Swedish deathcrust ensemble BOMBS OF HADES has inked a deal with Pulverised Records.

Spawned in 2002 as a crustpunk act, BOMBS OF HADES quickly mutated into a gristly old-school Swedish death metal direction, while still retaining a strong d-beat/crust vibe. Fronted by Jonas Stålhammar (GOD MACABRE, UTUMNO) who recently served briefly with legendary Swedish thrashers THE CROWN, the band is now geared up for its second full-length, entitled "A Serpent's Redemption". The follow-up to 2010's "Chambers Of Abominations", which was released via Blood Harvest Records, is expected to drop sometime next year.

Commented Stålhammar: "BOMBS OF HADES are psyched to have the next album released through Pulverised.

"'A Serpent's Redemption' will satisfy souls starved for some true old-school death metal and will be unleashed before the summer of 2012."

Added Pulverised Records A&R manager Calvin Chiang: "BOMBS OF HADES are one band that have been on our radar for some time now. We finally thought it was time to seize the opportunity to grab them for a brand new record. To further confirm that our gut feeling was correct, our good old friend Ayong (founder of Pulverised Records) coincidentally recommended the band and strongly insisted we get BOMBS OF HADES on our roster by hook or by crook! Expect full-blown death metal abomination!"

SOULS ON 11 — the project featuring former MEGADETH guitarist Jeff Young and 24-year-old Swedish singer Guernica Mancini — had its October 21 performance at Genghis Cohen Restaurant, Bar & Music Room in Hollywood, California filmed for DVD release. Joining Young and Mancini during the concert were James Lomenzo (bass; MEGADETH, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, WHITE LION) and Debby Holiday (vocals).

A test edit of the song "Maybe Tomorrow" from the DVD can be seen below.

A demo version of "Collateral Damage", a brand new song from Australian/Los Angeles tech-metal masters DEVOLVED, can be streamed using the ReverbNation TuneWidget below. The track will be featured on the band's next album, to be released in 2012. All music was written and performed by John Sankey and Mark Hawkins, with lyrics and arrangement by John Sankey. The vocals were performed by DEVOLVED's new lead singer, Mark Haggblad (UNVEIL THE STRENGTH), following the recent departure of Kyle Zemanek (DEADSETT).

rench brutal djent metal mongers OUTCAST have inked a deal with Listenable Records. The band's third album, "Awaken The Reason", will be released in Europe on February 20, 2012. According to a press release, the CD will be the group's "strongest and most solid recording so far," which "genuinely capture[s] the band's musical madness." It features "a modern-sounding-yet-organic production spiced up by some frenzy extreme guitar and drums assaults."

Commmented OUTCAST: "'Awaken The Reason' was recorded between January and September 2010 at The Artist The Office Studio. It was mixed at Split Second Sound Studio by Jochem Jacobs (TEXTURES) in October/November 2010 and then mastered at West West Side Music by Alan Douches (MASTODON, THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN). The album was composed between 2006 and 2009, mixing various influences, [including] Steve Vai, GOJIRA, DREAM THEATER, DEVIN TOWNSEND, TEXTURES and SIKTH. Our main goal was to stay away from traditionnal death music and produce a progressive album with personnal signature. Eighty percent of the album was composed by Nicolas [Soulat, guitar] but everyone was at work to improve melodies and songwriting. That's why the album sounds like a concept album even if it's not. This way of thinking music mixed with several aproaches of riffing and soloing constitute, in our opinion, the main guideline and would confer strong marks to the listener. So our minds were opened and focused on originality using old and new references in the whole metal industry."

Regarding how the new album compares to OUTCAST's earlier efforts, the band said, "The more obvious difference between 'Awaken The Reason' and 'Self Injected Reality', our previous album, is the production, which gives more space and organic feelings to the composition. The composition and songs themselves are more colored and progressive, more subtle in the ambiences are not just full-rooted in death metal."

According to TMZ.com, former WARRANT singer Jani Lane left behind no will when he died of alcohol poisoning in August, and now his oldest daughter has asked the court to approve an estate administrator to start figuring things out.

Lane's estate is reportedly valued at $600,000, though it's unclear exactly what it's made up of.

Jani is survived by his wife, Kimberly; a brother, Eric; three sisters, Marcine Williams, Michelle Robinson and Victoria Oswald; a daughter from his first marriage, Taylar Lane; a daughter from his second marriage, Madison Lane; and two stepdaughters, Ryan and Brittany.

Lane suffered from "acute ethanol poisoning" when he died at a Comfort Inn motel room in Woodland Hills, California on August 11.

The singer had battled alcoholism for years and also had a history of alcohol-related arrests. His sister, Vicky Oswald-Ley, told RadarOnline.com that the death of their mother seven years ago affected Lane's battles against alcohol. "She would always talk him into going into rehab and hospitals," she said. "I think when she passed, that desire to stay healthy died too."

"He finally succumbed to that," Steinman said. "He lost his battle over alcohol."

A mere 71 days after announcing Dilana Robichaux as the band's new lead singer, L.A. GUNS has already parted ways with the former "Rock Star: Supernova" reality-TV show contestant and has replaced her with former BLACKLIST UNION frontman Tony West.

Although no reason was given for Robichaux's departure, she insisted on her Facebook page that she never quit L.A. GUNS. "Tracii [Guns, L.A. GUNS guitarist] walked out saying, 'Thank you, it was fun while it lasted,'" she said, before calling the band "a fucking joke" and claiming that she has already secured a publisher for a planned tell-all book that would include her version of what happened during her short-lived stint as the group's lead vocalist. "I have all the notes written n some recorded about this very fucked up L.A. GUNS tour," she wrote. "One day, you will understand!"

Commenting on Dilana's time with L.A. GUNS, Tracii tweeted, "It was truly the best L.A. GUNS I ever heard on stage, hands down. Sometimes the greatest art comes from the madness and this was the case here. I know Dilana is ripping on every aspect of the situation and I know that’s how she vents, so I am OK with it."

British progressive metallers THRESHOLD have set "March Of Progress" as the title of their new album, due early next year via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD will mark marks the return of the band's original vocalist Damian Wilson (HEADSPACE, STAR ONE) who rejoined the group in 2007 following the departure of Andrew "Mac" McDermott, who sadly passed away in August.

"March Of Progress" is being produced at Thin Ice Studios and Eightspace Studio in the U.K. by Karl Groom and Richard West.
Provisional songtitles set to appear on the CD include:

* Ashes
* Return of the Thought Police
* Colophon
* Staring at the Sun
* Liberty Complacency Dependency
* Divinity
* The Hours
* Don't Look Down
* That's Why we Came
* The Rubicon
* Coda

Vocalist Derrick Green of Brazilian/American thrashers SEPULTURA — who are currently on the road in Europe as part of the the "Thrashfest Classics" tour with EXODUS, DESTRUCTION, HEATHEN and MORTAL SIN — posted a picture of his band's damaged tour bus (see below) on his Facebook page with the following caption:

"This happened right next to my bed!! Let me tell you, this is a hell of a way to wake up in the morning!!! The driver had some parking problems [in Leipzig, Germany]."

SEPULTURA played its first show with new drummer Eloy Casagrande (GLÓRIA, ANDRÉ MATOS) on November 25 in Lichtenfels, Germany.

Casagrande joined SEPULTURA as the replacement for Jean Dolabella, who left the band because he could no longer handle being away from home for long periods of time.

Eloy is a 20-year-old drum prodigy from São Paulo, Brazil who won the Modern Drummer "Undiscovered Drummer" contest as a teenager in 2006.

Dolabella left SEPULTURA after a five-year run of relentless touring and two studio albums. He joined SEPULTURA in 2006 following the departure of the band's original drummer, Igor Cavalera.

SEPULTURA is touring in support of its 12th studio album, and Nuclear Blast Records debut, "Kairos", which hit stores in July.

According to YLE, the Helsinki District Court has dismissed charges of libel related to the contents of an authorized book about the Finnish symphonic metal band NIGHTWISH.

Marcelo Cabuli, the husband of former NIGHTWISH singer Tarja Turunen, and his business partners demanded nearly 100,000 euros (approximately $135,000) in defamation damages from the parties behind "Once Upon a Nightwish: The Official Biography 1996-2006". Named in the lawsuit were the publishing house Like Kustannus Oy and the author of the book, Marko "Mape" Ollila. Cabuli and his Brazilian business partners argued that the book includes false accusations and insinuations that have caused them suffering and financial problems.

The book, which was published in Finnish in 2006 and in English three years later, blames Cabuli for the events leading up to Turunen's dramatic expulsion from the band in late 2005.

The court ruled that the book — which criticizes Cabuli on only a few of its 380 pages — did not detrimentally affect his work or reputation in South America. In addition, the court determined that Ollila did not maliciously portray Cabuli in a negative light.

As a writer, Ollila had the right to report what people familiar with NIGHTWISH told him in interviews, the District Court said.

The Argentine businessman sought more than 50,000 euros in damages over claims made in the book, while three of his Brazilian business partners are seeking 15,000 euros each.

Cabuli earlier in the year dropped some of his previous demands, such as that the author and publisher should receive harsher punishment because "Cabuli is a citizen of Argentina," according to Ilta-Sanomat.

Like Kustannus Oy CEO Päivi Isosaari and Ollila denied the charges and stood behind the book, which chronicles NIGHTWISH's rise to the status of one of the most successful symphonic metal acts in the world, including the circumstances that led to the departure of Turunen. Isosaari and Ollila insisted that they had good reason to believe that the claims of the book were true and they intended to call Ollila's sources, including several influential music-business figures, as their witnesses.

"Well, I did read the text and I authorized it to be published and therefore I stand behind the book," Isosaari told Ilta-Sanomat in a 2009 interview.

Turunen was fired from NIGHTWISH a year before the book was published.

"Once Upon a Nightwish: The Official Biography 1996-2006" has reportedly sold 11,000 copies in Finland since its 2006 release.

In his 2006 review of the book, Jarkko Jokelainen of Helsingin Sanomat wrote, "The book points the finger [for the split with Tarja] most firmly in the direction of Marcelo Cabuli, husband and personal manager of the band's former vocal soloist Tarja Turunen. With every turning page, the charges against the Argentine Cabuli get heavier and heavier.

"The portrait of Marcelo Cabuli depicts a money-grasping, less-than-honest, arbitrary, and manipulative manager who was engaged on setting up his wife's solo career and who drove a wedge between her and the other members of the power metal band.

"NIGHTWISH's contractual dealings and touring plans became a painful exercise, as there was 'a Hispanic in the works' at every turn.

"Against this background, it is somewhat awkward that the defendant himself does not get a hearing in the book, even though the other sources close to the band are given full rein to open their hearts and mouths. Not even Tarja Turunen gets to comment on her husband's doings.

"It is probable that the decision is the couple's own, but this does not disguise the fact that it is the book's greatest drawback. The author Marko 'Mape' Ollila has sought to be even-handed in his coverage, but in part for the reasons above, this band-history inevitably becomes a speech on behalf of the male members of the group and other figures in the background.

"NIGHTWISH would seem on the basis of this work to have been so divided into two distinct camps that both sides of the story cannot be fitted between the covers of one book."

The first anniversary of the disastrous earthquake in Japan will be on March 11th, 2012. The aftermath of this catastrophe is still apparent, and to the present day the Japanese people are facing the impact of the events. The population of the affected area has not been able to completely return to their everyday live and the people are still grateful for help.

Some of Europe’s leading rock artists have united to join a campaign initiated by singer Tommy Heart (SOUL DOCTOR, FAIR WARNING) and recorded a tremendous new version of the classic BEATLES song 'Help'. The EP Help! For Japan will be released in Europe on the German label Avenue Of Allies in early March 2012. All income from the sales of this project will be donated to the Japanese Red Cross.

This EP includes the following four songs:
'Help!'
'Help!' (Tommy Heart Version)
'Help!' (Guitar Version)
'Help!' (Extended Version)

The musicians: Don Airey (keyboards and piano; DEEP PURPLE), Leo Leoni (guitar; GOTTHARD), Neil Murray (bass; ex-WHITESNAKE), Hena Habegger (drums; GOTTHARD)

The singers: Tobias Sammet (EDGUY, AVANTASIA), Bob Catley (MAGNUM), Andi Deris (HELLOWEEN), Torstein Flakne (STAGE DOLLS), Marc Storace (KROKUS), David Readman (PINK CREAM 69), Claus Lessmann (BONFIRE), Oliver Hartmann (HARTMANN), Bernhard Weiss (AXXIS), Michael Kiske (UNISONIC), Tony Mills (TNT), Carsten Lizard Schulz (EVIDENCE ONE) and Tommy Heart (Soul Doctor, Fair Warning),

The solo guitar players: Cede Dupont (DOWNSPIRIT), Kyoji Yamamoto (BOWWOW), Helge Engelke (Fair Warning), Roland Grapow (MASTERPLAN), Leo Leoni (Gotthard), Henny Wolter (NITROGODS), Robert R. Rodrigo (AIRLESS)

All 'Help!' versions produced and mixed by Tommy Heart, Tommy Remm and Rene Schostak (VALICON).
Vocal arrangement by Tommy Heart.
Solo guitar arrangement for 'Help!' (guitar version) by Helge Engelke.
Audio mastering by TMM/Tom Müller Berlin/Germany.
Cover artwork 'Help! For Japan' designed by Kai Swillus.

DREAM THEATER guitarist John Petrucci, bassist John Myung, and keyboardist Jordan Rudess have listed their Top 10 albums of 2011 for Roadrunner Records. Check them out below:

John Petrucci:
1) RED - Until We Have Faces: "I just love everything about the Red album. The songwriting, playing and production are all stellar!"

2) TRIVIUM - In Waves
3) OPETH - Heritage
4) CHICKENFOOT - III
5) JOE BONAMASSA - Dust Bowl
6) YOUNG THE GIANT - s/t
7) THE ARISTOCRATS - s/t
8) ADELE - 21
9) BON IVER - s/t
10) STEEL PANTHER - Balls Out

John Myung:
1) DEATH CAB FOR CUTIES - Codes And Keys: "Chemistry, lyrics, and production."

2) OPETH - Heritage
3) MEGADETH - TH1RT3EN
4) YES - Fly From Here
5) RADIOHEAD - The King of Limbs
6) STAIND - s/t
7) TRIVIUM - In Waves
8) RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS - I'm With You
9) BLACKFIELD - Welcome To My DNA
10) STEVEN WILSON - Grace For Drowning

Jordan Rudess:
1) STEVEN WILSON - Grace For Drowning: "Although yes, I did play on this album, that is NOT why I chose it! It is an album full of mystery and imagination, melody and sonic adventure. There is real inspiration to be found and the best music happens when one can tap into the muse like Steven Wilson."

2) OPETH - Heritage
3) MODESELEKTOR - Monkeytown
4) APPARAT - The Devil's Walk
5) THE ARISTOCRATS - s/t
6) BEARDFISH - Mammoth
7) BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION - 2
8) RADIOHEAD - The King of Limbs
9) SYMPHONY X - Iconoclast
10) DEVIN TOWNSEND - Deconstruction

BLACK SABBATH legends Geezer Butler and Ozzy Osbourne joined METALLICA on stage last night (Saturday, December 10) for the fourth and final intimate show at the Fillmore in San Francisco as part of the week-long celebration of its 30th anniversary as a band for fan club members only. METALLICA bassist Robert Trujillo introduced Geezer as "my hero, [late METALLICA bassist] Cliff Burton's hero, [former METALLICA bassist] Jason Newsted's hero," before Butler and the METALLICA guys ripped through a mini-medley of SABBATH's "Sabbra Cadabra" and "A National Acrobat". Ozzy appeared on stage next, leading the musicians through a spirited double shot of "Iron Man" and "Paranoid".

Earlier today Geezer posted the following message on his official web site: "I had the pleasure and honor of jamming 'Sabbra Cadabra'/'A National Acrobat', and then 'Iron Man'/'Paranoid' (with Ozzy) with METALLICA at their 30th-anniversary MetClub [official METALLICA fan club] gig last night (Saturday, December 10) in San Francisco at the Fillmore. Great bunch of guys, and, of course, one of the world's greatest bands. They did their fan club proud. The late, great Cliff Burton was definitely in the house with us, and smiling…"

Fan-filmed video footage of last night's performance can be seen below.

A few years ago, METALLICA frontman James Hetfield told Rolling Stone magazine that he was surprised at how choked up he'd gotten while honoring BLACK SABBATH at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in March 2006 at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. Hetfield — dressed in black jeans and a black shirt amid a sea of tuxedos — fought back tears as he recalled a young James, nine years old, stealing SABBATH records from his older brother. "Those monstrous riffs lived inside of him and spoke the feelings he could never put into words, sending chills of inspiration through him," Hetfield said. "They helped crack the shell he was stuck in. . . They have spread their wonderful disease through generations of musicians." (Read the full text of METALICA's induction speech at this location.)

Afterward, Hetfield told Rolling Stone, "It was like, 'Oh, no, I'm going to start crying,'" he said. "I'd never known it until I had to access all those emotions in front of that crowd, but it just goes to show how much SABBATH mean."

Motörhead Vödka is a new premium vodka made from 100% locally grown wheat that has been distilled and bottled in the small market town of Malmköping, Sweden. It has a rich, full bodied and complex character, with a light and fruity aftertaste. A touch of barley gives the vodka a rounded and mellow grain character. Its distinctive taste is further enhanced by the unique locally sourced water, which has been naturally filtered for thousands of years in a ridge in Malmköping. It’s an easy-drinking vodka, that can be enjoyed both with and without ice.

Details:

Article number: 86365
Price: 393 SEK (approx.. $60 US)
Producer: Malmköpings Nya Spritbolag AB
Distributor: Grapes Svenska AB
Alcohol by volume: 40% vol

MAGENTA HARVEST, the Finnish death metal band featuring current and former members of FINNTROLL, CHTHONIAN, MYGRAIN and ...AND OCEANS, will enter the studio later this month to begin recording its second demo. According to a press release, the new effort will see the group widening its soundscape with the help of Aleksi Virta of FINNTROLL, who "will create some epic keyboard stuff" to go along with the material. An early 2012 release is expected.

MAGENTA HARVEST released its debut EP, "A Familiar Room", in February. The four tracks — "Spawn Of Neglect", "Sermon", "Killing Sign" and "A Familiar Room" — can now be streamed below.

MAGENTA HARVEST was formed in 2005 as a two-man project featuring Timo Kontio (HAVOC UNIT, ...AND OCEANS) on guitar and Janne Manninen (MYGRAIN, ...AND OCEANS) on drums. In 2009, second guitarist Timo Hanhikangas (TOTAL VOMIT EXPERIENCE) and bassist Jonas Frilund (CHTHONIAN) joined the band. Another year went by before Mathias Lillmåns (FINNTROLL, CHTHONIAN) agreed to front the group.

MAGENTA HARVEST states: "[Lillmåns' addition to the band] was easy because we had discussed about this with Mathias already a few years earlier, but the decision wasn't that clear at first because Mathias were quite busy with his other musical activities and we thought also that there was no need for any singer before we had the rest of band in order and also some stuff ready to work with.

"When Mathias joined the band he actually came directly to the studio. Of course he didn't have any lyrics ready then, but luckily we got help from Jan (ex-FINNTROLL). "

MAGENTA HARVEST is:

* Timo Hanhikangas (TOTAL VOMIT EXPERIENCE) - Guitar
* Jonas Frilund (CHTHONIAN) - Bass
* Timo Kontio (HAVOC UNIT, ...AND OCEANS) - Guitar
* Mathias Lillmåns (FINNTROLL, CHTHONIAN) - Vocals
* Janne Manninen (MYGRAIN, ...AND OCEANS) - Drums

According to Bay Of Plenty Times, AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd has listed two homes for sale in Tauranga, New Zealand. They have a rateable value totalling NZD$4.05 million (approximately USD$3.14 million).

The properties are in one building but are two separate units on two levels with two titles. The ground floor level is listed by LJ Hooker as "Phil Rudd's New Zealand hideaway" and the upper level as "Phil Rudd's other hideaway".

The ground floor unit which is 281sq m is listed on TradeMe with a rateable value of $1.92 million. The upper unit is 305sq m and listed on TradeMe with a rateable value of $2.13 million. Each level has three bedrooms, three bathrooms and two-car garaging, with views of the Mount and Harbour.