US black metallers ABIGAIL WILLIAMS will begin recording their third full-length album today, Thursday, September 15th.

The process begins in the band’s new home of Southern California as the band enter Keene Machine Studios with THE FACELESS’ Michael Keene and band frontman Ken Sorceron engineering. Former Abigail Williams and THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER drummer Zach Gibson will be playing on the album, as previous bandmate Ken Bedene focuses on THE ABORTED.

“We are very excited to announce the start of drum tracking for our third full-length. Drummer Zach Gibson will be behind the kit on this record, which is exciting for us because we have not recorded with him since the Legend EP,” states Sorceron.

Having recently returned from a short ten date regional tour tightening up their new five-piece line-up, the band’s ranks and sound continue to evolve and this third effort is no different.

“Expect some interesting twists and turns once again with this album as we plan to double track some of the drums and some of the compositions are quite lengthy, one even reaching the 15-minute plus range. This will prove to be our most epic material to date,” teases Sorceron as to the direction of the new material. “We plan to video our progress and upload video blogs as we go.”

According to Live4ever.uk.com, ROLLING STONES frontman Mick Jagger has moved to deny rumours his band will be a part of the opening ceremony at next year’s London Olympics, saying he was put off the idea after a conversation with BRYAN ADAMS.

Jagger told the BBC listening to Bryan Adams recounting his own experience at a recent Winter Olympics was enough to firmly dissuade him from considering taking part in 2012.

“Bryan Adams said, ‘Whatever you do, don’t do any Olympic openings’, after he did the opening of the winter games in Canada,” he said. “It was so cold, and he had to wear this bizarre suit. That’s not going to happen here – it would just rain.”

Eagle Rock Entertainment have announced the DVD and Blu-Ray release of The Rolling Stones Some Girls Live In Texas '78. Available for the first time ever on November 21Sst, Some Girls Live In Texas '78 features Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, Ronnie Wood and Bill Wyman live in concert during the 1978 US tour which followed the release of their groundbreaking album, Some Girls.

Some Girls Live In Texas '78 comes hot on the heels of the huge success of 2010's Stones In Exile and Ladies & Gentlemen and marks the next stage in the Eagle Vision / Rolling Stones enterprise. Some Girls Live In Texas '78 will be available on four different formats: DVD, Blu-Ray, plus special edition DVD + CD and Blu-Ray + CD digipack presentations including a reproduction tour program. Bonus features on all formats will include a new interview with Mick Jagger. Worldwide theatrical distribution deals will be announced soon.

The next reissue from DEATH's legendary catalog is 1993's "Individual Thought Patterns". Due on October 25 in North America; October 28 in Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg and Germany; and October 31 in the rest of Europe via Relapse Records, the effort was remixed by Alan Douches and has been re-packaged to include a second and third bonus disc worth of previously unreleased demos and a full live set recorded in Germany during a 1993 European tour. Also included on the third bonus disc exclusive to this reissue are rare riff tracks from the Chuck Schuldiner archives.

"Individual Thought Patterns" follows the recent reissues of "The Sound Of Perseverance" and "Human". Like those reissues, "Individual Thought Patterns" will be available as a deluxe three-disc set, a two-disc standard set, and deluxe digital. Pre-order options and additional release information can be found here.

Vocalist Metatron of the English progressive black metal band THE MEADS OF ASPHODEL will go to Krakow, Poland in November to research Auschwitz for the band's new album, to be titled "Sonderkommando". The concept behind the release is to see the Holocaust from the eyes of the Jewish Sonderkommando (these were the unfortunate workers who removed the corpses from the gas chambers, and after removing teeth/hair and valuables, cremated them). From their words the album will lament on the burning death pits, Block 11, the crematoriums, the daily arrival of the trains and their human freight destined to the jaws of murder and to be stacked like logs in a factory of death.

Metatron will record narratives and parts of the album on site in Auschwitz to capture some of the horror of a unique chapter in history.

Genocide is nothing new in the precarious path of human evolution, but the systematic murder on an industrialized scale of a race of people is exclusively German in origin and set in Poland during World War Two.

The album will focus on the inhumanity of humanity, on the death camps and the surrounding nations [to their shame] who systematically embraced this indiscriminate slaughter of unarmed civilians.

Commented Metatron: "Maybe some things are best forgotten, maybe unspoken. Then again, maybe they should never be forgotten, and if spoken of, maybe the world will be a better place by remembering."

The Pulse Of Radio reports that Ozzy Osbourne's music played a role in locating an eight-year-old California boy with autism who went missing on Monday (September 12), according to KABC-TV in Los Angeles. Joshua Robb vanished earlier that day and search-and-rescue teams were unable to find him due to fierce lightning and heavy downpours in the woods near where he lives by the San Bernardino mountains. Joshua was found the next day (September 13) when the search resumed, dehydrated and tired, but in good shape.

Authorities played songs from Ozzy and some of Joshua's favorite country artists, with a police spokesperson saying, "They feel it will comfort him and draw him."

Joshua's parents warned that their son, who is severely autistic, might have been scared away by a bullhorn or helicopter calling for him.

Police said Joshua squeezed between the bars of a metal playground fence at his school. Staff members chased after him but couldn't catch him.

Authorities recently removed Joshua from his parents' custody and put him under the care of his teacher after someone saw the boy being tied to a pole, something Joshua's father, Ron Robb, said they did to restrain him.

Ozzy's camp has not commented on the report.

Cleveland thrash metal legends DESTRUCTOR will enter Supernatural Sound Studios in Kirtland, Ohio next month to begin recording their new album, "Decibel Casualties", for a 2012 release via Auburn Records. The follow-up to 2007's critically acclaimed "Forever In Leather" will be recorded and engineered by VENOMIN JAMES guitarists Tomasz Scull and Joe Fortunato.

Despite more than a quarter of a century in existence, change is the one word that the members of DESTRUCTOR have yet to embrace. "We consider ourselves to be a power thrash band that plays heavy metal in the old-school style," singer/guitarist Dave "Overkill" Just said in a 2008 interview. "We have yet to change and don't plan on changing." He added, "One thing about DESTRUCTOR is we're not confused about where we've been and where we're going. A lot of bands seem to want to change their formula and try to be hip and reach the younger crowd. We just stick to our guns, and if you like it, that's great. And if not, we're not the band for you."

DESTRUCTOR is:

Jamie Boulder - Bass
Dave Overkill - Vocals/Guitar
Matt Flammable - Drums
Pat Rabid - Guitar

AGENT COOPER, the Atlanta, Georgia-based Southern rock/progressive band featuring former FOZZY/STUCK MOJO members Sean Delson on bass and Mike Martin on lead guitar, has released the first song from its upcoming EP as a free download through ReverbNation. "Mother" is the first song made available from a series of EPs the band will be releasing over the next several months into 2012. This is also the first recording to unveil Ganesh Giri Jaya as the newest member of the band on drums and Martin on lead guitar to round out the five-piece with founding members Doug Busbee, Eric Frampton and Sean Delson.

AGENT COOPER will debut some of its new music on October 1 at The Peachtree Tavern as support for Atlanta band THE DREADED MARCO's CD release party (featuring Dixie Duncan on guitar and Mike Froedge of BLACK LABEL SOCIETY on drums). SIX SHOT REVIVAL will also be perform. Doors open at 9:00 p.m.

In an era when recorded music sales are increasingly difficult to rely on for revenue, the band is offering the song as a free download in an effort to engage new fans in social media and promote concert attendance. AGENT COOPER believes that music is meant to be performed and that live shows are an essential part of bringing people together.

Formed in 1998, AGENT COOPER has two albums released on ProgRock Records to its credit.

Drummer Mike Portnoy (ADRENALINE MOB, DREAM THEATER, AVENGED SEVENFOLD) will sit behind the kit for STONE SOUR during the band's appearance at the Rock In Rio festival on September 24 in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil..

STONE SOUR's regular drummer, Roy Mayorga, is currently home and anxiously awaiting the birth of his first daughter (due the very same day as STONE SOUR's Rio show). Roy personally asked his friend Portnoy to fill in for what is sure to be a special "once-in-a-lifetime" event for the fans in attendance.

Commented Mike: "It's my honor and pleasure to be able to help out my good friends in STONE SOUR and my brother Roy in their time of need. It's also an unexpected treat for me to get another visit with some of the greatest fans in the world down in Brazil."

Added STONE SOUR frontman Corey Taylor: "We've been waiting a long time for the opportunity to come to South America. This year's Rock In Rio should be fantastic. With Roy expecting his first child, we'll charge on without him, but having Mike fill in for this one show will be great. We can't wait to take the stage and lay it down the only way STONE SOUR knows how — full-on and in your face!"

STONE SOUR canceled a number of tour dates this past spring after Mayorga suffered a stroke following a gig in Des Moines, Iowa.

Mayorga joined STONE SOUR in 2006 after the band's previous drummer, Joel Ekman, was forced to leave the group in order to spend time with his son, who was diagnosed with brain stem cancer.

Drummer Jörg Michael has announced his plans to leave the Finnish melodic metal band STRATOVARUS for personal reasons. Jörg, who has been in the group for sixteen years, will play all the remaining tour dates until the end of January, and will celebrate with a special Finnish "Farewell Jörg" tour from November 18 to November 26.

Jörg joined STRATOVARIUS in 1995 and made his recording debut with the band on the "Episode" album (1996). He has appeared on nine full-length releases from STRATOVARIUS and has played nearly 1,000 shows with the band.

Commented STRATOVARIUS singer Timo Kotipelto: "The rest of us just has to accept Jörg's decision with a lot of sadness and wish him all the best for the future. But we can also assure that the band will still go on."

STRATOVARIUS and Jörg will not completely go their separate ways, however, since Jörg will still be working for the band through his booking agency, Twisted Talent Concerts.

"Our long journey of over fifteen years together has not ended yet, as Jörg remains among our background forces — and we couldn't be more happy about that," added Kotipelto. Not only has he been a great drummer but also a close friend and a true professional. "We're honored to have Jörg by our side for this farewell tour. We can't wait to rock with our 'German Steamroller' one last time! These shows will be unforgettable for all of us."

Jörg Michael Finnish farewell tour:

Nov. 18 - Mikkeli, Mikaeli
Nov. 19 - Tampere, Pakkahuone
Nov. 23 - Jyväskylä, Lutakko
Nov. 25 - Oulu, Club Teatria
Nov. 26 - Helsinki, Tavastia

Michael was diagnosed with cancer last year and had his entire thyroid removed.

Former BIOHAZARD vocalist/bassist Evan Seinfeld has joined ATTIKA7 (formerly ATTIKA), the Los Angeles-based heavy metal/hard rock band featuring Tony Campos (SOULFLY, POSSESSED, STATIC-X, ASESINO, MINISTRY) on bass.

A short video clip of Seinfeld announcing his involvement with ATTIKA7 from the stage at DOWN's September 10 concert at the Grove in Anaheim, California can be seen below.

ATTIKA7 is:

* Evan Seinfeld (BIOHAZARD) - Vocals
* Rusty Coones - Guitar
* Tony Campos (SOULFLY, POSSESSED, STATIC-X, ASESINO, MINISTRY) - Bass
* Dustin Schoenhofer (WALLS OF JERICHO) - Drums

Matt Sorum (VELVET REVOLVER, ex-GUNS N' ROSES), Duff McKagan (VELVET REVOLVER, ex-GUNS N' ROSES), Gilby Clarke (ex-GUNS N' ROSES) and Wayne Kramer (MC5) are among the musicians who performed at the Road Recovery benefit concert honoring legendary guitarist Slash (VELVET REVOLVER, ex-GUNS N' ROSES) this past Tuesday, September 13 at Best Buy Theater in New York City. The event was a semi-reunion of sorts, with Sorum, McKagan and Slash having played in both VELVET REVOLVER and GUNS N' ROSES, while Clarke played with them in GUNS during that band's "Use Your Illusion" tour.

Main band:

* Slash
* Gilby Clarke
* Duff McKagan
* Matt Sorum
* Wayne Kramer

Guest musicians:

* Jill Sobule
* Carl Restivo
* Jimmy Gnecco
* Reeve Carney
* Dick Manitoba
* Dave Kushner

The setlist was as follows:

01. Birthday (THE BEATLES)
02. Miss You (THE ROLLING STONES)
03. Dead Flowers (THE ROLLING STONES)
04. Tijuana Jail (GILBY CLARKE)
05. Wish You Were Here (PINK FLOYD)
06. Always On The Run (LENNY KRAVITZ)
07. Hey Joe (JIMI HENDRIX)
08. Mama Kin (AEROSMITH)
09. Superstition (STEVIE WONDER)
10. Slither (VELVET REVOLVER)
11. It's So Easy (GUNS N' ROSES)
12. Knockin' On Heaven's Door (BOB DYLAN)
13. God Save The Queen (SEX PISTOLS)
14. Kick Out The Jams (MC5)

Fan-filmed video footage of the concert can be seen below.

Road Recovery is a non-profit organization that works with at-risk kids.

One hundred percent of the money raised at the show will go directly to support the treatment of children and young adults who suffer from adversities such as addiction, physical and sexual abuse and chronic illness.

British gothic metal pioneers PARADISE LOST have been confirmed for next year's edition of the Wacken Open Air festival, set to take place August 2-4, 2012 in Wacken, Germany. The band, which released its self-titled debut in 1990 — the same year Wacken was lanched — will perform a best-of set at the event.

The festival billing is shaping up as follows:

AMON AMARTH
AXEL RUDI PELL
CRADLE OF FILTH
DIMMU BORGIR
ENDSTILLE
FORBIDDEN
GAMMA RAY
HAMMERFALL
HENRY ROLLINS (spoken word)
MINISTRY
PARADISE LOST
SCORPIONS
SIX FEET UNDER
U.D.O.
WATAIN

The "Big Four" bands of 1980s thrash metal — METALLICA, MEGADETH, SLAYER and ANTHRAX — played their second-ever U.S. show earlier tonight (Wednesday, September 14) at the new Yankee Stadium in New York City.

The highly anticipated onstage performance of the "Big Four" bands at the same time happened near the end of METALLICA's set, between "Enter Sandman" and "Battery". Members of ANTHRAX, SLAYER, MEGADETH and EXODUS (whose guitarist, Gary Holt, is still filling in for an ailing Jeff Hanneman of SLAYER) joined METALLICA on stage for a cover of MOTÖRHEAD's "Overkill" before METALLICA ended the night with "Seek & Destroy".

Video footage of the "Overkill" performance can be seen below.

METALLICA's setlist was as follows:

01. Creeping Death
02. For Whom The Bell Tolls
03. Fuel
04. Ride The Lightning
05. Fade To Black
06. Cyanide
07. All Nightmare Long
08. Sad But True
09. Welcome Home (Sanitarium)
10. Orion
11. One
12. Master Of Puppets
13. Blackened
14. Nothing Else Matters
15. Enter Sandman

Encore:

16. Overkill (MOTÖRHEAD cover) (w/ members of SLAYER, MEGADETH, ANTHRAX and EXODUS)
17. Battery
18. Seek & Destroy

Vocalist/guitarist Richie Kotzen (formerly of POISON and MR. BIG) has contributed a guest guitar solo to the track "Too Many Times" on the forthcoming album from Italian thrashers ENEMYNSIDE, titled "Whatever Comes". The song is now available for streaming in the YouTube clip below.

"Whatever Comes" was recorded at Temple Of Noise studios and is tentatively due before the end of the year.

Commented ENEMYNSIDE vocalist/guitarist Francesco "Frallo" Cremisini: "I'm very proud to have such a great musician playing a solo on the band's new album. He's one of the most talented guitar players around and a really nice person."

Added ENEMYNSIDE guitarist Matteo Bellezza: "The song he plays the solo on had this kind of instrumental part in the middle which sounded quite unusual for us because the first half is just with bass and drums and the second half with rythm guitars too. We needed something different from the other solos on the album, something really distintive, a solo which could play the lead role once the song gets there. Thanks to Richie now we got it!"

Rick Florino of ARTISTdirect recently conducted an interview with SOUNDGARDEN/ex-AUDIOSLAVE singer Chris Cornell about Chris' new song "The Keeper", lead track on the original motion picture soundtrack for forthcoming movie "Machine Gun Preacher". A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

ARTISTdirect: Is "The Keeper" indicative of your creative process on the new SOUNDGARDEN or has that been much heavier?

Cornell: Well, no matter what, SOUNDGARDEN is always going to be heavier. However, I also think musically the new SOUNDGARDEN stuff is different than anything we've ever done. Having said that, I think that's a theme we've always had. I think every time we've made a record it wasn't really that easy to compare it to the previous one—other than that we're the same band. I think may be some moments that are sort of sonically quieter and more stripped-down. On the whole, it's a rock record. That's what we do.

ARTISTdirect: Have is it always been important for you to paint visual pictures that aren't necessarily explicit? You can interpret "The Keeper" many ways just like you can "Pretty Noose" or "Let Me Drown". Is it crucial to tell a story that's both ambiguous and relatable?

Cornell: That's always been the goal… I suppose the times I've missed the mark are when it seems clear to me and it's not clear to anybody else. [Laughs] It's pretty easy to get too far away from it. Literally a couple of poorly chosen words can kind of obscure the thought, the idea, and the image, and it's not there anymore. It's good to hear that you feel like it's intact. The only direction I got from Marc Forster, the director, was "Don't be too literal," which I never do. He actually followed that up by saying, "You never are, but if I would say anything it's that". I agree with it. I really don't think that it would be complimentary to a great film. I don't think there's really an environment where that would work. I could point out a bunch of songs written for films where they were completely word-for-word obvious and descriptive of the synopsis. It's as if they were the synopsis. I won't waste either of our time. [Laughs] Okay, "Ghostbusters"!

2011 marks the 25th anniversary of New York's finest hardcore export SICK OF IT ALL.

Since 1986 SICK OF IT ALL has been thrashing out classic hardcore anthems and touring the globe without ever taking much of a break. As a special release further celebrating this anniversary, SICK OF IT ALL will release "Nonstop" in Europe on October 31 via Century Media Records.

After the release of the highly acclaimed "Based On A True Story" (2010), SICK OF IT ALL took a short break from relentlessly touring this record earlier this year to hit Antfarm Studio again with Tue Madsen in order to celebrate their 25th anniversary with re-recordings of classic hits for "Nonstop". Drummer Armand Majidi says, "This whole thing is partially because of working with Tue Madsen — the man who has finally made SICK OF IT ALL sound the way we should in the studio."

The band added, "It was a fun recording session, and a relatively easy one because we're so used to playing so many of these songs live. They're like second nature. Most of these songs make their way into our live sets all the time, so they're current — they reach new ears and are constantly refreshed by their exposure to a brand new audience. It's not like they had to be dusted off.

"We changed tempos mostly and some of the arrangements, but we didn't want to do anything too drastic. We wanted to keep most of the songs true to the originals, but with a more powerful sound that we feel makes them all they can be."

"Nonstop" track listing:

01. Clobberin' Time
02. Injustice System!
03. Sanctuary
04. Scratch The Surface
05. Us Vs. Them
06. The Deal
07. Just Look Around
08. Ratpack
09. World Full Of Hate
10. Pushed Too Far
11. GI Joe Headstomp
12. Never Measure Up
13. Chip Away
14. Busted
15. Locomotive
16. My Life
17. Friends Like You
18. Relentless
19. No Labels
20. Built To Last

ANIMETAL-USA, the brand new metal band featuring singer Mike Vescera (OBSESSION, ex-LOUDNESS), bassist Rudy Sarzo (BLUE ÖYSTER CULT, ex-OZZY OSBOURNE, QUIET RIOT, WHITESNAKE, DIO), drummer Scott Travis (JUDAS PRIEST) and guitarist Chris Impellitteri (IMPELLITTERI), will release its self-titled debut album in Japan on October 12 via Sony Music Entertainment.

A photo of the group, which covers Japanese animation (Anime) songs, can be seen below.

Says Impellitteri: "I wanted to confirm that I am indeed playing with the band ANIMETAL. The band is playing a mix of classic Anime songs mixed with our own original heavy metal riffs, solos, vocals, bass and drum parts. The record is pretty insane sounding! The playing is intense and the live show is extremely theatrical. It should be lots of fun for our fans. All four of us worked extremely hard to take Anime to a new level. So, I hope you have a chance to join us on this new musical journey both on record and live. Hope to see you soon as our first show will be announced soon!"

"Animetal-USA" track listing below:

01. Uchuusenkan Yamato
02. Gatchaman No Uta
03. Mazinger Medley
04. Makafushigi Adventure!
05. Zankokuna Tenshino Thesis
06. Aiwo Torimodose!!
07. Ganbare Dokaben
08. Pegasus Fantasy
09. Yuke Tigermask
10. Fight! Kinnikuman Go Fight!
11. Yukeyuke Hyuma

New York-based extreme metal legends SUFFOCATION are hard at work on material for their new album, tentatively due next year via Nuclear Blast Records.

Commented the band: "With no shortage of chaotic mayhem and earth-shattering slams, the content and concepts are sure to please SUFFOCATION fans new and old. Prepare to receive the mark!"

Relapse Records released SUFFOCATION's only official live record, "The Close Of A Chapter: Live In Quebec City", on October 27, 2009 in North America and November 2, 2009 internationally. Recorded in 2005 during the band's "Souls To Deny" world tour, the CD contains the band's complete, unedited performance.

SUFFOCATION's latest album, "Blood Oath" (Nuclear Blast), sold around 3,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 135 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD landed at position No. 2 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 follow-up to 2006's self-titled record, "Blood Oath" was recorded with Joe Cincotta (who worked on the band's last two releases) and was mixed by Zack Ohren (ALL SHALL PERISH, DECREPIT BIRTH). The cover artwork was once again brought to life by Jon Zig (DEEDS OF FLESH, DISGORGE, GORGASM).

SLIPKNOT's Sid Wilson has just released his debut solo album, "Sid", via iTunes and other Internet retailers. The CD features Wilson on lead vocals and sees him departing from his usual role as a DJ in both SLIPKNOT and as DJ Starscream.

"Sid" was written, produced, engineered and recorded by Wilson himself and was mixed by Ross Robinson (SLIPKNOT, KORN, LIMP BIZKIT) and Tobias Lindell (EUROPE, MUSTACH). The mastering duties were handled by Chris Gehringer (CEE-LO GREEN, DRAKE, RIHANNA).

In a recent interview with Billboard.com, Wilson described the disc as "an eclectic mix of all the different styles of music I grew up listening to. There's a strong B-Boy influence in my music, 'cause I'm a DJ. I used to listen to a lot of SKINNY PUPPY and more mainstream things that came out of industrial, like NINE INCH NAILS. I was always influenced by the BEASTIE BOYS a lot and RUN-DMC and the way they mixed their rock influences in their hip-hop stuff."

The 13-track album begins with an intro entitled "Paul" which contains audio of SLIPKNOT bassist Paul Gray talking about Sid, recorded prior to Paul's untimely passing in 2010. Other songs on the CD include the first single "Nervous Central" and "Flat Lace", which Wilson wrote for Gray five years before the bassist's death.

"It's just about the different struggles in his life," Wilson told Billboard.com, "and it was just my way of letting him know that I was always there for him and that I was aware of the things he had to deal with. It's definitely difficult (to sing). It's hard for me to even talk about it."

"Sid" track listing:

01. Paul
02. Flat Lace
03. Bad History
04. Hearts That Race
05. Go the Distance
06. Live & Strong
07. I Can't Save Ya
08. All I Want
09. Petrified
10. Leave it All
11. Segue to Orion
12. Nervous Central
13. Punk Rock Noise

Several tracks, including "Nervous Central", can be previewed by visiting www.sidthe3rd.com and clicking on the "Music" icon.