Polish extreme metallers BEHEMOTH played their first show in over a year this past Saturday, October 8 in Poznan, Poland. Fan-filmed video footage of the concert can be seen below.

BEHEMOTH frontman Adam "Nergal" Darski, who was diagnosed with leukemia in August 2010, stated: "Magick is back, my friends! We have our first 'rebirth’ shows under our belt, moreover, both Poznan and Gdansk were totally sold out and crowd's reactions went beyond anyone's expectations!

"We have a special guest, Krzysztof Azarewicz introducing the band on stage; thanx mate! You are a true friend!

"BEHEMOTH would like to thank every person that came down and shown their support. It can’t be underrated. We have few more shows to go… and then we're gonna take a deep breath before striking back the European stages in February.

"This is the ultimate manifest and our unconquerable will! Join us!"

German death metallers LAY DOWN ROTTEN are recording their sixth album, "Mask Of Malice", at Desert Inn Studios in Germany for a February 2012 release via Metal Blade Records. Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Deathchain", "…And Out Come The Wolves", "Hades Resurrected" and "Swallow The Bitterness".

Comments the band: "We are almost done recording our sixth album. We recorded at the Desert Inn Studio where we also worked on the last five albums. The new album will be called 'Mask Of Malice' and it features ten killer tracks that combine the raw dynamics of the typical LAY DOWN ROTTEN sound with the bittersweet melodies of death metal hymns you wanna bang your head to!"

LAY DOWN ROTTEN is:

Jost Kleinert - Vocals
Nils Förster - Guitar
Daniel Seifert - Guitar
Uwe Kilian - Bass
Timo Claas - Drums

THE RESISTANCE, the new Sweden-based metal band featuring former members of IN FLAMES, THE HAUNTED and GRAVE, made its live debut this past Saturday, October 8 at Club Distortion in Stockholm, Sweden. Fan-filmed video footage of the performance can be viewed below.

THE RESISTANCE's lineup is as follows:

* Marco Aro (FACE DOWN, ex-THE HAUNTED) - Vocals
* Jesper Strömblad (ex-IN FLAMES, DIMENSION ZERO) - Guitar
* Glenn Ljungström (ex-IN FLAMES, DIMENSION ZERO) - Guitar
* Alex Losbäck Holstad (ex-DESPITE, DECAMERON, CARDINAL SIN) - Bass
* Chris Barkensjö (CARNAL FORGE, GODSIC, ex-GRAVE) - Drums

Strömblad quit IN FLAMES in February 2010 in order to continue receiving treatment for his alcohol addiction.

Nuclear Blast Germany have unveiled a number of formats for NIGHTWISH's upcoming album Imaginaerum and their 'Storytime' single as detailed below:

Imaginaerum Mail Order Edition: limited and numbered to 1000 copies, the boxset includes the double digipak, the one-track-single 'Rest Calm' in its demo version featuring Marco Hietala on vocals and the exclusive Imaginaerum mirror:

Imaginaerum Two-CD digi pack featuring instrumental version of the album as bonus CD:

Imaginaerum Marbled Vinyl: Strictly limited to 250 marbled 180g double gatefold LPs incl. a DIN A2 poster:

'Storytime' CD Single featuring 'Storytime' (radio edit), 'Storytime' (album version), 'Storytime' (instrumental version):

'Storytime' Single Clear, White and Dark Blue Vinyl: Strictly limited to 250 lush 10" gatefold mini albums. Featuring 'Storytime' (radio edit), 'Storytime' (album version), 'Storytime' (instrumental version):

In what is sure to be one of the most talked-about alliances of the year, LOU REED & METALLICA's Lulu album will be released by Warner Bros. Records on November 1st in North America (October 31st elsewhere).

A deluxe version of Lulu will be released in a tube-shaped container (13cm x 1.24m), and will include a two-CD digipack package, a large 1.2m x 1.6m poster (with song lyrics), and three photographs by Anton Corbijn (50cm x 50.8cm).

Legendary hard rock singer Jeff Scott Soto (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, TALISMAN, JOURNEY) has issued the following update:

"I am contently at the halfway stages of my completing new solo album, 'Damage Control'! I am two vocals away from wrapping up 14 new masterpieces for you…

"It's been over three years since I completed 'Beautiful Mess', which was a departure from what fans expected. Well, I can tell you this new album has what you want and more! I combined the best of my first two solo albums with Frontiers Records and also tapped into the spirits of TALISMAN, SOUL SIRKUS and then some on 'Damage Control'. I have recruited my solo bandmates, new and old, to co-write with me as well as Joel Hoekstra of NIGHT RANGER and Jamie Borger of TALISMAN/TREAT to write and play with me on this. The tracks are amazing and I am sure will please all Jeff Scott Soto fans alike.

"Look for 'Damage Control' to drop in March 2012 with Frontiers Records followed by a full European/South America/possible U.S. tour...

"And oh, by the way — shameless plug — we'll be starting a new W.E.T. album [featuring Soto, guitarist/songwriter Erik Martensson (ECLIPSE) and keyboardist Robert Sall (WORK OF ART)] in a few months…

"Busy times but nothing less than you'd expect from me."

British heavy metal legends JUDAS PRIEST will release a new compilation album, "The Chosen Few", on October 11 via Legacy/Sony. The collection contains songs that were selected by some of the biggest names of the hard rock/heavy metal world, including KISS' Gene Simmons, Ozzy Osbourne, Slash, METALLICA's James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich, Alice Cooper and SLIPKNOT's Corey Taylor.

"The Chosen Few" is now available for streaming in its entirety at AOL Music.

Bassist Rudy Sarzo (BLUE ÖYSTER CULT, ex-OZZY OSBOURNE, QUIET RIOT, WHITESNAKE, DIO), drummer A.J. Pero (TWISTED SISTER) and guitarist Mike Orlando (ADRENALINE MOB) have joined forces in a brand new project called TRED. An album's worth of material is currently in the works for a tentative January 2012 release.

The identity of TRED's frontman — who is said to be a well-known singer in the Rob Halford vein — will be revealed later this week.

TRED's musical direction is described as "go-for-the-throat, straight-ahead rock."

Commented Orlando: "15 tracks so far are in pre-production and we will announce the vocalist very shortly!

"A.J., Rudy and myself are real excited about launching this new lineup and it will definetely have tons of energy, great playing and some kick-ass hard rock!

"It will be an honor to be part of this new band, as it is an honor to be part of ADRENALINE MOB as well! Should be an exciting 2012!"

A trailer for "The Ultimate Deception", the forthcoming fifth album from Florida-based extreme metallers WYKKED WYTCH, can be seen below. The CD was recorded at Lambesis Studios in San Diego, California with engineer Daniel Castleman (AS I LAY DYING, WINDS OF PLAGUE) and is tentatively due this winter via an as-yet-undetermined record label. The CD was mastered by Alan Douches (THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, MASTODON) at West West Side Music in New Windsor, New York.

Norwegian metallers SUSPERIA will release a CD celebrating their 10-year anniversary as a recording artist, "We Are The Ones", on November 11. According to a press release, "This album marks 10 years of releases, and at the same time a nice end of a circle where Mustis (ex-DIMMU BORGIR), who participated on SUSPERIA's first demo in 1999, now returns after 12 years to once again put his magical touch on new, as well as old songs. A very fruitful cooperation which now has led to some fantastic re-recordings of some very popular, classic songs, now in complete symphonic versions. A brand new song has been recorded, with a massive orchestral theme. The contribution to this year's Eurovision Song Contest is of course featured. And to round up a celebratory album of this magnitude the right way, here it is finally, the entire infamous demo recording from 1999; 'Illusions Of Evil'! Remastered and officially released for the very first time. Øyvind 'Mustis' Mustaparta has been a guest musician in the band for a period of six months, and the result of this junction is finally ready. Really just a huge celebration of the longtime brotherhood of the band, and an even bigger thank you to the devoted fans worldwide. What contributes to making this album so special now is the fact that SUSPERIA, in their 12-year existence, have had the same lineup of members, without exception. This is very rare, and quite special not only in the metal genre, but in the whole music industry in general. Especially within bands consisting of five or more members. This will also be vocalist Athera's first release with SUSPERIA since the near-fatal heart attack in March 2009, and the subsuquent open-heart surgery."

Legendary actor William Shatner will release his new space-themed concept album entitled "Seeking Major Tom" on October 11 via the Los Angeles-based label Cleopatra Records. Comprised of 19 "interpretations" of classic intergalactic rock anthems, the release features guest appearances by Ritchie Blackmore (RAINBOW, DEEP PURPLE), Ian Paice (DEEP PURPLE), Zakk Wylde (BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, OZZY OSBOURNE), Carmine Appice (VANILLA FUDGE, ROD STEWART, OZZY OSBOURNE), Mike Inez (ALICE IN CHAINS) and Michael Schenker (MSG, UFO, SCORPIONS).

You can now stream "Seeking Major Tom" in its entirety at this location.

Of Wylde, Shatner previously said, "He's fantastic! I'm energized." Wylde was thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Shatner and added, "He's super cool, we had an awesome time working together."

Speaking with Billboard.com regarding his upcoming second book, "Trust Me, I'm Dr. Ozzy", singer Ozzy Osbourne also touched on the rumors that he recently spent time in England working on material for a new BLACK SABBATH album with other members of the band's original lineup.

"Yes, it's a very, very strong possibility," Ozzy said of getting the old band back together. "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."

BLACK SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi's manager in August refused to deny that the band's original lineup is getting back together, according to the Birmingham Mail. The Mail was actually the newspaper that broke the story of a reported SABBATH reunion, using comments attributed to Iommi. But although the guitarist issued a statement saying that his comments had been distorted, his manager Ralph Baker admitted to the Mail, "We haven't got anything in place. He's not denying that the guys have been talking but there's nothing in the way that's been implied in the statements that you made."

Iommi's comments to the Mail were made back in June, with Baker telling the newspaper that Iommi "felt that he made them to you off the record."

Baker said that the story first appeared on a metal news web site before the Mail expanded on it, using Iommi's quotes.

Baker said, "A very insignificant little web site put something out about SABBATH getting back together . . . When you [Birmingham Mail] went online, that's when it went around the world because it was official."

The Mail reported on August 16 that the original four SABBATH members — Iommi, singer Ozzy Osbourne, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward — have already begun rehearsing and writing music in secret for a new album.

SABBATH did try to record a new album 12 years ago, the original lineup's first since 1978, but abandoned the attempt after just a couple of songs. The original SABBATH lineup has not toured together since summer 2005.

Progressive rock/metal band CYNIC will release a new EP, "Carbon-Based Anatomy", on November 11 in Europe and November 15 in North America via Season Of Mist. Unlike last year's "Re-Traced", this new EP consists exclusively of brand new material.

"Carbon-Based Anatomy" track listing:

01. Amidst The Coals
02. Carbon-Based Anatomy
03. Bija!
04. Box Up My Bones
05. Elves Beam Out
06. Hieroglyph

Check out a preview in the YouTube clip below.

Justin Broadrick of reformed industrial metal pioneers GODFLESH has confirmed to Decibel magazine that the band has begun working on material for a new studio album. "[The songwriting process is going] really, really slowly," Justin said. "I guess because I've had my son, it's slowed things down a bit for us. I mean, [fellow GODFLESH founding member] Ben Green got married last year and he still holds a very good job, so he's very busy, we're both very busy but we have a lot of ideas. Also, there's no way we'd approach a new record just to milk the newfound popularity of GODFLESH. I mean, it could take another year before we release something, and even the intitial impact of the reformation could have subsided by then, but that's kind of meaningless, really; it's just making another really good, cold and bleak record. And it's more than in us, it's in me, it still translates the same emotions that I've been struggling with all my life."

When asked if he would say GODFLESH is the best way he has found to articulate the more aggressive emotions, Justin said, "Absolutely. And the defensive side as well. I mean, JESU was another realm altogether and it was intended to be; it was meant to be distanced from GODFLESH. That was the whole point and it was more of an indulgence in terms of other aspects of things that I enjoyed but couldn't touch upon in something like GODFLESH. Even if GODFLESH touched upon some of the premises of JESU, JESU is the full-blown conceptualization a form of pop, a heavier form of it but a form of pop all the same. It's just in my context, it's clearly far from any sort of pop music. Arguably, it still contains a lot of GODFLESH because, in a way, you could say that's still how I am, and JESU is a deviation, an odd root away from the whole GODFLESH thing. Essentially, GODFLESH is what I've always been."

MY RUIN — the Los Angeles-based band featuring the husband-and-wife rock duo of vocalist Tairrie B. Murphy and multi-instrumentalist Mick Murphy — will embark on the "Southern Revelation Tour" to celebrate the release of the group's seventh album, "A Southern Revelation", which MY RUIN is making available as a free download and gift to fans starting December 7, 2011 exclusively via www.myruin.net. Special guests for the trek are British metal heavyweights GODSIZED along with Colchester thrashers and longtime friends SANCTORUM and Nottingham rockers LONG DAY FEAR.

Commented Tairrie B.: "We're looking forward to returning to the U.K. and kicking things off in a big way with our first show in Glasgow, Scotland on January 18th for my birthday! In the past we have always played London on this occasion but since we were forced to cancel our last show at Classic Grand on our previous tour due to my being severely ill at the time, we wanted to do something special for our friends and fans who have been waiting to see us to make up for it. Previously purchased tickets from March 2011 will remain valid for the new show and we will be having an after party / meet-and-greet following our set on this and a few other select dates during the tour. We're playing many of our favorite cities in the U.K. this time around, which, except for two familiar haunts, will be our first time playing most of these new venues, including one night near Paris in Vaureal, France, which I'm sure will be a evening to remember, and ending the tour back in England at a deconsecrated church!

German melodic metallers SYMPHORCE, who feature in their ranks guitarist Cédric "Cede" Dupont and singer Andy B. Franck (BRAINSTORM), have officially called it quits.

Commented Franck: "Seven albums, 12 years and thousands of enthusiastic fans don't make that decision easy, but after long thoughts and lots of talks we decided together to call it a day and dissolve SYMPHORCE. The heads are dead, the timetables of our main bands packed with dates, so we feel a lack of inspiration and no possibility to record more albums, play more shows with the passion and commintment needed therefore.

"SYMPHORCE will always stand for an absolute independent type of metal, but with our latest (and last) album, 'Unrestricted', we had to recognize that we have said everything we wanted musically. It was an unbelievable, intense and fantastic time!

"We thank you all for your long lasting loyalty and the enthusiasm you have shown to us. We will never forget all this for sure.

"Of course, we will still remain with and in our other bands and will see us for sure somewhere somewhen on this planet. And therefore… lights off… spotlights on!

"All my heart, passion and soul is now one hundred percent BRAINSTORM, the new album, 'On The Spur Of The Moment', and the upcoming tours and festivals.

"But anyhow... thanks for 12 fantastic years, thanks for the fulfillment of a dream! It was AMAZING!"

SYMPHORCE's latest album, "Unrestricted", came out on October 15 via AFM Records.

The musical collaboration between Lou Reed and METALLICA, "Lulu", will be released 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 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.

"Lulu" final track listing:

01. Brandenburg Gate (4:19)
02. The View (5:17)
03. Pumping Blood (7:24)
04. Mistress Dread (6:52)
05. Iced Honey (4:36)
06. Cheat On Me (11:26)
07. Frustration (8:33)
08. Little Dog (8:01)
09. Dragon (11:08)
10. Junior Dad (19:28)

"Pumping Blood" lyrics:

If I pump out blood in the sunshine
Oil on the wheel
That is blasted and busted away

A nail or a little piece of glass
A little piece of glass
A little piece of glass
Swarming like bees over the air
Off the pump off the thing
The blood that I'm pumping away

Like bees over the air
Off the pump
Off the thing
The blood that I'm pumping away

Off the pump
Off the thing
The blood that I'm pumping away

If I pump blood in the sunshine
And you wear a leather box with azaleas
And I pump more blood
And it seeps through my skin
Will you adore the river
The stream, the trickle
The tributary of my heart

As I pump more blood
And it seeps through my skin

Will you adore the river
The stream, the trickle
The tributary of my heart

If I'm pumping blood
Like a common state worker
If I waggle my ass like a dark prostitute
Would you think less of me

And my coagulating heart

Waggle my ass like a dark prostitute
Coagulating heart
Pumping blood

Would you top me off
Would you top me off as I deepen a curtsy
While you yell out, "mercy"
We grow apart
Would you rip and cut me

Use a knife on me

Be shocked at the boldness
The coldness of this little heart
Tied up in leather
Would you take the measure
Of the blood that I pump
In the manic confusion of love

Supreme violation
Supreme violation
"Oh, ah, ah, ah Jack I beseech you"

"Oh Jack I beseech you"
Supreme violation

Blood in the foyer
The bathroom
The tea room
The kitchen, with her knives splayed

I will swallow your sharpest cutter
Like a colored man's dick

Blood spurting from me
"Oh Jack, Jack I beseech…"
"Jack, I beseech you, I beseech…"
In the end it was an ordinary heart

"Oh Jack I beseech you"
As I scream out my pain
In the end it was an ordinary heart

In the end, in the end, in the end
It was an ordinary heart

"Jack, Jack, Jack, Jack, Jack I beseech you"
Supreme violation . . . Oh

"Jack, Jack, Jack I beseech you"
I call out your name

Blood in the foyer, the bathroom,
The tea room, the kitchen
And knives splayed
I swallow your sharpest cutter
Like a colored man's dick
Blood spurting from me
Blood spurting from me

"Oh Jack"

"Oh Jack, I beseech ya"
In the end it was an ordinary heart

In the end it was an ordinary heart
Pumping blood

VOODOO CIRCLE, the German/British band featuring members of PRIMAL FEAR and PINK CREAM 69, has completed work on the material for the group's third album. Guitarist/leader Alex Beyrodt (also of PRIMAL FEAR) states, "It was a tough job to choose 16 songs out of 48. The material is world-class and I can not wait to start recording them for real. Expect another killer album.... only killers, no fillers....and that's a promise!"