Whirlwind noise-grinders ANAL CUNT (A.C.) will release a posthumous two-CD collection of all their earliest works entitled "The Old Testament" on November 22 via Relapse Records. The last completely authorized A.C. release showcases the band's earliest and most forceful work. In addition to the infamous "5,643 Song EP" and the bands early split releases, "The Old Testament" includes A.C.'s first demo (from April 1988) and last session in 1991, neither of which have been heard by anyone outside the band. It also contains liner notes penned by charismatic founder and songwriter Seth Putman shortly before his death, as well as an epilogue from original A.C. drummer Tim Morse, tons of never-before-seen early photos, and much more.

In a June 2011 interview, Putnam stated about the collection, "The recordings from 1988 to 1991 represent the older A.C. sound.

"When the band started, the goal was to be the fastest, noisiest band around and to have absolutely no trace of musicality at all — no lyrics, no song titles, no music written for the songs…. Over time, some musical parts were added here and there.

"The original A.C. influenced countless other bands, and was the only band [of its kind] that actually toured and played out regularly."

Added Morse, "The releases this year have turned out to be far more important than anyone ever could have imagined. They officially mark the end of A.C., forever. The band [Seth] started 23 years ago became our lives. And as we all know, all things, including lives, must end. But as a memorial to both Seth and A.C., we are all blessed to have had experiences as amazing as this."

A.C. courted controversy and melted minds with its unique brand of noise for over twenty years. Love them or hate them, the outrageous outfit built a cult following worldwide and became one of the most talked about underground bands of our time.

Norway's SO MUCH FOR NOTHING has inked a deal with My Kingdom Music. The band's new album, "Livsgnist", will be released on January 16 on CD and LP format. According to a press release, the CD features "a sound that is unique, bringing in instruments as saxophone, trumpet, cello, violin and flute among others, making for sure an original work! An overall desperate and gloomy feeling mixed to the natural rage of the black metal is what comes out from SO MUCH FOR NOTHING and you won't lose a moment to be enchanted by this delirium! This is definitively an album for fans of JOYLESS, SHINING, DEN SAAKALDTE, LIFELOVER and MY DYING BRIDE. Inspired by general decadence over the years, SO MUCH FOR NOTHING serves you the finest tunes of dark and arcane black metal-pop/rock. Expect a masterpiece that will change your attitude towards this kind of sounds."

Formed by Erik Unsgaard (SARKOM) and Uruz (URGEHAL), SO MUCH FOR NOTHING's new CD features guest appearances by current and former members of SHINING, RAM-ZET, URGEHAL, 1349 and ABSU.

Linda Leseman of LA Weekly recently conducted an interview with KISS guitarist/vocalist Paul Stanley. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

LA Weekly: KISS fans are intensely devoted. Why do you think that is?

Stanley: Well, part of it has to do with how boring most bands are. [Laughs] I don't necessarily want to buy a t-shirt with a guy on it who looks like my neighbor. And I think KISS has always been about celebrating self-empowerment. Celebrating the idea that anything is possible with determination and hard work. We're the proof of that....There are no fans more rabid or devoted than KISS fans. KISS fans are what all other fans are measured against. That's how it came to be known as the KISS Army.

LA Weekly: You just announced the title of your new album, "Monster". Can we expect a KISS tour in support of the record?

Stanley: Sure. We ultimately have always seen ourselves as a live band that prides itself not only in playing music but in entertaining. And I say "entertainment" in capital letters with lights flashing around it. We're proud of that. There's nothing worse than going to a concert and paying for a high-priced ticket and seeing somebody stroll out onto stage and sit on a stool. You kind of wonder where your money went.

LA Weekly: This brings to mind a relatively new army of devoted fans — Lady GaGa's Little Monsters. I know GaGa is a fan of KISS. Any chance of a KISS/GaGa collaboration?

Stanley: Anything's possible. She's terrific, and it's not improbable.

Legendary guitarist Slash (GUNS N' ROSES, VELVET REVOLVER) will enter Barefoot Recording in Hollywood, California later this month with producer Eric Valentine (QUEENS OF STONE AGE, THE ALL-AMERICAN REJECTS) to begin recording his second solo album for an early 2012 release. Joining Slash in the studio will be the members of his touring band: vocalist Myles Kennedy (ALTER BRIDGE), rhythm guitarist Bobby Schneck, bassist Todd Kerns (SIN CITY SINNERS, formerly of AGE OF ELECTRIC), and drummer Brent Fitz (formerly of THEORY OF A DEADMAN).

Commented Kerns in a post on his official blog: "Back when I was originally asked to support [Slash] on his first solo tour, I wasn't sure if it would be a month or maybe fly-outs on weekends or what. Now here we are a year and a half later and we're getting ready to record a new CD as a band. [I] did not see that coming.

"We have been working on riffs for a while since we were on the road even. Those riffs have ballooned to almost 20 songs and growing. We have been hard at it in several writing sessions and are now in the midst of two weeks' rehearsal. We'll be entering Barefoot studios with Eric Valentine in a few days to start work on the first few songs. We'll finish up the record before the end of the year.

"Eric has produced a lot of amazing stuff, including Slash's last record. We'll be in the very studio where one of my favorite albums ever was recorded — 'Songs For The Deaf' by QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE (produced by Eric Valentine). It promises to be very exciting. I'm stoked!"

In a recent interview, Slash stated about the musicians in his band, "I was really fortunate. When I'd done the [first solo] record, I thought, 'I've gotta tour on this.' And I had to figure how I was gonna actually pull that off. And I set about auditioning musicians in L.A. and I just happened to meet Brent Fitz, who I'd never played before and who is not from Los Angeles; he was one of the guys I auditioned and he was great. And then he introduced me to Todd Kerns, who fit in perfectly. And it turned out to be a great band from the start — definitely worth going in and making a record with."

Guitarist Henjo Richter of German power metallers GAMMA RAY will be forced to sit out the band's appearance on the Sweden Rock Cruise.

The ship Tallink Silja Galaxy departs from Stockholm, Sweden on October 6 and makes a round trip to Turku, Finland to return to Stockholm 23 hours later.

Comments GAMMA RAY in a statement: "Unfortunately, we are forced to deliver the bad news that Henjo Richter had a bike accident and broke three ribs and the collarbone, so he will not be able to play on the cruise. Since we couldn't find a replacement and did not want to cancel the show and leave our fans disappointed, we have decided to play the show nevertheless and give our longtime live keyboarder Mr. Corvin Bahn (CRYSTAL BREED) some extraspace and a distortion pedal for his organ sounds. So if you're on the boat and around 1:45 a.m. hear something that sounds like DEEP PURPLE playing GAMMA RAY songs, it's us. Hope you'll enjoy this 'show beyond the ordinary.'"

Also scheduled to appear on the Sweden Rock Cruise are ANVIL, DARK FUNERAL, EXODUS, HELIX and HELL.

KATATONIA's ultra-rare 1994 mini-album of death/doom metal mastery, "For Funerals To Come", will be released on vinyl on November 7 (CD release to be confirmed) through Peaceville Records. "For Funerals to Come" contains the trademarks of early era KATATONIA with the haunting guitar melodies and slow tempo combining with the tortured vocals of Jonas Renkse to create an aura of melancholy and gothic darkness. This edition of "For Funerals To Come" contains two extra tracks — "Black Erotica" and "Love Of The Swan" — and features new liner notes from co-founding member, writer and guitarist Anders Nyström and is limited to only 1,500 copies. Pre-order your copy directly from Peaceville now.

Scion A/V has announced the release of a new five-track digital EP and music video from Yonkers, New York-based death metal veterans IMMOLATION. "Scion A/V Presents: Immolation - Providence EP" will be available as a free download via www.scionav.com. The EP will also be distributed for free in CD and vinyl formats at shows during the IMMOLATION North American tour 2011 and at select Scion partner retail locations.

According to a press release, "Providence" "showcases [IMMOLATION's] trademark harmonic dissonance, along with their militaristic and complex rhythms while losing none of their signature menace."

"We're excited to be working with such a unique band such as IMMOLATION," says Jeri Yoshizu, manager of sales promotions for Scion. "Their drive and diligence scream just as loud as their vocal, and we wouldn't have it any other way."

"Scion A/V Presents: Immolation - Providence EP" track listing:

01. What They Bring
02. Illumination
03. Still Lost
04. Providence
05. Swallow The Fear

IMMOLATION's Tommy Jones-directed video for the song "A Glorious Epoch", can be viewed below. The track comes off the band's eighth album, "Majesty And Decay", which was released in March 2010 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD sold around 1,400 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 29 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.

The reactivated original lineup of SPINESHANK — featuring Jonny Santos (vocals), Tommy Decker (drums), Mike Sarkisyan (guitar) and Rob Garcia (bass) — will release its fourth album, "Anger Denial Acceptance", next year through an as-yet-undetermined record label. Produced by Sarkisyan and Decker and mixed by Mike Plotnikoff (PAPA ROACH, BUCKCHERRY), the CD promises to surpass everyone's expectation of what SPINESHANK is capable of.

The official "lyric video" for one of the songs from the forthcoming effort, "Murder Suicide", can be seen below.

Over 20 years after the release of their self-titled debut album, ABOMINATION — the acclaimed 1990s death/thrash metal band formed by MASTER mainman Paul Speckmann — will have its early material re-released on November 4 via Nuclear Blast. The two-CD set includes the albums "Abomination" (1990) and "Tragedy Strikes" (1991) as well as rare demos and EP.

The track listing is as follows:

CD1:

Abomination:

01. The Choice
02. Murder, Rape, Pillage and Burn
03. Reformation
04. Redeem Deny
05. Possession
06. Suicidal Dreams
07. Life And Death
08. Victim Of The Future
09. Tunnel Of Damnation
10. Follower (Bonus CD)
11. Impending Doom

Demo (1988):

12. Over The Edge
13. Reformation
14. Impending Doom
15. Curses Of The Deadly Sin
16. Tunnel Of Damnation
17. Follower

CD2:

Tragedy Strikes:

01. Blood For Oil
02. They’re Dead
03. Pull The Plug
04. Will They Bleed
05. Industrial Sickness
06. Soldier
07. Kill Or Be Killed
08. Oppression

Final War (EP):

09. Face In The Crowd
10. You Could Be Next
11. Take A Sip Of Power
12. Man Created God
13. Mistaken Reality

Demo (1987):

14. Victim Of The Future
15. Social Outcast
16. Raping The Grave
17. Possession
18. Doomed By The Living
19. The Truth

When asked about ABOMINATION's split and the possibility of a reunion, Speckmann stated in a 2009 interview, "Management played a big part in the fall of ABOMINATION and [the band's record label] Nuclear Blast made many mistakes as well. As for a reunion, this will never happen as guitarist Dean Chioles died of multiple sclerosis many years ago and this was a sad loss for all."

Regarding what significance ABOMINATION has had for him personally and musically, Speckmann said, "ABOMINATION was a group that experimented with many genres of music and wasn’t afraid to try new ideas out and this was a chance to try out many of my crazy changes and the band would successfully implement them in their songs. I had the pleasure of bringing my ABOMINATION vision to Europe one time only for 26 performances and I will never forget this."

The cover artwork for "Manifestation Of Black", the new seven-inch EP from Swedish death metallers NOMINON, can be seen below (courtesy of artist Juanjo Castellano). Due in October/November through Deathgasm Records in limited-edition run of 1,000 copies, the effort was mixed by engineer Robban at Studio Hell, where all the recordings also took place. The mastering was done by Javi Bastard at Moontower Studios in Barcelona, Spain.

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)

"Frustration" lyrics:

Frustration
In my lexicon of hate
I see you with your portraiture
Does he love you?
Does he love you too?

The brush strokes
Kiss your breasts and toes
I cry icicles in my stein
The heartbeats flutter
With an abnormal rhythm

The pain shoots through my body
A sword between my thighs
I wish that I could kill you
But I too love your eyes

You're feeling less whore but you stimulate
The hatred smolders in your eyes
I'd drop to my knees in a second
To salivate in your thighs

But all I do is fall over
I don't have the strength I once had
In you and your prickless lover
And his easel in his eyes

I feel the pain creep up my leg
Blood runs from my nose
I puke my guts out at your feet
You're more man than I
To be dead to have no feeling
To be dry and spermless like a girl

I want so much to hurt you
I want so much to hurt you
I want so much to hurt you
Marry me
I want you as my wife

Spermless like a girl
More man than I
More man than I

Frustration
In my lexicon of hate
You're feeling less like a whore but you
Stimulate

All I do is fall over
I don't have the strength I once had
All I do is fall over
I don't have the strength I once had

I want you so much to hurt you
I want so much to hurt you
I want so much to hurt you
I want you as a wife

Frustration is my lexicon of hate
Frustration is my lexicon of hate
Fru… fru… frustration, my lexicon of hate

I cry icicles
Heartbeats flutter
Abnormal rhythm

I wish that I could kill you
But I too love your eyes
I want you as my wife
I want you as my wife
Spermless like a girl

Lucky in feeling
More man than I
Marry me, marry me, marry me
I want you as a wife
Spermless like a girl
Puking my guts at your feet
More man than I
Fru… fru… fru… frustration
Frustration [End of lyrics]

"Reborn In Defiance", the long-awaited new studio album from New York hardcore metal legends BIOHAZARD, will be released on January 20, 2012. The CD will be made a vailable via Nuclear Blast outside of North America, with a U.S. label partner soon to be announced. The band will celebrate the launch with a record-release party in its hometown of Brooklyn, New York before setting off on an extensive international tour.

A video teaser for the album can be seen below.

According to The Pulse Of Radio, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH has released two brand new songs ahead of the arrival of the band's third studio album, "American Capitalist". The two tracks, called "Generation Dead" and "Back For More", both appear on the upcoming disc, which is due out next Tuesday (October 11). Immediately following the album's arrival, the band will hit the road for the 48 Hours Festival in Las Vegas on October 15 before kicking off the Share The Welt tour on October 16 in San Francisco.

Former RAMONES bassist C.J Ramone says that he was invited to audition for METALLICA on two separate occasions but turned down the opportunity to join the San Francisco Bay Area-based metal giants.

The bassist, whose real name is Christopher Ward, said he was "honored" to be asked to try out for METALLICA but he could not join as his son had just been diagnosed with autism. He told The Great Southern Brainfart, "I was approached about joining METALLICA not once but twice. When Jason [Newsted] first left the band [in 2001] they approached me. A while had gone by and they were having a hard time finding someone, so they approached me again. At the time my son had been diagnosed with autism and there was just no way I could leave him."

He continued, "Johnny [Ramone] was actually the one who hooked me up with the audition because he was friends with [METALLICA guitarist] Kirk Hammett. I talked to my son's doctor and explained the opportunity and that I could bring my family out on the road and even hire a nurse. The doctor just told me that my son needed to wake up in the same place every day, he needs to have meals at the same time every day and he needs to go to school everyday and be around other kids. He said that anything other than that could be a detriment."

He added, "I was honored that they asked me but there was just no way I could do it. The beautiful part about it all is that now my son is in regular classes at school. He's on the high honor roll and he's even starting his own band now with a couple of friends of his. The change in him from when he was a kid is amazing. I'm not taking credit for it all. There were a lot of people who helped him along the way. If I had not been here, I don't know that the outcome would have been as good and that totally justifies my decision.

"I have no regrets.

"It would've been great to play with METALLICA after being in the RAMONES. Jesus, that would be just like a too-perfect life [laughs]."

C.J Ramone joined the seminal punk band RAMONES in 1989 to replace longtime player Dee Dee Ramone before leaving again in 1996.

Vocalist Oliver "Oli" Sykes of the British metalcore act BRING ME THE HORIZON was reportedly assaulted on stage during the band's headlining performance last night (Monday, October 3) at In The Venue in Salt Lake City, Utah. The altercation apparantly took place after several concert-goers threw water bottles at Sykes, prompting him to call out the culprits and send the projectiles right back. Several rowdy audience members then rushed the stage in attempt to attack the singer, with a few others starting fights in the crowd. Sykes was apparently unharmed during the incident, with the band returning to the stage a half hour later to finish its set.

Three separate fan-filmed video clips capturing the fight can be seen below.

"KUR-NU-GI-A", the first proper demo by the legendary Swedish death metal band EDGE OF SANITY fronted by Dan Swanö (also of NIGHTINGALE, BLOODBATH, ODYSSEY, PAN-THY-MONIUM) has been made available as a 12-inch picture-disc vinyl via Black Mark. The recording, which was originally released in 1990, was remixed by Dan.

Commented Swanö: "I always felt we grew up a bit too fast, We got caught up in the growing death metal scene and tuned down the guitars and bought the 'right' distortion pedals and tried to be the new ENTOMBED.

"This demo showcases the original sound of EDGE OF SANITY. During this period we still listened to a lot of progressive and challenging metal of all kinds and I still believe the songs have their true version on this demo.

"I transferred the original 4-track cassette masters using state-of-the-art digital technology, and remixed them and finally gave them the sound I dreamt of giving them 21 years ago. The dream of finally having this classic recording released on 12" picture disc has come true."

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.

A variety of physical "Lulu" releases are available for pre-order at LouReedMetallica.com:

** 2CD Package - $19.99

Contents: Double CD with 24-page booklet including all lyrics.

** Deluxe 2CD Poster Set - $119.99

Contents: Limited-run tube including a poster of the "Lulu" mannequin and song lyrics, three high-quality prints of Anton Corbijn photos of Lou Reed and METALLICA, and the double CD of "Lulu" in a unique folding slipcase. Each tube is numbered. Dimensions of the tube are approximately 5.5 inches in diameter by 49 inches long.

** Deluxe Book 2CD - $109.99

Contents: Limited-run two-book set, each book 12" x 12" square bound with a hard cover. The Anton Corbijn book is 20 pages of photos taken of Lou Reed and METALLICA in Gothenburg, Sweden in the summer of 2011. The lyric book is 28 pages with lyrics from each song along with imagery from the objects collection of WerkbundarchiV Museum Der Dinge, Berlin, Germany. The two "Lulu" CDs are also included in the lyric book. All housed in a clear plastic slipcase.

** Vinyl 2LP Set

"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)

The complete discography from the melodic Swedish death metal act A CANOROUS QUINTET will be released for the time time on vinyl via The Crypt.

Although not as well known and some of the other bands in the Swedish death metal scene, A CANOROUS QUINTET features members from such prominent acts as AMON AMARTH, NIDEN DIV. 187, OCTOBER TIDE and GUIDANCE OF SIN.

Formed in 1991, A CANOROUS QUINTET released the "The Time Of Autumn" demo followed by a mini-CD, "As Tears", and two full-length albums, "Silence Of The World Beyond" and "The Only Pure Hate". The band split up in 1999 before reforming in 2005 under the name THE PLAGUE and later changing its name to THIS ENDING.

Strictly limited to a one-time-only pressing of 500 hand-numbered copies, these amazing slabs of wax come housed in a 350-gram, semi-gloss printed, gatefold jacket featuring the original "As Tears" cover artwork, lyrics, new extensive liner notes by Linus Nirbrant and Mårten Hansen, and exclusive band photos. In addition the layout uses original elements just like the original MCD release, for complete attention to detail — even down to the typeface. In addition to the classic 1995 MCD, this LP features the 1993 "The Time Of Autumn Demo" taken from the original DAT recording. Included in all 500 copies is a luxurious 24" x 36" (60.96 cm x 91.44 cm) poster of the "As Tears" cover artwork. 300 copies will be made available on 180-gram magenta vinyl.

NIGHTRAGE guitarist Olof Mörck will be forced to sit out the band's "Frets Of Fury" tour with FIREWIND, WHITE WIZZARD and ARSIS throughout the U.S. and Canada in October. Filling in for him during the trek will be former CELLADOR/CIRCLE II CIRCLE guitarist Bill Hudson.

Commented Hudson: "It'll be a blast! NIGHTRAGE is a killer band and Marios [Illiopoulos, NIGHTRAGE guitarist] has one of the best right hands I've ever seen/heard, so it was a real challenge to learn the material. I have very close friends in every other band on this tour and I certainly look forward to being on the road with them."