Guitarist Bas Brussaard has quit Dutch brutal death metallers SUPREME PAIN because "he is no longer motivated," according to the remaining members of the band. A replacement axeman has not yet been announced.

SUPREME PAIN in November announced the addition of drummer Eric De Windt to the group's ranks. According to the band, Eric "is a very experienced musician and was part of many bands, such as SEVERE TORTURE (vocalist), SINISTER (vocals on 'Aggressive Measures') and PROSTITUTE DISFIGUREMENT, INHUME and DESTROYER666 (drums). At the moment he is also drummer for the Dutch death metal band TEMPLE."

SUPREME PAIN's third album, "Divine Incarnation", was released in Europe in May 2011 via Massacre Records and in North America on October 25 through Massacre's new distribution via AFM Records' deal with E1 Entertainment. The CD was recorded at Soundlodge Studios in Leer, Germany with producer Jörg Uken. According to the group, the album contains "nine blasting death metal tracks with an evil and twisted atmosphere."

Drummer Paul Beltman was forced to leave SUPREME PAIN last summer after suffering an injury.

Former SCORPIONS drummer Herman Rarebell is working with musicians from California and Brazil — including singer Gustavo Monsanto (REVOLUTION RENAISSANCE, TAKARA) — on the follow-up to Herman's 2010 album, "Take It As it Comes". The new CD will issued under the moniker HERMAN RAREBELL AND THE FATAL STING.

"Take It As it Comes" — a disc of material featuring songs written by friends — was released via Dark Star Records.

In a 2010 interview with Noisecreep, Rarebell stated about his songwriting approach, "I make songs that are very commercial, so [each] could be a single. It's a whole new thing. I think all you need is the forum to promote the music. The more people know about the song, the better chances you have. For example, if you have it in a movie, you have an edge because then people come out of the cinema, they hear the song pulsing their brain, they go home and download it. So it's not like in the old days where the next day you go into the shop, you buy the CD and you take out the cover, you study the whole thing. It's a completely different ballgame now."

On the topic of his former SCORPIONS bandmates, Rarebell said, "They do very good, and I probably just think that it was time after 20 years with them just to something else, no bad blood you know. It was just like you make a decision after you're married for 30 years and you say to your husband, 'Look, I want to do something else in life,' and [you] get divorced.

"Shit happens, as you say. My real life philosophy is what the song says. 'Take it as it comes.' There's not much you can do about it except stay positive. Don't look back, look forward and do something ... you really want to do and live your life. It's my philosophy. That's why I say that with my heart fully behind it. I learned that lesson, you know?"

Quality multi-camera video footage of THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN's November 2, 2011 concert at Ace Of Spades in Sacramento, California can be seen below.

THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN's January 19 free concert at the Slidebar in Fullerton, California — the band's "last U.S. [show] for a while" — will be streamed live at 10:00 p.m. at Stickam.com/DillingerEscapePlan.

THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN will head over to the United Kingdom in February to support MASTODON for a week's worth of dates before travelling to Australia for this year's Soundwave Festival. The group states, "While we are in that part of the world, we are going to be playing a few shows with SYSTEM OF A DOWN, plus headlining Malaysia and Thailand for the first time ever!"

In a recent interview with Australia's Loud magazine, THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN guitarist Ben Weinman stated about the band's next album, "We're about to start working out ideas and we'll be doing that basically until we come to Australia [in February]. I traditionally come up with the start of most of the ideas and then myself and our drummer will kind of work on them and formulate songs and get the ball rolling."

Regarding the band's songwriting process, Ben said, "You know, every time I finish a record, I feel like I can't make another one. I'm done. I have no more DILLINGER in me. Then after a year or two of just touring heavily on that music, it just seems to come naturally, to start working on new stuff."

On the topic of how each THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN album is recorded, Ben said, "It takes a while. Because one of the things that we try to maintain is a certain level of… we're pretty critical about how we record and the music we make. Sometimes playing those guitars parts takes hours and hours because not only do we have to get it done once correctly — which is difficult enough — we have to do four or five more overdubs. It certainly can be pretty daunting."

Chicago-based extreme progressive metal titans VEIL OF MAYA have set "Eclipse" as the title of their third full-length album, due on February 28 via Sumerian Records.

A trailer for the upcoming CD can be seen below.

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".

"Cirque Des Damnés Featuring We Are The Fallen", the new concert film from WE ARE THE FALLEN — the group formed by EVANESCENCE co-founder Ben Moody (guitar) and other former members (LeCompt and Gray) along with "American Idol" powerhouse vocalist Carly Smithson and bassist Marty O'Brien (DISTURBED, KELLY CLARKSON, STATIC-X, METHODS OF MAYHEM,TOMMY LEE) — is available for purchase as a video digital download from the band's official web site.

Filmed at the Avalon Theater in Hollywood, California on January 22, 2011, the "Cirque Des Damnés" (English translation: "Circus Of The Damned") concert combines the live show of WE ARE THE FALLEN with aerialists, stage performers, and a carnival-style freak show. Running time for the concert is 1 hour and 5 minutes. You will receive one laminate-style backstage pass that also doubles as a digital download card. Simply use the information on the back of the card to log in and download this concert event.

Moody previously described "Cirque Des Damnés" as "a carnival-style event thrown into the unpredictability of a rock and roll show — bigger than we've ever done before."

WE ARE THE FALLEN's debut album, "Tear The World Down", was made available on May 11, 2010 via Universal Republic. The CD sold 13,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 33 on The Billboard 200 chart.

In a May 2011 online post, Moody confirmed that WE ARE THE FALLEN was "no longer part of the Universal Republic roster." He explained, "Over the course of the last year, many changes were made at the label and it became apparent that we were not a priority. But, like everything in the music business, change doesn't happen overnight. After our second single was delayed, then changed, then delayed and changed two more times; the majority of the year was gone and both parties mutually agreed to go our separate ways."

Speaking to Billboard.com around the time of the release of WE ARE THE FALLEN's debut album, Moody stated about the band's decision to sign with a major label, "We had initially intended to go at this alone because we didn't feel like a major label was up to the challenge. I've had mixed experiences in the past, and major labels can fuck things up faster than anybody. But the entire Universal Republic team got what we wanted to do, and it was worth changing our plans and worth the risk to partner with them because we thought the outcome would be greater than something we'd do on our own."

WE ARE THE FALLEN made its live debut on March 23, 2010 at Kings College in London, England. A 28-city U.S. tour as the support act for HIM launched on March 26, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and wrapped on May 9, 2010 in New York City.

Fan-filmed video footage of BATTLE BEAST's December 30, 2011 performance at Pakkahuone in Tampere, Finland as the support act for NEGATIVE can be seen below.

BATTLE BEAST recently inked a deal with Nuclear Blast Records. The band's debut album, "Steel" — which was originally released in Finland last year via Hype Records — will be made available internationally on January 27.

Formed in 2008, BATTLE BEAST won the Wacken Open Air Metal Battle contest in Finland last year, enabling the band to perform at the Wacken Open Air festival in Germany and represent its home country in the international Metal Battle finals. The group beat out 26 other acts from all around the world, which led to a record deal with the world's biggest independent heavy metal label.

Commented Andy Siry, head of A&R at Nuclear Blast: "Young, dynamic but still deeply rooted in traditional heavy metal, BATTLE BEAST breathe new life into the scene and rekindle the sound of the '80s with a fulgent livery. The well-deserved victory at the Wacken Open Air Metal Battle 2010 was the first important step to which we want to live up by supporting these up-and-coming talents energetically. We're looking forward to the cooperation!"

Added BATTLE BEAST guitarist Anton: "We feel honoured that Nuclear Blast show their interest in BATTLE BEAST by releasing 'Steel'. Many thanks to our partners, closest people and most of all to our fans who believed in us and gave us their support. The journey continues!"

"Steel" track listing:

01. Enter The Metal World
02. Armageddon Clan
03. The Band Of The Hawk
04. Justice And Metal
05. Steel
06. Die-Hard Warrior
07. Cyberspace
08. Show Me How To Die
09. Savage And Saint
10. Iron Hand
11. Victory
12. Stay Black (bonus track)

BATTLE BEAST is:

Nitte Valo (vocals)
Anton Kabanen (guitar, vocals)
Pyry Vikki (drums)
Juuso Soinio (guitar)
Eero Sipilä (bass, vocals)
Janne Björkroth (keyboards, vocals)

BATTLE BEAST will support NIGHTWISH on a European tour beginning on April 11, 2012 in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Video footage of GENERATION KILL — the crossover metal outfit featuring EXODUS frontman Rob Dukes — performing the METALLICA classic "Disposable Heroes" last night (Friday, January 13) at Fontana's bar in New York City can be seen below.

GENERATION KILL's debut album, "Red White And Blood", was released on September 16 in Europe and September 27 in North America via Season Of Mist. The CD was recorded at J. Rod Production Studios in New City, New York (where the vocal tracks for EXODUS' "Let There Be Blood" and OVERKILL's "Ironbound" were previously laid down).

Commented the writing team of Dukes and Moschetti (bass, backing vocals): "This release is the most diverse project that either of the two of us been a part of. This is an honest, no-holds-barred album containing various styles of music. In a way, it is a bit of a selfish record. We wrote the kind of material that we like. You can't please everybody, so you might as well please yourself. Honestly, that's what true art is. Freedom of expression."

GENERATION KILL is:

Rob Dukes - Vocals
Rob Moschetti - Bass/Backing Vocals
Lou Lehman - Lead Guitar
Jason Trenczer - Lead Guitar
Jim DeMaria - Drums

The "Red White And Blood" video can be seen below. The clip was directed by Craig Cefola based on a concept by Rob Dukes and with animation by Next Media Animation.

Swedish female-fronted heavy rockers SISTER SIN will enter Standstraight Studios in Stockholm in late February with producer Chris Snyder to begin recording their third album for a May 22 release via Victory Records.

SISTER SIN recently released a video for its cover version of the MOTÖRHEAD classic "Rock 'N' Roll". The track, which was made available on all digital platforms worldwide via Victory Records on September 13, features guest vocals from the German metal queen Doro Pesch. It was produced by Snyder at Standstraight and was mastered at Abbey Road Studios in London, England.

SISTER SIN's second album, "True Sound Of The Underground", landed at position No. 97 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.

SISTER SIN in November 2010 announced the addition of bassist Andreas Strandh to the group's ranks.

"True Sound Of The Underground" was released in North America on June 22, 2010 via Victory Records and was issued in Europe on July 23, 2010 through Metal Heaven Records. It was produced by Henrik Edenhed (DEAD BY APRIL, ROBYN, LAMBRETTA, TEDDYBEARS, CHRISTIAN WALTZ, THE SOUNDS) in Stockholm at Studio 301 and Cosmos Studios.

For more information, visit www.sistersin.com.

Reunited '80s cult metal outfit SANCTUARY — which features in its ranks current NEVERMORE frontman Warrel Dane and bassist Jim Sheppard — performed this past Wednesday, January 11 at Gramercy Theatre in New York City.

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

In a recent interview with Rock My Monkey TV, Dane stated about SANCTUARY's future plans, "We're gonna do a new record. We've got a lot of new songs written and we're working on a deal with Century Media; it's kind of an imminent thing. I've been with that label since 1995, so I know the people that work there, I trust them, and I have a very good working relationship with them, so it makes the most sense for me right now. And for the rest of the guys, too. So we'll see. Nothing's ever written in stone, but it looks like that's what's gonna happen."

Regarding how SANCTUARY's reformation came about, Dane said, "[SANCTUARY guitarist Lenny Rutledge and I] always talked to each other, but never really been friends again. And when the whole thing came about, that we were actually friends again, that's when we started talking more about doing it. And it definitely wasn't because NEVERMORE was imploding... which it was, at that point . . . We all just started talking with each other again. That was kind of the groundwork for it. And then we started saying, 'Well, gosh, let's make music again.' And my god! Lenny is writing some stuff that is so friggin great! Obviously, he's been bottling this up for years, because he really hasn't been doing anything... Well, he's had bands here and there. But he's really writing some great stuff that's really inspiring me, and making me fall in love with music again, with the creative process... everything that revolves around that. Really inspiring me to write really evil lyrics."

Regarding the sound of SANCTUARY's upcoming studio album, tentatively titled "The Year The Sun Died", Dane said, "This record is not going to sound like the other two. It might sound very similar to the second one ('Into The Mirror Black'). It's definitely not going to sound like the first one, because we're all a little bit older and I can't come up with a c-clamp for a scrotum and a helium tank . . . It's not going to sound like the old ones... it's 2011. It's still gonna be that good, I think, and there's gonna be high-pitched screaming. I'm making sure of that. With NEVERMORE, high-pitched screaming was never really called for. You know, with SANCTUARY... of course it is."

SANCTUARY recently tapped Brad Hull (FORCED ENTRY) to play second guitar for the band.

Hull and Shannon Sharp, one of the moderators at Metalguitarist.org, were the top picks for the SANCTUARY second-guitarist position. Brad, having previously toured with SANCTUARY, was given the opportunity to play the dates in Atlanta (ProgPower USA XII festival) and Greece.

Hull has spent the last two years playing the role of "James Hetfield" in the METALLICA tribute band BLISTERED EARTH, which plays "classic songs ranging from 1983's 'Kill 'Em All' to 1991's self-titled 'Metallica'."

SANCTUARY's current touring lineup:

Warrel Dane - Vocals
Lenny Rutledge - Guitar
Brad Hull - Guitars
Jim Sheppard - Bass
Dave Budbill – Drums

Earlier today (Friday, January 13), Los Angeles glam metal jokesters STEEL PANTHER visited Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada radio station 99.3 The Fox during "The Jeff O'Neil Show" and performed an acoustic version of their song "If You Really Really Love Me". Video footage of their appearance can be seen below.

STEEL PANTHER's sophomore album, "Balls Out", sold nearly 12,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 40 on The Billboard 200 chart. Released on November 1 via Universal Republic Records, the follow-up to 2009's "Feel The Steel" contains 14 soon-to-be classics such as "Just Like Tiger Woods", "Gold Digging Whore" and "Weenie Ride". The album also features cameos by Dane Cook on the album opener "In The Future" and NICKELBACK frontman Chad Kroeger and EXTREME axeman Nuno Bettencourt show up on an instant classic "It Won't Suck Itself". "Balls Out" was produced by Grammy-nominated producer/mixer Jay Ruston who produced the band's "Feel The Steel" debut and is known for his work with ANTHRAX, MEAT LOAF, THE DONNAS and MORRISSEY, to name a few.

STEEL PANTHER is Michael Starr (vocals), Satchel (guitar), Lexxi Foxx (bass) and Stix Zadinia (drums).

According to the webstore of Nuclear Blast Records, Swedish experimental extreme metallers MESHUGGAH have set "Koloss" as the title of their new album, due in Germany on March 23 and the rest of Europe on March 26 (March 27 in North America) as a CD digi, limited-edition Magic Cube (CD digi plus DVD exclusive to Nuclear Blast mail order) and two-LP brown vinyl.

In a 2011 interview with Guitar World magazine, MESHUGGAH guitarist Fredrik Thordendal was asked whether the band has been working on new music. "Yes, we are working on a new album and have been for a long time," Fredrik said. "I'm so excited about this one. We've always tried to change how we write songs to keep it exciting, but on recent albums we've also been moving further away from working together as a band. On this album, though, everyone is working together. Every day that we're in the studio, we'll play whatever song we're working on, record a demo version of it to analyze at home, and then come back the next day, talk about it and try to make it better. I think because of this, it's going to be our best album yet."

Regarding the approach to the new music, MESHUGGAH drummer Tomas Haake told Decibel magazine in a 2010 interview, "Maybe not try to be as anal about every single little hit [that] has to be super-tight but be more focused on the vibe of a track and let some of those tiny errors slip through. I think that kinda breeds a bit of life into a song."

Released in March 2008, MESHUGGAH 's last album, "obZen", debuted at No. 59 on The Billboard 200 chart and at No. 14 on the iTunes Top Rock Albums chart.

MESHUGGAH's first DVD, "Alive" sold around 3,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 8 on the Top Music Videos chart.

Legendary Swedish death metallers GRAVE entered their own Studio Soulless last weekend to begin recording their new album, tentatively titled "Endless Procession Of Souls". The band is laying down 12 songs — nine new tracks plus three "very special" cuts — for the CD, which will be released mid-2012 via Century Media Records.

Commented GRAVE guitarist/vocalist Ola Lindgren: "[The recording sessions have] been going very well and [the stuff] sounds killer already at this early stage with only drums and bass tracks done. I would describe it as a mix of our latest two releases with some more old-school, groovy 'Soulless' parts."

GRAVE recently parted ways with its guitarist of three years, Magnus Martinsson.

GRAVE's current lineup is as follows:

Ola Lindgren - Guitar/Vocals
Mika Lagrén - Guitar
Ronnie Bergerstål - Drums
Tobias Cristiansson – Bass

GRAVE's November 12, 2011 concert at Club Distortion/Kulturhuset in Stockholm, Sweden was filmed for future release. The band celebrated the 20th anniversary of its classic 1991 debut album, "Into The Grave", by performing the LP in its entirety, along with "another handful classic tunes."

GRAVE in September completed a North American headlining tour with support from BLOOD RED THRONE, PATHOLOGY and GIGAN.

Alex Rudinger (THREAT SIGNAL) and Hannes Grossmann (OBSCURA, BLOTTED SCIENCE) have been added to the list of musicians who will contribute to "Volume 1", the debut album from STAR MONARCHY, the new project launched by bassist Ray Riendeau (HALFORD, JAMES LABRIE). The release will feature songs written by Ray and some collaborations with other artists. It will be recorded by an ongoing cast of players/singers in various metal genres.

"Volume 1" will feature the following musicians:

* Ray Riendeau (JAMES LABRIE, HALFORD) - Bass
* Francesco Artusato (ALL SHALL PERISH) - Guitar
* Björn "Speed" Strid (SOILWORK) - Vocals
* Dan Tompkins (TESSERACT) - Vocals
* Rody Walker (PROTEST THE HERO) - Vocals
* Danny Handler (THE BETTER DEATH) - Drums
* Peter Wildoer (DARKANE, JAMES LABRIE) - Drums
* Travis Orbin (PERIPHERY, SKY EATS AIRPLANE) - Drums
* Alex Rudinger (THREAT SIGNAL) – Drums
* Hannes Grossmann (OBSCURA, BLOTTED SCIENCE) - Drums
* Sean Dailey (THE BETTER DEATH) - Vocals
* Derek Taylor (STARA ZAGORA) - Guitar
* Thomas Pulda (ANOMALY) - Screams

STAR MONARCHY's first single, "Monarchy", was released last October via iTunes and can be streamed at this location. The track, which was mixed and mastered by Derek Taylor at Milo studios in Texas, features Tompkins on vocals, Artusato on guitar, Riendeau on bass and guitar and Handler on drums.

"Hatred", a brand new song from Norway's EL CACO, is available for streaming on the band's Facebook page. 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."

Long-running Polish death metallers LOST SOUL have announced the addition of drummer Paul Jaroszewicz (CHRIST AGONY, ex-VADER) and guitarist Marek Golas (SAMMATH NAUR) to the group's ranks.

LOST SOUL's new lineup is as follows:

Jacek Grecki - Vocals, Guitar
Marek Golas - Guitar
Damian Czajkowski - Bass
Paul Jaroszewicz - Drums

LOST SOUL has completed work on its anniversary album, "Genesis - XX Years of ChaoZ". The CD will be made available later this year.

LOST SOUL's fourth album, "Immerse In Infinity", was released in 2009 via Witching Hour Productions. The effort contained "eight crushing anthems (57 minutes) of monumental extreme death metal in vein of NILE, HATE ETERNAL and VITAL REMAINS," according to a press release.

A video for the song "216" — taken from "Immerse In Infinity" — can be seen below. The clip was filmed at the 2010 edition of the Brutal Assault festival in the Czech Republic.

"Contradiction", the new video from Chilean thrash metallers WARCHEST, can be sen below. The clip was filmed and edited by Max Molina, Aldo Biggini and Diego Silva and was produced by 100iaudiovisual.

"Contradiction" comes off WARCHEST's debut album, "Aftershock", which came out in 2011.

WARCHEST is:

Chris Pelaéz: Vocals/Guitars
JT García: Bass guitar
PJ Pelaéz: Drums
Domingo Vial: Guitars

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

Norwegian heavy metal band CRITICAL SOLUTION recently recorded cover versions of two heavy metal classics — "Let It Die" (OZZY OSBOURNE) and "Iron Man" (BLACK SABBATH) — for inclusion on a forthcoming tribute album, tentatively due in May. Both tracks were produced and mixed by KING DIAMOND guitarist Andy La Rocque.

CRITICAL SOLUTION will return to La Rocque's Sonic Train studios in Varberg, Sweden later this year to record a full-length album.

CRITICAL SOLUTION's "Evidence Of Things Unseen" EP was recorded at La Rocque's Sonic Train studios in Varberg, Sweden and features the following five songs:

01. Dead Man Walkin'
02. Sad Hill
03. Crime Of Passion
04. Seek And Destroy (METALLICA cover; feat. Andy La Rocque)
05. War Machine

CRITICAL SOLUTION is:

Christer Slettebø - Lead Guitar/Vocals
Egil Mydland - Drums
Tov Glesnes - Rhythm Guitar
Eimund Grøsfjell - Bass

"Seek And Destroy" (METALLICA cover; feat. Andy La Rocque) audio stream:

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 "Our Creation" can 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.

Finnish cinematic extreme metallers CHAOSWEAVER have inked a worldwide deal with Napalm Records. The band has completed work on its second album, due later in the year.

Commented the group: "We are thrilled and honored to join the Napalm family, the home of some of our favorite bands such as TIAMAT, SUMMONING and CANDLEMASS. Cooperation with such a notable and capable label, which shares our vision, is exactly what we were looking for. With the help of our new allies, our dark symphonies will be heard all around the globe. Let the pandemonium spread like wildfire in an ocean of gasoline!"

CHAOSWEAVER's debut album, "Puppetmaster Of Pandemonium", was released in April 2008 via Shadow World Records and distributed by Playground Music Scandinavia in Finland, Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia. The CD featured guest appearances by Jules Näveri (PROFANE OMEN, ENEMY OF THE SUN), Rotten (ex-DEATHCHAIN, SURVIVORS ZERO), Aleksi Munter (SWALLOW THE SUN) and Ville Sorvali (MOONSORROW).

British metallers ARCHITECTS have entered Outhouse Studios in Reading with producer John Mitchell to begin recording their new album for a late spring release via Century Media Records.

At the end of next month, ARCHITECTS willl release the "The Here And Now 2012 Special Edition" including "Devil's Island" and "Untitled" as well as all video clips ("Day In Day Out", "Learn To Live", "Heartburn", "Delete, Rewind" and "An Open Letter To Myself"), making-of footage for "Learn To Live" and "Heartburn" plus several previously released online clips.

"The Here And Now 2012 Special Edition" release dates:

Germany, Austria, Switzerland: Friday, February 24
U.K., Benelux, France: Monday, February 27
Australia, New Zealand: Friday, March 2

ARCHITECTS has just announced the second leg of its U.K./Ireland headlining tour with ROLO TOMASSI and STRAY FROM THE PATH.

Commented ARCHITECTS: "We're absolutely delighted to be hitting up some of the towns we've been neglecting over the last few years!

"Quite a few people were upset when or last tour was only five dates so this tour is our way of saying sorry! We'll be releasing our album shortly after, so it'll be our first opportunity to showcase new material, too, which is always an exciting prospect for us.

"We're delighted to bring along our friends ROLO TOMASSI and STRAY FROM THE PATH, who are both fine young groups."

ARCHITECTS' latest album, "The Here And Now", sold around 900 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 47 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 Here And Now" was produced by Steve Evetts, who has previously worked with THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN and SEPULTURA, among many others.

"The Here And Now" debuted at position No. 57 on the official U.K. chart.

Swedish death metallers EVOCATION have inked a deal with Century Media Records. The band will enter the studio soon to record the follow-up to 2010's "Apocalyptic" for a fall 2012 release. In addition, Century Media will issue a compilation of EVOCATION's entire demo discography, plus additional footage, comments, liner notes, exclusive artwork and unreleased songs. A summer 2012 release is expected.

Commented EVOCATION guitarist Marko Palmén: "It's time to kick in the year of the apocalypse with the writing of a new chapter and a new era in EVOCATION's history.

"We are very pleased to announce that we have signed a new worldwide recording agreement with Century Media Records. The label feels for us as a natural choice and a perfect partner due to their long experience and commitment with the death metal scene. To become a part of the Century Media family feels for us as coming home. Huge thanx to Jens Prüter, Philipp Schulte, Stefan Franke and [the rest of] Century Media for making this happen!"

Philipp Schulte, A&R Century Media Records Europe, states: "We are very happy to add EVOCATION to the Century Media roster. Century Media's roots are and will always be in the death metal scene. Death metal built up the label's base and reputation and has been our back bone ever since. With EVOCATION we are solidifying the base even further. EVOCATION have proven to be able to deliver outstandingly good material and we therefore are very much looking forward to the release of the new album. Welcome aboard!"

Pictured below: EVOCATION with Christian Sakowitz (booking at Continental Concerts), Philipp Schulte (A&R at Century Media Records) and Stefan Franke (promotion at Century Media Records)

An "enhanced" video clip of VAN HALEN performing the track "She's The Woman" during the band's January 5 concert at the tiny Cafe Wha? nightclub in Manhattan's Greenwich Village can be seen below. The show at the 250-person venue was the band's first since it ended its hugely successful 2007/2008 reunion trek with original singer David Lee Roth. The gig also served to officially kick off the promotional campaign for the new VAN HALEN album, "A Different Kind Of Truth", which will be released on February 7 via Interscope. The CD's first single and video, "Tatoo", arrived on January 10.

The setlist for Cafe Wha? show stuck to VAN HALEN classics from the six albums of the initial David Lee Roth era, with the exception of "She's The Woman". That song originally appeared on the 1976 demo, produced by KISS bassist Gene Simmons, that got VAN HALEN their record deal with Warner Bros. It was left off the group's 1978 debut but has been resurrected for the new disc.

VAN HALEN's setlist for the Cafe Wha? concert was as follows:

01. You Really Got Me
02. Runnin' With The Devil
03. Somebody Get Me A Doctor
04. Everybody Wants Some
05. She's The Woman
06. Dance The Night Away
07. Panama
08. Hot For Teacher
09. Ice Cream Man
10. Ain't Talkin Bout Love
11. Jump
12. Beautiful Girls
13. Unchained

"A Different Kind Of Truth" will be the group's first all-new collection since "Van Halen 3" was issued 13 years ago, and its first with singer David Lee Roth since "1984".

VAN HALEN released details of its upcoming North American tour, which will kick off on February 18 in Louisville, Kentucky. Tickets for the tour will begin going on sale January 14. KOOL AND THE GANG will open for VAN HALEN on selected tour stops.

The second trailer for "Helvetios", the new album from Swiss folk metallers ELUVEITIE, can be seen below. Due on February 10 via Nuclear Blast Records, the CD was recorded at New Sound Studio in Pfäffikon, a municipality in the canton of Zurich in Switzerland, with producer Tommy Vetterli (a.k.a. Tommy T. Baron; CORONER/ex-KREATOR guitarist). According to the band, Vetterli "record[ed] drums, guitars and vocals and also produc[ed] and mix[ed] the record. Most folk instruments and also vocals [were] recorded by Anna Murphy and Marco Jencarelli at the Soundfarm studios in Lucerne."

"Helvetios" track listing:

01. Prologue
02. Helvetios
03. Luxtos
04. Home
05. Santonian Shores
06. Scorched Earth
07. Meet The Enemy
08. Neverland
09. A Rose For Epona
10. Havoc
11. The Uprising
12. Hope
13. The Siege
14. Alesia
15. Tullianum
16. Uxellodunon
17. Epilogue

ELUVEITIE's last album, "Everything Remains (As It Never Was)", sold around 1,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 23 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.

ELUVEITIE will join CHILDREN OF BODOM on the Finnish metallers' North American headlining tour in celebration of the band's 15th anniversary. The trek will kick off on January 30 in Rochester, New York and run through March 4, hitting 26 cities over the course of the five-week jaunt. Boston-based extreme metal band REVOCATION and Canada's THREAT SIGNAL are also on the bill.

Norwegian avantgarde metallers BORKNAGAR have completed work on their new studio album with Jens Bogren at Fascination Street Studios (OPETH, PARADISE LOST, KATATONIA) in Örebro, Sweden. Entitled "Urd", the CD will be released on March 26 in Europe and March 27 in North America via Century Media Records.

Commented BORKNAGAR mastermind Øystein G. Brun: "Our new album, 'Urd', was finished in mid December and all in all we spent about six months to record, produce and mix it. In the 'Bork-World' this isn't really long, but I can assure you that we have never before invested so much time, energy and effort into one single production. It has been a tough, yet inspiring ride.

"Since June 2011 I have constantly been working with this album, recording, editing and so forth — day and night. The same goes for my comrades. Never before have we made an album where everybody in the band has been so heavily involved and dedicated as this time around.

"'Urd' is surely the peak of our musical journey so far and we are extremely proud to have made this giant of an album! It's massive, it's emotional, it's fast, it's slow, it's epic, and it's progressive… all the ingredients that we have crafted our musical world on! And not to mention the 'golden threesome' on vocals (Vintersorg, Mr. Vortex and Lazare) really shines on this album… Do I need to say more?!"

Regarding where the album title fits in within BORKNAGAR's historical context, Øystein explains, "Our previous album was called 'Universal' and where should we go after an album title with such a magnitude? Well, we decided to head back home to earth. We really wanted to get back to the core of the band, where it all started - the admiration and pondering about nature and mankind's place therein. 'Urd' is the name of one of the norns that according to northern mythology stands under Yggdrasill and weaves the lifeline of mankind. 'Urd' is representing the past, while 'Verdande' is representing the present and 'Skuld' is representing the future. You might very well say that this is an ancient expression of what we today know as DNA. And I have always been very fascinated by the fact that parts and bits of our DNA actually derive from the very beginning of time. All living creatures are somewhat connected to the very first organic cell. That is some of the story behind the album title…"

BORKNAGAR 2012 is:

* Øystein G. Brun (Cronian, ex-Molested) – Clean and Electric Guitar
* Vintersorg (VINTERSORG, FISSION) - Grim Vocals, Clean Vocals and Choirs
* Lars A. Nedland (SOLEFALD, ex-CARPATHIAN FOREST) - Keyboards, Clean Vocals, Choirs
* Jens F. Ryland (ICS VORTEX) - Lead Guitar
* ICS Vortex (ex-DIMNMU BORGIR, ARCTURUS, ICS VORTEX) - Bass, Clean Vocals and Choirs

Drums and percussion on "Urd" were performed by David Kinkade (SOULFLY, ex-MALEVOLENT CREATION).

A 2012 "teaser" from WE ARE THE RIOT, the new Los Angeles, California-based "post-punk" project featuring COAL CHAMBER members Miguel "Meegs" Rascon (guitar) and Mikal "Mikey" Cox (drums), can be seen below.

WE ARE THE RIOT's current lineup is rounded out by Andy Cole (bass), Jonny Sculls Flanagan (vocals) and Cheyne Fritts (guitar).

In an interview with Hollywood Music Magazine, Meegs stated about WE ARE THE RIOT, "The music that I’m playing in WE ARE THE RIOT is exactly representative of where I'm at as an artist right now. The chemistry, bond, and unity in this band is beyond anything I expected. Everyone in this band is literally in unison, musically and personality-wise. I'm having so much goddamn fun with a bunch of musicians that are very talented and very emotional. Chaotic, raw and insane."

WE ARE THE RIOT made its live debut on January 14, 2011 at The Juke Joint in Anaheim, California.

For more information, visit www.wearetheriot.net.

COAL CHAMBER — which is fronted by current DEVILDRIVER singer Dez Fafara — will reform for next year's Soundwave festival in Australia.

Teaser:

Former STRATOVARIUS and current SYMFONIA guitarist/songwriter Timo Tolkki has released the following statement via his official blog:

"As I am writing this on Friday morning sipping my coffee, many thoughts and feelings enter my mind.

"Ever since I published the blog about retiring from music business, many people have contacted me and asked me not to do so. That is why I decided to clarify some things and write some more about it.

"First of all, if someone got the picture that I am blaming the fans about the current situation in music business, I am really sorry. That is not at all how I think. I cherish and thank each and everyone that have given me and my music the amazing support in good and bad times.

"Secondly there have been some criticism about my decision, even some people have called me a coward.

"I know it is hard to understand what is really going on in the business at the moment. I mean, globally, in the whole world. Not just in your city.

"The signs have been there already about 10 years and, of course, this was expected. People don't buy records anymore.

"Before you rush to say, 'But I do,' let me tell you that I have a better vantage point to the whole music business globally to say this.

"There are reasons for me to act the way I do. This is not even about the quality of music in the vein of if I make bad records and people don't want to buy them.

"It really is true that the records sales are down and are going down and more and more changes will happen and they will not be for the better. The remaining record companies are extremely careful what kind of bands and music they will sign and if they sign, they will control the music and the style very aggressively.This will result to a controlled and boring system musically and ultimately could even kill the music as a physical or digital format.

"In the times of Bach and Beethoven, there were no records. The music was only heard live. But also live music suffers from declining sales because people don't have the money to see all those 30 bands in a month that come to the city. All this made me to think really hard about my future and the next 10-15 years.

"Having worked extensively in the last 20 years, I simply think it is time to evaluate what it is that I have left to say.

"I always said that I will play as long as people want to listen. But one thing has dawned me in the last few months: it doesn't matter to me if people want to listen to my music anymore. This means the ultimate freedom musically.

"Another thing is that although I have written about retirement from music business, I haven't written about retiring from music. I believe music is a gift. And this gift must be used. But sometimes it is not easy. I believe that my 22 years in
STRATOVARIUS and five CDs I have released after that, the music seminars I have held all over the world, the productions and all that goes with it are a lot. How much can you give after you have given it all?

"Anyway, I haven't given up music.

"I look at the scene and understand that I have nothing to do with what used to be so important to me, for example, when I was 30 years old.

"I believe in evolution in music and musical career. Evolution as a whole. Not picking a random record and say[ing], That sucks.' The whole body of work.

"I think that every record I ever made, has its place in the discography of my life.

"As I grow older, soon being 46, I can envision my music evolving towards goals and themes that are closer to my soul than the music I wrote when I was 32.

"I don't believe in singing about Legions of the Twilight when I am 50, but that's just me.

"I think I have a lot of music developing in me but what kind of music it is, not even I know. The future will tell, but I think you will hear from me still one day. My intuition is telling me this."

Tolkki drew up and signed an official waiver on May 20, 2008 giving up all rights to the STRATOVARIUS name. The remaining STRATOVARIUS members — Timo Kotipelto (vocals), Jens Johansson (keyboards) and Lauri Porra (bass) — have since recorded and released two additional STRATOVARIUS albums with guitarist Matias Kupiainen.

STONE SOUR and SLIPKNOT frontman Corey Taylor, who recorded an album's worth of material with VELVET REVOLVER in late 2010 and early 2011, spoke to Roger Lotring of ESPN.com about what could have been had he been chosen to front VR as the permanent replacement for Scott Weiland.

VELVET REVOLVER has still not found a new singer following its April 2008 split with Weiland and is more or less on hiatus, although it will reunite with the current STONE TEMPLE PILOTS frontman for a short one-off performance at "Love You Madly: A Concert For John O'Brien" on Thursday, January 12 at the House Of Blues in West Hollywood, California.

While the team-up of Taylor with VELVET REVOLVER never officially took off, VELVET guitarist Slash did confirm that the band got together with Taylor to jam and even record some new material.

When asked what would he have brought to the VELVET REVOLVER team, had he quarterbacked it, Taylor told ESPN.com, "What I would have brought to VELVET REVOLVER would have been more of the attitude that I think they wanted from Scott, but they got the negative side of it, you know what I'm saying? Scott, to me, has always been the guy who — he's much more interesting when he's being a dick to other people than he is onstage, to be honest. I mean, he does the lizard weird-thing-dance and everything, but that gets old after a while. When you need that strong frontman, he just really didn't do it because he was too busy just being into himself instead of engaging the audience."

Corey added, "So I would have tried to basically build a bridge between what [the members of VELVET REVOLVER] had with Axl [Rose during their time with GUNS N' ROSES] and what they had with Scott, but with a little more good time feel to it — 'cause I can have an attitude and still smile, all fucking day. I think, in a lot of ways, they could have relaxed a little bit, knowing that they wouldn't have to worry about, What's the singer going to do? Are we going to be able to go onstage on time? Are we going to be able to play our show without a fit being thrown? Are we going to be able to play the songs the way they were written?

"I am a firm believer in, give the fans what they want. Do what you do, but give the fans what they want. They're the whole reason that you are where you are, and they deserve every fucking bit that you can give them."

The Pulse Of Radio asked Taylor what he and VELVET REVOLVER worked on at those rehearsal and recording sessions a year ago. "We did a bunch of stuff, you know," he said. "We did a bunch of stuff from the first album, we did a bunch of stuff that we had been kind of demoing back and forth and whatnot, seeing if it would work, you know, just like that, and it was a lot of fun, man. You know, we ended up writing a bunch of stuff as well and just kind of seeing what would happen in that creative sense, you know."

Slash admitted in a recent interview that he was the main reason why Taylor didn't get the frontman job, explaining, "It just didn't seem to fit right to me. And he's great, and I love Corey, but it didn't seem like the answer to the VELVET REVOLVER problem."

Taylor told a Canadian radio station after hearing of Slash's comments, "I guess it just wasn't working for him, which . . . He's Slash and he's entitled to have that, and I'm not gonna argue with him. But it was cool to just be able to get together and jam with those guys and I made some really cool friends."

Epitaph Records has announced the signing of the Los Angeles-based heavy melodic hardcore band THE GHOST INSIDE. The group is currently working on its as-yet-untitled new album with producer Jeremy McKinnon (of A DAY TO REMEMBER).

"Signing to Epitaph is a dream come true for me," THE GHOST INSIDE singer Jonathan Vigil says. "The label is home to some of my all-time favorite bands. Epitaph continues to be successful while maintaining the integrity of an independent label. I really look forward to the future of THE GHOST INSIDE and Epitaph. There's honestly no other place I'd want to call home."

Formed in 2007, THE GHOST INSIDE has built a following with two previous records, "Fury And The Fallen Ones" and "Returners", as well as their riveting live performances touring with bands such as BRING ME THE HORIZON, PARKWAY DRIVE and THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA.

THE GHOST INSIDE's powerful and affecting sound merges insightful and introspective lyrics with charging drums, lightning fast riffs and devastating breakdowns.