"Dreamdecipher", the new video from Sweden's MISERATION — the collaboration between SCAR SYMMETRY vocalist Christian Älvestam and Jani Stefanovic (ESSENCE OF SORROW, DIVINEFIRE) — can be viewed below. The clip was directed by Markus Rytilahti of Ekman & Winroth.

"Dreamdecipher" comes off MISERATION's sophomore album, "The Mirroring Shadow", which was released in November 2009 via Lifeforce Records. The follow-up to "Your Demons - Their Angels" was recorded at Panic Room studios with producer Tomas "Plec" Johansson.

MISERATION previously described "The Mirroring Shadow" as "a step up, intensity- and aggression-wise," and "more technical than its predecessor." The band added, "This progression both came and felt very natural to us, once the new material started to take shape. Sound-wise, producer Tomas 'Plec' Johansson has really outdone himself on this one, giving the music a productional enviroment to die for! Crushingly pounding, yet crystal clear!"

MISERATION's debut album, "Your Demons, Their Angels", was released in September 2008.

German death metallers DAWN OF DISEASE have just entered Soundlodge Studio in Rhauderfehn, Germany with producer Jörg Uken (GOD DETHRONED, DEW-SCENTED, SINISTER) to begin recording their sophomore album, "Crypts Of The Unrotten", for an early summer release via NoiseArt Records.

"We really invested a lot of energy and have been collecting new ideas during the last months," the band said in a statement. "You better prepare for a huge portion of death metal! We are very much looking forward to the first recordings."

DAWN OF DISEASE's debut album, "Legends Of Brutality", came out last April via NoiseArt.

DAWN OF DISEASE is:

Tomasz Wisniewski - Vocals
Lukas Kerk - Guitar
Oliver Kirchner - Guitar
Michael Wächter - Bass
Mathias Blässe - Drums

According to The Pulse Of Radio, most METALLICA fans may not have been happy with "Lulu", the band's collaborative album with Lou Reed, but at least one person was pleased with the results: Reed himself. In a new interview with M - Music & Musicians, Reed said that the idea of him and the world's biggest metal act working together was not as far-fetched as it seemed. He explained, "They're into heavy metal, I'm into heavy guitar, so it was no big stretch. They were so ready to go, it was thrilling. It's like someone gave you a Ferrari for free."

Reed said that the sessions for "Lulu" at METALLICA's studio in San Francisco were very improvisational in nature, recalling, "Nobody thought about anything. It was just a great opportunity to play together. I had a certain sound in my head that I wanted to try to get, and I got it. The way we did this is that if everybody didn't agree, we didn't do it. It wasn't majority rules — it was all together or nothing."

METALLICA frontman James Hetfield cited the album's closing number, "Junior Dad", as an example of the spontaneous way the songs came together. "There was some music that Lou had behind his lyrics before, and then we went out and played some stuff, and what they had done is they laid those two together, and without even knowing what the other stuff really sounded like, or timewise or when things would change, it lined up unbelievably perfect," he said. "It sounded really, really like they were meant to be."

Sadly for Reed and METALLICA, "Lulu" was the biggest flop of METALLICA's career. It sold just 13,000 copies in the U.S. in its first week of release to debut at No. 36 on the Billboard album chart, marking the band's lowest sales number and chart position since SoundScan began tracking album sales in 1991.

The album was almost universally panned by critics and fans as well, although the members of METALLICA went out of their way to reassure fans that it was not the band's next "official" album.

METALLICA just played a series of 30th anniversary concerts for fan club members in San Francisco earlier this month and has several plans on tap for 2012, including performing 1991's self-titled "black album" in its entirety at European festivals next summer.

Hard rock band Cibola Junction was formed in late 2010 in Sweden and has recently released the single 'Peace Out', which is available at online music stores and services including iTunes and Spotify.

Cibola Junction consists of former MORGANA LEFAY lead singer Charles Rytkonen, together with Torsten Bengtsberg (guitar) and Magnus Soderblom (guitar). The rhythm section is represented by Orjan Josefsson on bass and ex-BABYLON BOMBS drummer Svante Hedstrom.

According to a press release, Cibola Junction's desire to go back to the roots can be heard as an influence from the 70’s hard rock, but with innovative ways of thinking. Some call their music power groove others retro hard rock.

“We believe it’s a kind of rootless music, yet there is something new. But if you going to put a label on it, it’s hard rock,” Cibola Junction declares.

The band decided to put 'Peace Out' as a single witch resulted in collaboration with Chris Laney (best known as a songwriter and producer who have worked with amongst others CANDLEMASS, EUROPE and CRASHDÏËT) who showed interest for mixing 'Peace Out'.

More songs will be recorded continuously and may result in a full length album.

Terry Butler (DEATH, MASSACRE, SIX FEET UNDER, DENIAL FIEND, OBITUARY) and Frederick "Rick Rozz" DeLillo (MANTAS, DEATH, MASSACRE, M INC.) have canceled their previously announced European tour to celebrate the 20th anniversary of MASSACRE's classic "From Beyond" album. Dubbed "Army Of Darkness", the trek was slated to take place in January/February 2012 and was supposed to feature additional performances from MACABRE and MASTER.

Commented MASSACRE lawyer Eric Greif: "The band was looking forward to the trip but got spooked when no contracts or deposits materialized, despite repeated requests to the agent. They'll instead head over later for some summer festivals that don't conflict with Terry's OBITUARY commitments."

Added Butler: "Writing and playing again with Rick has been a lot of fun and it will be great to get back to Europe playing these songs."

Affected dates:

Jan. 25 - Osnabrück, Germany @ Bastard Club
Jan. 26 - Munich, Germany @ Backstage
Jan. 28 - Zürich, Switzerland @ Industrie 45
Jan. 29 - Lyon, France @ Le Kao
Jan. 30 - Paris, France @ Divan Du Monde
Feb. 03 - Valencia, Spain @ Durango Club
Feb. 04 - Badalona/Barcelona, Spain @ Estraperlo Club
Feb. 05 - Montpellier, France @ Secret Place
Feb. 07 - Maribor, Slovenia @ Mc Pekarna
Feb. 08 - Zagreb, Croatia @ Tvornica Kulture
Feb. 11 - Winterthur, Switzerland @ Gaswerk
Feb. 13 - Dresden, Germany @ Chemiefabrik
Feb. 14 - Berlin, Germany @ K-17
Feb. 15 - Bochum, Germany @ Matrix
Feb. 16 - Leer, Germany @ Zollhaus
Feb. 17 - Eindhoven, Holland @ Dynamo
Feb. 18 - Rotterdam, Holland @ Baroeg
Feb. 19 - Drachten, Holland @ Iduna

MASSACRE's current touring lineup is as follows:

* Mike Mazzonetto (M INC., PAIN PRINCIPLE) - Drums
* Ed Webb (DIABOLIC, GENERICHRIST, DESTINED TO RUIN) - Vocals
* Frederick "Rick Rozz" DeLillo – Guitar
* Terry Butler - Bass

Video footage of the new MASSACRE lineup rehearsing for the now-aborted tour at CGM Studios in Altamonte Springs, Florida can be seen below (courtesy of BrutalBroadcast.com). Also available is a ReverbNation TuneWidget player containing three rehearsal recordings featuring the band's new lineup.

Commented Rozz: "It is a great pleasure to jam with such seasoned players, and very cool people, this is a great honor in many ways."

Added Butler: "We wanted to give the fans a little taste of what Ed Webb and Mike Mazzonetto sound like and what the band is doing at the moment.

"Ed and Mike are doing an amazing job!! They are seasoned veterans and professionals."

"From Beyond" was recently reissued as a limited-edition digipak CD via Earache Records.The long-out-of-print album has been reissued on CD with four bonus EP tracks and comes housed in a digipak with extended artwork and a fold-out poster.

A different version of MASSACRE — consisting of DENIAL FIEND members Sam Williams (guitar), Curt Beeson (drums; NASTY SAVAGE), along with Terry Butler, Steve Swanson (guitar) and Kam Lee (vocals; MASSACRE, DEATH, MANTAS) — completed a European tour in late 2007.

BLACK SABBATH guitar legend Tony Iommi has issued the following New Year's update:

"First of all a BIG thank you to everyone who turned out in the cold and queued for the book signings, it was great to see you all.

It was a big year for me with my book coming out and getting back together with the guys. A new album and live shows means there's a lot for me to look forward to in 2012, I hope the New Year brings you opportunities as well."

Former DEEP PURPLE keyboardist Jon Lord, who revealed this past summer that he was fighting cancer, has released the following statement:

"Happy New Year to all of you and thank you so much for your wonderful, kind and inspirational messages over these last few difficult months. I have been mightily sustained by reading them and will continue to be so. You are a very special lot indeed. I am doing well and I will be back with more news and updates in the next week or so. In the meantime, party hearty but look after yourselves. I wish you success and happiness, and above all, I wish you health."

Jon Lord is recognized for his Hammond organ blues-rock playing and unique sound and for his pioneering work in fusing rock and classical or baroque forms. He has most famously been a member of DEEP PURPLE, the band he co-founded in 1968.

Lord earlier in the year received the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Music from the University of Leicester.

Swedish metallers SABATON have set "Carolus Rex" as the title of their new album, tentateively due at the end of May via Nuclear Blast Records.

Commented the band: "We felt it was time for America to get something of a special show and this time the release party will be in Los Angeles, California [on May 23 at the Key Club in West Hollywood]. This show will be the only U.S. West Coast show and it will be the world premiere of new songs."

SABATON will embark on a North American headlining tour in the spring. The "Swedish Empire Tour 2012" will kick off on April 10 in Tampa, Florida.

SABATON bassist Pär Sundström was forced to sit out several shows on the Canadian leg of the band's most recent North American tour due to a knee injury.

"World War Live: Battle Of The Baltic Sea", the first-ever live album from SABATON, was released on August 5, 2011 via Nuclear Blast Records.

Bassist David Ellefson (MEGADETH), drummer Ken Mary (ALICE COOPER, IMPELLITTERI, FIFTH ANGEL) and vocalist William King are among the guest musicians who appear on "Time To Rock", the debut album from KNIGHT FURY, the project led by former LIZZY BORDEN guitarist Chris Sanders.

Regarding the KNIGHT FURY sound, Sanders said in an early 2011 interview with Full Metal Review, "It's all about] great riffs, hooks and truly great music. The whole album [has] that sound, but there is variation. They really are all hit songs!

"The last several years I have been really disappointed with the way heavy metal and hard rock has gone off track.

"I'm really trying to keep a traditional true metal sound and stay away from what music has become."

He added, "KNIGHT FURY is my own production. The concept is the best musicians playing great metal music.

"It was great to have Ken Mary on drums and Dave Ellefson on bass. William King did the vocals and just nailed it. Everyone added the perfect blend to create a great record. These truly are the best musicians I have ever worked with. They are also my good friends. We [previously] worked together on the NORTHERN LIGHT ORCHESTRA album, 'The Spirit Of Christmas'."

When asked if KNIGHT FURY is strictly a studio project, Sanders said, "KNIGHT FURY will tour. That's the great thing about the band. It really is an all-star cast. You never know who will be out on the road.

"I want to bring in as many rock stars as possible to create a great sound. But at the same time I want people that believe in what they are doing."

Audiophile specialty record label Audio Fidelity will release a newly remastered edition of DIO's classic debut album, "Holy Diver", in January 2012 as part of its 24K Gold Compact Disc series. This new edition promises to be a significant sonic upgrade over past releases of this timeless debut due to the use of the original 1983 Sound City studio analog 30 ips AES half-inch non-Dolby original stereo mix tapes along with the mastering expertise of renowned audiophile music restoration specialist Steve Hoffman. Most previous releases relied on post-EQ'ed cutting tapes.

"Holy Diver" is one of the most respected albums in rock and metal and Ronnie James Dio was one of the most talented and respected artists in the world.

Leaving BLACK SABBATH to create a new group built around his formidable singing and unquestionably stellar songwriting, "Holy Diver"'s stunning quality and consistency owed much to Dio's carefully chosen bandmates, including powerhouse drummer (and fellow BLACK SABBATH survivor) Vinny Appice, veteran bassist Jimmy Bain, and a phenomenal find in young Irish guitarist Vivian Campbell, whose tastefully pyrotechnic leads helped make this the definitive DIO lineup. The group entered the studio to record their debut album in early 1983. Produced by Ronnie James Dio, "Holy Diver" consists of nine original cuts penned by the singer and various band members. Included are such distinctive DIO cuts as "Stand Up And Shout", "Straight Through The Heart", the title track and the concert favorite "Rainbow In The Dark".

Hailed by critics as DIO's best work, the album was eventually certified platinum in the U.S. The CD contains a two-page spread copy of the photo-montage LP liner with images from both RAINBOW and BLACK SABBATH days that was included in the original vinyl release.

Legendary rocker Alice Cooper and his band performed on New Year's Eve at Mala Wailea, the famous oceanfront restaurant that is lobby level at Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, in Hawaii, on a bill that included "Weird Al" Yankovic, Pat Simmons and Michael McDonald of DOOBIE BROTHERS and Bob Rock. Comedian Tom Arnold will act as emcee at the event, which benefits the Maui Food Bank and the Maui Arts & Cultural Center.

Joining Alice on stage for a performance of THE BEATLES classic "Come Together" was AEROSMITH frontman Steven Tyler. Tyler also sang AEROSMITH's "Sweet Emotion" and "Walk This Way".

Video footage of the "Come Together" performance can be seen below.

Swedish dark rockers KATATONIA have issued the following update:

"The first couple of months of 2012 will see us hard at work on the recording of our ninth album, and if everything goes according to plan, the album will be out before summer. We're also busy on a double duty finishing up the 'Last Fair Day Gone Night' anniversary DVD."

KATATONIA played four shows in Scandinavia earlier this month, hitting the capital cites of Copenhagen, Oslo, Helsinki and, of course, the band's hometown of Stockholm. The concerts, which were part of the 20th-anniversary "Last Fair Day Gone Night Tour 2011", saw the band perform two sets. The first set consisted of a performance of the entire "Last Fair Deal Gone Down" album front to back. The second set was a mixture of carefully picked songs from the band's extensive catalogue.

KATATONIA's May 6, 2011 concert at Koko in London, England was professionally filmed/recorded for a future DVD release.

KATATONIA released special editions of the critically acclaimed albums "Last Fair Deal Gone Down" and "Night Is The New Day" on April 25. The 10th-anniversary edition "Last Fair Deal Gone Down" was presented in deluxe mediabook packaging, as a two-disc edition containing tracks from the now hard-to-find singles "Teargas" and "Tonight's Music". The reissue of 2009's "Night Is The New Day" includes bonus tracks from the "The Longest Year" EP. Both titles were presented with newly updated cover artwork courtesy of original artist Travis Smith.

North Carolina's DAYLIGHT DIES has issued the following update:

"On the new album front, we've now completed guitar leads, rhythms, drums and bass guitar and clean guitar are halfway done. We'll wrap everything up in early 2012 and hopefully have a clearer idea for a release date then. Our goal is the first half of 2012. We are thrilled with how everything is sounding so far."

As previously reported, DAYLIGHT DIES's new material is its most varied yet, due in part to bassist Egan O'Rourke's "significant songwriting contributions" this time around.

DAYLIGHT DIES played three shows in Europe in December — including at the third edition of the Madrid Is The Dark festival on December 8-10 at the Old School venue in Getafe, Spain.

DAYLIGHT DIES's latest album, "Lost To The Living", was released in the U.S. in June 2008 via Candlelight Records. The CD features captivatingly dark original artwork from renowned artist Travis Smith, who has worked with the band before and whose other previous collaborations include OPETH, ANATHEMA and KATATONIA.

Quality multi-camera video footage of EXODUS' performance at a special concert in celebration of EXODUS guitarist Gary Holt and Lisa Perticone's wedding can be seen below. The event took place on September 24, 2011 at Avalon in Santa Clara, California, and featured additional appearances by HEATHEN, DEATH ANGEL, MIDNIGHT CHASER, SEVERED FIFTH, ANGERHEAD, MAD AT SAM, DEADLANDS, ANTI-MORTEM and COFFIN HUNTER. Making a surprise appearance with EXODUS during the concert was the band's former guitarist Rick Hunolt, who left the group in 2005 in order to focus on his family life.

Holt has two daughters from previous relationships. Perticone has a teenage daughter. The two are currently residing in Pinole, California.

Holt has spent the last few months filling in for SLAYER founding guitarist Jeff Hanneman who in January contracted necrotizing fasciitis, likely caused by a spider bite, and has been undergoing surgeries, skin grafts and intense rehab since.

EXODUS's latest album, "Exhibit B: The Human Condition", was released in North America on May 18, 2010 via Nuclear Blast Records.

The cover artwork for "Portals To Canaan", the forthcoming ninth album from California extreme metallers DEEDS OF FLESH, can be seen below.

Due in early 2012 via Unique Leader Records, "Portals to Canaan" will feature "amazing artwork and numerous conceptual pieces" by Raymond Swanland.

A pre-production teaser for "Portals To Canaan" can be streamed in the YouTube clip below.

Commented the band: "This is only guitar one and drum mapping (no second guitar, leads or vocals) to give the fans an idea of whats to come."

DEEDS OF FLESH recently parted ways with guitarist Sean Southern due to "personal reasons" and have replaced him with Craig Peters (ARKAIK).

DEEDS OF FLESH is:

Erik Lindmark - Guitar/Vocals
Michael Hamilton - Drums
Erlened Caspersen - Bass
Craig Peters - Lead Guitar/Vocals
Corey Athos - Vocals

DEEDS OF FLESH's last CD, "Of What's to Come", came out in November 2008 via Unique Leader. The label previously described the follow-up to 2005's "Crown Of Souls" as "nothing short of a masterpiece, combining the usual DEEDS OF FLESH sound with many added new elements, twisted and memorable guitar riffs and lead work, blistering drums, powerful vocals and mind-blowing bass lines."

Canadian musician/producer Devin Townsend (STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, STEVE VAI, LAMB OF GOD, DARKEST HOUR, GWAR) played four shows in London in November 2011 dedicated to his tetralogy album concept — a great journey through Devin's different states of musical moods — which he started in 2009 with the albums "Addicted" (2009) and "Ki" (2009) and finished with last year's "Deconstruction" and "Ghost". The concerts were professionally recorded and filmed for a unique four-disc DVD release, which is tentatively due in July. Devin states, "I love being able to make huge projects. In this age, it's essential."

DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT released "Contain Us", a special tribute box set for its epic quadrology ("Ki", "Addicted", "Deconstruction" and "Ghost") on November 29 in North America. "Contain Us" was designed and created by Man Alive's Tom Bejgrowicz (who also conceived the classic and must-have MISFITS "Coffin" box-set) and is the ultimate collection for every diehard Devin fan. The standard box-set is priced at $80.00 while the hand-numbered box with the 10" and a lithograph drawn and autographed by Devin is $100.

According to People.com, Geoff Tate, the frontman for progressive metal band QUEENSRŸCHE, surprised "American Idol" finalist James Durbin and James' longtime love Heidi Lowe with a performance of his band's 1984 classic "Take Hold Of The Flame" — one of Durbin and Lowe's favorite tunes — at the couple's wedding New Year's Eve in a chapel at the edge of a redwood forest in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Other guests included Durbin's fellow "Idol" Season 10 alums Haley Reinhart, Stefano Langone and Casey Abrams.

Durbin's debut solo album, "Memories Of A Beautiful Disaster", sold around 28,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 36 on The Billboard 200 chart.

"Memories Of A Beautiful Disaster" was released on November 21 via Wind-Up Records. The CD includes a guest appearance by Mick Mars of MÖTLEY CRÜE, as well contributions from songwriters James Michael (SIXX: A.M., MÖTLEY CRÜE) and Marti Frederiksen (AEROSMITH, BUCKCHERRY, OZZY OSBOURNE), along with Swedish rock band HARDCORE SUPERSTAR.

A "metal" version of the traditional Scottish song "Auld Lang Syne" by former NEVERMORE guitarist Jeff Loomis and 7 HORNS 7 EYES axeman Aaron Smith can be streamed using the SoundCloud player below.

Smith is producing Loomis's new solo album, which is currently being recorded for an early 2012 release via Century Media Records. The CD will feature a guest appearance by singer Christine Rhoades, who previously collaborated with NEVERMORE on the "Dreaming Neon Black" album. Shane Lentz will handle the bass.

"[Aaron] has been a friend for a while now and has helped me out with various recording projects over the years," said Loomis.

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

"Auld Lang Syne" is a poem written by Robert Burns in 1788 and set to the tune of a traditional folk song. It is well known in many countries, especially (but far from exclusively) in the English-speaking world; its traditional use being to celebrate the start of the New Year at the stroke of midnight. By extension, it is also sung at funerals, graduations and as a farewell or ending to other occasions.

The song's Scots title may be translated into English literally as "old long since", or more idiomatically, "long long ago", "days gone by" or "old times". Consequently "For auld lang syne", as it appears in the first line of the chorus, is loosely translated as "for (the sake of) old times."

"Strangle The Hero", the new "photo video" from the Finnish modern thrash/death-influenced metal band DEAD SHAPE FIGURE, can be seen below. The photos for the clip were taken by Toni Salminen and Mika Ringman .

"Strangle The Hero" comes off DEAD SHAPE FIGURE's mini-CD, "Dev!lle Ride", which was released via Dynamic Arts Records.

The track listing for the effort is as follows:

01. Strangle The Hero
02. And They Adore The Replacement
03. Leave Your Buildings
04. Dead Again

Guitarist Kride Lahti left DEAD SHAPE FIGURE earlier in the year "due to personal reasons and lack of motivation."

DEAD SHAPE FIGURE's second full-length album, "The Disease Of St. Vitus", was released in October 2010 via Dynamic Arts Records. The CD was mastered at Virtalähde Analog Audio Studios in Helsinki, Finland.

The band's debut album, "The Grand Karoshi", came out in 2008 via Season Of Mist. The CD's lyrical content was translated by Kallio into Finnish as a book of poetry, entitled "Loppusäkeet".

Swedish black metallers MARDUK have issued the following update:

"After over 220 shows in support of the hightly acclaimed 'Wormwood' album and the 'Iron Dawn' EP, the touring cycle has come to an end with the participation of the Hatefest tour.

"MARDUK is currently in the studio recording the next album set for a spring release through Blooddawn/Century Media. The album will be followed by a massive touring campaign.

"We are proud as a goat to announce the three first dates for 2012 as the band will be doing the three date Extremefest festival dates in Europe during July.

"Further updates will be brought forth as we march according to unshakable laws into the coming year.

"All hail the worldwide MARDUK legion!!"

MARDUK and the band's record label, Blooddawn Productions, recently announced a partnership with Century Media Records.

The group's latest EP, "Iron Dawn", was made available at the Maryland Deathfest on May 27 (May 30 in the rest of the world via Regain Records) and at the six North American shows that followed.

According to a press release, the songs included on "Iron Dawn" differ from the concept that is being created for the next full-length album. Therefore this EP was made available as a special treat for all MARDUK legionaries out there.

"Wormwood", the eleventh album from MARDUK, sold around 650 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 99 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.

U2 dominated the world concert biz as well as North America’s live music scene, proving that it really is the Irish band’s world and we just live in it.

As yet another example that even the best-made plans often go astray, U2 wouldn’t be at the top of 2011’s box office results if it wasn’t for Bono’s 2010 back injury that resulted in the band postponing a large chunk of its 360° tour until 2011.

Worldwide, U2 fans gobbled up 2,387,535 tickets in 2011 at an average price of $97.15 per. The stadium tour sold an average of 91,828 tickets per show for a final global gross of $231.9 million (All figures converted to U.S. dollars).

U2’s North American journey was equally impressive, selling 1,701,486 tickets overall for a year’s gross of $156 million.

But even though U2 was the 1,000 pound touring gorilla, it wasn’t the only act reaping box office success. Globally, Take That’s reunion tour with former member Robbie Williams took in $224 million during 2011 to place the British vocal group in second place. Third place went to Bon Jovi with the New Jersey band grossing $148.8 million during the year. Also achieving positions on Pollstar’s Top 5 Worldwide Tour chart are Taylor Swift ($104.2 million) and Roger Waters ($103.6 million).

How do the numbers add up when compared to last year? This year’s Top 25 Worldwide Tours grossed a combined $2.1 billion, nearly identical to last year.

This year’s Top 25 North American Tours grossed a combined $1.19 billion, which represents approximately a 4 percent drop from last year’s $1.24 billion. Although the overall dollar volume was down in 2011, the industry fared much better doing fewer shows and taking a more cautious approach in its objectives.

While U2 topped the North America chart, Taylor Swift’s $97.7 million gross resulted in second place for the country songbird. Third place went to Kenny Chesney for grossing $84.6 million for the year. Lady Gaga was the fourth-highest grossing artist in North America with $63.7 million and Bon Jovi took fifth place by grossing $57.1 million.

2012 is showing a lot of promise with acts such Van Halen, Madonna, Roger Waters and Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band among the top-tier concert draws hitting the road this year. Reunions will also be in play during the next 12 months as Brian Wilson rejoins The Beach Boys for the group’s 50th anniversary, Black Sabbath heads out with Ozzy Osbourne. Meanwhile, word is Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham will be in the next Fleetwood Mac tour.

"Another Man Down", the new video from Danish hard rockers ROYAL HUNT, can be seen below. The song comes off the band's 11th studio album, "Show Me How To Live", which was released on November 29 in North America and December 2 in Europe via Frontiers Records. The follow-up 2010's "X" was recorded at NorthPoint studio in Copenhahen and will be mixed at RoastingHouse Studios in Malmö, Sweden. The mastering duites were handled by Jan Eliasson at AudioPlanet in Copenhagen.

ADRENALINE MOB / ex-DREAM THEATER drummer Mike Portnoy has issued his Top 10 Albums Of 2011 list. Check it out below:

1) THE DEER HUNTER- The Complete Color Spectrum
2) STEVEN WILSON - Grace For Drowning
3) ANTHRAX - Worship Music
4) BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION - 2
5) FOO FIGHTERS - Wasting Light
6) SYMPHONY X - Iconoclast
7) ARCH/MATHEOS - Sympathetic Resonance
8) MASTODON - The Hunter
9) MACHINE HEAD - Unto The Locust
10) PROTEST THE HERRO - Scurrilous

Portnoy has also issued the following update:

"2011 marked a new beginning for me in many ways. It was an incredibly productive and fruitful year in which I was able to spread my musical wings a bit and work with so many great artists and friends.

I was able to release a new studio album (NEAL MORSE's Testimony 2), three live DVD/CD packages (TRANSATLANTIC, YELLOW MATTER CUSTARD and Neal Morse), perform live with five different bands (Yellow Matter Custard, Neal Morse, Adrenaline Mob, STONE SOUR and HAIL! - actually, 6 if you count the Metal Masters events!), and record two new albums for 2012 releases (FLYING COLORS and Adrenaline Mob)

I can't thank my fans, friends and family enough for standing by me, supporting me and always believing in me. I will continue to be one of the hardest working artists in the business for YOU and look forward to an incredible year ahead!"

Japan-based BLOOD STAIN CHILD's female vocalist Sophia has checked in with the following update:

"Well, before the end of 2011, I shall unveil a secret project I did exactly one year ago. How many of you have heard of the video game Touhou Project? Ryu (guitars) took the original background music and arranged it into proper songs. Artist name is SAVE THE QUEEN, the CD title is Perfect Eastern Dream. I used the nickname Somnium for this project. The song I sang, 'Distorted Princess', contains English, Japanese and Greek lyrics. Enjoy."

According to People.com, jeweler Loree Rodkin has confirmed that AEROSMITH frontman Steven Tyler is engaged and will get married for a third time. Tyler reportedly proposed to longtime girlfriend Erin Brady over the holidays, with Brady wearing a new diamond ring on her finger when the couple were photographed in Maui on Christmas Day (December 25). The pair have been together since 2006. Tyler, who has four children, was previously married to the late Cyrinda Foxe from 1978 to 1987 and designer Teresa Barrick from 1988 to 2005.

A spokesperson for Rodkin told People.com that the ring is totally unique.

"It's one of a kind, like all of her pieces," the rep said. "Steven has been a client of Loree's for many years, and often wears rings by her, as well as other jewelry."

According to TMZ.com, the news of the 63-year-old Tyler and the 38-year-old Brady's engagement has apparently not gone over well with several unidentified members of Tyler's family.

The family members were said to be upset that they had not been told of Tyler's plan to pop the question beforehand.

Reps for Tyler have yet to issue an official comment or statement. Tyler returns for his second season as a judge on "American Idol" on January 18, while a new AEROSMITH album is due out sometime in 2012.

VELVET REVOLVER will reunite with singer Scott Weiland for a short one-off performance at "Love You Madly: A Concert For John O'Brien" on Thursday, January 12 at the House Of Blues in West Hollywood, California. Also scheduled to appear are Adam Levine and James Valentine (MAROON 5), Sheryl Crow, Tom Morello (RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE), Stephen Stills and THE FOREST RANGERS.

It's been almost four years since VELVET REVOLVER parted ways with Weiland, and time appears to have healed all wounds. Although Scott and the band split on unfriendly terms, the vocalist told Classic Rock magazine earlier in the year, "We patched things up and we get along. I see them every now and again, we text each other. And you know, we can never say never. Who knows, maybe we'll do some shows some time."

According to The Pulse Of Radio, Weiland was reflective in the interview about his time in VELVET REVOLVER, which teamed him with former GUNS N' ROSES members Slash, Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum. He said, "That was right when I was getting off dope and those guys were all sober and clean, and I had a very special kind of kinship because we'd all experienced the same things . . . It was a great band to see live, and I think we made two exciting albums."

Weiland reunited with his original band, STONE TEMPLE PILOTS, just as his run with VELVET REVOLVER was coming to a close. STP has toured constantly since and recorded a new album last year.

VELVET REVOLVER has still not found a replacement vocalist and is more or less on hiatus, although it was recently revealed that the group recorded an album's worth of material with STONE SOUR and SLIPKNOT frontman Corey Taylor.

In a July 2011 interview with Brazil's "Lokaos Rock Show", VELVET REVOLVER drummer Matt Sorum said about the band's current status, "After [we parted ways with] Scott Weiland [in 2008]… We had such a great first record, especially. The second album is still a good album, but… It's hard to replace Scott for that particular band, I think.

"When we did VELVET REVOLVER, we wanted to make a modern rock album, and we had to figure out a way to make that work. We didn't wanna be like GUNS N' ROSES. We knew we had that in us anyway, especially the Slash and Duff sound was the initial sound of [GN'R's classic debut album] 'Appetite For Destruction', the way they played together and everything. Part of that chemistry was there, and when we added Scott, it brought it into a more modern rock element. He came more from grunge — the Seattle [sound like] SOUNDGARDEN, PEARL JAM and bands like that. So it took it sort of forward. We became more of a modern rock band and we were on modern rock radio."

"Love You Madly: A Concert For John O'Brien" pays tribute to award-winning ASCAP composer John O'Brien, who was found dead in his Chicago hotel room on August 20. He was 45 years old.

O'Brien's first prominent composing job came in 1997, when he provided music for the horror film "Nightwatch". He stayed active until his death, composing additional music for "Anywhere But Here", "Iron Man" and "Iron Man 2", "Pineapple Express", "Four Christmases" and "Couples Retreat". O'Brien also scored the ABC series "In Case Of Emergency" and "Detroit 1-8-7". He was most recently working as a music supervisor on the NBC sitcom "Up All Night".