BIOHAZARD guitarist Bobby Hambel tells AOL's Noisecreep. "That's how the name of BIOHAZARD came to be and why we are the band we are. It all came from a philosophy that we developed as young guys. When we put the band together, we realized playing music and talking about obstacles makes us better off and helped us get through obstacles and stuff that really beats us down. When we were writing songs and lyrics about stuff we'd experienced, you know, on how to not to take the easy way out or give up... we didn't realize that would strike a chord with a lot of people."

"It's literally almost impossible to rely on the music industry to pay your bills," added BIOHAZARD guitarist/vocalist Billy Graziadei."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. We're giving you guys an exclusive track that no one has heard. Times change. 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:

Regina, Saskatchewan-based Canadian extreme progressive metallers INTO ETERNITY have posted studio and rehearsal footage of their new song "Fukushima", written about the Fukushima Daiichi, Japan nuclear disaster (a series of equipment failures, nuclear meltdowns, and releases of radioactive materials at the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant following the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011). You can now watch the one-and-a-half-minute clip below.

As previously reported, Canadian label War On Music Records will issue several albums by INTO ETERNITY for the first time ever on vinyl. "Dead Or Dreaming" (2001), "Buried In Oblivion" (2004) and "Scattering Of The Ashes" (2006) will be made available, each as a limited LP release, starting in early spring 2012.

INTO ETERNITY's signature sound has often been described as a hybrid of latter-day DEATH and CONTROL DENIED, combined with the technical stylings of DREAM THEATER.

INTO ETERNITY vocalist Stu Block was recently recruited by power metal giants ICED EARTH, with whom he recorded the band's latest CD, "Dystopia".

Commented INTO ETERNITY singer/guitarist Tim Roth: "The new songs are coming along quite well and we'll have two new songs finished and mixed in the upcoming weeks. So far five songs have been recorded (30 minutes) and we are looking forward to get working on the next batch of new INTO ETERNITY songs.

"2012 also brings some great news for vinyl-loving fans. Century Media contacted us about releasing our albums on vinyl. It has always been a dream of ours to have our collection put out on vinyl. Thanks to Charley at War On Music Records for finally making this dream a reality. I know a lot of fans have asked us over the years for vinyl, so this is really great news!"

INTO ETERNITY is among the confirmed bands for the 11th edition of the Manitoba Metalfest, set to take place February 24-25 at The Zoo in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Watch www.waronmusic.com for details and pre-orders for the the upcoming vinyl releases.

INTO ETERNITY recently released its first new material since 2008 in the form of a new song called "Sandstorm". The track, which is available on iTunes and Bandcamp, features guest death vocals by Rob Doherty and marks the recording debut of Newbury, who was previously known in the western Canadian metal scene as a member of Edmonton, Alberta-based group DEATH TOLL RISING.

"Sandstorm" was written the day the USA took out Osama Bin Laden, and is inspired by the events that transpired.

INTO ETERNITY's last album, "The Incurable Tragedy", came out in 2008 via Century Media.

Tony Foresta (MUNICIPAL WASTE, NO FRIENDS), LandPhil Hall (MUNICIPAL WASTE, CANNABIS CORPSE), Ryan Parish (DARKEST HOUR, SUPPRESSION, CITY OF CATERPILLAR) and Paul Burnette (DARKEST HOUR, CRACK HEAD) have formed a ripping new band called IRON REAGAN.

IRON REAGAN has just released a free four-song demo via Bandcamp.com. The effort was recorded in Richmond, Virginia by Landphil and mastered at Mammoth Sound.

IRON REAGAN "Demo 2012" track listing:

01. Paycheck (01:20)
02. Eat Shit And Live (00:51)
03. Artificial Saints (01:21)
04. Running Out Of Time (01:31)

IRON REAGAN will make its live debut this Sunday, January 22 at Strange Matter in Richmond.

Reactivated '80s Dutch metal band PICTURE will release its new album, "Warhorse", on February 22 via Artist Station Records. The CD was mixed by Oscar Holleman, who has previously worked with WITHIN TEMPTATION and AFTER FOREVER, among others.

"Warhorse" track listing:

01. Battle Plan
02. Shadow Of The Damned
03. Rejected
04. Edge Of Hell
05. The King Is Losing His Crown
06. Think I Lost My Way
07. Killer In My Sights
08. My Kinda Woman
09. The Price I Pay
10. War Horse
11. Stand My Ground
12. Eternal Dark MMXI

PICTURE supported AC/DC, TED NUGENT and SAXON in the Netherlands. With SAXON, they did a full European tour in 1981. Later on they toured with ROSE TATTOO in Germany and headlined tours in Italy and Israel.

After reuniting a few years back, a limited-edition live CD was recorded and from December 2008 until January 2009 the band retreated in the StarSound Studios in Utrecht, Holland to record "Old Dogs New Tricks".

PICTURE is:

Pete Lovell (vocals)
Rinus Vreugdenhill (bass)
Laurens "Bakkie" Bakker (drums)
Peter Bourbon (guitar)
Mike Ferguson (guitar

The official lyric video for "For The Wicked", a brand new song from Riverside, California-based Christian death metallers IMPENDING DOOM, can be seen below. The track is the first single from the band's fourth full-length album, "Baptized In Filth", which will be released on March 13. The CD was produced by Andreas Magnusson (THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, THE FAMINE) and was mixed by Machine, who has previously worked with LAMB OF GOD, SUICIDE SILENCE and DEMON HUNTER, among others.

Commented guitarist Cory Johnson: "We're proud to say that after many months of working on the new record, it's finally done. This is by far our favorite material to date and we can't wait to share it with everyone and hit the road!"

IMPENDING DOOM will take part in the Metal Alliance Tour 2012 alongside DEVILDRIVER, THE FACELESS, DYING FETUS, JOB FOR A COWBOY and 3 INCHES OF BLOOD.

IMPENDING DOOM is Brook Reeves on vocals, Cory Johnson on guitar, David Sittig on bass and Brandon "B-Town" Trahan on drums.

IMPENDING DOOM's third full-length album, "There Will Be Violence", was released on July 20, 2010 via Facedown Records. The CD was recorded at Lambesis Studios with Daniel Castleman (AS I LAY DYING, WINDS OF PLAGUE, WAR OF AGES) and it features guest appearances by Tim Lambesis of AS I LAY DYING and Vincent Bennett of THE ACACIA STRAIN.

"Vicious Circle", a brand new song from Chicago-based extreme progressive metal titans VEIL OF MAYA, can be streamed in the YouTube clip below. The song comes off the band's third full-length album, "Eclipse", which will be released on February 28 via Sumerian Records.

VEIL OF MAYA has just kicked off a massive North American tour alongside IN FLAMES and TRIVIUM.

VEIL OF MAYA's latest album, "[id]", sold around 5,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The CD landed at position No. 1 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.

"[id]" was released on April 6, 2010 via Sumerian Records. The CD was produced by Michael Keene (THE FACELESS), who previously worked with the group on its last album, 2008's "The Common Man's Collapse".

Legendary New York City rock powerhouse UNSANE will release its long-awaited seventh full-length album, "Wreck", on March 20 via Jello Biafra's Alternative Tentacles label.

Recorded by the band and producer Andrew Schneider at Brooklyn's Translator Audio (PELICAN, KEELHAUL), "Wreck" is an unfettered burst of pent up emotions and frustrations channeled into song and an unflinching glance into a type of life others probably should not lead. From the shock and awe of the LP's lead track, "Rat", and the stunningly damaged "Decay" to the doom and gloom of the heavy-handed "No Chance" and through to the transcendental brainwork of "Stuck", UNSANE's "Wreck" is darkly abrasive and poetic music delivered with a fearsome intensity. A punishing, but ultimately tuneful album, realistic in subject matter and as engaging as it is abrasive, "Wreck" features UNSANE at its legendary best. Chris Spencer's vocals and lyrics positively ache with fear and loathing (resembling the sound of a man trapped in the New York Subway system) while his searing Telecaster howl and pulverizing chords wreak havoc over Vincent Signorelli's drums and Dave Curran's muscular, thick as lava bass lines.

UNSANE celebrates its 20th anniversary by delivering the darkest and most personal record of its celebrated career; "Wreck" is the band's defining moment.

"Making the album 'Wreck' has been amazingly cathartic. Not only musically, but personally," comments Spencer. "Writing with Dave and Vincent is always great, and having been together so long made it easy to focus on what musically and lyrically would sum up this period of time. Recordings about modern urban life. The constant noise, confrontation, stress and alienation that goes with it, and the dysfunctional ways people try to deal with it. The death, drugs, attempted suicide and completely degenerative behavior of those around us really left a mark. I really was feeling like I needed to get it out of my system. There are some moments of redemption, but more often than not things did not end well. As the world population reaches seven billion it's impossible not to feel the overcrowding."

"Wreck" track listing:

01. Rat
02. Decay
03. No Chance
04. Pigeon
05. Metropolis
06. Ghost
07. Don't
08. Stuck
09. Roach
10. Ha Ha Ha (FLIPPER cover)

Upon the release of the new LP, UNSANE will team up with punk rock legends THE MELVINS for what promises to be one of the year's most anticipated underground rock tours. The like-minded bands will launch the 21-city trek on April 11 in San Jose, California and will collaborate on an über-limited tour seven-inch EP featuring each band covering a song from the other. The tour-only vinyl release will feature cover artwork from Amphetamine Reptile Records founder Thomas Hazelmyer.

Former PRONG bassist Mike Longworth has joined SEISMATIK, the Los Angeles-based electro/rock band featuring drummer Aaron Rossi (MINISTRY), singer Rich Love (SLOTH) and guitarist Jesse Billson (HEAVEN BELOW).

Longworth is a professional and technically diverse bass player, guitarist and songwriter who is a veteran of the L.A. rock/metal scene. He was a member of the ground-breaking band PRONG for many years, and contributed a song to the band's upcoming album. Mike is currently a guitarist and songwriter for the band MEST.

SEISMATIK recently released its debut EP, "Someone Like You", for free via Facebook. The effort will be made available at all digital service providers beginning February 1 (exact dates differ based on territory).

According to a press release, "SEISMATIK manages to combine rock, pop, metal and electronic elements into a modern hybrid of genre-blurring experimental pulse rock. [The band's sound] can best be described as a sonic explosion of melody, frequency and rythmic machine-gun precision."

Formed in October 2011, SEISMATIK is currently working on material for its upcoming debut album, slated for a 2012 release.

"From This Darkness", the new video from U.K. metallers SEVEN DEADLY — the band featuring former PANIC CELL members Bobby Town (bass), Harj Virdee (guitar) and Rob Hicks (drums) — can be seen below. The track is also available as a free MP3 download on the band's web site.

SEVEN DEADLY will release its debut EP on February 13.

SEVEN DEADLY is:

Archie Wilson - Vocals
Harj Virdee - Guitar
Dave Irving – Guitar, Keyboards, Backing Vocals
Bobby Town - Bass
Rob Hicks - Drums

Tour dates will be announced soon.

AHOLA, the new "vital rock act" launched by Jarkko Ahola of the Finnish metal groups TERÄSBETONI and NORTHERN KINGS, entered Headline Studio in Tampere on January 7 to begin recording its debut album for a tentative spring release.

A studio diary from Ahola can be found at Stalker.cd.

A video report from the studio, including footage from the band's gig in Jyväskylä in December, is available below. The clip contains a full version of the AHOLA song "Stoneface" in the background.

AHOLA in August 2011 announced the addition of guitarist Antti Karhumaa to the group's ranks.

According to a press release, AHOLA "has a suitable mix of past and present — which is always an essential part of rock music. The band's musical core consists of hit tunes, feeling and of course the skill to write and play true and powerful rock music, wherein the authenticity and emotion are relevant, leaving the vain posing to others."

Commented Ahola: "AHOLA is something I've been working on for a long time.

"From the beginning I've written rock songs in English, but since being a musician, you find yourself doing something you did never expect like singing and playing in a huge act called TERÄSBETONI or participating a cool project called NORTHERN KINGS. I guess that's part of the fascination!

"Anyway, still riff-based rock being the heart of my musical world, I wanted to add some spice to the soup and do something that I wasn't so familiar with: super tightness, speed… a flavor of punk rock, you might say."

He continued, "The way I want to see AHOLA's music is: songs are, I dare say, approachable with catchy choruses but when giving the songs a deeper thought, loaded with layers you can dig into. You can hear echoes from classic rock of the '70s, alternative rock and metal of the '90s and last decade, pop music in general, that punk rock I mentioned and… well, listen to yourselves."

AHOLA is:

Jari "Jamo" Laitinen: Bass
Jarkko Ahola: Vocals, Guitar
Antti Mäkelä: Drums
Antti Karhumaa: Guitar

For more information, visit the AHOLA Facebook page.

Few heavy metal artists have built as stellar a discography as JUDAS PRIEST over the years. And now, fans will get a chance to acquire all of PRIEST's classics in one fell swoop. On January 24, Columbia/Epic/Legacy will release the 17-CD box set, "The Complete Albums Collection", which contains every studio and live album that featured the classic line up of Rob Halford, Glenn Tipton, K.K. Downing and Ian Hill.

Included will be brand new remasters of PRIEST's first two albums, 1974's "Rocka Rolla" and 1976's "Sad Wings of Destiny" (which have never been released before as authorized remasters by the band), in addition to each individual album being packaged in a replica mini-LP sleeve reproducing that album’s original cover art. And although the 2009 live compilation, "A Touch of Evil…Live" is included; no other compilations will be present. Also featured in the set will be a 40-page booklet with photos, album credits, and liner notes by rock journalist/PRIEST fan Greg Prato.

"The Complete Albums Collection" will be available for purchase exclusively via Popmarket.com.

It's not often that you can acquire all of the classic albums by one of rock's all-time great bands in one gorgeously assembled package. JUDAS PRIEST's "The Complete Albums Collection" is certainly one of these rare occurrences.

Albums included in "The Complete Albums Collection":

01. Rocka Rolla (1974)
02. Sad Wings Of Destiny (1976)
03. Sin After Sin (1977)
04. Stained Class (1978)
05. Killing Machine (1978)
06. Unleashed In The East (1979)
07. British Steel (1980)
08. Point Of Entry (1981)
09. Screaming For Vengeance (1982)
10. Defenders Of The Faith (1984)
11. Turbo (1986)
12. Priest…Live! (1987)
13. Ram It Down (1988)
14. Painkiller (1990)
15. Angel Of Retribution (2005)
16. Nostradamus (2008)
17. A Touch Of Evil…Live (2009)

"The Chosen Few", the recently released compilation album from JUDAS PRIEST, sold 1,300 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The collection, which came out on October 11, 2011 via Legacy/Sony, contains songs that were selected by some of the biggest names of the hard rock/heavy metal world, including KISS' Gene Simmons, Ozzy Osbourne, Slash, METALLICA's James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich, Alice Cooper and SLIPKNOT's Corey Taylor.

Video footage of SEVENDUST performing the song "Splinter" on December 3, 2011 at the Machine Shop in Flint, Michigan can be seen below. The clip was recorded on a GoPro camera and was edited by "Metal Mike" Ames.

SEVENDUST's latest album, "Cold Day Memory", sold around 27,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 12 on the Billboard 200 chart.

The band's previous CD, "Chapter VII: Hope and Sorrow", opened with 25,000 units back in April 2008 to land at position No. 19.

"Cold Day Memory" was released on April 20, 2010 on the band's own 7Bros. Records, through Warner Music Group's Independent Label Group. The CD — produced by Grammy Award winner Johnny K (DISTURBED, STAIND, 3 DOORS DOWN, PLAIN WHITE T'S) — was the group's first new album with its original lineup back together with guitarist Clint Lowery's return after his departure in 2003.