David Gold, a founding member of the Ontario, Canada-based black and doom metal band WOODS OF YPRES, was killed December 21, in a car accident near Barrie, Ontario. He was 31 years old.

In accordance with the wishes of David's family and bandmates, the group's recently completed album, "Woods V: Grey Skies & Electric Light", will be released, as planned, in February.

The Gold family issued a statement for David's friends and fans as follows:

"The Gold family is incredibly saddened in the wake of David's sudden passing. We want to thank everyone for the ongoing outpour of support, as it is greatly appreciated. Although he was only 31 years old, David lived more than most would be able to in an entire lifetime. He was well educated, well travelled, incredibly talented, passionate, compassionate, and loved dearly by thousands of friends, family, and fans all over the world. David's legacy will not only live on, but continue to grow. We ask you to keep David's spirit alive by continuing to listen to his music, and let him inspire your life."

Donations can be made to support his funeral costs through his PayPal account at davidypresgold@gmail.com.

Joel Violette, David's bandmate and longtime collaborator, had the following statement:

"I am completely shocked and utterly at a loss for words about David's passing. I write this with a very heavy heart, and I can only imagine what David's family is going through, as well as the rest of his friends. My heart goes out to them all.

"This tragedy comes at a truly inopportune time for WOODS OF YPRES, though there is never an opportune time for these things to happen. We'd booked to tour Europe in support of 'Woods V', we'd recruited the talented Rae Amitay and Brendan Hayter, and we were only waiting for January rehearsals before setting off. We had an exciting album to play and exciting places to play it.

"It's hard to say what is next for WOODS. David was unequivocally the voice, heart, and soul of the band. In the last year or so David and I planned out many projects for WOODS OF YPRES in great detail. It would be a shame for none of them to come to fruition, and David would have wanted his fans to hear them. So I will examine these, discuss them with Earache, and endeavour to complete what can be completed given the circumstances.

"David was always, and still is, the essence of WOODS OF YPRES. So if and when any WOODS projects come to light, it will be with this fact firmly and unwaveringly in mind.

"For the present time, my immediate task is to promote and release 'Woods V: Grey Skies & Electric Light'. We finished the audio portion in August at Beach Road Studios, and David D'Angelo finished the stunning album art last month. All that remains is press and promotion for the album. And I'm more than willing to do my own share as well as David's, with the same passion, enthusiasm, and good humor David would have had. So please direct any interviews to me, and I will be thrilled to answer questions.

"It was an honour to have worked with David, an honour to have shared the stage with him, and an honour to have spent a summer writing and recording with him. He was an extremely talented, driven, and generous man. He will be sorely missed."

Earache will be working closely with David's family moving forwards, and join the hundreds of fans around the world that have offered their condolences to the Gold family.

To leave messages of remembrance, memories or comments, please go to the Facebook tribute (run by David's family and Earache Records).

The February 2012 issue of U.K.'s Classic Rock magazine features KISS guitarist/vocalist Paul Stanley's thoughts on six songs from KISS's upcoming album, "Monster", which he is co-producing.

"I wasn't interested in making an album unless I was in charge and no one agreed to it half-heartedly," says Stanley. "The band's all there, all the time, and we cut the tracks all facing each other in the same room. Chemistry and camaraderie, that's essential. That's what made [2009's] 'Sonic Boom' so great, and this album is thunderously better."

"It's A Long Way Down"

Stanley: "It says that those who reach heights and don't appreciate them fall mightily — it's a long way down from the top. It's a defining track in the sense that it's very up-tempo and very much a signature song. Eric's [Singer] drumming is incredible on this."

"Back To The Stone Age"

Stanley: "One that Gene [Simmons] sings. It's exactly what you'd expect it to be from the title. I come from a school where you write a verse, a bridge, a chorus, and then you go back. That's in my blood. It's in Motown, it's in THE BEATLES, it's in LED ZEPPELIN, it's in THE WHO, its in all my favorite bands."

"Shout Mercy"

Stanley: "That's a great track. There's a lot of tracks that could start the album, and this is one of them. I like to think that the opening song is a declaration of what the album really is, whether it's a 'Love Gun' or a 'Detroit Rock City'. It's important to start with a song that defines what you're gonna be getting."

"Out Of This World"

Stanley: "That's one of Tommy's [Thayer, guitarist.] He really pushed the limits. His playing is phenomenal. It has the kind of excitement that I like to hear where you're not quite sure if it's gonna go off the rails or not. That's what makes great rock n' roll."
"Wall Of Sound"

Stanley: "We're not trying to reinvent the wheel here; we're at our best when we don't over-think. It's not a Rubik's Cube, it's a song, you know? This one is absolutely, immediately recognisable and identifiable and true to being KISS. I put the blinders on us to keep us from being derailed or the attention span broken by things going on around us."

"Hell Or Hallelujah"

Stanley: "Another up-tempo song, and it's very definitive. That's what I think is so great about this album: every track is quintessential. No one does it better — and many have tried. When we hit the bulls-eye, we hit it full on. We've cut 14 tracks. How many we'll use or how this will play out will be interesting, but there's no filler."

Stanley said that KISS was going to be wrapping up work on "Monster" this week. On Wednesday (January 4) Stanley gave an update on the album — which is their first new studio set since 2009's "Sonic Boom" — saying, "(We are) two days from finished with this album. It's awesome. . . by far the best thing we've done in I don't know how long. Have I said that before? Yeah! Was I right? Yeah! I'm right this time again! Truly, the album kicks major ass and we're very, very proud of it."

Guitarist Tommy Thayer also spoke about the new album, which will be the band's 20th, adding: "You're gonna be as excited as we are cause we're really excited, and we're not just saying that. . . this is great stuff. . . it's amazing!"

There's been no release date announced for "Monster".

Stanley admits that he's never surprised by how deep KISS' fan devotion continues to run worldwide. "It really for me, resoundingly once again, I guess validates for me why this band exists," he told The Pulse Of Radio. "It's not a tepid recreation of the past, it's really an ageless beast that dominates at will. It's timeless."

Gene Simmons told The Pulse Of Radio that despite the knocks KISS has received from the rock press over the years, that sometimes in rock n' roll, style actually makes for excellent substance. "Y'know, every few years there's a kind of born-again thing that happens with KISS, a kick in the butt," he said. "And despite the naysayers and whoever else we have long since buried in our backyards of mansions that bad reviews built us — we all live and die by the masses. So interestingly enough, the movies that I go see, that I love, when I read the reviews, I'm shocked because I always get the sense, 'Oh, they must have seen a different movie.' So when I go see 'G.I. Joe', or 'Transformers', or some of the other great thrill-rides; This ain't Shakespeare! (Laughs) But it also doesn't pretend to be. That's not why I'm going. I wanna see the world blow up."

According to The Associated Press, Bob Weston, a British guitarist who played with FLEETWOOD MAC, has died aged 64.

Police say Weston's body was found in his north London home on Tuesday after neighbours raised the alarm.

Police said Friday that his death was not being treated as suspicious. An autopsy revealed the causes of death as gastric intestinal hemorrhage, cirrhosis of the liver and throat problems.

Weston joined Fleetwood Mac in 1972 as replacement for Danny Kirwan, and played on the band's albums Penguin and Mystery To Me.

But during an American tour the next year, Mick Fleetwood discovered Weston was having an affair with his wife, Jenny Boyd. Weston was fired.

He released several solo albums and played with musicians including LONG JOHN BALDRY, MURRAY HEAD, SANDY DENNY and STEVE MARRIOTT.

German death metallers OBSCENITY have inked a deal with Apostasy Records. The band is preparing to enter Soundlodge Studio in Rhauderfehn, Germany to begin recording its eighth album, tentatively titled "Atrophied In Anguish", for a June release.

OBSCENITY last year announced the addition of bassist Jörg Pirch (ex-TEARS OF DECAY) and guitarist Christoph Weerts (ex-ASSASINATED) to the group's ranks. The band was also rejoined by drummer Sascha Knust (ex-THE AWAKENING, SETHNEFER).

OBSCENITY in 2010 recruited Tampa, Florida native Jeff Rudes as its new singer.

OBSCENITY's seventh CD, "Where Sinners Bleed", was released in 2006 through Armageddon Music. The follow-up to 2002's "Cold Blooded Murder" was recorded at Soundlodge studio in Rhauderfehn, Germany.

OBSCENITY was previously signed to Morbid Records, which issued four of the band's albums, ending with "Cold Blooded Murder".

According to MelodicRock.com, the deluxe-edition version of VAN HALEN's much-anticipated new album, "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.

KISS guitarist/vocalist Paul Stanley has offered the following update on the band's new album, "Monster", to the group's official web site, KissOnline.com:

"Friday [January 6] we officially completed work on the new album.

"Listening to the tracks back to back is like sensory overload. Everyone who has heard any of it is completely blown away. Powerful, heavy, melodic and epic.

"It makes us very proud. You all will be, too.

"Mixing starts next week."

Reunited Swiss thrash trio CORONER has issued the following update:

"2011 is over and we want to thank you, our friends and fans, for your overwhelming response to our reunion concerts. We cannot find the words to express the appreciation we have for all of you.

"The response to our first 2011 show at Les Docks in Lausanne gave us the kick-start we needed and has carried us through to our most recent shows in Greece. We've been blown away by the fans everywhere!

"Thanks to every single one of you who came to our concerts! We hope you had as good of a time as we did! Thanks to all of the mags who wrote about us and also to the radio stations, and those who worked on our online shows! A special thanks to all the other bands that shared the stage with us!

"We would also like to thank all the promoters and their staffs for doing the maximum to provide an excellent concert. You made it possible!!!

"Daniel Stössel, our 'fourth' member! Thank you so much not just for the great sounds coming from your magic organ but also for documenting all the shows with your 46 cams. We can't wait to see the result!

"There will be a few more chances to see you at one of our upcoming shows. We have plans to add a couple more songs to our set list, but we're not quite sure yet which ones. We'll continue to film all the shows and hopefully put together a nice documentary, which will also include rare footage from the early days. Plus, we're going to add tons of private photos to the homepage taken from the past to the present.

"Keep on writing your comments, posting your recordings on YouTube, covering our songs!

"So again, thank you all so much for remembering CORONER. Best wishes for the most happy and exciting year 2012."

In a recent interview with ThrashHead, CORONER drummer Marquis Marky (a.k.a. Marky Edelmann) was asked whether the band has given any thought to possibly about getting back into the studio and recording a new album. "No, we [haven't]," he replied. "Because there are several reasons for this. The main problem is that we all have daily jobs. Ron [Royce; bass/vocals] is working for a company, I work for an art collector, I have a family and a little daughter, I am just not as free as I used to be, I can't just say, 'Well, I am going to be in the studio for a month,' I can't cancel my job for that, I can't be away from my family for that long. And Tommy [Vetterli, guitar], with his studio, is extremely busy all the time. I think it's just an illusion if we say we'll make a new album, because it would take such a long time. Of course, we can try to do that, but it would take maybe three or four years or something....that would be just strange, you know, to produce in this way, that you say, 'Let's wait three weeks, and then we come together and put together the second song, drums,' or something like that. For me, you have to be a band, you have to be somewhere else, away from everything, you have to be together for three weeks or whatever in one studio, just to get through one piece... that's the way we always did it... This is just not possible [to pull off right now]. I think it's OK how it is... Well, what we are probably going to do is one song or something, just one song to add to these few shows we do know or we just put on.... We're actually planning on putting out a DVD with all the cuts from the shows, traveling, what we're doing now and next year...combined with some old footage, like for instance, the first CORONER concert ever that we did in Zurich with CELTIC FROST and KREATOR and things like that. That's probably where the one new song or something like that will go.... I don't know. But, basically, to answer your question, there is not going to be a new album."

Former AFTER FOREVER guitarist Sander Gommans is working on a new album as a follow-up to his HDK project (formerly HATE DEATH KILL), which released its debut CD, "System Overload", in February 2009 via France's Season Of Mist. According to Gommans, Geert Kroes (DEAD MAN'S CURSE), an "awesome vocalist from the Netherlands," will be responsible for a lot of the vocal parts on the new album.

A brand new update on the project from Gommans follows below.

"Nearly all the keyboard parts are finished; they just have to be fine tuned a bit for the actual album. It's very cool to work with two keyboard players this time (Uri Dijk and Erik van Ittersum) since they both give a unique input to the songs.

"Koen Herfst is working out the drum parts at the moment; they will kick some serious ass!

"Tomorrow I'll visit Geert Kroes to check new vocal parts. They will be recorded under the supervision of Amanda Somerville (TRILLIUM, AVANTASIA) as soon as we can find some time in our schedule.

"As I mentioned before, I'm a busy man, but there's been a lot of progress!

"'System Overload' was full of agression and experiments, [but] this album will be a return to the AFTER FOREVER sound with more heavy elements — more guitar-oriented. The songwriting I did for AFTER FOREVER, HDK, TRILLIUM and various other projects have led to this record, and I really excited about the input of the awesome musicians I'm working with this time."

A short video clip of Kroes laying down vocal tracks in the studio can be seen below.

HDK's sound was previously described by Gommans as "much more aggressive and experimental than the stuff [he] had done before."

AFTER FOREVER announced its split in February 2009, explaining in a statement that the bandmembers "have reached the point where [they] need to explore the world of music in each of [their] own different ways."

The band's last, self-titled album, was released in April 2007 via Nuclear Blast Records.

Legendary Canuck hard rockers HELIX have issued the following update from band leader Brian Vollmer:

"2012 was one of our best years yet. It saw the release of Smash Hits Unplugged (EMI) as well as Skin In The Game (Helix Records). Along the way we played all across the country with such great bands as ERIC BURDON, NAZARETH, THE HEADPINS, KIM MITCHELL, THE TEA PARTY, SAGA, HARLEQUIN, KICKAXE, TROOPER and STEPPENWOLF.

In Europe we played with ANVIL, EXODUS, TREAT, GHOST MACHINERY, and TNT.

Unfortunately, this year we didn't play any dates south of the border. This was partially due to the shitty state of the US economy. The ridiculous US work permits and their subsequent costs didn't help either.

In October I was invited to "mentor" Melanie Morgan and her band on the hit Canadian singing show, Cover Me Canada. This was a real boost to the band's (and my) profile. Lots of fun and a great experience.

In November the band went back into the recording studio to re-record 'Rock You', 'Deep Cuts The Knife', and 'Wild In The Streets'. Aaron Murray produced the tracks, but the focus of the session was really to make the songs sound as close to the originals as possible. We plan on using the tracks for future anthology CDs and to shop them in regards to TV, movies, ringtones, etc. Hopefully our investment will pay off."

Vollmer previously stated: Vollmer:

"Presently I'm dealing with several record companies in several territories (Canada/the US/Europe) on the possibility of releasing a Helix Anthology CD.

The CD would include about 20 tracks, covering all the Helix CDs over the years plus a couple of songs from my solo CD, When Pigs Fly.

Also included on the CD would be re-recorded versions of some of our biggest hits: 'Rock You', 'Heavy Metal Love', 'Deep Cuts The Knife', and 'Wild In The Streets'."

A tentative list of songs for the anthology includes:

'Billy Oxygen'
'It's Too Late'
'Heavy Metal Love'
'Rock You'
'Deep Cuts The Knife'
'Wild In The Streets'
'Dream On'
'Good To The Last Drop'
'Running Wild In The 21st Century'
'That Day Is Gonna Come'
'The Same Room'
'Wrecking Ball'
'Jaws Of The Tiger'
'I'm A Live Frankenstein'
'F.U.G.L.Y.'
'Six Feet Underground'
'Cyberspace Girl'
'Make 'Em Dance'
'Monday Morning Meltdown'
'Skin In The Game'

Guitarist Rich Ward (STUCK MOJO, FOZZY) and bassist Paul DiLeo (FOZZY) have left ADRENALINE MOB, the new band featuring drummer Mike Portnoy (DREAM THEATER, AVENGED SEVENFOLD), SYMPHONY X frontman Russell Allen and guitar virtuoso Mike Orlando (SONIC STOMP).

Ward has released the following statement to BLABBERMOUTH.NET regarding his departure from ADRENALINE MOB:

"When I was first asked about coming on board as the second guitarist for the ADRENALINE MOB project, it was understood that every member of the band had other band commitments, most of us having multiple active music projects. We all acknowledged that it would be a challenge to make it work, but we all agreed that the lineup's potential was worth making the necessary compromises in each of our schedules.

"In recent months, it was made clear that after the release of the band's album, scheduling around my previous commitments wasn't going to be possible, and that it would be necessary to make ADRENALINE MOB my sole priority. This basically meant that if I was to move forward with the ADRENALINE MOB guys, I would only be available to continue on recording and touring with FOZZY, STUCK MOJO and WALKING WITH KINGS when the ADRENALINE MOB wasn't working. That's a commitment I just couldn't make. So I contacted Mike Portnoy and told him that I would need to step down and allow the band to find a guy who has the ability to fully commit to the project the way they need him to. His response was gracious and completely understanding.

"The experience of playing in a band with Portnoy was amazing. I've never met a more passionate, committed musician all my years, and always a complete gentleman towards me. Playing with musicians of that caliber was an honor and a privilege. I hope they go on to the great things they deserve."

ADRENALINE MOB will release its full-length debut, "Omertá", on March 13 via the newly formed Elm City Music in conjunction with EMI Label Services. The 11-song CD — which was produced by ADRENALINE MOB and mixed by Jay Ruston, who has previously worked on ANTHRAX's "Worship Music" and STEEL PANTHER's "Balls Out" — includes a blistering reinterpretation of DURAN DURAN's classic "Come Undone" featuring guest vocals by Lzzy Hale of HALESTORM.

"Omertá" track listing:

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

The self-titled debut EP from ADRENALINE MOB, which was released last summer, is available via iTunes and is being sold in physical form at the group's shows and online store. Self-produced by the band, the effort features four original tracks as well as a cover of the Ronnie James Dio-era BLACK SABBATH classic "The Mob Rules".

The EP is now available for streaming in its entirety using the player below.

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

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

According to ALICE COOPER fan site SickthingsUK, Concert Live has set a February 13 release date for "No More Mr Nice Guy Live", a two-CD remixed version of Cooper's October 29, 2011 show at London, England's Alexandra Place.

Concert Live, which enables fans all over the world to relive the experience with instant recordings of live gigs available within minutes of the last note being played, already released this concert as one of its instant live shows back in October, and the show has been aired on TV in both the U.K. and U.S., but this will apparently be a properly remixed version of this performance.

"No More Mr Nice Guy Live" track listing:

Disc 1

01. The Black Widow
02. Brutal Planet
03. I'm Eighteen
04. Under My Wheels
05. Billion Dollar Babies
06. No More Mr Nice Guy
07. Hey Stoopid
08. Is It My Body?
09. Halo Of Flies

Disc 2

01. I'll Bite Your Face Off
02. Muscle Of Love
03. Only Women Bleed
04. Cold Ethyl
05. Feed My Frankenstein
06. Clones (We're All)
07. Poison
08. Wicked Young Man
09. I Love The Dead
10. Schools Out
11. Elected
12. Fire (with Arthur Brown)

Polish avantgarde metallers STROMMOUSSHELD are continuing work on their long-awaited second full-length album, entitled "No Direction Home".

Commented the group: "The part of bass is almost done and Maels [Strommö] has already started recording guitars. We are also preparing the next part of 'making-of' material which a short part of you can see below."

The drum tracks for STROMMOUSSHELD's new CD were laid down at the Huge Studio while the rest of the instruments and vocals are being tracked at SH Studio. The production is being handled by Maels Strommö, band's vocalist and guitarist.

STROMMOUSSHELD's full-length debut, " Behind The Curtain", was released in 2003 by Avantgarde Music.

Swedish melodic death metallers SATARIEL have announced the return of guitarist and founding member Mikael Granqvist to the group's ranks.

Commented the band: "When Mike decided to quit after recording the 'Chifra' EP, we lost an important creative force and also a big part of the SATARIEL spirit. It isn't an overstatement to say that much of our drive and resolve vanished — to some extent leading us into the long hiatus we've only just recently recovered from. Therefore, we're really happy that circumstances changed and Mike wanted back in. Fuck yeah!

"We'd also like to extend a huge THANK YOU to Simon Johansson who stepped up when Mike left. Even though not much happened during the years he was a member (sorry...), it was a great feeling having him at our side. Hopefully, he'll still put down some awesome guitar solos as a session member on the forthcoming 'White Ink', like he did on our last couple of albums. You rule, Simon!"

An audio sample of the song "Daemons" from "White Ink", the forthcoming full-length album from SATARIEL, can be streamed in the YouTube clip below. The band previously stated that the new CD would "continue in the sound of [the band's mini-CD] 'Chifra', which was released [in 2007], but probably will have a little more aggressivity and 'evil' added to it this time, as the lyrics pretty much demand that this time around."

"Chifra" was mixed by Daniel Bergstrand (IN FLAMES, MESSHUGGAH, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD) and Magnus Alakangas at Dug-Out Studios in Uppsala, Sweden and featured artwork and layout by Pär Johansson.

SATARIEL is:

Pär Johansson - Vocals
Magnus Alakangas - Guitar
Robert Sundelin - Drums
Mikael Granbacke - Bass
Mikael Granqvist - Guitar

Germany's MOB RULES have checked in with the following update:

"Mob Rules wishes a rocking 2012 and likes to say a big 'Thank you' to all of our friends and fans for the great support in 2011 and all the years before. The last year was a very special for us. We played a lot of gigs, including our show at the Prog Power USA XII in Atlanta, which was a very special experience for us. We also started the songwriting for our new album, which is going to be released in 2012. The recordings will begin soon, so prepare yourself for the next big thing coming during the year.

To start the new year properly, we took a song from our last release, Radical Peace, and recorded a clip for you. This is not an official video, but should bring you into the right mood for a rocking 2012 with Mob Rules!"

PHILM — the Los Angeles-based experimental post-hardcore triumvirate featuring drummer Dave Lombardo (SLAYER), guitarist/vocalist Gerry Nestler (CIVIL DEFIANCE), and bassist Pancho Tomaselli (WAR) — is mastering its debut album for an early 2012 release via Ipecac Recordings. Dave says, "I can't wait for [everyone] to hear it! Looking forward to releasing it and doing selected shows around the world."

Ipecac Recordings is the brainchild of Greg Werckman (former label manager for the legendary punk label Alternative Tentacles) and FAITH NO MORE singer Mike Patton, who played with Lombardo in the eclectic supergroup FANTÔMAS.

Video footage of PHILM performing on May 29, 2011 at the Roxy in West Hollywood, California can be viewed below (courtesy of Metal Assault).

While there are elements of metal detected throughout PHILM's sound, the band manages to also incorporate such other styles as jazz, ambient, hardcore punk, experimental, and funk into its unpredictable, cacophony-heavy style. An obvious reason for this multi-genre amalgamation can be directly linked to the gentlemen that play alongside Lombardo in PHILM — Tomaselli is a longtime member of funk rockers WAR, and Nestler fronts prog metallists CIVIL DEFIANCE. Add it all up, and you get the wonderful world of PHILM.

As Lombardo himself explains, expect the unexpected from PHILM. "When people hear about my involvement in PHILM, they automatically assume that it will compare to SLAYER's sound," he says. "They couldn't be more different. PHILM's sound is almost bipolar — very unexpected of something that I would be so passionate about, and be a part of. I have scaled down my drum set to a four-piece, reminiscent to the drummers of the late '60s that influenced me. Each song is unique in itself, I like to refer to it as 'rhythmic emotion.' It's almost like taking all the heavy songs of the '60s and bringing that era to a modern plateau, then blending them with the modern trance and psychedelic sounds of today. When I think of PHILM, that's where I go."

In an interview with AOL's Noisecreep, Nestler stated about PHILM's formation, "Dave and I first got together in 1997 to start an original band. We later regrouped between SLAYER's scheduled tour dates in late 2009, playing some upstairs jams at the Rainbow in Hollywood. We then decided to restart our band. Pancho had met Dave a few years back at one Dave's drum clinics and we decided to invite him in."

Regarding PHILM's sound, Nestler said, "The music of PHILM is channeled through the many different influences of drum and bass, expressionism, and underground that ranges via ancient and indigenous to street. There are many different things that Dave and I have been into that have contributed to the vision of PHILM. Pancho's highly skilled bass playing, chordal color and shape have helped expand the overall sound instrumentation and groove. Dave Lombardo's drumming goes without comparison, except that it might be said, to quote Pancho that 'it's like playing with the seven, not four, horses of the Apocalypse behind you.'"

For more information, visit the PHILM Facebook page.

Fan-filmed video footage of former IRON MAIDEN singer Paul Di'Anno's December 2011 concert at De Bosuil in Weert, Netherlands can be seen below.

On August 27, 2011, Di'Anno played his first show since serving time in a U.K. prison after he falsely collected U.K. government benefits by claiming he suffered nerve damage to his back that prevented him from working.

After serving his jail term last spring, Di'Anno issued a short statement in which he thanked his fans for their support and claimed that he "managed not to drop the soap" during his stint behind bars.

Di'Anno, 53, was sentenced to nine months for swindling £45,000 (approximately $72,000) in benefits. He was told he would serve at least four and a half months of the sentence behind bars before being released on conditional bail.

D'Anno was reportedly busted when investigators at Department Of Work And Pensions (DWP) received an anonymous tip that he was still singing. They then found videos and pictures on YouTube and the rocker's own web site of Di'Anno "energetically leaping around on stage, singing to fans around the world."

Di'Anno completed his first North American tour in early 2010, 17 years after he was deported following a prison term for guns and drug offenses.

"In 1991 I did a couple of stints in jail for guns and drugs," Di'Anno explained in a 2010 interview. "I was stupid. But after I'd done my stretch they still treated me like a criminal. And I was — but I wasn't that bad. So I didn't feel good about America. The government, not the people.

"Prison was tough, but I'm tougher. I was nobody's bitch, put it that way. You've got to do it; otherwise people will walk all over you."

Fan-filmed video footage of SAXON's December 4, 2011 performance at Nosturi in Helsinki, Finland with ANVIL can be seen below.

SAXON's setlist was as follows:

01. Hammer Of The Gods
02. Heavy Metal Thunder
03. When Doomsday Comes (Hybrid Theory)
04. Never Surrender
05. Chasing The Bullet
06. Motorcycle Man
07. Back In '79
08. Solid Ball Of Rock
09. To Hell And Back Again
10. I've Got To Rock (To Stay Alive)
11. Call To Arms
12. Rock The Nations (With Drum Solo)
13. Demon Sweeney Todd
14. The Eagle Has Landed
15. Mists Of Avalon
16. Power And The Glory
17. Denim And Leather
18. And The Bands Played On
19. Guitar Solo (Dough Scarrat)
20. Wheels Of Steel

Encore:

21. Crusader
22. 747 (Strangers In The Night)

Encore 2:

23. Bass Solo
24. Strong Arm Of The Law
25. Princess Of The Night

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

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

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

Seattle's barbaric wrecking crew BLACK BREATH has completed work on its second album for a March release via Relapse Records. Entitled "Sentenced To Life", the follow-up 2010's "Heavy Breathing" "projects an even more vile, metallic sonic attack than its predecessor, bearing is a bit less rock and roll swagger and a showcasing more full-on crushing rage," according to a press release. "The album is a product of furious creativity jammed into a short span of time, written in the seemingly endless winter after returning from their November 2010 European tour."

Bearing 10 thunderous tracks in under 33 minutes, "Sentenced To Life" features such smashing BLACK BREATH hits as "Feast Of The Damned", "Doomed", "Forced Into Possession", "Home Of The Grave" and, of course, the title anthem, "Sentenced To Life". The band once again recorded at GodCity Studios with Kurt Ballou, and had the finished product mastered by Alan Douches at West West Side.

"New Tradition", the previously unreleased second album from DARK NEW DAY — the band featuring Clint Lowery (guitar; SEVENDUST), Corey Lowery (bass; ex-STEREOMUD, STUCK MOJO), Brett Hestla (vocals, guitar; ex-CREED, VIRGOS MERLOT), Will Hunt (drums; EVANESCENCE, ex-SKRAPE, TOMMY LEE) and Bradley "BC" Kochmit (guitar; SWITCHED a.k.a. SW1TCHED) — will finally be made available on February 28 via Goomba Music. The first single, "New Tradition", is currently being serviced to radio stations nationwide and can be streamed using the SoundCloud player below.

"We're very excited about the new DARK NEW DAY release," proclaims guitarist Clint Lowery. "It seems the time is right to make these songs public and share with the fans that continue to support this project. We believe this music is still very valid and powerful today, and think its mandatory we give these songs a fair chance out in the music world. We owe it to ourselves and the DARK NEW DAY fans. 'New Tradition' sums up the mindset we were in writing the follow-up to 'Twelve Year Silence'."

"New Tradition" track listing:

01. Fist From The Sky
02. Come Alive
03. I Don't Need You
04. New Tradition
05. Tremendous
06. Sorry
07. Straightjacket
08. Take It From Me
09. Caught In The Light
10. Sunday
11. Fiend
12. Breakdown
13. Burns Your Eyes

DARK NEW DAY released its debut album, "Twelve Year Silence", in June of 2005. The CD was mixed with producer/mixer Ben Grosse, who had previously worked with FILTER, FUEL, SEVENDUST and ALTER BRIDGE. The disc featured the single "Brother" (see video below). The band went on a hiatus after releasing the "Black Porch (Acoustic Sessions)" EP while the members focused on their current projects.

The members of DARK NEW DAY came together in 2011 to compile tracks for this special release to put out as a "thank you" to all the loyal fans that have continued to follow the band and request more material from the group.

DARK NEW DAY may have been new to fans of the bandmembers' previous groups, but it was really a reunion that was twelve years in the making, as the members of DARK NEW DAY literally grew up together. Brothers Clint and Corey Lowery and childhood friend Troy McLawhorn met singer Brett Hestla and drummer Will Hunt while touring as kids in the Southeast club circuit. "We were playing a circuit that had a lot of older people in it, in their twenties, and we were all kids, so we could identify with each other," said Hunt in a 2005 interview. "We really came into ourselves on that circuit," added Corey. "It was like going to rock 'n' roll high school — you'd always try and turn it up because you wanted to impress each other."

BENT SEA, the grindcore ensemble led by Dirk Verbeuren (SOILWORK, SCARVE) with appearances by Sven De Caluwé (ABORTED, SYSTEM DIVIDE) and Devin Townsend, is streaming another track off the widely acclaimed self-released debut EP "Noistalgia". Listen to "A Common Affliction" here.

On Tuesday, January 10, RealLesson.com is hosting a free BENT SEA listening party and chat with Dirk Verbeuren. Click here to sign up; places are limited, so act fast!

Decibel magazine describes "Noistalgia" as "rousing, ripping, aptly-titled . . . a dead-on evocation of NAPALM DEATH and REPULSION, which remembers just how catchy and deceptively dynamic those old classic albums were." Blistering.com calls it "grindcore done right" and VoicesFromTheDarkside.de says it's BENT SEA's "firmly drawn allegiance to the old that makes this EP so great."

BENT SEA was formed by songwriter/lyricist Verbeuren. In November, the trio released "Noistalgia", its debut 11-song effort, exclusively through www.bentsea.com. Verbeuren performed drums and guitar, with De Caluwé handling vocals while Townsend played bass and produced the EP.

"Noistalgia" track listing:

01. Noistalgia
02. Digital Disaster
03. Blast Beat Barrage
04. A Common Affliction
05. In One Word
06. Grind Control
07. Tripwire Target
08. Sustained Idiocy
09. Dead Meat
10. Truth Will Out
11. Fool For Life

"Noistalgia" (song) audio stream:

Ann Arbor, Michigan hard rock band TAPROOT will release its new album, "Episodes", on February 28 via Victory Records.

TAPROOT's last CD, "Plead The Fifth", came out in May 2010 through Victory. The effort was recorded on farm in Sullivan, Michigan with producer Tim Patalan (SPONGE, LOVEDRUG).

TAPROOT is:

Stephen Richards - Guitar, Vocals
Mike DeWolf - Guitar
Philip Lipscomb - Bass
Nick Fredell - Drums

METALLICA's official web site has been updated with the following message:

"As you know, we generally make it a policy not to comment on gossip or rumors, but we also pride ourselves on being first with 'TALLICA news. So, with that said, the more astute of you may have noticed a couple of mentions in trade publications, and most recently in the new issue of Rolling Stone, that a METALLICA 3D movie is in the works. We're here to tell you that, yes, there is indeed a 3D project in the very early stages of production! We wish we could tell you more right now, but we don't have all the finer points nailed down just yet. What we can tell you is that we are planning on being in a theatre near you sometime in 2013 and as you hear us say ever so often, this will be the space for all the details as we finalize them."

Deadline.com reported last October that METALLICA was planning to self-finance a 3D feature film. The band had hired producer Charlotte Huggins ("Journey To The Center Of The Earth" and "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island") to work on the project, for which a director was being sought.

METALLICA's critically acclaimed 2004 documentary "Some Kind Of Monster", directed by Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky ("Brother's Keeper", "Paradise Lost"), offered a revealing behind-the-scenes look at METALLICA as they confronted personal demons and their relationships with each other during the making of the band's 2003 album "St. Anger".

In a 2010 interview with Australia's Herald Sun, METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich stated about "Some Kind Of Monster", "Every time I see Noel Gallagher [OASIS], he quotes lines from that movie back to me. That thing has taken on a life of its own. I had to live that shit for three fucking years! The whole thing was a mindfuck. I am aware a lot of other musicians seem to have lived a lot of those moments. They weren't necessarily stupid enough to film them like we were and share them with the rest of the world."

Nicole Bogner, who was the vocalist for Austrian symphonic metallers VISIONS OF ATLANTIS from 2000 to 2005, has died after fighting a "severe disease over a long period of time." Bogner, 27, sang on the band's first two albums, "Eternal Endless Infinity" (2002) and "Cast Away" (2004).

Commented VISIONS OF ATLANTIS in a statement: "In deep mourning and with highest respect we have to notify all VISIONS OF ATLANTIS fans that our former female singer, Nicole Bogner, has passed away at the age of 27 after fighting a severe disease over a long period of time. The band is shocked about the loss of an old VISIONS OF ATLANTIS family member but wants to express sincere gratitude to Nicole not only for five years of sharing a musical vision but also for more than a decade of friendship inside and outside of VISIONS OF ATLANTIS. Without Nicole, VISIONS OF ATLANTIS would have never been born and her unique voice and personality were a big part of VISIONS OF ATLANTIS. With Nicole, a great part of VISIONS OF ATLANTIS died as well. We will always treasure your warm-hearted soul; you will never be forgotten, Nici."

An "In Memoriam Nicole Bogner" Facebook page has been launched at this location.

VISIONS OF ATLANTIS will enter the studio at the end of January to begin recording its fifth album.

VISIONS OF ATLANTIS' fourth album, "Delta", was released in North America on March 15, 2011 via Napalm Records. The CD was recorded Dreamscape Studios in Munich, Germany and marked the debut of the group's new singer, Maxi Nil, who joined the group in 2009.

The third 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, 2012 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 #3: