Swedish progressive rockers PAIN OF SALVATION have issued the following update:

"After 13 years in the band, Johan Hallgren [guitar] has decided to leave PAIN OF SALVATION to focus on his daughter and wife. He will not leave music altogether, but plans to work with music in a way that allows him to stay at home with his family in Sweden. That means that the band's upcoming November/December tour together with OPETH will be his last. He will, of course, be sadly missed, both musically and personally, and very difficult to replace. So, if you know someone who sings and plays the crap out of basically anyone, send him or her our way — we might just have a thing or two to discuss."

Commented Johan: "I'm leaving the band with both joy and sadness. I need to stay close to my daughter and my child-to-come; they will be my greatest concern along with my wife. I will miss everyone I've met during the years, and the band will continue to have a warm place in my heart. So finally, treat yourself and all that surrounds you with respect, and stay with PAIN OF SALVATION — the greatest band on the planet! Sorry if I disappoint you; I miss you already!"

Roadrunner Records will release a special TYPE O NEGATIVE vinyl box set exclusively via independent retailers on Black Friday, which lands on November 25 this year.

As the first band to achieve platinum status on the Roadrunner roster, TYPE O NEGATIVE didn't rewrite the rules. They simply tore the rule book up, burned what was left of it and did whatever the hell they wanted with the smoldering ash. The result was nothing short of brilliant, as they combined dirge-like doom with head down, gothy grooves, all the while retaining the sort of signature melody that made their songs utterly memorable, infesting your brain like a virus.

The vinyl box includes all Roadrunner released TYPE O NEGATIVE material. Each album will be issued on double green vinyl, with the album art recreated, including the controversial, rarely seen original cover of "The Origin Of The Feces". TYPE O fans know all about that cover and the anatomy which it features. Each album will also have new, branded liner notes documenting the genesis and completion of each album. An exclusive sticker sheet with six mini bumper stickers will also be included in this "must-own" set for TYPE O NEGATIVE diehards. It's an instant collector's item.

The set includes the following releases:

* Slow, Deep and Hard
* The Origin of the Feces
* Bloody Kisses
* October Rust
* World Coming Down
* Life Is Killing Me

Said TYPE O drummer Johnny Kelly: "This looks great, but we're disappointed that Roadrunner couldn’t get it together to do the scratch-and-sniff cover we wanted for 'The Origin Of The Feces'."

TYPE O NEGATIVE frontman Peter Steele passed away on April 14, 2010 from heart failure. He was 48 years old.

Readers of the British metal magazine Metal Hammer have voted SLIPKNOT's self-titled 1999 album the best debut of the past 25 years.

Over 16,000 fans voted in Metal Hammer's special 25th-anniversary poll, with "Slipknot" managing to grab almost a third of all votes cast, beating off competition from the likes of GUNS N' ROSES, KORN, MACHINE HEAD and PANTERA.

Coming in a distant second was KORN, whose self-titled 1994 album received 8.88 percent of the vote. Just behind KORN was GUNS N' ROSES' breakthrough 1987 album "Appetite For Destruction", which brought in 8.84 percent of the vote.

Even though PANTERA self-released four full albums before being signed to Atco, the band's major-label debut, "Cowboys From Hell", took fifth place with 6.2 percent of the vote.

Metal Hammer readers' Top 10 debuts of the past 25 years:

01. SLIPKNOT - "Slipknot" (32.27%)
02. KORN - "Korn" (8.88%)
03. GUNS N' ROSES - "Appetite for Destruction" (8.84%)
04. RAMMSTEIN - "Herzeleid" (6.92%)
05. PANTERA - "Cowboys From Hell" (6.2%)
06. SYSTEM OF A DOWN - "System of a Down" (4.67%)
07. LINKIN PARK - "Hybrid Theory" (3.78%)
08. MACHINE HEAD - "Burn My Eyes" (3.35%)
09. BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE - "The Poison" (3.01%)
10. RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE - "Rage Against the Machine" (2.78%)

Going back into time to move forward, STILLWELL — the new band featuring KORN bassist Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu on guitar — has decided to release "Surrounded By Liars", an EP containing six original versions of songs that appeared on its debut album, "Dirtbag". Due on November 21, the CD comes with an amazing looking stainless Steel (316L) STILLWELL charm of your choice of either the "Cross & Skulls" or the "Guitar Pick" with a stainless steel lobster claw and black 3mm leather cord necklace, designed by Jewelry My Tattoo. The six songs are, "Trepidation", "I Can't Be Stopped", "Cyclone", "Hate To Say I Told You So (Magnetic Daze)" and "Surrounded By Liars", along with the very first STILLWELL song ever recorded, "Killing Myself To Live".

Legendary U.S. metal band RIOT will release its new album, "Immortal Soul", which will be released on October 21 in Japan via Marquee/Avalon; October 26 in Scandinavia; October 28 in Germany; Austria and Switzerland; October 31 in the rest of Europe; and November 22 in the U.S. and Canada through Steamhammer/SPV. The effort will be available as a limited digipack with two bonus tracks, double gatefold LP (colored blue vinyl) and regular jewel case.

"Immortal Soul" sees Tony Moore, Mark Reale, Don Van Stavern and Bobby Jarzombek — the lineup responsible for the band's hugely acclaimed "Thundersteel" (1988) and "The Privilege Of Power" (1990) albums — reunited once more, together with Mike Flyntz who as the additional live guitarist helped bring these two acclaimed albums to life on stage.

RIOT is justifiably proud of its upcoming release. As bassist Don Van Stavern says, "'Immortal Soul' picks up where 'Thundersteel' left off, 20 years later! It has the same intensity, creativeness and passion that we put into our music. It's another ballbuster and I can't wait to unleash it on the masses."

Guitarist Mike Flyntz is equally enthusiastic. "I have been performing the songs from the 'Thundersteel' era for over 21 years," he says. "It has been an honor to write and record 'Immortal Soul' with Tony, Don, Bobby, and Mark. I am very proud of my contribution to this record and also very proud to play along with such inspirational musicians. I hope everyone enjoys this album as much as I do."

Drummer Bobby Jarzombek says, "'Immortal Soul' is a special record for me because in all the years that I've been playing and recording various projects, I've never been completely involved in any other CD from the very first day of writing to the very last day of mixing. I'm really looking forward to the live shows, and including some new 'Immortal Soul' songs into the set along with the RIOT classics!"

Founding member and guitarist Mark Reale, who has been RIOT's guiding force since the band released "Rock City" over thirty years ago, is quick to pay tribute to vocalist Tony Moore's input. "To me, the close collaboration with each of our vocalists has always been the decisive aspect in any RIOT release," he says. "That's why it was absolutely inspiring for me at the studio that Tony directly took up many of my ideas and translated them brilliantly, or contributed his own suggestions from which our songs benefited greatly. He is simply the perfect RIOT frontman!"

And as Tony Moore himself points out, "It's been nearly a quarter of a century since the five of us assembled in New York to create 'Thundersteel' and 'The Privilege Of Power', and the music world couldn't be more different. The Internet led us not only to discover that those albums had taken a special place in the history of metal, but also put us back in touch — and the result is 'Immortal Soul', an album that is 100 percent true to the legacy of those 1980s recordings. It's also packed with evidence of how we've all grown and changed as artists. It was recorded in five studios, in three different cities, and it's absolutely a product of the most important changes in the recording industry over the last 20 years. We're looking forward to sharing the details with our fans and friends around the world, along with the music. Enjoy!"

"Immortal Soul" track listing:

01. Riot
02. Still Your Man
03. Crawling
04. Wings Are For Angels
05. Fall Before Me
06. Sins Of The Father
07. Majestica
08. Immortal Soul
09. Insanity
10. Whiskey Man
11. Believe
12. Echoes
13. Johnny's Back (live recording; digipack bonus track) *
14. Metal Soldiers (live recording; digipack bonus track) *

* Recorded live at the Sweden Rock Festival on June 6, 2009 in Sölvesborg, Sweden

"Still Your Man" is available for streaming using the SoundCloud player below.

The artwork was created by the band's vocalist Tony Moore and can be seen below.

"Sins Of The Father" audio stream (courtesy of AOL's Noisecreep):

Reactivated legendary 1980s Finnish/Swedish heavy metal band OZ will release its new album, "Burning Leather", on November 18 via AFM Records. The CD will include six brand new tracks and five re-recorded versions of the group's classics, including what is probably the best-known OZ song so far, "Turn The Cross Upside Down".

"Burning Leather" track listing :

01. Dominator
02. Searchlights
03. Let Sleeping Dogs Lie
04. Fire In The Brain
05. Seasons In The Darkness
06. Turn The Cross Upside Down
07. Burning Leather
08. Gambler
09. Enter Stadium
10. Total Metal
11. Third Warning

The re-recorded version of "Turn The Cross Upside Down" can be streamed using the SoundCloud player below.

Norwegian "blackjazz" outfit SHINING (not to be confused with the Swedish extreme metal band of the same name) will release its first-ever live DVD and CD, "Live Blackjazz", on November 11 via Indie Recordings. The effort was produced by SHINING frontman Jørgen Munkeby and was mixed by Sean Beavan (MARILYN MANSON, NINE INCH NAILS, SLAYER). The mastering duties were handled by Tom Baker (MARILYN MANSON, NINE INCH NAILS)

"Under The Grey Banner", the new album from Swedish power metallers DRAGONLAND, will be released on November 18 via AFM Records. The third part of the "Dragonland Chronicles" trilogy features musical actor Fred Johanson in the role of the antagonist, with all three singers from AMARANTHE — Elize Ryd, Jake E and Andy Solveström — also making appearances.

A video feature describing the Royal City of Westmar, which appears on "Under The Grey Banner", can be seen below.

DRAGONLAND's fifth album was recorded at several different studios, with Jacob Hansen adding his magic touch to the mix at Hansen studios in Ribe, Denmark. Twelve songs were recorded during the sessions, and the music itself is based on a deep and emotional story, picking up where the band's second album, "Holy War", left off nine years ago.

German power metallers RUNNING WILD have reformed and will release their new album, "Shadowmaker", in April 2012 via SPV/Steamhammer.

RUNNING WILD played what was billed as its "farewell" show at the 2009 edition of Wacken Open Air festival, which was held July 30 - August 1, 2009 in Wacken, Germany. The band's July 30, 2009 "best-of" performance was filmed and recorded for a DVD and CD, "The Final Jolly Roger", which came out this past June via Golden Core/ZYX.

Stated RUNNING WILD mainman Rolf "Rock 'N' Rolf" Kasparek: "My comments in spring 2009 about the demise of RUNNING WILD were absolutely serious at the time. I really needed time out and, to be honest, couldn't imagine even in January 2011 that I would ever feel like recording a new album again. But when I had the inspiration for a best-of album, to which I wanted to contribute four new numbers, I rediscovered how much I enjoy composing. From then on it was only a small step to record a full new studio album."

Kasparek wrote ten new tracks for "Shadowmaker", including the midtempo opener "Piece Of The Action", the uptempo number "Shadowmaker" ("roughly the same pace as 'Angel Of Mercy'," says Kasparek) and the monumental eight-minute song "Dracula", based on Bram Stoker's novel and the Christopher Lee movies.

"To me, 'Shadowmaker' is a very special album because there was no pressure, timewise or otherwise," says Kasparek. "I feel it's clearly audible that this relaxed attitude helped me to write one of the strongest RUNNING WILD recordings of all time."

A video message from Kasparek in which he reveals his thoughts about the new RUNNING WILD album, as well as the band's past and the future, can be seen below.

Kasparek calls RUNNING WILD's new deal with Steamhammer/SPV "a real stroke of luck and ideal partnership," adding, "SPV/Steamhammer are a long-established label with an experienced team, so I know that RUNNING WILD are in good hands. Besides, my band and the record company are based in the same German city (Hannover), which can't be a disadvantage for a smooth cooperation."

Olly Hahn, an A&R representative at Steamhammer/SPV, is equally delighted. "That a style-defining act such as RUNNING WILD signed with us comes close to an accolade," he says. "Band leader Rock 'N' Rolf is one of the metal scene's last originals, and we at SPV are unbelievably proud that his choice fell on us."

RUNNING WILD released a "best-of" compilation, entitled "Best of Adrian", in November 2006 via G.U.N. Records. The set included selections covering the previous nine years of the band's recording history (while they were signed to the G.U.N. label).

RUNNING WILD's last collection of new material, "Rogues En Vogue" (2005), entered the German album charts at position No. 39. The CD was produced by RUNNING WILD mainman Rolf "Rock 'N' Rolf" Kasparek and features the lineup of Kasparek (vocals, all guitars), Peter Pichl (bass) and Matthias Liebetruth (drums).

Guitarist Tony Iommi has told U.K.'s Terrorizer magazine that the four original members of BLACK SABBATH recently got together in a rehearsal room for the first time in years, adding, "[We] played some of the old stuff and to be together again was great. We're all on good terms and we're at a stage where we can play together again. It would be good if we could and I suppose it's the closest it's been to be able to do that. It could happen!"

Singer Ozzy Osbourne told Billboard.com last week that a reunion of the original BLACK SABBATH lineup was a "very, very strong possibility." He added, "It's in the very early stages, so we haven't recorded anything yet. If it works out, it'll work out. If it doesn't, I'll keep doing my thing."

VOICES OF DESTINY, die sich Ende April 2011 in die Krabbesackduschder Studios zurückgezogen haben, haben nach "3 Monaten voller Spaß, harter Arbeit, Kreativität und Schmerzen" kürzlich die Aufnahmen für ihr kommendes Album beendet.

Den ganzen Prozess haben sie durch Blogeinträge und Videoclips dokumentiert.

Das Artwork des Albums wird von Jan Yrlund (Darkgrove Design) kreiert werden.

Gitarrist Chris kommentierte:
"Ich habe gemischte Gefühle. Einerseits ist es großartig zu wissen, dass wir alles gegeben haben und etwas besonderes erschaffen haben. Andererseits ist es auch traurig, denn Aufnahmen bedeuten auch immer eine Menge Spaß. Nun ist es an der Zeit, dass sich Andy dem Mix und Mastering der Songs widmet und ich kann es kaum erwarten, das Ergebnis zu hören, denn ich in mir sicher, dass es ein großartiger "heavy" Sound sein wird!"

Die Wege von disbelief und Neu - Drummer Corny Althammer haben sich nach gut einem Jahr Zusammenarbeit überraschend und zum Bedauern der Band getrennt! Die Gründe dafür sind charakterliche Unterschiede, die im Lauf der Zeit deutlich wurden, weshalb man sich entschied, in Zukunft besser getrennte Wege zu gehen. Corny Althammer wird für die ausstehenden Shows disbelief noch unterstützen, die Band hofft, so schnell wie möglich einen neuen Mann an den Kesseln zu finden, um die Arbeiten am neuen Album fortzuführen!

disbelief suchen ab sofort einen neuen Schlagzeuger! Ernst gemeinte Interessenten für diesen Posten wenden sich bitte an folgende Adresse: drummer@disbelief.de

German medieval metallers NACHTGESCHREI vocalist Hotti has announced he is leaving the band this upcoming spring due to personal reasons.

According to a press release: “The band is really sad about his decision, but they respect it. They wish him all the best for the future and want to thank him for the unbelievable time they had together.”

Because of this departure, Nachtgeschrei are searching for a new vocalist.

Swedish industrial goth metal band DEATHSTARS has announced the addition of drummer Vice (a.k.a. Oscar Leander of CRESCENDOLLS) to the group's ranks.

Commented Vice: "I'm really excited to be a part of DEATHSTARS and I really feel that my drumming complements DEATHSTARS music in a perfect way."

Added DEATHSTARS guitarist, songwriter and producer Emil "Nightmare Industries" Nödtveidt: "With this addition to our band our recordings and live shows will deliver more energy than ever before. We are really pumped up about the future!"

A new study claims to have found that young people at risk of depression are more likely to listen habitually and repetitively to heavy metal music.

Dr. Katrina McFerran, a researcher at University Of Melbourne — which consistently ranks among the best universities in Australia and the world, especially in the biological and health sciences — is immersed in a new study that aims to find out why some young people use heavy metal music in a negative way.

By conducting in-depth interviews with 50 young people aged between 13 and 18, along with a national survey of 1000 young people, McFerran is looking to develop an early intervention model that can be integrated into schools to impact positively before behavioral problems occur.

"The mp3 revolution means that young people are accessing music more than ever before and it's not uncommon for some to listen to music for seven or eight hours a day," she said.

"Most young people listen to a range of music in positive ways; to block out crowds, to lift their mood or to give them energy when exercising, but young people at risk of depression are more likely to be listening to music, particularly heavy metal music, in a negative way.

"Examples of this are when someone listens to the same song or album of heavy metal music over and over again and doesn't listen to anything else. They do this to isolate themselves or escape from reality.

"If this behavior continues over a period of time then it might indicate that this young person is suffering from depression or anxiety, and at worst, might suggest suicidal tendencies."

McFerran said parents should be aware of their children's music listening habits, pick up on early warning signs and take early action.

"If parents are worried, they should ask their children questions like — how does that music make you feel? If children say the music reflects or mirrors the way they feel then ask more about what the music is saying," she said.

"If listening doesn't make them feel good about themselves, this should ring alarm bells. Alternatively, if parents notice a downturn in their child's mood after listening to music this is also a cause for showing interest and getting involved."

BËEHLER — the Canadian band featuring the former EXCITER drummer/vocalist Dan Beehler, AGGRESSOR bassist Brian Stephenson and guitarists Sean Brophy and Scott Walsh — will release its debut album, "Messages To The Dead", on December 5 via the German label High Roller Records. The effort will contain 12 songs and will be made available on both LP and CD.

"Messages To The Dead" track listing:

01. Jet Black
02. March Of Death
03. Eternal Tormentor
04. Message To The Dead
05. Destitude Abuser
06. In Know One We Trust
07. Organized Mayhem
08. Destroy
09. Megalodon
10. Save Me From Myself
11. Kill The Witch
12. The End Of The World

Colorado-based modern melodic death metallers ALLEGAEON will enter Lambesis Studios in San Diego, California in December with producer Daniel Castleman (AS I LAY DYING, CARNIFEX, MOLOTOV SOLUTION) to begin recording their second album for an early 2012 release via Metal Blade Records.

Commented guitarist Ryan Glisan: "All the songs are written and we are finishing up vocals and solos as we speak.

"What can you expect from our new album? I think we can all say that this album is where we have wanted to be as a band for a long time; it's fresh, super-heavy, melodic, [with] a ton of groove-oriented, old-school-style riffing [and] just as much blasting as down tempo beats. On the whole, the album has very cohesive and consistent sound that mixes intensity with musicality, and as usual there's about a thousand solos, haha. I think people will not necessarily hear what they are expecting to hear, but in a good way."

In other news, ALLEGAEON has announced the addition of drummer JP Andrade to the group's ranks. According to Glisan, "JP is as well-versed in extreme death metal styles as he is with other styles such as rock and jazz, etc."