Hungarian death metallers CASKETGARDEN have announced that their fourth album entitled The Estrangement Process will be released in the beginning of 2012.

The record will come out first as part of HammerWorld February 2012 attachment CD (with simpler, incomplete cover art). International release for the album will follow via Nail/Hammer Records in March 2012.

Preorder for the new album can be done here until January15, 2012.

The Estrangement Process was recorded in M and SuperSize Recording studios in Hungary. It was produced by Zoltán Varga (ABSURDITY, BLIND MYSELF, SUBSCRIBE, BRIDGE TO SOLACE) and Balázs Tóth. The album was also mixed and mastered by Varga at SuperSize Recording.

Tracklisting is as follows:

‘Black Hole Maelstrom’
‘Unlike’
‘They’
‘A Machine Within’
‘So Eager To Play’
‘Confess’
‘The Eternal Tremble’
‘Disgusting Soul’
‘The Minus Terminus’
‘Where Sanity Ends’

Willowtip Records has officially signed Sydney, Australia atmospheric death metal band BEYOND TERROR BEYOND GRACE.

The label will release the band’s newest album, Nadir, on April 3rd, 2012. Recorded and mixed by Joel Taylor at Three Phase Studios in Melbourne, Australia over only two weeks in May 2011, Nadir captures a band completely in its natural element, defying genre categorization and ignoring all current musical trends.

The artwork and layout was created by Colin Marks (NEVERMORE, ALL SHALL PERISH, WHITECHAPEL, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD) and can be seen below:

'Let's Unite In Rock' was written by Henrik Flyman (EVIL MASQUERADE) to the benefit of Metal For Cancer. Go to Metalforcancer.com and buy a copy of the song. It’s for a very good cause and all income is donated to the Australian Cancer Research Foundation.

Check out the 'Let's Unite In Rock' below:

Metal For Cancer is an idea put together by Richard Ofsoski where carefully selected quality heavy metal and hard rock artists contribute music for digital download to help raise funds for the fight against cancer. All proceeds go to ACRF (Australian Cancer Research Foundation) and approved by them.

The band:
Henrik Flyman - guitar (Evil Masquerade)
Peter Wildoer - drums (JAMES LABRIE, DARKANE, ARCH ENEMY)
Thor Jeppesen - bass (Evil Masquerade)
Artur Meinild - keyboard (Evil Masquerade)

Singers:
Mats Leven (THERION, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN)
Snowy Shaw (Therion, MERCYFUL FATE, DREAM EVIL)
Tony Kakko (SONATA ARCTICA, NORTHERN KINGS)
Apollo Papathanasio (Evil Masquerade, FIREWIND, SPIRITUAL BEGGARS)
Tony Mills (TNT, SHY)
Silvio Massaro (VANISHING POINT)
Richard Ofsoski (OFSOSKI, SEDITION)
Henrik Flyman (Evil Masquerade)
Lance King (AVIAN, PYRAMAZE)
Dagfinn Joensen (FATE)

Lead guitarists:
Glen Drover (MEGADETH, TESTAMENT, EIDOLON)
Henrik Flyman (Evil Masquerade)
Stu Marshall (Empires Of Eden)

Mixed and mastered by:
Jacob Hansen
Hansen Studios

Composed and produced by:
Henrik Flyman

Cover artist:
Barbara Ahearn

Video:
Thomas Trane
Crazy Trane Productions

German bashers SUIDAKRA have issued the following update:

"2011 is almost over, so this will be the final update for this year. We don't want to spend much time looking back, but instead we're planning our actions for 2012: Our first show in South America was just confirmed! We're looking forward to meet our fans in Brazil for the first time! Estamos ansiosos para vos encontrar! (Or something like that... Haha) In addition a major US tour is in the making - we're just waiting for our visas and paperwork before we'll release the dates in early 2012. And last but not least there are plans go to India in February, so keep your eyes peeled for new confirmed tour dates! Apart from the mentioned shows we'll not play live that much in 2012 (except from some cool festivals which are confirmed already!) but concentrate on writing a new record which is supposed to be recorded by the end of next year. Unfortunately our Christmas present will be late... The video clip editing for 'Balor' is finished, but the release was re-scheduled for sometime in January now. Anyway have a great holiday season and best wishes for the coming year!"

Austria's Stormbringer.at webzine has released a video documentary on the recently completed "Thrashfest Classics" European tour featuring SEPULTURA, EXODUS, DESTRUCTION, HEATHEN and MORTAL SIN. The 18-minute clip, which can be seen below, includes performance footage from the December 18 concert in Vienna as well as interviews with Andreas Kisser (SEPULTURA), Gary Holt (EXODUS), Marcel "Schmier" Schirmer (DESTRUCTION), David White (HEATHEN) and Mat Maurer (MORTAL SIN).

SEPULTURA's setlist for "Thrashfest Classics" consisted of material exclusively from the "Beneath The Remains", "Arise" and "Chaos A.D." albums. The trek's other co-headliner, EXODUS, performed songs from the "Bonded By Blood", "Pleasures Of The Flesh" and "Fabulous Disaster"; DESTRUCTION played tracks from "Sentence Of Death" and "Infernal Overkill"; and HEATHEN performed selections from "Breaking The Silence" and "Victims Of Deception". MORTAL SIN's setlist consisted of material from the "Mayhemic Destruction" and "Face Of Despair" albums.

ICED EARTH mastermind Jon Schaffer's SONS OF LIBERTY project has released a brand new five-song EP, "Spirit Of The Times", via iTunes and "other digital channels." Schaffer states, "We have chosen to not involve a record label for now. We wanted to do this directly from us to you."

Schaffer developed SONS OF LIBERTY for the purpose of spreading awareness about the current state of affairs worldwide. Jon's goal for this project is not to sell records, t-shirts or tickets, but rather wake people up and to get them to start researching and talking with each other.

"Spirit Of The Times" track listing:

01. Alive
02. Full Spectrum Dominance
03. Molon Labe
04. Mind Control
05. Spirit Of The Times

The title track can now be streamed in the YouTube clip below.

Says Schaffer: "It is my sincere hope that this EP will continue to spread brushfires of liberty in the minds of people from all corners of the globe.

"I wish I would have had time to write, record, and mix more songs, but with the intense and demanding schedule that ICED EARTH is requiring from me, this is the best I could do.

"On this recording, I was once again joined by Jim Morris (guitar solos, backing vocals) and Ruben Drake (bass guitar). Jim and I programmed the drums in order to keep recording costs down.

"As you know, SONS OF LIBERTY is about the message and the idea, but there are costs involved to keep it going.

"Though I still encourage you to make copies and pass them out to everyone you can, there will not be a free download available this time around.

"Due to my recording and touring schedule with ICED EARTH, I have not been as present as I would like to be in the cause for liberty.

"Please know that I stand with all of you freedom fighters in spirit, regardless of what race you are, what language you speak, or which God you choose, or not choose, to worship. I will be there when duty calls; count on it.

"The free human spirit is rising all over the planet.

"I've been fortunate enough in my travels to speak with some amazing and very awake people in the last few years, and I can honestly and gladly state, that we are having an effect.

"Continue to educate yourselves, think for yourselves, use your power of discernment, and most importantly; be there for each other.

"Good people all over the world can band together and make this a world of peace and prosperity for all of its inhabitants if only we truly connect with the power and will of the free human spirit.

"Thanks so much for supporting the cause!"

Released in July 2010, SONS OF LIBERTY's debut CD, "Brush-Fires Of The Mind", landed at position No. 132 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.

Fore more information, visit www.sons-of-liberty.net.

Italian rock/metal band LACUNA COIL recently answered a number of fan-submitted questions for the HailsAndHorns.com web site. A few excerpts from the chat follow below.

HailsAndHorns.com: Which of your past songs has the deepest lyrical meaning for you and why?

Cristina Scabbia (vocals): I feel connected with all the lyrics I wrote, so it would be kinda unfair to mention one song only… but I'll give you one of them. I feel really attached to a song called "Falling" 'cause it's a very personal one with a decadent mood. It's related to the feelings you can have after a breakup or in a bad moment of your life. It's an easy song to relate to 'cause I am absolutely sure everyone felt like that at least once in a lifetime.

HailsAndHorns.com: In my opinion, you are one of the finest metal bands out there. How do you keep your sound unique and fresh and original and awesome?

Cristina Scabbia (vocals): I think the key is to be open-minded and realize that as life proceeds, experiences are different and you change as a person. That doesn't mean refusing the past but it means to get the best out if it and to be ready to embrace the future. We never felt the pressure to enter the clichГ©s; we actually don't really conform to any. It can be good or bad, but that's what we are and whoever loves us it's because they really love LACUNA COIL, not a genre.

HailsAndHorns.com: You are my idol. You are strong, meaningful and a hell of a model figure to look up to. How do you see yourself? Did you ever think you would be a role model to somebody like me, and who was yours?

Cristina Scabbia (vocals): I see myself as a geeky girl who's been able to realize that it is beautiful to be unique, as everyone is. I love to play with my image and I find myself a pretty sensual person, but at the same time I am surprised when people look at me as a sex symbol. I barely wear makeup offstage and my fans know it. I am happy to be a role model to some people, 'cause I am sure that whoever looks up to me can see the "girl next door that rocks" thing

HailsAndHorns.com: How was the recording process of "Dark Adrenaline"?

Marco Coti Zelati (bass): Very long but amazing, for me personally. I had to spend everyday from beginning to end in the studio. But I love it because I learn something new every time I'm in the studio. By the way, this time we were not stressed as with our previous albums because we recorded all the music except for the keyboards in our hometown, so good food every day, home with family during the night, and working with great people that like to have fun during the recording session and not thinking about work every second. And as for vocals and keyboards, we recorded those in L.A. in a very relaxing studio without pressure and no chaos at all, so I'm very happy about that!

Read the entire interview at the HailsAndHorns.com web site.

"Kill The Light" audio stream:

RATT singer Stephen Pearcy has posted the following message on his Facebook page:

"I woke this morning to terrible news. We lost a dear friend, band mate and a sweet soul. Tim Garcia, original bass player from our [pre-RATT] band (1977-1980) MICKEY RATT.

"Tim was an amazing bass player. Even the first day auditioning him for the band in 1977 playing [LED] ZEPPELIN's 'Immigrant Song', Chris Hager (ROUGH CUTT, MICKEY RATT lead guitarist) and I were blown away. We found our man. He was so dedicated, read music, played anything we showed him. He remembered every song and parts Chris and I would even forget to this day. We always kicked ass with Tim, and he was always willing to be a partner in crime.

"When I moved the band to L.A. in January 1980, he only played a few shows and returned to San Diego to start a family. He got married, had a child and life sent Tim on another path. We always kept in touch. Tim even played with my solo band a few years back when I couldn't lock in a player to hit the road.

"We recently talked about getting the original band (MICKEY RATT) back together for a one-time reunion.

"I'm deeply crushed today and just wanted to share his brilliance as a great friend, musician (even if not a household name), bandmate and just a great soul.

"Another one gone.

"Life is short. Let's appreciate even those we have trouble understanding due to substance abuse who are our loved ones or friends.

"Rest in peace, Timmy. Your playing is always with us and you did eventually make it on records. MICKEY RATT set the foundation for my band RATT.

"Our music lives on, Tim. Love ya brother.

Pictured below (left to right): Tim Garcia, Stephen Pearcy, Chris Hager, John Turner

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

According to Ontario Provincial Police, the accident — which involved a vehicle and a pedestrian — occurred at 1:30 p.m. on Highway 400 north of Highway 89.

The police shut down the northbound lanes at Highway 89 and traffic was diverted from the scene as OPP highway safety investigators collected evidence.

The cause of the collision remains under investigation.

The accident occurred just hours after Gold texted his mother in Sault Ste. Marie that he was on his way home, according to Local2.ca.

There were no other injuries.

WOODS OF YPRES' new album, "Woods 5: Grey Skies & Electric Light", will be released in 2012 via Earache Records. The CD was recorded with producer Siegfried Meier (KITTIE) at Beach Road Studios in Ontario, Canada, and was mixed by John Fryer (NINE INCH NAILS, PARADISE LOST).

Earache Records set up a memorial page on its web site after learning of Gold's death.

Formed in 2002, WOODS OF YPRES has earned critical acclaim for its ever-evolving, envelope-pushing mix of blackened doom metal. Most often compared to bands such as AGALLOCH and TYPE O NEGATIVE, WOODS OF YPRES toes a thin line between the catchy, the artistic and the extreme to create an unmistakable signature sound.

WOODS OF YPRES' recently released single, the now-ominously-titled "Kiss My Ashes (Goodbye)", can be streamed in the YouTube clip below.

In February, Christian hard rockers STRYPER released "The Covering", a tribute album to the classic rock and metal bands they cherished growing up.

Produced by frontman Michael Sweet, "The Covering" was unlike any previous STRYPER recording in that it was a collection of cover songs from bands that inspired them and helped to shape their sound and musical identity, including hits from JUDAS PRIEST, IRON MAIDEN, LED ZEPPELIN, KANSAS and many others. "The Covering" also included "God", a new original recording from STRYPER.

One of the standout tracks on "The Covering" is STRYPER's barnstorming version of IRON MAIDEN's 1983 single "The Trooper".

"I grew up on IRON MAIDEN and they were equally as important to me as JUDAS PRIEST was back in the day," Michael Sweet tells AOL's Noisecreep.

"I remember the first time I heard MAIDEN with [singer Bruce] Dickinson like it was yesterday. 'Run To The Hills' came on the radio and I was in my garage and I for a split-second I thought it was JUDAS PRIEST. I had never heard anyone else sing like Rob Halford up 'till then.

"I had heard MAIDEN's first two records, when they had Paul Di'Anno on vocals, but this was something much different to me. Dickinson had that wide vibrato, operatic thing that definitely reminded me of Halford. I was floored!

"Anyway, I went out and bought 'Number Of The Beast' that same day and was hooked."

Sweet told Noisecreep that while it was his idea to cover "The Trooper", he "didn't take into consideration how difficult that would actually be for me as a singer. We covered bands like SCORPIONS, DEEP PURPLE, and LED ZEPPELIN on 'The Covering', but the song that kicked my butt the hardest was 'The Trooper'.

"It's not just the technical side of Bruce Dickinson's approach, but also the tone and uniqueness of his voice. He's a guy that just has it all when it comes to being a metal and hard rock singer. You have vocalists like David Lee Roth who have more character to their voices than technique and then vocalists who are the opposite. Well, Dickinson has both. Once I said to myself, 'Just sing this song like Michael Sweet would sing it,' then it clicked. But trust me, it wasn't easy at first."

DISTURBED went on an open-ended hiatus earlier this fall, following the completion of the touring cycle for its 2010 album "Asylum".

During this year's Dimebash, which was held on December 14 at the Key Club in Hollywood, California, DISTURBED singer David Draiman was asked by the Artisan News what his plans were for 2012. "To relax, man," he replied. "I'm trying to work with a couple of different bands, doing some production. I'm really just kind of chilling. I wanna go ahead and impregnate my wife and have a baby. [Laughs] You know — be a normal human being for about five seconds."

Draiman married Lena Yada — a Japanese-American model, actress, professional tandem surfer and professional wrestler — on September 25 in Texas. The Pulse Of Radio asked Draiman how he thought becoming a married man might change his music. "You know, I can only imagine that it would give me more inspiration to write," he said. "I think that when you all of a sudden become a family man, and you have more to worry about than just yourself, your concerns, they build, in terms of things going on with the world, in terms of your life, in terms of your fears and your hopes and your dreams. And so I really think it'll be a tremendous catalyst for potential inspiration."

Draiman said in several interviews this past summer that "personal reasons" and the general state of the music industry factored in DISTURBED's decision to take a breather.

DISTURBED has not indicated when it plans to return, although all four members say it's not likely that the group will stay away for good.

DISTURBED released its first-ever collection of B-sides and rarities, titled "The Lost Children", on November 8. The set includes a previously unreleased song called "Mine" as well as a benefit track for the West Memphis Three titled "3", plus tunes that previously appeared only on soundtracks or as bonus cuts on international editions of the group's albums.

M.A.N ("Massive Audio Nerve") — the Swedish metal-hardcore-progressive four-piece featuring TRANSPORT LEAGUE/ex-MNEMIC frontman Tony Jelencovich — has parted ways with guitarist Nils Olsson and drummer Andreas Engberg and has replaced them with Mark Black (ex-DREAM EVIL, DRAGONLORD) on and Adde Larsson (BLACK CANDY STORE, ex-ENGEL, URBANDUX), respectively.

M.A.N will enter IF Studios, the IN FLAMES-owned facility in Gothenburg, Sweden, in February 2012 with producer Roberto Laghi (IN FLAMES, SONIC SYNDICATE, HARDCORE SUPERSTAR, LOK) to begin recording its fourth album, "Cancer Vulgaris". 12 songs will be recorded for the effort, including "Hoax", "This Generation", "Smack Down", "Young Insect", "Death Song", "Grace Of Time", "Lights Out", "Man Slaughter", "Cryosync" and "Sahara".

M.A.N's third album, "Massive Audio Nerve", was released on March 26, 2010 via the German label Tiefdruck Musik. The CD was recorded at Grand Recordings in Gothenburg, Sweden with engineer Svein Jensen and was mixed by Ulrich Wild, who has previously worked with WHITE ZOMBIE, STAIND, STATIC-X, DEFTONES, PANTERA and LIMP BIZKIT, among others. The mastering was handled by Maor Appelbaum at Maor Appelbaum Mastering in Encino, California.

According to NorthFulton.com, drum top autographed by MÖTLEY CRÜE along with two guitar picks were stolen from a house in the Polo Fields in Cumming, Georgia.

The incident took place sometime between 8 a.m. on December 12 and 11:30 a.m. on December 14.

There were no signs of forced entry into the home, which is currently for sale.

According to a Forsyth County Sheriff's incident report, it appears that someone used the real estate key left in a lock box to gain access into the residence.

The stolen items are valued at about $600.

British vocalist Sarah Jezebel Deva — who has toured and/or recorded with CRADLE OF FILTH, THERION, MORTIIS and ANGTORIA — has issued the following update:

"In 2008, I parted ways with CRADLE OF FILTH, to pursue a life in Australia, bum some kangaroos and to go it alone as a solo musician.

"I know a lot of fans were disappointed with the departure and until now, whenever a fan asks, 'Will you ever work with CRADLE OF FILTH again?,' the answer has been NO!!

"Well, last week, Mr. Filth [CRADLE OF FILTH frontman vocalist Dani 'Filth' Davey] sent me an email and after many chats, I have decided to take him up on his offer to participate on [CRADLE OF FILTH's] new orchestral album, 'Midnight In The Labyrinth'.

"[I] hope this will make some of you happy. If it doesn't, well, you will get over it."

Dani 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 2012, "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

Austrian black metallers HELLSAW entered Munich’s Dreamsound Studios back in July to record their fourth full-length album. Titled Trist, the album is the follow up to 2009’s Cold, and is due for release on Napalm Records on February 24th, 2012.

1. The Devil Is Calling My Name
2. Sorrow Is Horror
3. Doom Pervades My Nightmares
4. The Forerunner of the Apocalypse
5. Death Bells
6. Trist
7. A Winter Cold
8. Beldam. 1450
9. Silence

British female singer Sarah Jezebel Deva (CRADLE OF FILTH, THERION, MORTIIS), and Swedish composer Chris Rehn (ABYSSOS) will begin work on a new album in January which will pick up where their last collaborative effort, ANGTORIA, left off five years ago. According to Sarah, "the music will continue in the same vein as [ANGTORIA's 2006] debut album, 'God Has A Plan For Us All', blending the world of epic orchestral music with metal."

Due to reasons beyond their control, Sarah and Chris have to change the name of the project. More information will be made during the coming weeks.

"God Has A Plan For Us All" was released in Europe in April 2006 via Listenable Records. The CD was issued in North America in October of that same year.

ANGTORIA's video for the title track can be seen below. Sarah previously stated about the track and the accompanying clip, "The song covers two subjects but they are both linked. Written about a man who preaches god's word yet finds it acceptable to sexually abuse children. Also this song describes the pitiful chilché used by many religous people who can't offer any other explanation as to why people suffer in their life. Rape, murder, poverty, whatever it may be, the only excuse that can be offered is: 'God Has A Plan For Us All!'"

She added, "The video was filmed at two locations, a very impressive and beautiful church (Njurunda Kyrka) and an abandoned deteriorated building, over a three-day period and due to the lyrical theme of the song it was filmed as a 'short movie.' It contains footage of as well the band as Chris' five-year-old daughter Saga who played the child, Toni Davey (wife of Dani Filth in CRADLE OF FILTH and covergirl on the [ANGTORIA] album) who played the child as a grown-up to a 35-piece church choir and a priest played by Pierre Ragnehag!"

Cleveland, Ohio metallers CHIMAIRA have released a free digital EP, "The Age Of Remix Hell", via Multiupload.com.

The track listing for the effort — which, as the title suggests, contains remixed versions of songs from CHIMAIRA's latest album, "The Age Of Hell" — is as follows:

01. Year Of The Snake (Dubba Jonny Mix)
02. Clockwork (Hunter Mix)
03. Year Of The Snake (Allinaline Mix)
04. Losing My Mind (Allinaline Mix)

Guitarists Rob Arnold and Matt DeVries will be leaving CHIMAIRA at the end of 2011. Vocalist Mark Hunter says, "We understand that life invades art, everything runs its course, and we have to take different paths. We respect their decision and wish them only the best. We made heavy metal history together and that is all that matters at the end of the day. 'Chimaira Christmas 12' [on December 30] will be their last show, and we've been preparing to make it one that you'll never forget."

"The Age Of Hell" sold more than 7,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 54 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous CD, "The Infection", opened with 15,000 units back in April 2009 to land at No. 30. This figure was roughly in line with the first-week tally registered by CHIMAIRA's 2007 album, "Resurrection", which shifted 16,000 copies to enter the chart at No. 42.

"The Age Of Hell" was released in the U.S. on August 16 via eOne Music; in Germany on August 26; and in the United Kingdom, Australia and the rest of Europe on August 29 through Long Branch Records.

Photo credit: Todd Bell