According to Gun Shy Assasssin, Richmond, Virginia metallers LAMB OF GOD have set "Resolution" as the title of their new album, due in early 2012 via Epic Records. The CD was once again helmed by producer Josh Wilbur, who worked on the band's last effort, 2009's "Wrath".

One of the tracks that are set to appear on "Resolution" includes an appearance by an orchestra and a choir. "There's opera singers, a whole symphony going on… It's crazy," drummer Chris Adler is quoted as saying about the song, which features the band's vocalist, Randy Blythe, singing slowly over the opening. "We were trying to figure out how to not be black metal but do something totally different. I think we succeeded," Adler said.

Blythe previously described "Resolution" as "WAAAAY better than 'Wrath' overall."

Reformed Montreal rockers SLAVES ON DOPE will release a digital-only EP, "Careless Coma", will on November 1 via THC:Music/Rocket Science Ventures. A full-length album, "Over The Influence", will follow in the spring.

"Careless Coma" features three new studio tracks, as well as remixes and a radio edit of the title cut.

"Careless Coma" track listing:

01. Careless Coma (4:22)
02. Careless Coma (Radio Edit) (3:39)
03. No One to Blame (3:32)
04. Sicker Than You (3:46)
05. Careless Coma (FTR Metalstep Remix) (4:21)
06. Careless Coma (Merederah Soundkilla Remix) (4:35)
07. Careless Coma (Duke Remix) (5:22)

"Careless Coma" has already started creating a buzz, garnering airplay on rock stations throughout the U.S. and Canada, including rotation on Montreal rock mainstay CHOM-FM, and a video that premiered on Loudwire.com. The band also recently made an appearance at the Heavy MTL festival, where they shared the stage with the likes of KISS, DISTURBED, ANTHRAX, GODSMACK, MACHINE HEAD, IN FLAMES, TRIVIUM, MORBID ANGEL, CHILDREN OF BODOM and more.

Metsatöll is a band from Estonia who released their first demo in 1999. Four albums plus assorted splits, EPs, and singles have followed that first effort, and the fifth album — Ulg — is due for release via Spinefarm Records on November 1. Until today, I had never heard their music. I’m not even positive I had heard their name. Just to display my ignorance even further, I wasn’t even sure where Estonia was, other than having a vague recollection of a Central European location (which turns out to be wrong)..

And then today I saw the album cover for Ulg, which is above, in conjunction with a notice that the album is streaming in full on yet another Finnish web site, Imperiumi (that Lantlôs album we discussed earlier today is streaming on Finland-based Inferno). There’s something about that cover that really hooked me, even though it’s not as “metal” as most cover art for the albums we feature around here. So, I decided this would be a fitting test subject for our continuing investigation of the hypothesis that cool album art correlates with cool music.

So, I cranked up that full album stream and started listening. Now, I warn you that because of interference from my fucking day job, I haven’t yet finished listening, which of course hasn’t stopped me from posting about this anyway. (more after the jump . . .)

The opening track “Agu” is a relatively brief folk instrumental played on what sounds like some kind of traditional stringed instruments, including a harp. The first true metal song comes next — “Sõjasüda”. It’s a kind of folk metal (which is loosely this band’s genre label), but in this song the “folk” part comes largely from the vocal style — relatively clean singing in Estonian, often by a chorus of male vocals, with much of it verging on chant. But the music is a black/pagan style of minor-key hammering and martial drumming that’s quite nice.

The third song, “Küü”, mixes flute, bagpipes, and chug-heavy bass-riffing in the verse. More virile folk vocals, voicing a catchy melody. I have a weakness for bagpipes and chug-heavy riffing, so I thought this song was cool. (and wait ’til you see the video for this one)

I listened to one more track before stopping — “Muhu õud”. In this one, bass vocals take the lead (with the rest of the dudes providing backing vocal support). This song may be the folkiest sounding of the three I heard; there’s more of a traditional swing to the rhythms and music and it includes several flute solos.

I’m not a big fan of folk metal, and consequently I’m not very knowledgeable about how this music stacks up within the genre. I know some of you are much more informed listeners and better critics, so let us know what you think in the comments. Here’s the full album stream:

Earlier this week, Andy Greene of RollingStone.com conducted an interview with bassist/vocalist Geddy Lee of Canadian rock legends RUSH. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

RollingStone.com: What's the status of the next album?

Geddy: We're almost finished writing. We wound the machine back up about three weeks ago. After a sluggish start, we've had a very fruitful couple of weeks in terms of writing. I'm very pleased with the direction that the material has taken. And I think we have one or two more songs that we'd like to write, and then we'll start recording in earnest. Hopefully we'll have all of the recording done before Christmas. Then we'll mix it some time in the next year, and then get it out.

RollingStone.com: Wow. So it'll be out sometime early next year?

Geddy: Yeah. I hope it'll be out by the spring anyway.

RollingStone.com: Is the sound of the album similar to "Snakes & Arrows"?

Geddy: I think it's a little different than "Snakes & Arrows". It's not finished so it's hard to say exactly what it will sound like in totality, but I think that the direction of "Caravan" and "BU2B" sort of points in the direction that we're going.

RollingStone.com: With a new album in the spring, will you be touring in the summer?

Geddy: Well, there will be a tour. I can't tell you exactly when. Maybe the summer or maybe the fall. We need some time to organize all that, but we have started to do that at the same time. But yes, there will be a follow-up tour to support the record.

RollingStone.com: I think back to the late 1990s and early 2000s when there was essentially no RUSH. It would have been hard to imagine that a decade was coming with so much activity.

Geddy: I think that it's a good time for us right now. We feel invigorated by the success of the band. We feel invigorated by the quality of the material that we seem to be able to write. Frankly, I think we've come to a point in our lives where we feel like we're playing the best we've ever played as a live band. You don't know how long that's going to go. Rock and roll does have its limits as far as the aging process. You want to go out there and play while you're at your peak, right? I think that's encouraging us to keep going out on the road — to maximize the playing at the moment.

This message was posted on AUTOPSY official Facebook page: «We had some difficulties with live steam and had to abandon it. We thank everyone who was patiently waiting. We have finished recording ALL TOMORROWS FUNERALS. It went so well that we wrote a fourth song at the last minute and it was so sick we had to include it on the release. All the E.P.s and some other tracks of brutality to slay your mind will be there».

According to NDTV, the organizers of METALLICA's concerts in India have been arrested after the band's show scheduled for Friday evening in Gurgaon (a suburb of Delhi) was canceled. The operational head of DNA Entertainment Network, Rajesh Chandwani, and his team members — Umesh, Ashok Singh and Savio Faleio — were charged with cheating people and breach of trust under section 406 and 420 of the Indian Penal Code, Station House Officer Jagdish Prasad said.

The police allege that the organizers oversold Friday's concert beyond its 25,000 capacity at the Leisure Valley Park in Gurgaon's Sector 29 and that the authorities were never informed before the cancelation was announced.

The organizers have said all ticket holders will be refunded. They said full-page advertisements on refunds will be put out in the next 24 hours explaining all the details.

"As soon as the organizers announced that the show has been postponed, the crowd went berserk... people started pushing each other, broke barricades, started shouting and throwing water bottles," Pankaj Kaushik, who waited for three hours for the show to begin, told The Economic Times.

The announcement of the concert's postponement was met with anger, apparently in part because the four members of METALLICA were taking part in a press conference at the time (see video below). Fans rushed the stage, damaged equipment and some even attempted to set fire to banners. Most of the fans, however, stayed calm and exited the venue when asked.

A METALLICA crew member, who was packing up the sound system late in the evening, when asked about the situation, told The Times Of India that he was clueless. "I have no idea at all. I was getting ready to play the show, and then I was told it wasn't happening," he said.

Shouvik Roy, a 41-year-old business consultant, fractured his leg in the stampede that followed and had to be taken to Max hospital. "I was pushed down a staircase. Many others were also injured in the melee. There were no marshals to guide people and few cops to help," he told The Times Of India, adding that he saw many children and young adults also badly hurt and taken to the same hospital.

A number of fans — including Kapel Vahi and John Thangaraj — were reportedly sent confirmation emails stating that tickets would be delivered to them by October 25 which did not happen. Thangaraj told Mumbai Mirror, "Kapel and I bought our tickets on October 14. The company reverted with a confirmation email. According to the email, we were supposed to receive our tickets latest by October 25. After the deadline, we mailed, called all the numbers listed on the website. We did not get any reply. We then read on the web site that if we did not receive the tickets, we could pick them up at the venue."

According to The Times Of India, Vahi, who flew down from Mumbai for the concert, waited in line at the ticket counter with Thangaraj for two hours, only to be told that his tickets had been dispatched to his home address. Thangaraj said, "We spoke to a man, who said his name was Rajesh and that he was the owner of DNA Network. When we told him about what had happened and that we would take legal action, he called us frauds and threatened to have us arrested."

METALLICA's concert in Gurgaon was to have kicked off the F1 Rocks festivities accompanying this weekend's inaugural Indian Grand Prix.

"Every conceivable effort had been made for the concert to go ahead today but, in view of public safety, and in consultation with the event organizer DNA Entertainment Network and representatives from METALLICA, the decision was made to cancel the show," F1 Rocks said in a statement, "We would like to offer our sincerest apologies to the many enthusiastic fans who were looking forward to watch a great band perform."

"The METALLICA concert has become yet another example of chaos and mismanagement in organising events in India," Dow Jones Newswire's Santanu Choudhury wrote, referring to another concert, featuring Canada's Bryan Adams, which was also canceled recently.

Tickets to the show were priced between Rs.1,650 and Rs.2,750 (between $34 and $57), and had drawn in fans from several cities like Kerala, Mumbai, Manipur, Kolkata, Jaipur and countries like Bangladesh, China, Nepal, Indonesia and Singapore.

METALLICA is scheduled to perform in the southern Indian city of Bangalore on Sunday.

Season Of Mist has announced the signing of the all-star band TWILIGHT OF THE GODS. Having initially come together as a tribute band to BATHORY, singer Alan Averill (PRIMORDIAL), guitarists Rune Eriksen (AVA INFERI, AURA NOIR) and Patrik Lindgren (THYRFING), bassist Frode Glesnes (EINHERJER) and drummer Nick Barker (LOCK UP) recently started to write their own material, to be released as the debut TWILIGHT OF THE GODS full-length album sometime next year.
Commented band : "We are proud to sign a worldwide deal for TWILIGHT OF THE GODS with Season of Mist...

"So, first question: why?

"The idea originally was to piece together an international band to pay tribute to BATHORY. Nothing more and nothing less. A challenge and a homage. We toured the BATHORY set last year and played some festivals here and there. We never say never again but some form of line was drawn under last year's triumphant set at Ragnarok festival, which made the whole journey seem worthwhile.

"We were asked to re-record BATHORY classics and offered this and that to make DVDs and live albums. Never in a million years was this going to happen... Yet the chemistry was so good between the five members we talked about writing our own material. It seemed a shame to file away the energy and synergy on a dusty shelf somewhere when new possibilities were open to all of us. Life, after all, is about new challenges and journeys so in the month of October the five members of TWILIGHT OF THE GODS convened in southern Portugal for a writing session. On the back of this, a contract was signed and things began to take shape.

"None of us in our respective bands and pasts have ever played straightforward heavy metal and this is what TWILIGHT OF THE GODS is shaping up to be... Sure, there are some epic parts and some '70s rock influences but the vast majority of the material sounds truly classic metal.

"Right now we are looking at going into the studio sometime in the first couple of months of 2012. So expect a full-on heavy metal album crafted by a motley crue with over 40 albums experience within them and two decades each individually sharpening their swords..."

BLOTTED SCIENCE — the forward-thinking, progressive metal act featuring guitarist/mastermind Ron Jarzombek (WATCHTOWER, TERRESTRIAL EXILED, SPASTIC INK), bassist Alex Webster (CANNIBAL CORPSE, HATE ETERNAL), and new arrival, drummer Hannes Grossmann (OBSCURA, TERRESTRIAL EXILED) — has inke a European deal with Basick Records. The band's long-awaited EP, "The Animation Of Entomology", which was released in the U.S. on October 4 via Jarzombek's EclecticElectric label, will be made available in Europe on November 28. The cover art was created by Atlanta, Georgia-based artist Richard Morley of Morley Arts and can be seen below.

Commented Jarzombek: "I'm really excited to be partnering with Barley and the Basick Records crew on the new BLOTTED SCIENCE record, 'The Animation of Entomology'. They are a young, exciting company on the cutting edge, whose roster is very much compatible with what BLOTTED SCIENCE is all about, so I feel like this will be a great home for us. Feeding 'The Animation Of Entomology' into their distribution channels should noticeably improve our retail visibility and availability compared to 'The Machinations Of Dementia'. I'm looking forward to working with Basick and maximizing our potential to the fullest in Europe!"

Added Basick label owner Barley: "Having been a huge admirer of Ron's output for a number of years, it gives me great pleasure to welcome BLOTTED SCIENCE to the family! I can’t wait to get this record out to all our dedicated fans in Europe!"

Described as "a cross between CANNIBAL CORPSE, SPASTIC INK, and a Bugs Bunny cartoon," "The Animation Of Entomology" takes Jarzombek's fascination with animated cartoons and creepy crawlies to a whole new level. Having experimented with writing complex pieces of music to sync up with movie sequences in the past with his previous outfit SPASTIC INK, the concept has now been applied to BLOTTED SCIENCE over the course of seven songs and a total of 24 minutes of music.

Said Jarzombek: "We wanted to follow up 'The Machinations Of Dementia' along some of the same lines of science and gore, and came up with a killer concept and some great material with yet another 12-tone writing system. I totally busted my ass syncing things up, carefully orchestrated music to film, bug movies actually, and nit-picked notes to death on this material until my fingers bled and my brain nearly exploded. How everything falls into place I think is beyond incredible! Whether this is the heaviest or most technical thing I've ever done, I don't really know or care, but no other band/project is pulling off what we are doing with this EP."

Canadian musician/producer Devin Townsend will release a monumental box set called "Contain Us". The set, which was designed and created by Man Alive's Tom Bejgrowicz (who also conceived the classic and must-have MISFITS "Coffin" box set), is the ultimate collection for every diehard Devin fan. Some highlights of the box are outlined below.

* A 12" x 12", 64-page, perfect bound book featuring a charcoal linen hardcover with ink-less debossing of the DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT logo on the front and applicable titling on the spine.
* DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT albums will be housed within the front cover's pastedown while the four unreleased discs will be in the back's.
* 500 individually-numbered, limited edition copies that include two exclusive items: A. An autographed lithographic print featuring original artwork by Devin drawn exclusively for this edition and B. a 10-inch piece of vinyl featuring two exclusive tracks.

Director David Brodsky of MyGoodEye — who has previously collaborated with AS I LAY DYING, SUICIDE SILENCE, KATAKLYSM, ARSIS, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER and STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, among others — helmed the video for the song "Juular" from the DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT. Townsend stated about the clip, "[Brodsky] is a true artist and really went the extra mile!"

Former EMPEROR frontman Ihsahn (real name: Vegard Sverre Tveitan) joined DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT on stage on August 6 at the Vagos Open Air festival in Lagoa de Calvão (GDC), Portugal to perform the song "Juular".

The studio version of "Juular", featuring Ihsahn on guest vocals, can be found on "Deconstruction", the third in a series of albums to be made available under DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT moniker, which came out on June 21 (one day earlier internationally) via InsideOut Music.

New England hardcore/metal veteran act HELL WITHIN has called it quits. The band will play its final show on November 11 at the Village Smoke House in Lowell, Massachusetts.

Commented guitarist Tony Zimmerman: "We'd like to thank everyone that supported us over the years and made this band happen. It's been a long hard road, but the most enjoyable experience of our lives. All across the U.S. this band traveled, met tons of great people and experienced things that we will cherish forever.

"HELL WITHIN released three records, had two recording contracts, did countless tours and shared with so many people something that is so precious to us.

"To all the band members that we ever played with, to our record labels Lifeforce and Thorp Records, we will never forget you guys. From our first manager, Cynthia Donovan, to our latest manager, Damon Moreno, we thank you for dedicating so much time to us. Then to all the great companies like Jägermeister, Dean Guitars, B.C. Rich, Mesa Boogie, GHS, D'Addario etc., that endorsed us, we thank you so much for the support.

"We'd like to thank our family and friends for always being there for us through the good and tough times.

"I could go on and on, because the list never ends; just too many people and memories to count.

"Please come out to the Village Smoke House show and for one last time, [and] help us make one more memory that everyone will never forget."

HELL WITHIN's latest album, "God Grant Me Vengeance", was released in July 2010 via Thorp Records. The CD was recorded at Damage Studios in Massachusetts with engineer/co-producer Peter Rutcho , who has previously worked with BURY YOUR DEAD, UNEARTH and REVOCATION, among others. The artwork comes courtesy of HELL WITHIN vocalist J.J. Long.

HELL WITHIN is:

J.J. Long - Vocals
Tony Zimmerman - Guitar
Isaias Martinez - Guitar
Philip Sica - Drums
Derek Garabedian - Bass

Legendary Dutch rock band VENGEANCE has inked a deal with Steamhammer/SPV. The group's new album, "Crystal Eye", will be made available in Europe on February 27. A North American release will follow in early March.

Commented VENGEANCE vocalist Leon Goewie: "We are proud that we have signed with SPV/Steamhammer. We finally found our home and together we have many ways to make the fans rock!" Olly Hahn, A&R representative at Steamhammer/SPV, added, "I was always a fan of the band and now they are part of the SPV family, which is fantastic. The new album rocks big time and will bring a huge smile on the face of every fan!"

In addition to Goewie, the recording lineup on "Crystal Eye" incudes Chris Slade (drums; ex-AC/DC), Keri Kelli (guitar; ex-ALICE COOPER), Chris Glen (bass; ex-MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP), and Timo Somers (guitar; son of VENGEANCE guitarist Jan Somers, who sadly died of a heart attack in January 2011).

"More than ever before, this is a band which consists of friends," states Goewie, whose excellent reputation as an exceptional vocalist made this impressive lineup possible. Goewie, Slade, Glen and Kelli also form the nucleus of the AC/DC cover band CHRIS SLADE'S STEEL CIRCLE, which rocks clubs around the globe whenever the musicians' schedules allow it.

"Crystal Eye" was produced by Michael Voss, who composed most of the songs in collaboration with Goewie. The title track was penned by former VENGEANCE guitarist Arjen Lucassen (AYREON, STAR ONE), while Tony Martin (ex-BLACK SABBATH) contributed "Whole Lotta Metal", which is said to be "tailor-made for Goewie and VENGEANCE." The album closes with the instrumental "Jan's End Piece", which features the last guitar solos recorded by Jan Somers before his tragic death.

"I've listened to the new tracks a couple of times now and consider this the most professional album I've ever done," says Goewie proudly, adding, "The fun and humor which are typical of VENGEANCE are all there on 'Crystal Eye', but in addition, the material is perceptibly more serious, which I feel really suits VENGEANCE mark 2012."

VENGEANCE will embark on a European tour in support of "Crystal Eye" in March/April 2012.

WARRIOR SOUL/TROUBLE singer Kory Clarke will release a solo "electro acoustic album" entitled "Light Your Bonfires" on November 5. This effort features brand new material to "fight the system" with and includes some "old classics" of Kory's prophetic politically charged and relevant protest songs.

According to a press release, "Light Your Bonfires" is "as raw as John Lee Hooker and is a uniting anthem for all of us who fight for justice, equality and freedom from the insensitive and cruel ruling class that needs to hear rebellion at its castles gates.

"Light Your Bonfires" is a special release out for Guy Fawkes/Bonfire Day, November 5, and will be shipped on November 1. Everyone who orders will receive the title track in his/her e-mail in time for Guy Fawkes Night.

Commented Clarke: "This is due to the significance of that day to the people of Great Britain, but it is also a message to us, the American People and the rest of the world; let's make this a rallying cry to unite against tyranny, the bankers, the ruling class and the corporate government system!"

Pre-sale prices:

Download album: 7.95 GBP/13.00 USD
Physical copy album: 11.95 GBP/19.00 USD
Physical copy of album and WARRIOR SOUL T-shirt: 25.00 GBP/39.95 USD
Download album and T-shirt: 19.95 GBP/30.00 USD

Please pay secure by PayPal using korythewords@gmail.com.

"Hero" and "The One", two brand new songs from PURE SWEET HELL, the metal band featuring former NEVERMORE drummer Van Williams, are available for streaming on the group's official web site. The tracks come off PURE SWEET HELL's sophomore album, "Spitting At The Stars", which is slated for a late 2011 release. The CD, which is currently being mastered, 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.

METALLICA has released the following statement:

"We arrived in Delhi on Friday very excited and ready to play our first show ever in India at the F1 Rocks concert. However, immediately at the end of our afternoon press conference at a hotel near the venue, we were notified that there was a serious question as to whether the show could proceed with regard to the safety of the concert audience. And our first and foremost concern is always for the safety of you, the fans.

"Once we, along with DNA, the promoters of the show, determined that there was a failure of a security barricade in front of the stage that could not be adequately repaired, the promoter reluctantly announced the postponement of the show until Saturday. Unfortunately, on such short notice the promoters were unable to secure a permit for a show on Saturday. Therefore, DNA announced that we would not be able to play in Delhi. Within the next 24 hours a notification will be issued by DNA regarding the process for full refunds.

"We are deeply disappointed with this news as we were looking forward to our first experience in India as much as you guys were. Keep watching here for updates [on the official METALLICA web site] as additional details are determined and confirmed."

According to NDTV, crowds started lining up at about 3 p.m.today, with 25,000 fans having purchased tickets to tonight's concert. Several announcements were reportedly made throughout the afternoon requesting people to move back because the barrier in front of the stage was giving way. The crowd got increasingly more restive with every such announcement, objecting and booing.

After the announcement that the concert had been canceled, angry fans tried to damage equipment near the stage; some tried to set fire to banners near the stage. Others hurled plastic 10-litre bottles of water onto the stage.

Gurgaon police chief hit out at organizers saying they should have told the administration about postponing the show. "They have to explain why they canceled it," he told reporters, soon after it was announced that the concert was postponed. "They have not told anything to us," he said.

METALLICA is scheduled to perform in Bangalore on Sunday.

Nuclear Blast Records has set a January 27, 2012 released date for "Memories Of A Time To Come", a compilation album from German power metallers BLIND GUARDIAN. The set, which will feature re-recorded and remixed songs from the band's entire discography, will reportedly be made available as a standard CD and a special three-CD deluxe edition (including the band's demo recordings when they were called LUCIFER'S HERITAGE).

German power metallers GRAVE DIGGER have extended their contract with Napalm Records.

Commented the band: "After releasing two very successful CDs and our 'The Clans Are Still Marching' DVD, we are happy to share the good news with our fans: YES, we will continue! Over the past three years, a business cooperation turned into a friendship which can hardly be found in today’s music industry.

"Napalm is a small and hard-working team that is as effective and productive as a company of 70 people. Always reachable and competent, they work with their artists individually. These are the strengths of Napalm, and that is why we have signed a deal for three more records under the Napalm banner.

"Long live rock 'n' roll — long live Napalm and GRAVE DIGGER."

Added Max Riedler, Managing Director of Napalm Records: "Chris Boltendahl and the members of GRAVE DIGGER are an exception in the music business. They are always professional, reliable and furthermore, they find words of appreciation for Napalm. That’s when the hard work turns into joy! We motivate each other and face new challenges as a team. Thanks for your trust; we look forward to the new songs!"

Reformed Minneapolis, Minnesota-based hard-rock/industrial act AMERICAN HEAD CHARGE entered Studio D in Cleveland, Ohio this past Monday, October 24 with producers Don Dibiase and Thom Hazaert to begin recording its first new material since 2005's "The Feeding". The result of the 24-hour marathon session was a new studio track "Sugars of Someday" and a "live" EP including three new AMERICAN HEAD CHARGE tracks: "Sand", "Set Yourself on Fire", "Writhe" and a cover of the PATTI SMITH classic "Rock And Roll Nigger".

Commented AMERICAN HEAD CHARGE bassist Chad Hanks: "Don and Thom gave us the opportunity to jump into the studio on our day off, and we thought it would be agreat chance to give something back to our fans.

"Since we first announced HEAD CHARGE was active again, there has been such an amazing outpouring from fans for new material, that when this came up, we thought it would be a perfect opportunity to give everyone a taste of where AMERICAN HEAD CHARGE is at musically in 2011."

The band plans to release the material as a free digital EP later this year.

AMERICAN HEAD CHARGE is in the middle of a 10-date U.S. tour, dubbed "Tourette". A list of upcoming shows can be found at this location.

AMERICAN HEAD CHARGE 2011 is:

Cameron Heacock - Vocals
Chad Hanks - Bass
Justin Fowler - Keyboards, Backing vocals
Karma Singh Cheema - Guitar
Christopher Emery - Drums

Italian metallers 5 STAR GRAVE have inked deal with Massacre Records for the release of their new album, "Drugstore Hell". The CD, which is due in early 2012, worldwide release, was mixed and mastered by Tobias Lindell (EUROPE, HARDCORE SUPERSTAR, CRASHDIET) at Bohus Sound studios in Kungälv, Sweden.

"Drugstore Hell" features 11 new tracks that have been described by the band as "a natural evolution of what we did on our previous album 'Corpse Breed Syndrome'. There's a little bit of everything in this record: thrash metal, punk rock, industrial, hardcore, without forgetting the usual abrasive vocals and gruesome-slutty lyrics. Obviously, production-wise, this is a huge step forward if compared to everything else we have done so far."

Lindell stated about the record: "Italy's best new up and coming metal band! Raging vocals and guitars make this an excellent album"

"Drugstore Hell" final track listing:

01. Terminal Bedroom
02. Death Put A Smile On My Face
03. Love Affair With The Beast
04. Daddy
05. Death Times Eleven
06. No Devil Lived On
07. Dead Girls Don't Say No
08. Boy A
09. If
10. When The Lights Go Out
11. Lemmings

"Circle Of Lies", the new video from SERIOUS, the five-piece band featuring Jan Bijlsma, a founding member of legendary Dutch rockers VENGEANCE, can be seen below. The track comes off SERIOUS' debut album, "Rising", which is currently being mixed by Oscar Holleman (WITHIN TEMPTATION, AYREON, GOREFEST, MY FAVORITE SCAR) for an early 2012 release.

According to a press release, SERIOUS' "combination of rough-edged double barrel guitar-parts and a strong sense for melody in the vocals all adds up to the unique sound: fierce yet gentle; raw but polished. Their songs can be characterized as a mixture of the lyrical spheres of 30 SECONDS TO MARS, the emotional load of LINKIN PARK and the modern rock sound of CREED without copying any of these bands nor going into comparison. The energetic and entertaining live show is meant to be an open door to a broader audience attracting 'rockers and ravers' alike, aiming to create a long-lasting friendship."

SERIOUS is:

Jonathan Hoevertsz - Vocals
Nick Polman - Guitars
Vincent Zaalberg - Guitars
Jan Bijlsma - Bass
Robert Spaninks - Drums

Swiss hard rock veterans KROKUS have sold more than 13 million albums worldwide and toured all over the world, and although one of their biggest hits is called "Tokyo Nights", they had never played Japan until now. That changed last Saturday, when KROKUS performed in front of 37,000 Japanese fans at Loud Park, the largest festival in Japan, just outside of Tokyo.

"Japan was out of this world, simply unbelievable!" reports bassist and producer Chris Von Rohr. Upon arrival in Tokyo, the band was greeted by their greatest Japanese fan, who had waited for decades to have his KROKUS album collection signed by the band. "It was touching. He said this was the happiest day in his life", adds singer Marc Storace. And while strolling the streets of Tokyo, Switzerland's #1 rock export was asked for autographs by a great number of female fans. "We communicated with hand signs, because besides 'sushi' and 'sayonara,' we did not understand much", jokes Chris Von Rohr before adding, "Throughout the nuclear catastrophe of Fukushima and thereafter they kept smiling, that really impressed us."

During the concert, the Japanese fans sang along right from the start. Chris Von Rohr says, "It was absolutely awesome! Promoter Creativeman wants us back in Japan as soon as possible."

RAMMSTEIN's long-awaited retrospective release, "Made In Germany 1995 - 2011", will be available on December 6 through Universal Germany's marketing and distribution deal in the U.S. with Vagrant Records.

"Made In Germany 1995 - 2011" will be available in three different editions:

* Standard Edition: CD Digipak - Best of Album

* Special Edition: 2-CD Digipak - Best of Album and Best of Remixes

* Super Deluxe Edition: 2-CD (Best of Album and Best of Remixes) as well as 3 DVDs (including the full RAMMSTEIN video catalog, all previously available "Making of" and 8 unreleased "Making of" videos) packaged in a steel box complete with a 240-page booklet. Limited to 1200 copies in the U.S.

All songs and videos on "Made In Germany 1995 - 2011" have been remastered for this release.

"Cathedrals Of Dread", the new video from VALLENFYRE — the new U.K. death metal band featuring Gregor Mackintosh, songwriter and guitarist of PARADISE LOST, alongside members of MY DYING BRIDE, AT THE GATES and DOOM — can be seen below. The song comes off the group's debut album, "A Fragile King", which will be released on October 31 in Europe and on November 1 in North America via Century Media Records.

A 46-second preview of the song "Inherit The Earth" from THE UNGUIDED — the new project featuring former SONIC SYNDICATE members Richard Sjunnesson (vocals) and Roland Johansson (vocals), along with current SONIC SYNDICATE guitarist (and Richard's brother) Roger Sjunnesson — is available in the YouTube clip below. The track comes off the band's debut album, "Hell Frost", which will be released on November 30 via Despotz Records.

José Andrea y Mägo de Oz, de común acuerdo y de forma amistosa, hemos decidido romper nuestra relación artística y dar por finalizada una etapa en la que hemos podido disfrutar de una de las voces más mágicas de los últimos 15 años en el Rock español.

Tanto José Andrea como el resto de la banda hemos pensado que él se merece despedirse de vosotros de la mejor forma que sabe hacer: regalándonos su voz en estos últimos conciertos.

Por tanto, confirmamos en esta, nuestra web oficial, que tanto la gira americana como las fechas previstas en España serán sus últimos conciertos antes de dejar la banda.

Desde aquí queremos desearle toda la suerte del mundo en su futura vida profesional y personal lejos del camino de baldosas amarillas. Gracias por dejarte la piel y la voz durante todos estos años.

Siempre serás un Mägo !

"We must be over the rainbow..."

- Mägo de Oz -

Cleveland, Ohio metallers CHIMAIRA performed in San Antonio, Texas last night (Thursday, October 27) without their frontman, Mark Hunter, after he was allegedly arrested for marijuana possession in El Paso, Texas.

CHIMAIRA keyboardist Sean Zatorsky handled the vocal duties at last night's concert, just as he did on October 11 in Baltimore, Maryland when Hunter came down with a severe stomach flu.

Writing on his Twitter account late last night, Hunter addressed his absence from the San Antonio show by saying, "Out of the clink. Didn't drop the soap. . . I deeply apologize to the fans of San Antonio. I was detained at the same spot they got [country singer] Willie [Nelson for marijuana possession]. You know I will make it up to you."

CHIMAIRA's new album, "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.