Greg Prato of RollingStone.com recently conducted an interview with legendary BLACK SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

RollingStone.com: I remember reading earlier this year that the original BLACK SABBATH lineup was reuniting for a new album and tour. What's the status?

Iommi: I remember reading that, as well [laughs]. There is no status at the moment. That's something that always can happen. We just get on with it and see what happens.

RollingStone.com: Are all the original SABBATH members on good terms?

Iommi: Yes, I think so. I talk to Ozzy [Osbourne, vocals] a lot — we've always been in contact. And I talk to Bill [Ward, drums] occasionally. Geez [bassist Geezer Butler], I played with him until Ronnie [James Dio] passed away. We still stay in contact. Geezer is not one for being on the phone, we normally email. We all get on well — I don't think there's any bad vibes or anything.

RollingStone.com: When was the last time all four original SABBATH members were in the same room?

Iommi: A long time ago.

RollingStone.com: If SABBATH were to work on a new album, do you think the new material could measure up to the group's early classics?

Iommi: I don't know — that's always the question, isn't it? But I don't know if you'd try and match it up. We've moved on since then. I don't know quite what we'd be doing. It would be a BLACK SABBATH thing, but I don't know to what extent. Until that's written and done, I wouldn't know.

RollingStone.com: What would it take then for the original SABBATH to reunite?

Iommi: The band can decide to do something, but there are a lot of people involved, and everybody's got individual managers. It's not as easy as like it was in the old days — us all going in one room and it all works. I mean, we can certainly do that, but it's a bit more involved than that.

"Global Flatline", a brand new song from Belgian death metalers ABORTED, can be streamed in the YouTube clip below. The track is the title cut of the band's seventh studio album, which will be released on January 24, 2012 (one day earlier internationally) via Century Media Records. The CD was recorded, mixed, and mastered by the Jacob Hansen (VOLBEAT, PESTILENCE, HATESPHERE) at Hansen Studios in Ribe, Denmark. The artwork was once again created by Justin Osbourn from Slasher Design.

Norway's BORKNAGAR has issued the following update:

"BORKNAGAR has decided to part ways with the U.S. drummer David Kinkade. This is first and foremost due to the logistical challenges we have been facing having a U.S. drummer in a Norwegian band the last couple of years. Sometimes reality bites and in order to be a fully operative band, we need a drummer based in Norway. The split is of friendly manner and we would like to say thanks for everything David has contributed with in relations to the band and we would also like to wish him the best of luck for his future endeavors."

In a statement released to BLABBERMOUTH.NET, Kinkade said about his departure from BORKNAGAR, "I am leaving BORKNAGAR due to a number of reasons completely out of my control but I assure you that I've thought it through for quite some time now and I can honestly say that the spark just isn't there for me anymore. I tried everything I could over the past three years to make things happen. Now I just hope, for the fans' sake, that they will completely deliver... The fans really deserve it. I wish BORKNAGAR all the best in their future endeavors."

Kinkade, who has previously played with joined ARSIS and MALEVOLENT CREATION, joined SOULFLY a few weeks ago following the departure of that group's longtime skinsman Joe Nunez. Kinkade will appear on SOULFLY's already completed new album, which was recorded last month at a Phoenix, Arizona studio with producer Chris "Zeuss" Harris (CHIMAIRA, HATEBREED, ALL THAT REMAINS, THE ACACIA STRAIN, BORN OF OSIRIS, SHADOWS FALL) for an early 2012 release via Roadrunner Records.

BORKNAGAR is currently recording its next album for a tentative February 2012 release via Century Media Records. The CD will be mixed and mastered by Jens Bogren in November at Fascination Street Studios in Örebro, Sweden.

Commented BORKNAGAR mainman Øystein G. Brun: "Looking back on our previous releases, our major challenge has always been to materialize our highly detailed music and compromises have been done production-wise. This time around there will be no compromise and hopefully you will witness the most powerful, rich, detailed and dynamic BORKNAGAR album to date!"

BORKNAGAR's latest album, "Universal", sold around 500 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 116 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.

"Universal" was released on February 22, 2010 in Europe and March 2, 2010 in North America through Indie Recordings. The effort was made available in four different formats: regular jewelcase CD, limited digipack (including bonus disc), CD box with extras and gatefold LP with double vinyl.

GUNS N' ROSES frontman Axl Rose halted a live concert Sunday night (October 23) at Arena Monterrey in Monterrey, Mexico after objects were thrown on stage during the group's performance. One minute into the concert's opening number, "Chinese Democracy", Rose stopped his band and warned the crowd that he would pack up and leave if they continued "throw[ing] shit."

"Is that what you wanna do?" Axl asked the audience. "'Cause we will go home. Is that what you wanna do — throw shit? We would like to have fun. You wanna have a good time?" He then told his bandmates, "Alright, let's just skip that song," before launching into "Welcome To The Jungle".

Fan-filmed video footage of the above-mentioned incident can be seen below.

According to SDPNoticias.com, the city of Monterrey, Mexico imposed a fine of $870 (approximately 200 times the minimum wage) on the organizers of GUNS N' ROSES' concert at Arena Monterrey after the show was delayed by more than three hours. The band's late start was blamed by the organizers on "technical issues" and not directly on Rose — who is notorious for his late arrivals onstage.

GUNS N' ROSES earlier in the monthreleased a statement regarding reports that the band was two hours late for its performance at Rock In Rio in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil on October 2. The statement read, "GUNS N' ROSES would like to set the record straight on Rock In Rio. The festival's inadequate production and the downpour of rain delayed the event. Anyone who was there knows that SYSTEM OF A DOWN did not leave the stage until close to 1:15 in the morning. System's extensive stage production did not finish coming offstage until 1:45 a.m."

The statement added, "GN'R's production was up and ready to go at 2:15 a.m. Axl [Rose] got to the venue before 1 a.m. and he came ready to go onstage. The inadequate cover of the Rock In Rio stage caused a further delay when the soundboard went down due to water damage and was replaced as quick as possible. GN'R walked onstage at 2:40 a.m. and played for two-and-a-half hours in the pouring rain. GN'R would never seek to intentionally disrespect anyone, especially their fans."

GUNS N' ROSES issued its statement a day after an organizer for Rock In Rio said that Rose's behavior exhibited "lack of commitment" and "respect for the public."

Promoters have lately been unwilling to put up with the band's habitual lateness. Organizers of the 2010 Reading festival pulled the plug on GUNS' set after they arrived onstage more than an hour late and went past the curfew.

According to The Pulse Of Radio, the group was fined $108,000 at an October 2010 show in London after the band went over the 11:00 p.m. curfew. Audience members were so irate at the band's late arrival that they threw things at Rose.

Promoters in the U.S. will get their own chance to clash with Axl Rose and his band when GUNS N' ROSES kicks off their first American tour in five years on October 28 in Orlando, Florida.

The cover artwork for "The Serpentine Ritual", the forthcoming debut album from KILL RITUAL, the new band featuring former members of IMAGIKA, DARK ANGEL and ELDRITCH, can be seen below. The piece was designed by Brazilian artist Jobert Mello's Sledgehammer Graphix (SABATON, BAD COMPANY).

"The Serpentine Ritual" was mixed at KING DIAMOND guitarist Andy La Rocque's's Sonic Train Studio in Varberg, Sweden. La Rocque also plays a guest guitar solo on the track "Coat Of Blood". Guitarist Steve Rice engineered the CD, which was tracked at Fang Studios in San Mateo, California and Fossil Studios in San Jose, California.

According to a press release, "The Serpentine Ritual" "finds KILL RITUAL unleashing 10 tracks of straight-up metal that is both modern and classic while retaining the legacy of their past bands."

"The Serpentine Ritual" track listing:

01. The Serpentine Ritual
02. Torn Down
03. Time To Kill
04. Ambush
05. Old School Thrasher
06. Coat Of Blood
07. Cold Hard Floor
08. Law Of The Land
09. The Day The World Dies
10. Prisoner Of The Flesh

Legendary Swedish guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen flew to Sweden in June 2011 to be a part of a program called "Moraeus Med Mera" in which he can be seen playing traditional Swedish folk music with Kalle Moraeus. Also available is a candid behind-the-scenes look at Yngwie hanging out his fellow Swedish musicians. The entire show, which aired on October 23, can be seen at this location. The segment featuring Yngiwe is available below.

"Man's Modern World", a brand new song from the Chicago-based multinational extreme act AGAINST THE PLAGUES, can be streamed in the YouTube clip below.

Commented the band: "After a year of hard work and preparation, we are proud to announce that our new material is complete and ready for release. Once again, we worked with producer Chris Wisco (NOVEMBER'S DOOM, LAZARUS A.D.) at Belle City Sound Studio.

"Before we release the album, we have decided to release one new song called 'Man's Modern World' to serve as a preview for the album. This particular piece is meant to be a reflection of today's civilization as it observes the notion that tools (such as fear) are utilized by organizations and entities to create blind dependency and loyalty along with discouraging mankind's will to a point where one's potential to excel will never be reached. We feel this new track best represents the motif and pace of the album."

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 — will release its debut album, "Hell Frost", on November 30 via Despotz Records.

Commented the band: "['Hell Frost'] will indeed bring you on a lot of different adventures. Some paths are possibly common ground for both of us. But we can also guarantee that this album will bring you to places where none of us have ventured together before. This is the proudest moment in our career as we are about to release what we consider the best effort we've done up to date. For whatever past endeavors we accomplished and for whatever future victories we shall have, it’s with a lot of honor and pride in our hearts we now give to you ['Hell Frost']."

"Hell Frost" track listing:

01. Inherit The Earth
02. Phoenix Down
03. Betrayer Of The Code
04. My Own Death
05. Serenade Of Guilt
06. Collapse My Dream
07. Green Eyed Demon
08. Iceheart Fragment
09. Pathfinder
10. Where The Frost Rose Withers
11. The Miracle Of Mind (bonus song, only available on jakebox CD)

Fan-filmed video footage of THE UNGUIDED 's performance at this year's edition of the Getaway Rock festival, which was held July 7-9, 2011 in Gävle, Sweden, can be seen below.

Florida-based melodic metallers CRIMSON GLORY performed at the Mylos Club in Thessaloniki, Greece on October 22, 2011 as part of the the third segment of their 25th-anniversary European tour. The trek, dubbed "Phoenix Rising" to reflect the band's vibrant and sudden re-emergence on the metal music scene, took flight on April 28 at the Dynamo club in Eindhoven, Netherlands. "Phoenix Rising" has since spanned several countries, meeting with rave reviews among fans, peers, and press.

CRIMSON GLORY's setlist for the Thessaloniki show:

01. Valhalla
02. Dragon Lady
03. Angels Of War
04. Azrael
05. Mayday
06. Queen Of The Masquerade
07. Lady Of Winter
08. Where Dragons Rule
09. Painted Skies
10. Masque Of The Red Death
11. In Dark Places
12. Burning Bridges
13. Red Sharks
14. Lost Reflection
15. Lonely
16. War Of The Worlds
17. Dream Dancer
18. Eternal World

Canadian rocker Danko Jones has slammed METALLICA's collaboration with Lou Reed, claiming to have put his entire METALLICA collection up for sale after hearing the controversial "Lulu" project.

"Lulu" is due on November 1 in North America via Warner Bros. Records and one day earlier (October 31) in the rest of the world through Universal Music. The CD, which is available for streaming in its entirety at LouReedMetallica.com, was co-produced by Reed, METALLICA, Hal Willner — who has produced albums for Reed, Marianne Faithfull, and Laurie Anderson, among others — and Greg Fidelman. Fidelman also mixed the record.

In a series of tweets over the weekend, Danko offered his opinion on "Lulu", calling it the "Ishtar", "Waterworld" and "Battlefield Earth" of rock 'n' roll. ("Ishtar", "Waterworld" and "Battlefield Earth" are widely considered to be three of the biggest cinematic train wrecks.) His final tweet on the subject reads, "Good morning! Heard METALLICA/Lou Reed album last night. METALLICA collection now for sale. Tweet your $$$."

"Lulu" finds METALLICA playing behind lyrics written and sung by Reed that are based on a pair of early 20th century German Expressionist plays.

METALLICA guitarist Kirk Hammett told Revolver in a new interview that "Lulu" is "one of the best things we've ever done," adding, "We haven't been spontaneous like that for years and years and years, probably since the '80s."

Hammett added that fans should not consider this the next METALLICA album, saying, "All I have to say is don't judge it by heavy metal standards and maybe you'll understand it better."

Reaction worldwide to the samples of music heard from the project so far has been a mix of confusion, hostility and disappointment, with fans cautiously lauding METALLICA for daring to experiment but also saying that this project was perhaps the wrong combination of artists.

British extreme metallers CRADLE OF FILTH have commenced the songwriting process for the follow-up to last year's "Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa". According to CRADLE OF FILTH frontman Dani "Filth" Davey, "Two songs ('The Abhorrent' and 'Siding With The Titans') [are] already past the demoing stage, with a third track snapping swiftly on their heels. I can reveal that they are sounding sonically, well, like CRADLE OF FILTH, but in a very good way. But then again I would say that, wouldn't I? Whether it be true or not I think the songs thus far sound fab, very atmospheric but driving headlong, eerily cinematic and really memorable."

He adds, "At the present we are looking at entering the studio around the third week in March 2012 with that ever-tentative release date of next All Hallow's Eve to crawl eventually toward. This would put the band firmly back out on the road towards the end of next year, possibly straight into the maw of Europe. There will be new things in the CRADLE OF FILTH canon as we really try not to stagnate — well, not outside of our stage clothes anyway — but rest assured what has surfaced already is killer material indeed. And no, it's not's another fucking concept album!

In other news, CRADLE OF FILTH is putting the finishing touches on its next project, an orchestral album titled "Midnight In The Labyrinth", which, according to Davey, will feature "nine classic CRADLE tunes reinvented as orchestral compositions." He adds, "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… this should see the poisonous light of day in April 2012. Ish."

"Midnight In The Labyrinth" 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

Veteran thrashers FORBIDDEN have checked in with the following message:

"Calling ALL Forbidden fans. Our guitar tech/tour manager and friend, Dane Wolf, was attacked by a group of thugs after the DEATH ANGEL/TESTAMENT/ANTHRAX show in Denver on Wednesday night. Dane has a cracked skull and other serious injuries. He was working Death Angel and had to drop off of the tour. We need your help to cover his hospital expenses. Please donate whatever you can. It all helps!

Help Support DaneWolf on GiveForward.com.

Help Dane get back on his feet (literally)!"

A message from Dane:

"Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for contributing to my recovery. This is above and beyond anything I could have ever imagined, I have never felt so blessed in my life. I am focusing on healing right now, and your generosity reduces the stress that was brought into my life by the senseless violence of this individual. I will keep you posted on my recovery and look forward to getting back out there doing what I love when I am ready. Thank you so so much, I can't describe how much this means to me, my friends and family!"

The votes have been tallied and one album emerged victorious. As elected by their fans via the recent Facebook poll, Norwegian symphonic black metal band DIMMU BORGIR will be performing their epic 1997 release, Enthrone Darkness Triumphant, in its entirety on their upcoming intimate club tour.

There will be no support band. Dimmu Borgir will perform Enthrone Darkness Triumphant as their first set. The second set will be a variety of Dimmu classics.

Dimmu Borgir recently announced three additional shows to their upcoming European run. These shows will be a part of the band’s intimate club tour.

Confirmed tour dates are as follows:

November
10 - Hamburg, Germany - Markthalle
11 - Haarlem, The Netherlands - Patronat
12 - Antwerp, Belgium - Trix Hall
14 - Brighton, England - Concorde 2
15 - Colchester, England - Arts Centre
16 - Norwich, England - Waterfront
18 - Glasgow, Scotland - Classic Grand
19 - Leeds, England – The Cockpit
20 - Cardiff, England - Great Hall 2
21 - Stoke , England – Sugarmill
23 - London, England – Islington Academy
24 - Nottingham, England - Rescue Rooms
25 - Manchester, England - Academy 3
26 - Birmingham, England - 02 Academy 2
28 - Belfast, Ireland - Spring And Airbrake
29 - Dublin, Ireland - Academy

Tickets are VERY limited and are on sale now.

Dimmu Borgir with orchestra and choir will perform "an unholy live symbiosis' at the Wacken Open Air 2012, which is set to take place August 2nd - 4th in Wacken, Germany.

Confirmed acts for Wacken 2012 now include: AMON AMARTH, CRADLE OF FILTH, DIMMU BORGIR, ENDSTILLE, FORBIDDEN, GAMMA RAY, HAMMERFALL, MINISTRY, AXEL RUDI PELL, HENRY ROLLINS (spoken work engagement), SCORPIONS, SIX FEET UNDER, U.D.O. (Birthday Party), WATAIN.

ROYAL HUNT will release a double DVD, entitled Future Coming From The Past, on November 29th in North America and December 2nd in Europe. The album will accompany the release of the band’s newest album Show Me How To Live, which will be released on the same dates via Frontier Records.

Royal Hunt have uploaded the first part of their studio reports dealing with the recording of Show Me How To Live. Check it out below:

Frontiers Records has announced the latest live release from the most influential and ground-breaking progressive rock ‘n’ roll band in history, YES. The new album, In The Present – Live From Lyon, will be available on 2CD/DVD package from November 29th in North America and December 2nd in Europe.

Recorded in Lyon, France, on December 1st 2009, In The Present – Live From Lyon is an outstanding collection of hidden gems and unforgettable classics, with new singer Benoit David breathing new life into each of the evergreen tracks. The package comes with a 55 minute DVD containing excerpts from the live performance, candid interviews and behind the scenes footage. The cover art features an original design by Roger Dean, author of most YES album covers including classics Fragile, Close To The Edge and Drama.

YES’ powerful compositions influenced a generation of musicians. They have a hugely successful and indelible catalogue of masterpieces; songs like 'Roundabout', a seminal hit which consistently appears on “the best songs of all-time” lists, and the group’s #1 hit 'Owner Of A Lonely Heart', taken from the YES album 90125, saw YES top the UK and US album charts simultaneously.

YES are the pioneers for the use of synthesizers and sound effects in modern music and produced a multitude of timeless, symphonic-rock masterworks; they continued to push the cutting edge of art-rock music to their limits, selling over 30 million albums and reaching platinum status multiple times worldwide. YES latest studio album, Fly From Here – the first in ten years – hit the Top 10 on the Rock Charts and was declared as their “best work since the ‘70s”.

The new USB from NWOBHM legends DIAMOND HEAD will be available soon, direct from the band's website, featuring albums, videos, rare tracks and exclusive hi-res images. Stay tuned for details at this location.

Diamond Head played one of the biggest shows of their career at Sonisphere Knebworth which took place at Knebworth House in the UK on July 8th. The band opened up for the Big 4 - METALLICA, SLAYER, MEGADETH and ANTHRAX - who have been paying allegiance to Diamond Head on numerous shows by performing the band's classic 'Am I Evil?', a track Metallica made famous by covering the song on the B-Side to their Creeping Death single in 1984!

Diamond Head mainman Brian Tatler was interviewed on Midlands Today with Lars Ulrich at Sonisphere, Knebworth. Check out the video below: