PORTAL, the early 1990s project featuring CYNIC masterminds Paul Masvidal and Sean Reinert alongside guitarist Jason Gobel, bassist Chris Kringel and female vocalist Aruna Abrams, will have its demo recordings officially released as "The Portal Tapes" on March 27 in North America (four days earlier in Europe) in strictly limited editions of 5,000 digipak CDs and 1,000 vinyl LPs via Season Of Mist.

"I never thought this day would come", Masvidal comments. "A couple demos we'd record after [CYNIC's 1993 debut album] 'Focus', under the name PORTAL, would develop a life of their own, and somehow become part of CYNIC's larger discography. As an artist, it's an amazingly unpredictable journey, to see these quiet labors of love, find their way, in their own time."

CYNIC recently released the "Carbon-Based Anatomy" EP, which has been described as "equal parts KING CRIMSON, TOOL, MUSE and ALLAN HOLDSWORTH." It's a 23-minute transcendent musical journey through the fertile musical minds of Masvidal and Reinert.

British female singer Sarah Jezebel Deva — who has toured and/or recorded with CRADLE OF FILTH, THERION, MORTIIS and ANGTORIA — has finished laying down vocals on CRADLE OF FILTH's new orchestral album, "Midnight In The Labyrinth".

"I have to admit, I have learnt a lot from doing this new CRADLE OF FILTH album," Sarah writes on her Facebook page. "I have learnt not everything is as simple as I think it is, that I should forgive/forget more often, that I should never use the word 'never' again when it comes to music and regading visiting the past.

"I am happy I was asked to take part in this project and maybe your heart ruling your head really isn't so bad after all.

"I have no idea how this album will be mixed, but I hope some of you pick up a copy, because 'Midnight In The Labyrinth' is extremely well executed, by all involved.

"The whole experience was a little emotional for me, actually, but I have walked away a happy old lady."

Deva left in CRADLE OF FILTH in 2008 "to pursue a life in Australia, bum some kangaroos and to go it alone as a solo musician," she said.

CRADLE OF FILTH frontman Dani "Filth" Davey previously stated that "Midnight In The Labyrinth" would feature "nine classic CRADLE tunes reinvented as orchestral compositions." He added, "This is no elevator music (or indeed the theme music to 'Schindler's Lift'!), this is a full-on horror film soundtrack in the vein of Danny Elfman, Christopher Young or Jerry Goldsmith. Musical scores to whittle away the evil winter months to…"

Tentatively due in April, "Midnight In The Labyrinth" will feature the following track listing (not final sequence):

* The Forest Whispers My Name
* The Twisted Nails Of Faith
* Summer Dying Fast
* The Rape And Ruin Of Angels (Hosannas In Extremis)
* Funeral In Carpathia
* Thirteen Autumns And A Widow
* A Gothic Romance (Red Roses For The Devil's Whore)
* Cruelty Brought Thee Orchids
* Dusk And Her Embrace

"To Watch The Bridges Burn", the new video from Swedish rockers BADMOUTH, can be seen below. The clip features footage from the road in 2011, including from the October 2011 tour BADMOUTH did in Sweden with Gilby Clarke (GILBY CLARKE, ROCKSTAR SUPERNOVA), featuring a guest appearance by Ryan Roxie (ALICE COOPER).

"To Watch The Bridges Burn" comes off BADMOUTH's "T - Part Three Of H.A.T.E." EP, which is available as a digital download through iTunes, Amazon and Spotify. The EP is part of the quadrology called "H.A.T.E.", which in turn is a mirror of another similar quadrology called "L.O.V.E.", and it features four rock bands making their own versions of the songs from Sofia Talvik's "L.O.V.E."

BADMOUTH released its latest album, "Heavy Metal Parking Lot", in September 2011.

On February 5, BADMOUTH will embark on a European tour with Gilby Clarke.

The first music video from VAN HALEN's new album, "A Different Kind Of Truth", called "Tattoo", can be seen below.

The deluxe-edition version of "A Different Kind Of Truth" will contain a bonus DVD featuring four brand new acoustic-performance videos titled "The Downtown Sessions" including the songs "Panama", "You And Your Blues", "You Really Got Me" and "Beautiful Girls".

"A Different Kind Of Truth" track listing:

01. Tattoo
02. She's The Woman
03. You and Your Blues
04. China Town
05. Blood and Fire
06. Bullethead
07. As Is
08. Honeybabysweetiedoll
09. The Trouble With Never
10. Outta Space
11. Stay Frosty
12. Big River
13. Beats Workin'

"A Different Kind Of Truth" is now officially confirmed to arrive on February 7 via Interscope.

The set 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 returned to the stage for the first time since the end of its 2007/2008 reunion tour on Thursday night (January 5) when the band performed at the tiny Cafe Wha? nightclub in downtown Manhattan.

The setlist for the evening's show stuck to VAN HALEN classics from the six albums of the initial David Lee Roth era, with the exception of a tune called "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.

The capacity crowd at the 250-person club mostly consisted of press and members of the entertainment industry.

Roth at one point introduced his uncle, 92-year-old Manny Roth, who used to run Cafe Wha? and introduced a young Bob Dylan to the stage decades ago.

At the same time, 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.

"Existo Vulgoré", the new video from Florida-based death metal veterans MORBID ANGEL, can be seen below. The clip draws inspiration from "The Cabinet Of Dr. Galigari", the classic silent movie of German Expressionism, and was lensed by acclaimed director Thomas Mignone (MEGADETH, SEPULTURA, DANZIG).

Mignone filmed the band in Tampa, Florida. Digital compositing and post-production was then done in Los Angeles with editor and visual effects artist Christopher Neil. The look and style of the video is reminiscent of the classic, silent horror films era, and features the intricate sculptures of artist Krystopher Sapp. The cinematographer was Michael Ferrera. Makeup design FX were created by Rebecca McGillicuddy.

MORBID ANGEL recently invited Decibel magazine to the set of the "Existo Vulgoré" video. The nine-plus-minute clip, which can be seen below, offers a sneak peek at the new video as well as an interview with MORBID ANGEL frontman David Vincent.

During the drive from MORBID ANGEL's headquarters in Tampa to Seminole's Studio 75, Vincent graciously answered Decibel's questions, riffing on video concepts; the controversy over the group's latest album, "Illud Divinium Insanus"; and what it takes to stay MORBID more than two decades on from "Altars Of Madness".

On February 24 (February 28 in North America), Season of Mist will release a compilation of remixed tracks from MORBID ANGEL's latest album, "Illud Divinum Insanus". Far from being just revamped versions of the seminal extreme metal band's newest songs, this collection will present the work of 39 artists from the electro / industrial, techno and club scene.

"Illud Divinum Insanus" sold around 3,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release to enter The Billboard 200 chart at position No. 141. The effort marks MORBID ANGEL's first CD to feature bassist/vocalist David Vincent since 1995's "Domination".

MORBID ANGEL's previous album, "Heretic", opened with around 3,900 units back in October 2003. That CD has shifted more than 30,000 copies to date, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

"Illud Divinum Insanus" was released on June 7 (one day earlier internationally) via Season of Mist. The cover artwork was designed by Gustavo Sazes.

When asked in a recent interview with Finland's Kaaos TV how the material from "Illud Divinum Insanus", has been going over live, David Vincent said, "[The fans] love it live. A few people, maybe some of the songs on the record are a bit too extreme for them, but by and large it's a great record. It's doing really well. A lot of excitement. We're happy to play all these songs live. Obviously, [in] the set we also include a lot of the other classics. This way everyone will have a chance to hear a lot of the different songs that they wanna hear."

Regarding whether he and his bandmates expected to get such a mixed reaction to "Illud Divinum Insanus" during the making of the CD, Vincent said, "Well, the only thing we do is make music and we're creative. We don't think about these things so much. We do what we do. My work is done, other than we perform. But the studio is done. We made a record that broke down a lot of boundaries and included some stuff that was never included before. But we've always done these kind of things. It should be no surprise to anyone that we always do crazy things, 'cause we are crazy."

"Existo Vulgoré" video:

According to Noise11, a copy of "Can I Sit Next To You Girl", the debut single from legendary rockers AC/DC, sold on eBay for $1,225.

"Can I Sit Next To You Girl" was only ever released in Australia and features lead vocals from AC/DC's original singer, Dave Evans. The B-side was another original song, "Rockin' In The Parlour".

The two tracks were the only AC/DC recordings featuring Evans, who was subsequently replaced by Bon Scott.

The single debuted on May 8, 1975 and reached no. 19 on the Australian chart.

AC/DC re-recorded "Can I Sit Next To You Girl" for its second album, "TNT".

Massachusetts metallers ALL THAT REMAINS have officially commenced the songwriting sessions for their next album. The band is once again working with KILLSWITCH ENGAGE guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz, who also helmed ALL THAT REMAINS' latest album, 2010's "For We Are Many", as well as 2004's "This Darkened Heart" and 2006's "The Fall of Ideals".

ALL THAT REMAINS's "The Last Time" video (directed by Nathan Cox) was recently added to MTV2. The clip was filmed on January 30, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois with director Nathan "Karma" Cox (LINKIN PARK, BLACK VEIL BRIDES, MARILYN MANSON). The song comes off "For We Are Many", which debuted at No. 10 on The Billboard 200 chart while also coming in at No. 1 on the Hard Music Albums chart.

A new ALL THAT REMAINS single, "The Waiting One", impacted radio the week of November 8, 2011.

"For We Are Many" sold 29,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The band's previous CD, "Overcome", opened with just under 29,000 units in September 2008 to enter The Billboard 200 chart at No. 16.

"For We Are Many" was released through a joint venture between Prosthetic Records and Razor & Tie. The CD was recorded last spring at Zing Studios in Massachusetts and produced by KILLSWITCH ENGAGE guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz, who also helmed ALL THAT REMAINS' "This Darkened Heart" and "The Fall of Ideals".

SkullsNBones.com's Sam Roon sat down at Eleven Seven Music's New York City offices with Jason Lekberg to get an exclusive preview of HELLYEAH's third album, which is tentatively due late spring/early summer.

A five-minute video clip of the session, which includes audio samples of several of the new HELLYEAH tracks, can be seen below.

HELLYEAH is the band featuring Vinnie Paul Abbott (PANTERA, DAMAGEPLAN), Chad Gray and Greg Tribbett (MUDVAYNE), Tom Maxwell (NOTHINGFACE) and Bob "Zilla" Kakaha (DAMAGEPLAN).

The group's new CD was recorded at Abbott's home in Arlington, Texas, where he has a studio set up, and was mixed by Jeremy Parker (GODSMACK, EVANESCENCE). Songtitles set to appear on the effort include "Call It Like I See It", "War In Me" and "Drink, Drank, Drunk".

Vinnie Paul previously stated about the new HELLYEAH album, "These mixes are crushing and I'm back to my trademark drum sound!! Heavy slammin' grooves!"

In an April 2011 interview with the Artisan News Service, Vinnie Paul stated about HELLYEAH's plans for the next studio CD, "We've got some great ideas. We've decided that we wanna heavy it up a little bit on this next record — push it a little further. It's always gonna have the HELLYEAH vibe — a little bit of the Southern vibe, a little bit of the rock and roll vibe, a lot of the metal vibe — you put all together and it turns out to be HELLYEAH."

When asked why he thought HELLYEAH resonated with so many fans, Vinnie said, "I think it's just a real honest band — it's real straight-forward. We're not afraid to show out good-time side. A lot of bands really take their music a little too seriously — it's a lot of death, gloom and all that kind of stuff. And the world ain't so bad. We like to have a good time with our music, so that's what HELLYEAH is all about."

HELLYEAH's sophomore album, "Stampede", sold 28,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 8 on The Billboard 200 chart.

HELLYEAH's self-titled debut CD opened with 45,000 units back in April 2007 to land at No. 9.

The lyric video for "Meet The Enemy", a brand new song from Swiss folk metallers ELUVEITIE, can be seen below. The track comes off the group's new album, "Helvetios", which will be released on February 10 via Nuclear Blast Records.

Commented ELUVEITIE vocalist Christian "Chrigel" Glanzmann: 'Meet The Enemy' tells you about the 'encounter' the Helvetians had with the roman legions in the year 58 B.C. — one of the crucial points in their history, for it was basically when the gaulish wars erupted. So the song is pretty much filled with wrath and rage — upholding the furious spirit you might know from tracks such as 'Kingdom Come Undone', 'Bloodstained Ground' or 'Lament'. Furthermore the song's substantial instrumentation (including fiddle, hurdy gurdy, whistles and uilleann pipes) is also enriched by one of the guest musicians, we had the honour to work with — Fredy Schnyder (from NUCLEUS TORN) who contributed some amazing parts on the hammered dulcimer."

"Helvetios" 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.

"Living In The Shadow Of The Terrible Thing", the new video from Irish rockers THERAPY?, can be seen below. The clip was filmed with British video directors Sitcom Soldiers.

Behind-the-scenes photos from the "band performance" portion of the video shoot can be seen at this location.

"Living In The Shadow Of The Terrible Thing" comes off THERAPY?'s 13th album, "A Brief Crack Of Light", which will be released on February 6 via Blast Records. The CD was recorded at Blast Studios in Newcastle and was produced by the band and Adam Sinclair. The artwork was created by acclaimed artist Nigel Rolfe, who previously worked on THERAPY?'s "Troublegum" and "Suicide Pact - You First" albums. The "Living In The Shadow Of The Terrible Thing" single will precede the full-length effort on January 23.

"A Brief Crack Of Light" track listing:

01. Living In The Shadow Of The Terrible Thing
02. Plague Bell
03. Marlow
04. Before You, With You, After You
05. The Buzzing
06. Get Your Dead Hand Off My Shoulder
07. Ghost Trio
08. Why Turbulence?
09. Stark Raving Sane
10. Ecclesiastes

Issued in March 2009 via Global Music, THERAPY?'s last studio album, "Crooked Timber", was produced by Andy Gill, a founding member and guitarist for the English rock group GANG OF FOUR, considered among the most influential post-punk bands.

THERAPY? released its first-ever official live album, "We're Here To The End", in November 2010 via Global Music.

A PALE HORSE NAMED DEATH, the new band featuring Brooklyn, New York native Sal Abruscato — who played drums on three TYPE O NEGATIVE albums ("Slow, Deep & Hard", "Origin Of The Feces", "Bloody Kisses"), as well as four LIFE OF AGONY releases ("River Runs Red", "Ugly", "River Runs Again", "Broken Valley") — on guitar and vocals, played a hometown show on January 6 at the Knitting Factory in Brooklyn, New York. The concert, which was webcast live at LiveStream.com, can now be seen in its entirety below.

A PALE HORSE NAMED DEATH recently parted ways with guitarist Bobby Hambel due to scheduling conflicts with his main band, BIOHAZARD, and replaced him with Eddie Heedles.

A PALE HORSE NAMED DEATH last year inked a worldwide recording deal with Steamhammer/SPV for the release of the group's debut album, "And Hell Will Follow Me".

A PALE HORSE NAMED DEATH made its live debut on February 20, 2011 at the Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, New Jersey as the support act for MONSTER MAGNET and SEVENTH VOID.

Abruscato previously stated about A PALE HORSE NAMED DEATH's debut CD, "This is my first album where I composed and play all instruments, including vocals. Along with co-producer/guitarist Matt Brown (SEVENTH VOID), we have accomplished a very fresh sound and it includes guest appearances by Bobby Hambel, Keith Caputo (LIFE OF AGONY) and Ulrich Krieger (LOU REED).

"It is the darkest music I have ever written and recorded in my life, back to my sinister roots and I believe the fans will learn a completely different side of me."

For more information, visit www.apalehorsenameddeath.com.

According to the official release schedule of Universal Music in Denmark, the deluxe 25th-anniversary edition of KISS' classic fourth album, "Destroyer", will be released in Europe on February 27 (one day later in North America). The two-disc set will feature remixes of the original LP by producer Bob Ezrin, outtakes from the 1976 album sessions as well as the LP's original cover art.

Ken Kelly's original version of the album cover for "Destroyer" was rejected by the record company because they felt the scene was too violent-looking. Also, the original version had the members of KISS wearing the "Alive" costumes.

Released in March 1976, "Destroyer" was the second consecutive KISS album to reach the Top 20 in the U.S. The LP was certified gold by the RIAA on April 22, 1976. It was certified platinum on November 11, 1976, the first KISS album to achieve that distinction.

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

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.

Swedish death metallers INSISION will celebrate their 15-year anniversary with the release of a 23-song collection containing material from their first demo, 1998's "Meant To Suffer"; a recording of the band's second live appearance in 1998, "Live Like A Worm"; the 1999 mini-CD "The Dead Live On"; 2000's "Promo 2000" demo; 2001's "Revelation Of The SadoGod" demo; plus a newly re-recorded version of an old track. Due in May via Sevared Records, the CD will once again be completed with the help of engineer Anders Eriksson at Off Beat Studio in Stockholm.

INSISION is currently writing material for its as-yet-untitled next full-length album, to be released later this year via Sevared.

Commented the band: "The new material sounds like a mix of the complex stuff we did on our first record, 'Beneath The Folds Of Flesh' back in 2001 along with rhythm parts that can be explained with a more darker approach. We don't want our listeners to wait too long for a new record; therefore we'll release this collection for the fans that are into brutal death metal. Hope it's worth the wait."

INSISION's "End Of All" EP came out last year via Sevared.

The fourth out of six short conceptual teaser clips for "Dark Adrenaline", the new album from the Italian rock/metal band LACUNA COIL, can be seen 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."

Teaser clip #4:

Heavy music innovators PRONG have set "Carved Into Stone" as the title of their new album, due later in the year via Long Branch Records/SPV. The CD is currently being recorded with producer Steve Evetts, who has previously worked with THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, SYMPHONY X, SEPULTURA and HATEBREED, among others.

According to a press release, "Carved Into Stone" "is quintessentially PRONG. It stretches into the band's earliest and dirtiest foundations on which the band was founded on New York's Lower East Side to the present as a staple of today's post-metal and rock scenes."

Comments PRONG guitarist, vocalist and founder Tommy Victor: "It was hardest I've ever worked in the studio on any record I've ever been involved with."

PRONG — whose lineup is rounded out by bassist Tony Campos and drummer Alexei Rodriguez — has taken a major step forward in their constantly evolving brand of sonic schematics.

"I always believed there were many dimensions to PRONG," says Tommy. "Every record we've been associated with different scenes — hardcore, metal, industrial — even dance! I think this record brings all of that together and sounds very modern at the same time."

Founded in 1986, PRONG is considered to be a pioneer of the American post-hardcore and post-metal scenes whose influence is still being felt today.

In an October 2009 interview with Target Audience, Victor stated about the songwriting process for PRONG's next album, "The earlier batch was not like 'Power of the Damager' material. Just to be more general, it was more of a reach towards the 'Rude Awakening' or KILLING JOKE-type material. Then I came up with a couple of, like, you know, brutal thrash ideas and then some other ideas for, uh, total riff rock — like not like modern. I think they sort of go back into the 'Cleansing' era where it was based on GODFLESH or something and then I'll have too see…I've started attacking the riffs again and seem to be in that vein of BLACK SABBATH-oriented or more than we've done. I think it's gonna be cool eventually. It's just like getting the right ideas finding out where we're out going and like throwin' 'em all together and taking a look at it."

He added, "It's all about songs. I mean, PRONG is a songwriting band, ya know? That's why it takes so long, because we just don't go in and have this formula of patterns and, ya know, or just record some really heavy stuff and scream all over it; I have to figure out a lyrical concept and a lyrical line and the lyrics. And I gotta do all that and then, of course, solos and there's a lot on me on the whole thing, unfortunately."

PRONG's last release was "Power Of The Damn Mixxxer", the remix counterpart to the band's 2007 album "Power of The Damager". Victor previously stated about the collection, "We are really excited about this remix compilation of 'Power Of The Damager' material. We feel the LP was overlooked and in some cases ignored. But the added elements provided by the great remixers, producers, and deejays infused with all the tracks make 'Power Of The Damn Mixxxer' an interesting yet enjoyable listening experience."

ATLmetal.com has posted video footage of PRONG performing the song "Beg To Differ" on March 9, 2010 at the Loft in Atlanta, Georgia. Watch the clip below.

SOEN — the project featuring Swedish drummer Martin Lopez (ex-OPETH, AMON AMARTH), bassist Steve DiGiorgio (SADUS, TESTAMENT, DEATH, ICED EARTH), vocalist Joel Ekelöf (WILLOWTREE), and guitarist Kim Platbarzdis — will release its debut album, "Cognitive", on February 15 via Spinefarm Records. The CD was mixed by the Grammy Award-winning Canadian producer David Bottrill, who has previously worked with PETER GABRIEL, TOOL, SMASHING PUMPKINS and MUSE.

"Cognitive" track listing:

01. Fraktal
02. Fraccions
03. Delenda
04. Last Light
05. Oscillation
06. Canvas
07. Ideate
08. Purpose
09. Slithering
10. Savia
11. Writhen (bonus track)

The song "Delenda" is available for streaming on the SOEN Facebook page ("like" required).

SOEN's music is described in a press release as "a unique mix of melodic and rhythmic exprementation."

"Lottery", the new video from the seminal grindcore/extreme metal outfit BRUTAL TRUTH, can be seen below. The clip was directed by David Hall of Handshake Inc.

Stated Hall of the creation of the video and working with BRUTAL TRUTH: "I think Kevin Sharp is a seriously underrated lyricist and therefore wanted to make the actual words of the song a part of the video. If you play the video at half speed you’ll be able to read the words and a get a sense of what is going on thematically. Visually, I wanted to recreate a visual memory of what it's like to watch a BRUTAL TRUTH show… 'still not loud enough, still not fast enough' — a blur of sounds and visions ground through your face, four unique and seriously talented players that form a grind-Voltron; a big noisy beast that spits super-acid in your face and defeats complacency and boredom."

BRUTAL TRUTH last month filmed two additional music videos — "Fuck Cancer" and "Malice" — in upstate New York. The clips were once again be directed by Tyson Montrucchio, who previously worked with the band on the videos for "Sugar Daddy" and "Get A Therapist... Spare The World".

"Lottery", "Fuck Cancer" and "Malice" come off BRUTAL TRUTH's latest full-length album, "End Time", which was released on September 27, 2011 in North America via Relapse Records. The CD was recorded with Doug White at Watchmen Studios in Lockport, New York and was mixed by Jason P.C. at Goatsound Studios. Mastering duties were handled by Scott Hull at Visceral Sound.

SIXX: A.M. — the band consisting of Nikki Sixx (also of MÖTLEY CRÜE), DJ Ashba (also of GUNS N' ROSES) and James Michael — has begun writing material for its third album. According to Sixx, the CD will "probably [be] a 2013 release considering the body of work we're setting as a goal."

"7", the latest EP from SIXX: A.M., came out last month and sold around 2,700 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The effort contains acoustic versions of songs from the group's first two albums — 2007's "The Heroin Diaries" soundtrack and 2011's "This Is Gonna Hurt".

SIXX: A.M. will be "doing a proper video" for its next single soon, according to Sixx. In addition, "tour options keep coming, but we haven't found the right fit yet to open up the conversations," Nikki writes on his Facebook page.

SIXX: A.M. recently revealed plans to film a video for the song "Skin" in the Los Angeles area. The band put out a casting call for people whom the song has affected personally because of their own scars — whether physical or under the surface.

"Skin" comes off SIXX: A.M.'s sophomore album, "This Is Gonna Hurt", which has sold around 95,000 copies since its May 2011 release. Released on May 3, 2011, the 11-track CD is a companion piece to Sixx's "This Is Gonna Hurt: Music, Photography And Life Through The Distorted Lens Of Nikki Sixx" book, a follow-up to his New York Times bestseller, "The Heroin Diaries".

"This Is Gonna Hurt" is part photo, part journal — but all Nikki Sixx. It is a collection of compelling snapshots and stories that capture the rage, love, optimism, darkness, and determination that shape his work. Told with the raw authenticity that defined his New York Times bestseller "The Heroin Diaries", "This Is Gonna Hurt" chronicles Sixx's experience, from references to his early years filled with toxic waste to his success with MÖTLEY CRÜE, his death from an OD and rebirth to his addictions to music, photography, and love along with the journey of photographing these images over the past couple of years.

The "This Is Gonna Hurt" album as a whole deals with many raw, human issues. Nikki talks about the CD as "pulling back the veil on your internal truth," saying, "We are who we are… Either poisonous and evil or honest and willing… Willing to make a difference… I haven't led the life of a saint nor do I intend on it now." The album — produced entirely by James Michael with writing credits going to Sixx, Michael, Ashba and band friends John William Lowrey and Blair Daly — dives deep into meandering emotions through epic melodies. The resulting work is a deep, dark and intoxicatingly addictive mix of sounds and passion.

Finnish progressive death metallers BARREN EARTH will release their sophomore full-length album, "The Devil's Resolve", in North America on March 13 via Peaceville Records. The effort will be made available on CD and vinyl, with artwork provided by notable U.S.-based artist Paul Romano (MASTODON).

Mixed by Dan Swanö (OPETH, KATATONIA) at Unisound in Sweden, "The Devil's Resolve" continues with all the trademarks one has come to associate with BARREN EARTH: brutal riffs, gloomy growls, majestic melodies, as well as acoustic and progressive passages. But this time the band has delved even deeper, taking this sophomore effort to the extremes through musical landscapes encompassing brutal death metal, doomy vocals, trippy 70's prog lunacy, pastoral passages and even bagpipes.

BARREN EARTH is:

Mikko Kotamäki (SWALLOW THE SUN) - Vocals
Olli-Pekka Laine (ex-AMORPHIS, MANNHAI) - Bass
Kasper Mårtenson (ex-AMORPHIS, BEN GRANFELT BAND) - Keyboards
Janne Perttilä (RYTMIHÄIRIÖ) - Guitar
Marko Tarvonen (MOONSORROW) - Drums
Sami Ylisirniö (KREATOR, WALTARI) - Guitar

"Imaginaerum", the first album in four years from Finnish/Swedish symphonic metallers NIGHTWISH, has been certified gold in Germany for sales in excess of 100,000 copies.

Commented NIGHTWISH keyboardist/mainman Tuomas Holopainen: "Germany never fails us! Only five weeks since the release and 'Imaginaerum' goes gold! Magical, wondrous, imaginative and grateful times we're living. Huge thanks to all the fans and the fellowship of Nuclear Blast!"

"Imaginaerum" entered the official chart in Finland at position No. 1 and has already been certifield triple platinum in the country after shifting more than 60,000 units.

Note: The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) in Finland has revised the sales requirements for albums to reach platinum status in the country from the pre-2010 level of 30,000 to the current 20,000.

The band's first CD since 2007's "Dark Passion Play" — which was then-new singer Anette Olzon's debut — "Imaginaerum" is due in North America on January 10 via Roadrunner Records.

"Imaginaerum" track listing (note that track 12 is broken down into four parts):

01. Taikatalvi
02. Storytime
03. Ghost River
04. Slow, Love, Slow
05. I Want My Tears Back
06. Scaretale
07. Arabesque
08. Turn Loose the Mermaids
09. Rest Calm
10. The Crow, the Owl and the Dove
11. Last Ride of the Day
12. Song Of Myself
Song 1: From A Dusty Bookshelf
Song 2: All That Great Heart Lying Still
Song 3: Piano Black
Song 4: Love
13. Imaginaerum

NIGHTWISH will play a "secret" gig under the name RUBBER BAND OF WOLVES at the Key Club in West Hollywood, California on January 19 — two days before the Finnish/Swedish symphonic metal act's world-tour kick-off performance at the Gibson Ampitheater in Universal City. The Universal City concert will be the biggest NIGHTWISH show production ever on North American soil and strictly a one-off — there will be no U.S. tour until later in 2012.

Dutch doom death metal legends ASPHYX have released a special seven-inch EP entitled "Reign Of The Brute" via CM Distro.

Side A:

* Reign Of The Brute (album version) (2:59)

Side B:

* Der Landser (German version) (6:58)

A total of 500 hand-numbered (in respective color) copies are available in the following quantities/vinyl colours:

* 100 transparent red vinyl
* 100 transparent blue vinyl
* 300 black vinyl

Comes with inserted copied lyric sheet.

ASPHYX's longtime design partner Axel Hermann has once more provided the powerful artwork for the seven-inch EP (pictured below).

ASPHYX's new studio album, "Deathhammer" will be released on February 27 in Europe and February 28 in North America via Century Media Records.

"Deathhammer" track listing:

01. Into The Timewastes
02. Deathhammer
03. Minefield
04. Of Days When Blades Turned Blunt
05. Der Landser
06. Reign Of The Brute
07. The Flood
08. We Doom You To Death
09. Vespa Crabro
10. As The Magma Mammoth Rises

"Deathhammer" (the song) audio stream:

"Where The Kind Lives", the new mind-melting animated video from weed-obsessed death metallers CANNABIS CORPSE, can be seen below. The track comes off the band's 2011's Tankcrimes release, "Beneath Grow Lights Thou Shalt Rise", and provides a perfect backdrop for some evil, circle-pitting extraterrestrial weed beasts' abduction of one very unlucky stoner.

An interview with the video's creator, JoeFen of The Gift Media, can be found at this location.

LAMB OF GOD frontman Randy Blythe performed with CANNABIS CORPSE at the Cory Smoot (GWAR) memorial concert on Saturday, January 7 at The Canal Club in Richmond, Virginia.

Blythe's appearance with CANNABIS CORPSE was a one-off event following the recent departures of the band's vocalist Andy "Weedgrinder" Horn and guitarist Nick "Nikropolis" Poulos.

CANNABIS CORPSE is searching for a new vocalist to fill Horn's boots, and will be announcing its new axe-slinger soon. Interested parties are encouraged to contact the band at Landphilbass@hotmail.com.

On "Beneath Grow Lights Thou Shalt Rise", CANNABIS CORPSE has ventured even further down the left-hand path to pay homage to those other masters of death, MORBID ANGEL and DEICIDE. Tongue-in-cotton-mouthed-cheek titles like "Lunatic of Pot's Creation" and "Immortal Pipes" keep the party rolling, but don't be fooled: CANNABIS CORPSE is not a joke band. Sure, they'll fire up a bowl and chug a beer, but then they'll rip your face off with a brutal old-school death metal assault, the likes of which haven't been seen since the seeds of the genre first began to grow.

Mixed by Erik Rutan at Mana Recording Studios and mastered by Alan Douches at West Side Music, "Beneath Grow Lights Thou Shalt Rise" was recorded by the band's own Phil "Landphil" Hall, and reeks of DIY putrefaction.

BLACK SABBATH earlier issued the following official statement:

"With the news that Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi has been diagnosed with the early stages of lymphoma, his bandmates would like everyone to send positive vibes to the guitarist at this time. Iommi is currently working with his doctors to establish the best treatment plan - the 'Iron Man' of rock & roll remains upbeat and determined to make a full and successful recovery."

This comes as Black Sabbath - Ozzy Osbourne (vocals), Tony Iommi (guitar), Geezer Butler (bass) and Bill Ward (drums) - are writing and recording their first album in 33 years in Los Angeles (still set for release this fall) with producer Rick Rubin. They will now go to the UK to continue to work with Tony.

Further information will be released as it becomes available.

If you would like to send a get well email to Tony, you can do so by emailing getwelltony@black-sabbath.com (courtesy of Fan Website Black Sabbath Online).

Note: Please don't anthingy other stuff than get well wishes. They'll be deleted. It's just for this subject.

Legendary BLACK SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi has been diagnosed with the early stages of lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphocytes, a type of cell that forms part of the immune system.

Iommi, 63, is currently working with his doctors to establish the best treatment plan and remains upbeat and determined to make a full and successful recovery.

This comes as BLACK SABBATH — Ozzy Osbourne (vocals), Tony Iommi (guitar), Geezer Butler (bass) and Bill Ward (drums) — are writing and recording their first album in 33 years in Los Angeles (still set for release this fall) with producer Rick Rubin. They will now go to the U.K. to continue to work with Tony.

Iommi's BLACK SABBATH and HEAVEN & HELL bandmate, legendary heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio, died of stomach cancer on May 16, 2010 at the age of 67.

In a June 2010 interview, Iommi stated about his former bandmate, "I was talking to Ronnie [a few days before he died], and he said, 'I've gotta have this new chemo, but I think it's working.' And that was the real big shock of it, because within a week of that, he had passed away. So it was a big shock for all of us, because we built ourselves up to [have him beat the disease] and, of course, we didn't expect to lose."

According to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, lymphoma is the name for many different types of cancer that arise in the lymphocytes (immune cells). Treatment might involve chemotherapy and in some cases radiotherapy and/or bone marrow transplantation, and can be curable depending on the histology, type, and stage of the disease.

There are three types of lymphocytes: B lymphocytes (B cells), T lymphocytes (T cells) and natural killer (NK) cells. B lymphocytes make antibodies to fight infection; T lymphocytes have many functions, including helping B lymphocytes make the antibodies that fight infection; and natural killer cells attack cancer cells and viruses. Lymphoma may arise in any of these types of lymphocytes. In general, B-cell lymphomas are more common than T-cell lymphomas; however, in the skin, T-cell lymphomas are the most common type.

About 20 percent of the white cells in the blood are lymphocytes. Most lymphocytes are found in the lymphatic system, the major part of the body's immune system. The lymphatic system consists of a network of organs, including the spleen, the lymph nodes (small bean-shaped structures located throughout the body), the lymphatic vessels and areas in the gastrointestinal tract.

Lymphoma is divided into two major categories: Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCLs), cancers of the T lymphocytes, constitute a rare group of NHLs that arise primarily in the skin and have various signs and symptoms, outcomes and treatment considerations.

DARKTHRONE began in the late '80s as a thrash/death metal act and progressed through technical death/doom metal experimentation to become hugely respected and influential legends of the black metal world, and one of the original leading forces of the Norwegian scene, alongside other legendary acts such as MAYHEM and BURZUM.

Due on February 20 via Peaceville Records, "Sempiternal Past" contains all four of DARKTHRONE's cult demo releases recorded between 1988 and 1989 ("Land Of Frost", "A New Dimension", "Thulcandra" and "Cromlech") and shows the remarkable development of the band in its early years.

Each demo has now been fully restored and remastered from the best tape sources available, specifically for this release. Also included are the tracks recorded at Oslo TV in 1989, along with a restored version of the rare song "God Of Disturbance And Friction".

The CD booklet features liner notes, lyrics and rare photos of the band in their early years.

"Sempiternal Past" track listing:

01. Land Of Frost
02. Winds Of Triton
03. Forest Of Darkness
04. Odyssey Of Freedom
05. Day Of The Dead
06. Intro
07. Snowfall
08. Eon
09. Thulcandra
10. Archipelago
11. The Watchtower
12. Accumulation Of Generalization
13. Sempiternal Past / Presence View Sepulchrality
14. Iconoclasm Sweeps Cappadocia
15. Soria Moria Slott (Oslo TV 1989)
16. Eon / Thulcandra (Oslo TV 1989)
17. God Of Disturbance And Friction

For more information, go to this location.

"I Am Heresy", a song by I AM HERESY, the new band featuring members of BOYSETSFIRE (Nathan Gray), CHAMBERS (Gregg Kautz), MAY 4TH MASSACRE (Simon Gray, Jonah Latshaw), and THE DEAD AND GONE (Jay Konieko, Crumbs Konieko), can be streamed below.

What happens when your band falls apart and everything you worked toward is abruptly thrown away? You start a new one! That is exactly what Nathan Gray (BOYSETSFIRE, THE CASTING OUT) decided to do once his last musical effort, THE CASTING OUT, ceased to exist. Not one to sit around and cry about the situation, he decided to move forward and form something completely new. He didn't have to look far though, realizing that his son Simon Gray and fellow bandmate Jonah Latshaw both were very talented musicians in their own right, he recruited them to start a new band. Going back to the roots of what made BOYSETSFIRE such a powerful force in the punk/hardcore scene, mixed in with the younger metal influence of Simon and Jonah, I AM HERESY was formed. To help complete the band and take it to the next level, brothers Jay and Crumbs Konieko were added on bass and drums, respectively. The last piece to the puzzle to help reinforce such and imposing sound was former CHAMBERS guitarist Gregg Kautz.

As a whole each, bandmember brings their own unique musical style to form an imposing wall of sound that has and will continue to grow and evolve.

For more information, go to this location.

Riverside, California-based Christian death metallers IMPENDING DOOM will release their fourth full-length album, "Baptized In Filth", 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!"

Former SKID ROW singer Sebastian Bach and his solo band opened for GUNS N' ROSES on December 30 at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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

Bach also supported GUNS N' ROSES on December 27 at Comerica Theatre in Phoenix, Arizona and on December 31 at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas.

As previously reported, Sebastian will play three "special concerts" in New York City at the end of January with BILLY IDOL guitarist Steve Stevens. The shows will take place on January 27, January 28 and January 29 at at The Iridium and will see Bach and Stevens "doing two sets a night," including "some special unexpected songs." Sebastian says, "I have always wanted to play with Steve, so I am really looking forward to it."

Bach's new album, "Kicking & Screaming", sold 6,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 73 on The Billboard 200 chart. The singer's previous CD, "Angel Down", opened with 6,400 units back in November 2007 to debut at No. 190.

"Bad Motivator", the new video from CITY OF FIRE — the band featuring Burton C. Bell (FEAR FACTORY), bassist Byron Stroud (FEAR FACTORY, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD), guitarist Terry "Sho" Murray, and drummer Bob Wagner — can be seen below (courtesy of Metal Hammer magazine). The clip was filmed in Toronto, Ontario, Canada with director Cody Calahan, who previously co-created, produced and directed a pilot for a television show called "The Rusty Kitchen".

Commented Burton: "The video was created through the program MuchMusic in Canada — it is Canada's MTV. Every year, they give grants to new bands to make a video. We applied and got the grant. The video was made through all Canadian videographers, directors etc. . . It was the first time I met Cody Calahan, and I look forward to working with him again. He is very ambitious and I like his creative ideas."

"Bad Motivator" comes off CITY OF FIRE's sophomore album, "Trial Through Fire", which is scheduled for release in March/April 2012. The CD was recorded at The Factory studios in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Check out photos from the studio at this location.

In a recent interview with The Sanctuary Of Rock, Bell stated about CITY OF FIRE's forthcoming CD, "The writing process is very similar to other bands. The guys had music ideas and were recorded on a demo. I would sit with Terry in the studio and just sing out ideas. I usually have some words to 'throw down' and I try to incorporate them into the song. A lot of times, I just say things that come out, like speaking in tongues.

"There is no theme, but everything we were writing about was happening in our lives, so that is why we call the album 'Trial Through Fire'.

"It was a very difficult writing process. We were all going through personal issues, and also the band was dealing with business issues.

"I am very proud of the work we have done. We 'found' our sound on this record."

He added, "The main difference [between the recording process for 'Trial Through Fire' compared to that of CITY OF FIRE's 2010 self-titled debut] was that we knew what we wanted to achieve. We knew what are strong points were with the band's music. We all had a great understanding of the band itself. Terry has a great sense of what my voice can do, so he and the guys were able to write the music that suited everyone. We were very 'cohesive' as a band. We knew everyone's strong points."

Funding for the new CITY OF FIRE CD was aided by the PledgeMusic.com project, which encourages fans to contribute funds to the recording of albums and the artists themselves to donate to charity as a part of their fundraising.

Said Burton: "That was our [manager's idea]. She found success in it with another band she has worked with. It was a fantastic idea. Not only did it generate the funds we needed, it also created a grass-roots fan base that is important for a new band. It created a personal network between the band and our new fans, and they are a very happy, as we are."