German melodic metallers FREEDOM CALL will release their new album, "Land Of The Crimson Dawn", on February 24 in Germany, February 27 in the rest of Europe and February 28 in the USA/Canada via SPV/Steamhammer.

Commented FREEDOM CALL singer/guitarist Chris Bay: "We started in the beginning of September to record the first tracks for the new album. The band was working the past months intensely creative and did a fantastic job! Now we're happy and satisfied with the result and will finish the recordings in the next days!!

"The new studio album will include 14 full-valued songs and some very special bonus tracks.

"A new world, a new dimension full of attraction, fascination and illusions. Let us travel together, far beyond in any power of imagination, through the Valley of the Crimson Dawn, an illuminating part of the glorious Land of Light. Immerse into the world of craft to fight, to enjoy the excitement to survive or surrender. Always on the edge to reality..."

Chris Bay - Vocals & Guitar
Lars Rettkowitz - Guitar, Backing Vocals
Samy Saemann - Bass, Backing Vocals
Klaus Sperling - Drums, Backing Vocals

Los Angeles-based progressive/aggressive metal band PROTOTYPE will release its third full-length album, "Catalyst", in early 2012 via Nightmare Records. Nearly two years in the making, the CD is a science-fiction-themed concept album featuring 12 tracks and over 60 minutes of all new music. The effort was produced by PROTOTYPE and is currently being mixed by Neil Kernon.

"Catalyst" will be mastered by Alan Douches and artwork will once again be created by Travis Smith.

PROTOTYPE's last album, "Continuum", was released in 2006 and featured the song "The Way It Ends", which appeared in the best-selling music video game of all time "Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock".

"Catalyst" track listing:

01. Inceptum
02. Catalyst
03. Cynic Dreams
04. The Chosen Ones
05. Illuminatum
06. My Own Deception
07. Into Oblivion
08. Impetus
09. Gravity Well
10. The Ageless Heart Of Memory
11. Exiled
12. Communion

Fan-filmed video footage of VENOM's November 12, 2011 concert at the Rock Legends festival at Arenele Romane in Bucharest, Romania in front of approximately 1,000 people can be seen below. Check out photos from RockStage.ro.

The band's setlist was as follows:

01. Black Metal
02. Bloodlust / Black Flame (Of Satan) / Bloodlust
03. Straight To Hell / Welcome To Hell / Calm Before The Storm / Krakin' Up / Ressurection / Evil One
04. Antechrist
05. Hail Satanas
06. Nemesis
07. Possessed / Countess Bathory / 7th Gates Of Hell / Possessed
08. Hammerhead
09. At War With Satan / Too Loud For The Crowd / Nightmare / Rip Ride / At War With Satan
10. Warhead
11. Metal Black

Encore:

12. Pedal To The Metal
13. In League With Satan

Encore 2:

14. Witching Hour

A one-minute video clip of the four members of METALLICA offering words of encouragement and support to THE MINI BAND — the Thatcham, United Kingdom-based group made up of 8- and 10-year-olds whose performance of METALLICA's "Enter Sandman" has racked up nearly three million YouTube views in six weeks — can be seen below.

As individuals, the members of THE MINI BAND have created a real stir, with Zoe getting over 250,000 hits on one YouTube video! Harry has been featured on TV and Bugera amplifiers web site, and Charlie has an endorsement for drum sticks.

THE MINI BAND is:

* Zoe Thomson (8 years old) - Guitar
* Harry Jackson (8 years old) - Guitar
* Kieran Fell (8 years old) - Guitar
* Harrison Read (8 years old) - Lead Vocals
* Archie Zolotuhin (10 years old) - Bass Guitar
* Charlie Emmons (10 years old) - Drums

Brazilian/American thrashers SEPULTURA have announced the addition of drummer Eloy Casagrande (GLÓRIA, ANDRÉ MATOS) to their arsenal of world-class musicians, replacing Jean Dolabella as the band's full-time percussionist.

The 20-year-old drum prodigy from São Paulo, Brazil, who won the Modern Drummer "Undiscovered Drummer" contest as a teenager in 2006, is more than eager to begin his career with the veteran metal icons.

"When I got the invitation to join SEPULTURA, I was in shock," said Casagrande, who was born in Santo André, São Paulo, Brazil on January 29, 1991, the same year SEPULTURA's classic fourth album, "Arise", was released. "I'm a fan of the band for years; it'll be an honor to play with them."

Commented guitarist Andreas Kisser: "I'm sure Eloy will do a great job with SEPULTURA. He's already a musician who shows a lot of strength and technique, although he's young. We did a rehearsal with him and it was fantastic; he played the old and new material as if he was in the band for a long time. SEPULTURA will show the world another Brazilian talent on the drums."

Dolabella, who leaves SEPULTURA after a five-year run of relentless touring and two studio albums, will depart to focus on personal projects.

"The period we spent with Jean in the band was very positive," added Kisser. "We've recorded two great albums together and did a lot of concerts which will be in SEPULTURA's history. We only have reasons to thank him for his contribution and energy all these years."

During the German leg of Premier's "An Evening With Nicko – A Night Of Drums, Drumming And Entertainment With Iron Maiden's Nicko McBrain", Rhythm magazine set up a camera to capture his 11-piece beast being set up. The magazine also took the time to speak to Nicko's drum tech Charlie Charlesworth to find out what it's like to look after such an expansive drum kit. Check out the footage below.

Nicko McBrain hardly requires an introduction. Having joined IRON MAIDEN in 1982, Nicko has become an established and charismatic figure within the music fraternity, renowned for his humor, showmanship and live performances. He has influenced many modern drummers over a wide range of styles.

Nicko first endorsed Premier back in 1993 choosing the company's Signia kit, mounted upon a custom-built Falicon rack from America. Since then, Premier has supplied Nicko with a number of iconic custom kits to support MAIDEN's world tours, most recently for "The Final Frontier World Tour" which took the band across five continents playing to over two million fans right around the globe.

Guitarist/vocalist Rob Urbinati of Canadian thrash metal veterans SACRIFICE has issued the following update:

"Earlier this week, I got a call from none other than Eric Ratz, who engineered our 'Apocalypse Inside' album. He is presently recording the new album from Toronto band CANCER BATS, who invited me down to do a guest spot. Friday night we got together and put some vocals on the awesome track 'R.A.T.S'.

"To the guys in CANCER BATS, and Eric, good luck with the rest of the recording. See you soon."

Drummer Jeff Fabb and guitarist Blake Bunzel have left Southern California's IN THIS MOMENT in order to join the backing band of "American Idol" finalist James Durbin.

Commented IN THIS MOMENT: "We are embracing this change with open arms, and a renewed spirit…. Sometimes you have to let go of what's in your hands to reach for something greater! In the meantime, we are back in the studio, writing for our new album and the new songs are sounding better than anything we've done to date. We are aiming for a summer 2012 release, so get ready and look out for a bigger and badder IN THIS MOMENT in the coming year."

IN THIS MOMENT is scheduled to enter the studio in January to begin recording its next album for a spring release via Century Media Records.

Norwegian symphonic black metallers DIMMU BORGIR kicked off their "An Evening With Dimmu Borgir" tour past Friday night (November 11) at the Patronaat in Haarlem, The Netherlands. The band perfomed its epic 1997 release, "Enthrone Darkness Triumphant", in its entirety during the first set, while the second set consisted of a number of DIMMU BORGIR classics.

High-quality photos from the show can be found at Metal-Experience.com.

DIMMU BORGIR's setlist was as follows:

First Set

01. Mourning Palace
02. Spellbound (By The Devil)
03. In Death's Embrace
04. Relinquishment Of Spirit And Flesh
05. The Night Masquerade
06. Tormentor Of Christian Souls
07. Entrance
08. Master Of Disharmony
09. Prudence's Fall
10. A Succubus In Rapture
11. Raabjørn Speiler Draugheimens Skodde

Second Set

12. Vredesbyrd
13. Kings Of The Carnival Creation
14. Dimmu Borgir
15. Ritualist
16. Gateways
17. Puritania
18. The Serpentine Offering
19. Progenies Of The Great Apocalypse

Montreal, Quebec, Canada-based band VENGEFUL will release their third album, "Vengeful", before the end of November. The CD was recorded with producer Chris Donaldson (CRYPTOPSY, THE LAST FELONY, NEURAXIS) and is comprised of two parts, Face A being "Towards Obliteration" and Face B bearing the name "Leaping Through The Void". The group states, "The first one features our high-speed/face-melting side and the latter leans on the slower/moodier approach heard on older songs such as 'Counterfeit Deity' or 'Transcending'."

The cover artwork for "Vengeful" was created by the band's longtime illustrator Martin Lacroix (HUMANOID, AUGURY, SPASME, CRYPTOPSY) and is described by the group as "a continuation of our previous album sleeves." Check it out below.

"Vengeful" track listing:

Towards Obliteration

01. Decay
02. Abyss
03. Consumed
04. Skinned
05. Delirium
06. Pernicious
07. Delusional

Leaping Through The Void

01. Visions
02. Still
03. Malice
04. Distant
05. Exit

Dan Kane of CantonRep.com recently conducted an interview with powerhouse American vocalist Tim "Ripper" Owens (DIO DISCIPLES, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, BEYOND FEAR, JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH). A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

CantonRep.com: What knowledge did you glean from your stint with JUDAS PRIEST?

Owens: How to drive a car in England... No, really, I just learned to be myself, not some L.A. rock star. Be good to the fans and all will be good.

CantonRep.com: How scary was it hitting the stage in Rob Halford's spot on your first PRIEST tour?

Owens: I wasn't really that scared. I knew it was made for me, I could be myself and it fit the bill. As long as I sang like I could, I would be fine. All I wanted was to make myself happy, because I am a (JUDAS PRIEST) fan, and I know what I want as a fan.

CantonRep.com: Were you well accepted by the PRIEST fans?

Owens: I think when the fans heard (the album) "Jugulator", they knew JUDAS PRIEST had a singer that could do it. But I think I sold most (of) them on the live shows. As K.K. (Downing, former guitarist) always said about me, proof is in the pudding! But in the end, Rob needed to come back, and I needed to spread my wings, and, I gotta say, it has really worked out for both of us.

CantonRep.com: What was your favorite song of JUDAS PRIEST's to sing live?

Owens: "Bloodstained" was always great, "Victim of Changes" was as well! I loved all of them. I really enjoyed the ones from my era. It meant a lot to me and they challenged my vocals a bit more!

CantonRep.com: Did you become known as Ripper when you joined JUDAS PRIEST, or was that your nickname already?

Owens: Yes, when I joined. Before that, I was the Flipper because I swam with dolphins. Okay, kidding on that! I sang the song "Ripper" when I auditioned and bam, I became Ripper Owens, and I love it.

Heavy music innovators PRONG have signed a worldwide recording contact with Long Branch Records/SPV. The band's as-yet-untitled new album is due in the spring.

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

Commented PRONG frontman Tommy Victor: "I feel like PRONG has come full circle. We have the same energy and excitement about our music that we did at the beginning of our career. With Long Branch/SPV, we've found people to work with who are very supportive of us and what PRONG has accomplished so far in our career."

Added SPV A&R representative Maria Ouellette: "We're extremely excited to welcome PRONG into the SPV/Long Branch Records fold! Tommy Victor's musical innovation and influence is far-reaching and inspirational, and exactly what we're about. We're proud that we can be part of their next musical milestone!"

METALLICA and former THE VELVET UNDERGROUND frontman Lou Reed performed live earlier tonight (Friday, November 11) for a special radio broadcast in Germany on 1LIVE that was also webcast on www.einslive.de and www.metallica.de. Four hundred lucky fans were in the audience, some even getting a chance to ask the guys about their collaborative project, "Lulu". The broadcast also aired on a number of Germany's public broadcast network stations (either live or at a later point), and all participating stations also hosted the live stream on their web sites.

Video footage of METALLICA and Reed performing the song "The View" and THE VELVET UNDERGROUND classic "White Light/White Heat" during the above-mentioned radio broadcast can be seen below.

GODSMACK frontman Sully Erna's December 16 solo performance at The Wilbur Theatre in Boston, Massachusetts will be professionally filmed for an upcoming 3D DVD release. At the show, Erna will lead an eight-piece ensemble band through his debut solo album, "Avalon", in its entirety. In a statement, he called the production "a world of beautiful scenery, world cultures, and amazing cinematic visuals that will leave you breathless at times."

Tickets for the concert are on sale now through Ticketmaster for $20. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Global Adolescent Project, a non-profit organization dedicated to youth services in Haiti.

Released in September 2010, "Avalon" features flutes, cellos, hand drums and other exotic instrumentation, along with female vocals. Erna has emphasized that it is "not a rock record."

According to the Los Angeles Times, CHICKENFOOT/ex-VAN HALEN bassist Michael Anthony sold his home in Glendora, California for $1.77 million. The custom Tudor, which Anthony bought in 1989 for $971,220, sits on more half an acre with a beach-entry saltwater swimming pool and hidden rock slide. The 7,100-square-foot home features a double-island kitchen with a 140-gallon fish tank, guest quarters with a separate entry and a six-car garage. There are five bedrooms and seven bathrooms.

JOURNEY was honored with the Legend Of Live award, a lifetime achievement award, at the eighth annual Billboard Touring Awards, held Thursday night (November 10) at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York.

According to Billboard.biz, Live Nation president of North American Concerts Bob Roux saluted JOURNEY as the ultimate road warriors. And JOURNEY's Neal Schon and Ross Valory paid tribute to the whole reason the concert industry exists — the fans.

"This last year was by far the best," said JOURNEY co-founder Schon, the only member of JOURNEY who has been in the band for its entire 38-year existence. "It's all about the fans, all about the music. We've always been about the performance, writing good songs. Arnel Pineda brought us back into the forefront, really regenerated us. There's really no end to it. We have worked our asses off this year."

The Billboard Touring Awards, hosted by former MTV VJ Matt Pinfield, were created to celebrate and stress the importance of the too-often overlooked movers and shakers in the increasingly-important world of touring, promotion and performance.

"Spitting At The Stars", the sophomore album from PURE SWEET HELL, the metal band featuring former NEVERMORE drummer Van Williams, is available for streaming in its entirety for one day at the group's official web site. The CD, which is available for purchase at the web site and via iTunes, Amazon and CDBaby, features guitar solos from some of heavy metal's top shredders, including Glen Drover (EIDOLON, MEGADETH), Steve Smyth (NEVERMORE, TESTAMENT, FORBIDDEN), Chris Amott (ARCH ENEMY; on "The One"), Jeff Loomis (NEVERMORE) and Attila Vörös (LEANDER, NEVERMORE). John Winters (HATEFIST), who contributed in the production/engineering of the record, got a chance to lay down a solo on the song as well.