Reactivated Philadelphia-area '80s thrash band FAITH OR FEAR is putting the finishing touches on its first new music in 20 years. The group's new mini-album, "System Is Armed", features "six massive, foundation-shaking tunes coming your way: five new ones and a special treat," according to a press release.

"We are all incredibly pleased with the results," the band states. "This will truly be one of the most powerful FAITH OR FEAR releases ever, [with] Kevin [Hogan; engineer] and band both taking the proper steps to get the first new music from FAITH OR FEAR in 20 years down right!!! [It] will be well worth the wait!"

VENOM, the hugely influential U.K. outfit now celebrating a full 30 years since the release of its "Welcome To Hell" debut, will have a brand new studio album released on November 28 via Spinefarm Records/Universal. Titled "Fallen Angels" and featuring 13 fresh recordings produced by mainman/bassist Conrad "Cronos" Lant, this is the follow-up to 2008's "Hell" release, and sees the trio (completed by guitarist Rage and drummer Dante) adopting a style highly redolent of classic early VENOM with modern studio technology employed only to increase the general level of nastiness.

The first limited edition pressing of "Fallen Angels" will come with two bonus tracks, "Annunaki Legacy" and "Blackened Blues".
Prior to the album's release, on October 31, a double-A side single, "Hammerhead" / "Hail Satanas", will be made available on 12-inch vinyl and digital download, also through Spinefarm/Universal.

Says Cronos: "When we make an album, it usually takes a few tracks to get into the vibe, although this album's vibe was very much present during the ideas stage… everything came together so naturally.

"We all started throwing ideas together on the South American tour, and then again during the live shows of 2010, and so we knew from the start that we had some amazing new songs to make a great album.

"With any new album, you look for a few songs to put into the live set, although that is going to be very difficult with this record, as we can nail the entire album live if we want!

"'Fallen Angels' is the result of a band that has spent nearly two years touring and growing as a unit, and as the band grows tighter, so the songs get better and heavier, and we instinctively know what each other is thinking, and the ideas flow easier.

"This album is only the very start for this lineup; there will be many more albums and live shows to come for VENOM.

"It has taken a long time and a lot of changes to finally deliver a VENOM that can attack black metal the way it should be — fast, furious, tight and terrifying. All hell breaks loose… hell fucking yeah!!!!!"

"Fallen Angels" will feature the following songs:

* Hammerhead
* Nemesis
* Pedal To The Metal
* Lap Of The Gods
* Damnation Of Souls
* Beggarman
* Hail Satanas
* Sin
* Punk's Not Dead
* Death Be Thy Name
* Lest We Forget
* Valley Of The Kings
* Fallen Angels

Finnish/Swedish symphonic metallers NIGHTWISH recently spent time not only putting finishing touches to their new album, "Imaginaerum", but also planning a movie of the same name.

"Imaginaerum" is one of the projects which recently received grants from the Finnish government institution called the Finnish Film Foundation. The movie, directed by Stobe Harju, about an old man on his deathbed who glimpses a childhood dream in which he refuses to grow old, and fights aging with his imagination, will get $575,000 toward its $3.7 million budget.

During a September 8 interview with Petri Silas of Finland's Soundi magazine, NIGHTWISH mainman/keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen revealed that all the filming for the "Imaginaerum" movie will be done in Canada with mostly Canadian actors/actresses. Post-production will take place in Canada and Finland. He aso revealed the names of the actors who have two of the main roles in the film: Marianne Farley and Quinn Lord.

Stobe Harju has issued the following update on the "Imaginaerum" film:

"Two weeks have passed since the first day of shooting. It has been a triumph so far. Even as the band sat down to look at some raw pre-edited scenes, their faces couldn't lie. They were very happy with what they saw.

"Many of you must be dying for information and images from the set. We can't pour all that out since we really believe that some of the reveals would spoil the show. However, if you've read the previous update you know some of the character names already, which of at least Tom and Ann sound familiar to a many. And they should sound familiar.

"As I started to write 'Imaginaerum' screenplay, I planted one single parameter above everything else: This is a NIGHTWISH film, no matter how fictional story about the band it would be. I didn't just wanted to use the band's name but also, to come up with character names resembling NIGHTWISH members' names. The band in Imaginaerum became Ann, Tom, Marcus, Emil and Jack. I know, not very clever when it comes to molding names. Yet, I wanted the audience to feel the presence of NIGHTWISH and to me the convergence had to be clear. I had endless battles trying to convince people that using names similar to Anette, Tuomas, Marco, Emppu and Jukka was a perfect bridge between NIGHTWISH in reality and NIGHTWISH in a fantasy world. The band didn't agree with me originally. It became my decision and my responsibility I am proud of. That said, if someone ever thinks this might be an ego thing for the band, think again. It's my decision completely, and that's how I intend to keep it.

"These first two weeks have been a blast. So many great people have bled together with us pouring their fantastic creativity into the project. We have a fantastic art director and her team. Our director of photography couldn't be more dedicated to his line of work or his visuality. Our make-up and wardrobe departments have made magic in a short period of time. And the cast... wow! The whole crew is filled with professionals I could've only dreamt of when starting the project. And, our producers are the kind who really understand the drama, art and the story while keeping our budget safe and sound. I must be the luckiest director in the world. What more can I say.

"What strikes me the most, is the fact that this project is not only titled as 'the trip to one's imagination,' but it is exactly that on every aspect of the game with all the beloved people involved."

Today marks the 25th anniversary of METALLICA bassist Cliff Burton's death. In remembrance of him, the band's drummer Lars Ulrich gave a personal and emotional account of him in Revolver magazine's January/February "Fallen Heroes" issue. He had so many great stories about Burton, Revolver couldn't fit them in the magazine. So, in reverence, here is more of what Ulrich had to say about Burton.

Revolver: What do you remember about the first time you saw him?

Lars: I had just never really seen anything quite like it. It was just unique and so original. And there was just this incredible stage presence and this uniqueness to the whole vibe. I had just never seen anything like it. It was new, it was different. And obviously you could tell there was an incredible ability, and there was a stage presence, and all this type of stuff wrapped up in this incredible type of personality. And I think we were a little intimidated by him in the beginning because he was just so unique. But then as we got to know him a little bit, and I sort of started courting him to try and jump ship [from his band TRAUMA], then I started realizing he was a pretty chill dude. But he was also pretty firm on the fact that L.A. was not for him. 'Cause me and James [Hetfield] were trying to get him to come down to L.A., and he just wasn't into that. He was really rooted up here [near San Francisco], he really was a kind of a Northern California… almost a hillbilly like. I mean, there's a lot of different vibes up here, and there's definitely a kind of unique vibe in Castro Valley and Hayward and stuff. And he was a real, really rooted where it came from. And he was probably, certainly speaking for myself, I was much more of a gypsy. When we traveled and stuff like that, he was the first guy to want to go home. And he was the one who was probably at the strongest of roots of all of us. He had family and kind of a history. Me and James were more loners.

Revolver: He seems like he was laidback.

Lars: He didn't hurt people. He didn't cross the line, but he was certainly always up for being part of stirring some shit up. But more like a rascal point of view then someone who was out to hurt people. So it was more fun and games. He would fake fight or whatever, throw some kind of fake punches, but he would never throw any real punches. I don't think I ever saw Cliff in a fight. I don't think I ever saw Cliff get into heated exchanges or anything. I mean, he was a pretty chill guy. And it never got nasty or unpleasant.

Revolver: What are your fondest memories of him?

Lars: My fondest memories of Cliff are his total disregard for convention and his total disregard for playing things out the way you expected them. He was up to challenge the normalcy, to challenge the status quo, to just fuck with things musically, attitude-wise — the way he dressed, the way he carried himself, his sense of humor, his relationship with the music that inspired him, the music that he played. It was always very unconventional, and it was very unusual. You could certainly argue that me and James at that time were more kind of the squarer guys, 'cause we were more like, "MOTÖRHEAD, IRON MAIDEN!" Heavy metal T-shirts, and long hair and bang our heads into the wall. Cliff was just so fast in his palette of things that he was into and things that were inspiring him and the things that he was doing. So it was definitely his music, and his attitude, and his approach towards life that really inspired me and James to broaden our horizons, broaden METALLICA's horizons musically. So when I think of Cliff, that's what I think…that's just kind of variety and unpredictability, you know.

Revolver: What do you think of him when you look back at it all now?

Lars: He was really cool. It was, obviously other than losing a brother, it would've been the more… I would've been interested to see what else he could've contributed, because it felt like we were just getting started. We just started playing "Orion" again on the last run, in the last two weeks [when METALLICA were preparing for the "Big Four" concert in April]. So playing "Orion", I think we played it like three times in the last two weeks. You sit there and all of a sudden go, Fuck! What a, just, incredible piece of music. And just so unique. And it would've been interesting to see what else would've been in that vast well of stuff that he could've shared with the rest of us. That will forever be the curiosity element. But I'm so glad that I got a chance to play with him for a couple, three years. And got a chance to know him, and got a chance to drink with him, and all the shenanigans that probably shouldn't be printed in a nice, family publication like Revolver. But it definitely was a pretty nutty time, and at the time we certainly embraced what life was offering us. And accelerated it to a "mach 10," as James used to say on stage.

Read more from Revolver magazine.

Cliff Burton died on September 27, 1986 at the age of 24 in a coach crash near Ljungby, Sweden.

Following the tremendous success of the current ACCEPT album Blood Of the Nations, as well as an extensive world tour with more than 180 shows around the globe, Accept have now withdrawn from the stage to start work on their next album.

The band is currently writing new songs to the follow-up for the critically acclaimed Blood Of the Nations. The new album is scheduled to be finished and released in the spring of 2012 and will once again be produced by Andy Sneap.

Guitarist Wolf Hoffman is quick to comment, “Accept and Andy Sneap have the perfect synergy. This was so clear with Blood Of The Nations and we are excited to continue on that path. Andy is not only an amazing and prolific producer but also a very good friend who has long become a member of the Accept family.”

EDGUY, ICS VORTEX, SWALLOW THE SUN and STAM1NA will perform at next year's the Finnish Metal Expo (the main event of Helsinki Metal Meeting), set to take place February 17-18, 2012 at the Cable Factory in Helsinki, Finland.

Besides the classic exhibition area where record labels, merchandise companies, music shops etc. deliver the latest goods, the eighth edition of the Finnish Metal Expo sees the event shift towards indoor festival form with the introduction of the second stage. The number of performing bands during the two days will increase to more than 20.

Industry Days meeting will once again bring the who's who of the metal music industry to Helsinki. Industry Days has established its spot as the most important professional meeting of the metal world. The upcoming Industry Days will take place at the confines of the Cable Factory, making it convenient to attend seminars, check out the showcases and set up meetings.

Tickets for the Finnish Metal Expo will go on sale on Monday, October 3 at www.lippupalvelu.fi and www.tiketti.fi. One-day tickets cost 35 euros in advance and 40 euros at the door (if not sold out). Two-day ticket costs 57 euros. Advance only.

"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.

Not only is "Reborn In Defiance" BIOHAZARD's first original lineup album in 18 years, but it also marks the last album recorded by the band before the departure of bassist and co-vocalist Evan Seinfeld. The effort remains a testament to the four founding members (Billy Graziadei, Bobby Hambel, Evan Seinfeld and Danny Schuler) and their unique chemistry.

"BIOHAZARD has always been a mixture of our personalities, passion, chaos and angst that makes us who we are," says vocalist and guitarist Billy Graziadei. "It's this energy that comes out of us when we're together that is BIOHAZARD."

Having last recorded and toured as the fundamental lineup with the release of "State Of The World Address" back in 1994, BIOHAZARD reformed with all four original members back in 2008 to commemorate the band's 20th anniversary. They went back out on the road together over the next two years, during which time inspiration struck.

"When we first got back together, we knew it would take us a while to figure out how to be a band again," drummer Danny Schuler explains. "We toured the world over the next 18 months and were genuinely surprised when audiences everywhere reacted as positively as they did. So we started jamming, and we knew there was something there for us to build on. We wanted to take the live energy we were creating and capture it in the studio."

The legendary Toby Wright (ALICE IN CHAINS, METALLICA, SEVENDUST, KORN) was brought in to produce the 13-track "Reborn In Defiance", which was recorded in Los Angeles. He turned out to be exactly what the band needed.

"Not only does Toby Wright have excellent music knowledge and engineering skills, but he knew exactly how to work with us on a personal level. He made us keep our attention on the music, and that focus was exactly what BIOHAZARD needed," explains Hambel. "Toby pushed each of us to bring out the best we have to offer, and we went beyond our comfort zone without ever losing sight of the general vision we all had for this record."

Adds Schuler, "It was made in the same tradition of every album we've ever made together, a bunch of guys in a room, looking to move the world with our words and music. We're very proud of what we've done on this record; it ties together everything about what made us unique in the past, with a new attitude and excitement towards the future."

The band will embark on a massive world tour following their record release party in New York, with concerts in Europe, North America, Australia, Asia and South America planned. Dates and details will be announced shortly.

As a thank you for their loyal fans, BIOHAZARD is giving away a free track titled "Vengeance Is Mine" from the new album. Fans can download the track from the band's Facebook page.

Graziadei states, "There are three elements of creating an album: the album you want to make, the album you make and the album you wish you made. 'Reborn In Defiance' is the first album for us that has hit all three, and we're psyched to finally bring it to the masses."

BIOHAZARD has sold over five million albums worldwide since its formation in the late Eighties in Brooklyn, New York. They achieved international success with their albums "Urban Discipline" on Roadrunner Records in 1992 and 1994's "State of the World Address" on Warner Brothers. Over the years, BIOHAZARD has collaborated with ONYX, CYPRESS HILL, AGNOSTIC FRONT, HATEBREED, PANTERA, and TYPE O NEGATIVE, among others. The band has continued to tour nationally and internationally, sharing stages with HOUSE OF PAIN, OZZY OSBOURNE, SLAYER, DANZIG, FEAR FACTORY, SEPULTURA and AGNOSTIC FRONT.

BËEHLER — the Canadian band featuring the former EXCITER drummer/vocalist Dan Beehler, AGGRESSOR bassist Brian Stephenson and guitarists Sean Brophy and Scott Walsh — has inked a deal with the German label High Roller Records. The group's debut album, "Messages To The Dead", will contain 12 songs and will be released on both LP and CD (the exact release date to be announced soon).

"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

Dutch bassist J.B. van der Wal (ABORTED, DR. DOOM) has officially joined LEAVES' EYES and ATROCITY.

Commented J.B.: "I'm honored, after already filling in on bass for quite some awesome tours and trips with the LEAVES' EYES/ATROCITY family, which have been nothing else than fun, that I can now call myself a steady member of this awesome group of people!

"I was already writing for Liv's [Kristine, LEAVES' EYES singer] solo album from my studio here in the Netherlands, which 'till now has already been really cool, but actually being able to focus on this, and help with the new LEAVES EYES and ATROCITY record full on from now, feels great.

"No boundaries writing-wise and a new challenge musically!

"There is a whole lot of cool stuff coming up, the next months and summer, so I hope to see everybody out there, and I hope everybody likes my contribution to the bands. I'm looking forward to it all!"

Added Alex Krull of LEAVES' EYES and ATROCITY: "It feels great that J.B. joins the camp of the two bands! We are working already on new songs together and we are looking forward to our upcoming tours. We are happy to have such a cool band mate and a versatile and creative musician within our ranks!"

hier ein paar News zum Steven Wilson Release:

30.09. STEVEN WILSON - "Grace For Drowning" 2CD (Kscope/Edel)

- “Postcard” Single VÖ 10.10.11
- Trailer für BluRay Version:

Das Album erscheint als 2CD, Vinyl und als BluRay im 5.1 Mix.

- Audio Teaser “Raider”:

Näheres:

Auf der Startseite der mini-site ist ein Trailer für die 5.1 BluRay Edition des Albums online: http://www.gracefordrowning.com/
Die BluRay liefert die 2CD in 5.1 Surround Sound mit begleitendem Video Material von Lasse Hoile.
Dazu gibt es noch Bonus Audio Tracks, Foto Gallerien, handgeschriebene Noten und Texte.

Für Sammler bietet sich die auf 5.000 Stück limitierte Special Edition an. In Deutschland bestellbar bei E.M.P.

Die 1,4 Kg schwere Box beinhaltet:
- Doppel-CD (wie in der regulären Version)
- CD mit Bonus Material (Outtakes und Promoclips)
- Blu-ray Disc (wie in der regulären Version)
- ein 120-seitiges gebundenes Buch


“Postcard” wird am 10.10. als digital Package veröffentlicht. Als Zugabe gibt es den Track reduziert auf Stimme/Piano, sowie zwei Remixe “Postcard” und “Index.”

Die Kscope iPhone app wurde ebenfalls mit Steven Wilson Material aufgerüstet.
Hier kann man die app runterladen: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/kscope-music/id367313319?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

The full tracklist is as follows;

CD1:
1. Grace For Drowning (2.00)
2. Sectarian (8.00)
3. Deform to Form a Star (8.00)
4. No Part of Me (5.45)
5. Postcard (4.30)
6. Raider Prelude (2.30)
7. Remainder the Black Dog (9.15)

CD2:
1. Belle de Jour (3.00)
2. Index (4.45)
3. Track One (4.15)
4. Raider II (23.15)
5. Like Dust I Have Cleared From My Eye (8.00)

Musicians on "Grace For Drowning"

1. Grace For Drowning (2.00)
Piano - Jordan Rudess
Vocals / Keys - SW

2. Sectarian (8.00)
Guitar, keys, autoharp, bass guitar - SW
Soprano Sax - Theo Travis
Clarinet - Ben Castle
Drums - Nic France

3. Deform to Form a Star (8.00)
Vocals, guitar, Keys - SW
Piano - Jordan Rudess
Clarinets - Theo Travis
Bass guitar - Tony Levin
Drums - Nic France

4. No Part of Me (5.45)
Vocals, Keys - SW
Acoustic + electronic drums - Pat Mastelotto
U8 touch guitar - Markus Reuter
Bass guitar solo - Nick Beggs
Warr guitar / bass guitar - Trey Gunn
Saxophone solo - Theo Travis
Strings - London Session Orchestra (arranged + orchestrated by Dave Stewart)
Additional production by Pat Mastelotto

5. Postcard (4.30)
Vocals, piano, guitar, Keys, bass - SW
Drums - Nic France
Strings - London Session Orchestra
Choir - Synergy vocals
Strings and Choir arranged by Dave Stewart

6. Raider Prelude (2.30)
Piano, gong - SW
Choir - Synergy vocals (arranged by Dave Stewart)

7. Remainder the Black Dog (9.15)
Vocals, piano, Keys, glockenspiel - SW
Guitars - Steve Hackett
Flute, Clarinet, Sax - Theo Travis
Stick, bass guitar - Nick Beggs
Drums - Nic France

Volume 2 - Like Dust I Have Cleared From My Eye:

1. Belle de Jour (3.00)
Guitars (nylon string), keys, autoharp, bass guitar - SW
Strings - London Session Orchestra (arranged by Dave Stewart)

2. Index (4.45)
Vocals, Guitar, keys, autoharp, programming - SW
Acoustic + electronic drums - Pat Mastelotto
Strings - London Session Orchestra (arranged by SW, orchestrated by Dave Stewart)

3. Track One (4.15)
Vocals, guitars, keys - SW
Drums - Nic France

4. Raider II (23.15)
Vocals, Guitars, keys, piano, harmonium, percussion, bass (2nd half) - SW
Clarinet, Saxophone, Flute - Theo Travis
Piano solo - Jordan Rudess
Guitar - Mike Outram
Acoustic guitar - Sand Snowman
Stick, bass (1st Half) - Nick Beggs
Drums - Nic France
Sound design (coda) - Dave Kerzner
Choir - Synergy vocals (arranged by Dave Stewart)

5. Like Dust I Have Cleared From My Eye (8.00)
Vocals, Guitars, keys, piano, harmonium, autoharp - SW
Bass guitar - Tony Levin
Drums - Nic France

AEROSMITH singer Steven Tyler has told Rolling Stone magazine that the band's new album is almost done.

"Two months doing that and we're almost there," Tyler said backstage at the iHeartRadio festival in Las Vegas this past weekend. "We're gonna spend another month in L.A." Is there a release date in mind? "March, hopefully."

AEROSMITH entered guitarist Joe Perry's home studio (The Boneyard) in suburban Boston and the Pandora's Box (the band's main studio) in early July with producer Jack Douglas to begin recording its long-awaited 14th studio album. The CD will be AEROSMITH's first set of original material since 2001's "Just Push Play" and first studio offering since 2004's covers CD, "Honkin' On Bobo".

In a recent online posting, Douglas stated about AEROSMITH's new CD, "The new album should be out around May 2012. I know that's a long wait, but after the South American tour and Japan in October, November and December, we will just get back to work on it in mid-January."

He added, "For those who are asking, this album will be raw, nasty, tough rock with a good deal of the old AEROSMITH 'tongue in cheek.'"

In an earlier videotaped message that was released via AEROSMITH's official web site, bassist Tom Hamilton stated about re-teaming with Douglas, "For those of you who don't know who Jack is, he's the guy who we worked with, producing our best albums of the '70s — 'Get Your Wings', 'Toys In The Attic' and 'Rocks'. And it's really gonna be cool, because there's no one that knows more about the soul of this band and the creative part of this band [than] Jack. We worked with him on [2004's covers CD] 'Honkin' On Bobo', but that wasn't all original material — most of that was not original material. This time it's gonna be all-new AEROSMITH songs."

He continued, "When people say, 'What was it like to work with Jack back then?' all I can say is we just laughed the whole time; there was always laughter going on, and fun, but at the same time really digging deep to get performances that were even better than we thought we could do."

The plan to resume work on a new disc follows the completion of singer Steven Tyler's first season as a judge on "American Idol". The band, minus Perry, did get together for a week earlier this year in Los Angeles to work on new material.

AEROSMITH and Tyler almost went their separate ways in late 2009, but reunited and toured last year. However, Tyler then stunned his bandmates by taking the "Idol" job, which pushed back work on the already-delayed new record.

Italian power-driven symphonic/cinematic/orchestral band RHAPSODY OF FIRE have announced the name of the second guitarist who will join them on their upcoming world tour, Italy's Roberto De Micheli.

Keyboardist Alex Staropoli says: “With so many very good guitar players to chose from, it took time and great care to find the absolute best guitar player for us. In the end, we decided on Roberto De Micheli due to his complete mastery of the guitar, his unique abilities to amaze all those who hear and watch him play live, and his complete dedication as a musician. I have known Roberto De Micheli since the early 1990s. The decision to finally chose him over all other guitarists in the world to play with us became very obvious and natural the more we considered all our options. After so many years, he is still highly devoted to his instrument. He remains passionate and enthusiastic about rehearsing and playing music many hours every day. He is also a perfect fit for Rhapsody Of Fire because he continues the band’s tradition of being a truly professional, polite and a positive person to work with. Roberto De Micheli and Tom Hess are already working together on their guitar parts for the upcoming Rhapsody Of Fire tour, that's just very exciting! The huge anticipation of the band’s new lineup, sound and upcoming world tour has been something much greater and more exciting than we have ever experienced before from fans all over the world.”

"Shattered Like Glass", the new video from Los Angeles thrashers WARBRINGER, can be seen below.

Rather than churn out the "standard" live-in-an-abandoned-warehouse music clip, WARBRINGER decided to give "Shattered Like Glass" a horror movie treatment with help from director Dave Vorhes and actor Don Danielson.

Commented WARBRINGER's John Laux: "We are very excited about the latest and greatest official WARBRINGER promo video clip! We had a great experience working with director Dave Vorhes and his team. They used a number of DIY-style tricks to create a very unique and professional environment for the 'Shattered Like Glass' video. We had a blast using smoke and mirrors to escape the trappings of another metal warehouse video. The aim is to have a very dark, horror movie kind of feel in this video."

From years of relentless touring, Los WARBRINGER has become known as one of the hardest-working bands in metal, as well as a ferocious live act — and it brought all of that raw aggression into the creation of its third album, "Worlds Torn Asunder", scheduled for a September 27 release via Century Media Records.

According to The Pulse Of Radio, Roger Taylor says that the bottom line for him and Brian May launching the talent search for their Queen Extravaganza production is quality control. The pair is prepping a self-produced tribute act to tour next year "playing QUEEN's music combined with unseen footage and a production spectacle" which is completely sanctioned and controlled by the band.

Taylor admitted that there are several reasons for the band to put their energies into the tribute show, but it's mainly to protect the brand name of the group. "Well, that is definitely, I would say, the key aspect. I'm not going to pretend it's the only aspect. I mean, but whether this makes any money or not, I can't tell at this stage. Obviously, I'll be honest — I hope it does — but it's turning into an exciting project now. But it is for that very reason. There were literally hundreds of these tribute bands, and most of them are pretty cheesy, and I just thought it really is diluting whatever we might've had."

QUEEN is urging talented fans "who think they have what it takes to play Brian May's guitar riffs in 'Sheer Heart Attack' or do their best Freddie Mercury vocals on 'Bohemian Rhapsody'" to upload their auditions to www.queenextravaganza.com."

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 songs on this record are more personal than anything we've ever done, and I think it shows when we play them live," states Decker. "This is our most varied and challenging record yet, and I can't wait to get out there and bring these new songs to life."

"We're not interested in living in the past, we want to push forward," adds Sarkisyan. "We just finished the best record of our careers and we're really excited to get it out there."

In a recent interview with FrontRowRock.com, Decker stated about "Anger Denial Acceptance", "It's three of the stages of grieving, rearranged a bit. I think it's something a lot of people can relate to; things ending, relationships, people. Members of this band have been through a lot in the last few years and it all came out in this record. This is the most personal record we've ever done. Everything you hear is real. The pain, anger and sadness come from a real place. It was not a fun record to make."

When asked about the recording process for the new CD, Decker said, "The recording process was a lot different this time. It was the first record where we didn't have an outside producer come in, we did it completely on our own. We also did it in different sessions. We'd write three or four songs and then go record them. Write three or four more and record them in a different studio. We actually took our Pro Tools rig to a cabin in Big Bear and did a lot of the vocals there. We were totally isolated from the outside world; we were able to fully focus and concentrate on the songs. It was a really cool way to record."

SPINESHANK will be coming to a town near you on its headlining run beginning on September 29.

Belgian neoclassical power metal/hard rock band IRON MASK, which is fronted by Mark Boals (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, ROYAL HUNT), has signed a deal with AFM Records. The group's new album, "Black As Death", will be released in December.

Led by guitarist/mastermind Dushan Petrossi, IRON MASK has previously released three successful albums.

Commented Petrossi: "Almost 10 years ago IRON MASK was founded as my second band, beside MAGIC KINGDOM. But by time it became more and more the focus of my work, and also IRON MASK became the more successful of the two bands. I feel really pushed to release our new album, 'Black As Death', with AFM Records, which is a huge step forward for us in terms of promotion and distribution."

Following last year's 'Scratch My Back' album, where Peter Gabriel reinterpreted a diverse selection of other artists' songs, comes 'NEW BLOOD'.

'NEW BLOOD' features re-imagined arrangements of many of Peter's songs which dispense with the traditional weapons of the rock armoury - no guitar, or drum kits - the lyrics are exposed and laid bare, often taking new meaning with the passing of the years.

This treatment is applied with painstaking attention to detail and stunning effect to songs including 'Digging In The Dirt', 'Don't Give Up', 'Downside Up', 'Intruder', 'Mercy Street' ' The Rhythm of the Heat' and the spine tingling, atmospheric 'San Jacinto'. Working together, acclaimed composer and arranger John Metcalfe, Peter and the New Blood Orchestra have given each track a new depth and a powerful significance. These tracks were recorded with a 46-piece orchestra, conducted by Ben Foster.

In addition to the album's 12 songs, there's a special bonus track of 'Solsbury Hill' (introduced by 'A Quiet Moment'; 5-minutes of ambient sound recorded by Peter's long-term engineer, Dickie Chappell, actually on Solsbury Hill).

The album is available as a standard single-disc & digital download. There is also be a special edition 2-CD version of New Blood which includes the standard album plus a disc of instrumental versions with an added bonus track. In addition there is a heavyweight vinyl version that comes with a bonus 7" featuring 'A Quiet Moment' and 'Solsbury Hill'. The vinyl will be available from November 7th.

Tracklist:

1. Rhythm of the Heat
2. Downside Up (featuring Melanie Gabriel)
3. San Jacinto
4. Intruder
5. Wallflower
6. In Your Eyes
7. Mercy Street
8. Red Rain
9. Darkness
10. Don’t Give Up (featuring Ane Brun)
11. Digging in the Dirt
12. The Nest That Sailed the Sky
13. A Quiet Moment
14. Solsbury Hill (bonus track)

Candlelight Records has announced the worldwide signing of thrashers RUMPELSTILTSKIN GRINDER. The Philadelphia-based band is already working on its new album, titled "Ghostmaker", expected for release early spring 2012. The four-piece tested some of their new material via a string of regional shows this past weekend and expect to tour in support of the album once released.

Comments guitarist Ryan Moll: "We are psyched to be on Candlelight.

"Right now we are in the studio working on our third and most intense release to date. This album promises to be the fastest, darkest, most relentless and insane album yet. It will contain some of the most bone-crushing, graveyard stomping, Frankenstein/Dracula/Wolfman hate-fuck riffage written thus far."

Adds guitarist Matt Moore: "Our wretched new masterpiece will be finished soon enough. Each song has its own distinct and strange aura of speed, darkness, brute strength, violence, cunning, and power. Like any respectable band, we have raised the bar and taken on musical and lyrical concepts that would drive commoners insane. Faster. Louder. Darker. Crazier."

Formed in 2002, RUMPELSTILTSKIN GRINDER dropped several underground releases, including a split seven-inch single and a live album, before signing with Relapse for its studio debut, "Buried In The Front Yard", released October 2005. The band would keep busy with additional split recordings, "Speed N Spikes Vol. II" (2008) and "Urine Trouble" / "Nothing Defeats the Skull" (2008) before getting back in to the studio for their second full-length, "Living For Death"; "Destroying The Rest" also released by Relapse January 2009. The band supported ABSU for a 22-date U.S./Canadian tour in April 2009, a tour with DECEASED in 2010, and has been performing regionally since.

RUMPELSTILTSKIN GRINDER currently features guitarist/vocalist Matt Moore, bassist/vocalist Shawn Riley, drummer Pat Battaglia, and guitarist Ryan Moll.

Die Progressive Extrem-Metaller DE PROFUNDIS beginnen mit den Aufnahmen zu ihrem Zweitwerk „A Bleak Reflection“ im November.

Die Band wird 8 neue Songs aufnehmen.

Shoi Sen (guitar) gab folgendes Statement ab:

"The writing this time was really exciting, because this line up has now been recording and touring for the last 2 years, so we have gelled a lot as a unit and this transpired in the writing. The music is faster, more technical and more condensed than in the past. We have already been playing a couple of new songs on the road and judging by the crazy reaction we get for them, I think people will get a shock when they hear this new album. We will be posting regular updates and videos snippets of new songs on our revamped Facebook page so make sure to check it out!"

Hekate gehörten in den 1990er Jahren zu den Begründern der deutschen Neofolk-Szene, und ihre frühen Veröffentlichungen zählen unbestritten zu den Klassikern des Genres. Da diese mittlerweile ausverkauft oder nur schwer erhältlich sind, wird von Oktober bis Dezember am jeweils ersten Freitag des Monats ein Titel des Hekate-Backkatalogs über Auerbach Tonträger wiederveröffentlicht.
Der Chronologie entsprechend macht Hekates Debütalbum "Hambach 1848" mit einer Neuveröffentlichung am 7. Oktober 2011 den Auftakt. Das Album, das die Gruppe ursprünglich 1998 zum 150-jährigen Jubiläum der Märzrevolution als streng limtierte Vinyl-LP veröffentlichte, ist bereits seit vielen Jahren nicht mehr erhältlich gewesen und erscheint nun mit überarbeiteter Gestaltung und im auf 700 Stück limitierten Digipakformat erstmalig auf CD

Jetzt vorbestellen: "Hambach 1848" Digipak CD:

1. Bleifeld
2. Heckers Traum
3. Die Gedanken sind frei
4. Trotz alledem
5. Das Bürgerlied
6. Unser die Welt, trotz alledem
7. Gedankenfreiheit

The "Intermission" single by Norwegian metallers PAGAN'S MIND, which was exclusively distributed via the June 2011 issue of Sweden Rock Magazine, was certified gold in Sweden by the International Federation Of The Phonographic Industry for sales in excess of 10,000 copies. (Note: Each copy of the magazine containing the CD sold in Sweden was counted towards the certification; the single itself was **not** sold separately.)

PAGAN'S MIND was presented with a Swedish gold award by Dag Ingebrigsten, the original singer of TNT, in front of a packed house at the band's concert in Trondheim. Check out a photo below.

DYING FETUS, HAIL OF BULLETS, WACO JESUS, SUFFOCATION and LOCK UP are among the artists who are featured on the "Death Feast Open Air 2010" DVD. The set, which has a running time of almost two hours, was filmed and recorded during last year's edition of the Death Feast Open Air festival on June 10-12, 2010 in Hünxe, Germany. As an extra bonus, the DVD includes a 30-minute special from Death Feast Open Air 2011.

You can pre-order the "Death Feast Open Air 2010" DVD for 15 euros (plus shipping and handling) at the Death Feast Open Air shop. Delivery starts November 1.