Sorcery And Religion In Ancient Scandinavia is the latest book from Varg Vikernes, one of the most controversial musicians of all time and the mastermind behind one of the most acclaimed black metal bands in the world – BURZUM. Convicted in 1994 of the murder of band-mate Euronymous, Vikernes has since spent 15 years studying the traditions and beliefs of the Ancient Scandinavians and their influence on modern Europeans.

According to a press release, "that research has culminated in a book in which the outspoken and often divisive author challenges many of the widely held views of contemporary culture and its history. The passionate and in-depth text provides an absorbing insight into the thoughts of this most notorious of musicians. Sorcery And Religion In Ancient Scandinavia makes fascinating reading and will be of interest not only to black metal and Burzum fans, but also to those with an interest in Norse mythology or European history and social commentators."

Due out December 5th, Sorcery And Religion In Ancient Scandinavia is also available in a special edition hardback – limited to 2000 copies. Bound in high quality arlin material adorned with silver print, and presented in a debossed, matching slipcase. See photo below:

Swedish Modern Metal band ONE WITHOUT has signed a deal with Italian label Wormholedeath (sublabel of Aural Music Group).

One Without will release their second album Sweet Relief on CD world-wide on the 19th of October. It has already been released as a free digital download online.

Guitarist Kenny Boufadene commented: "We have been discussing this cooperation for some time, and how we would be able to work together since we already released the album for free digitally. Wormholedeath have been really cool about this and show their support for how we want to approach our fans and actually encourage us to work in this way. This cooperation gives us the opportunity to release Sweet Relief on an even bigger scale, while at the same time we keep our integrity and the respect for our fans. When we were contacted by Carlo Bellotti at Wormholedeath, we didn´t realize who he was and what he could do for us, but after our first phone talk we didn´t have any worries at all, this was a label we wanted to work with and that has ideas and forward-thinking that is exactly in line with how we feel. Wormholedeath understands what we want and how we want to do it, and we couldn´t be happier with this cooperation. We look forward to a long and prosperous relationship with Wormholedeath"

Pennsylvania hard rockers CANDLELIGHT RED's debut recording for the Imagen label, The Wreckage, is set for digital release on September 27th.

Produced by Grammy-nominated producer David Ivory, fans have received a taste of what's to come, in the form of the album's lead-off single, 'Closer', which has been garnering major attention on rock radio and video stations. Case in point, both Octane and Music Choice have added the song, while the tune is now in the top 50 of Mediabase's Active Rock Charts (and still climbing).

Italian prog metal band HYPNOTHETICALL has announced the new line-up which now includes the new, young singer Marco Ciscato and Davide Pretto (ex SYNESTHESIA - PORCUPINE TREE tribute band) on keyboards.

The band is currently preparing the new live set and writing new songs in order to enter the recording studio in 2012 to give life to the follow-up of their debut album Dead World, published in 2009 by Insanity Records.

The Chilean gothic band THE FALLACY has released their new music video for the song 'Threshold Of Light' out of their latest album, Beyond The Mist.

The 'Threshold of Light' music video was directed and produced entirely for the band at their own studios Attic Records in Santiago, Chile.

The album Beyond the Mist it was recorded in 2010 and it has been supported by a series of music videos and live videos from their 2010's South American Tour including Argentina, Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, Chile.

Moribund Records has announced the signing of CHASMA. A trio from Portland, Oregon, the band are set to release their debut, Declarations Of The Grand Artificer, later this year. With three songs clocking in at nearly 33 minutes, Chasma's Declarations Of The Grand Artificer "is a bewildering but above all transcendent record, an epic recasting of classic black metal into otherworldly shapes and a plausibly modern contour," according to a press release.

A specific release date for the album will be announced shortly.

"Musically, we are influenced by new millenium-era French black metal and DC screamo," says the band. "And bands like WEAKLING, JOYLESS, AMESEOURS and MAJORITY RULE. We are influenced by the intensity and passion of our brotherhood as musicians and try to express that passion through dimension bending riffs. We don't really fit the black metal label; we consider ourselves either noir nouveau ['new black'] or bright metal."

Czech-based dark/black metal band ROOT will release their ninth album entitled Heritage Of Satan on October 25th in Europe and November 22nd in North America via Agonia Records.

The album will have a limited release of 400 copies in black vinyl with gatefold cover and 100 in red vinyl also with gatefold cover.

Produced by Ashok and BigBoss, the album features special guests Blasphemer (ex-MAYHEM) on guitar, Nergal (BEHEMOTH) and Erik (WATAIN) on vocals.

The cover art work was designed by Erik Danielsson (Watain) and Trident Arts. View the cover below:

Twisted Sister stormed the stage at London's famed Marquee Club in March of 1983 for two intense shows that cemented the band's live legacy in the UK Recordings from those legendary nights reveal the Long Island quintet raw, hungry and catching fire just a few months before it achieved breakout success on radio and MTV.

On September 20th Rhino Handmade will be issuing 'Live at the Marquee Club,' a concert album that collects rare and unreleased recordings from both nights on a single disc. The music comes in a special gatefold made from heavy-duty cardstock and die-cut into the shape of the iconic Twisted Sister logo.

Combining hard-to-find cuts with five previously unreleased songs, including the title track from the band's hard-rocking debut, 'Under the Blade,' and covers of The Shangri-Las' 'Leader of the Pack' and the Slade version of the R&B staple 'Let the Good Times Roll,' the album also includes the first ever public performance of 'You Can't Stop Rock 'n' Roll,' which would surface just three months later on the band's second album.

Twisted Sister guitarist and guiding force Jay Jay French spoke to Noisecreep about the new release. As a bonus, we've got the exclusive premiere of 'Under the Blade,' one of the album's blistering cuts.

These Marquee shows happened at an important time for the band, right?

Absolutely. We played the Marquee three times and each time it was an important time in our band's career. And the Marquee is such an important room. People talk about CBGBs and other places, but the difference is, the Marquee housed The Who as a residence band, then you had the Stones, Hendrix, Bowie - so much occurred there and the graffiti in the dressing was all the real deal. You knew you were in a special place. We first played there in '82 while recording 'Under the Blade.' Then we went back to record there this third and last time to record these tracks to be originally be used as b-sides of EPs. Historically, these Marquee Shows were the culmination of the British press's love affair with Twisted Sister. That was the peak. We had just finished recording 'You Can't Stop Rock and Roll.' We were ready. They were ready. These are intense performances captured here.

How did the British crowd respond to you?

The English crowd had adopted us by then, they actually rescued us from Long Island. We always felt we had to prove ourselves in England at a level that was beyond, and so we came ready to let them have it. And they were the same with us. The Tri-State area in the States got it, and the UK got it. No place else did back then. In England, the fans and press just went crazy for us. At first they first thought we were a punk band, but we considered ourselves an anti-punk band because we could actually play our instruments. We took pride in that we could actually play. That made us different.

Did you get to know other bands over there back then?

Primarily Motörhead. Lemmy championed the band, If it wasn't for his approval, I'm not sure our career would have happened like it did. The first show over there we ever played was with Motörhead and he totally adopted. He was even there at the Marquee for these shows. He was very important to us and we still see him all the time. We play so many festivals with Motörhead and always invite him on stage.

METALLICA lead guitarist Kirk Hammett revealed to Mojo that he and frontman James Hetfield were both brought to tears during the sessions for the band's upcoming collaborative album with Lou Reed, titled "Lulu". Hammett explained that the outbursts occurred while they were recording a song called "Junior Dad", saying, "I had just lost my father literally three or four weeks previous. I had to run out of the control room, and I found myself standing in the kitchen, sobbing away. James came into the kitchen in the same condition — he was sobbing, too. It was insane."

The lyrics to the song "Junior Dad" can be found in Lou Reed's "Pass Thru Fire: The Collected Lyrics" book, which was originally published by Hyperion Books in 2000.

"Junior Dad" lyrics:

Would you come to me
If I was half drowning
An arm above the last wave
Would you come to me
Would you pull me up

Would the effort really hurt you
Is it unfair to ask you
To help pull me up

The window broke the silence of the matches
The smoke effortlessly floating
I'm all choked up

Pull me up
Would you be my lord and savior
Pull me up by the hair
Now would you kiss me on my lips

Burning fever burning on my forehead
The brain that once was listening
Now shoots out its tiresome message

Won't you pull me up
Scalding my dead father has the motor
And he's driving towards
An island of lost souls

Sunny - a monkey then to monkey
I will teach you meanness fear and blindness
No social redeeming kindness

Oh-or-state of grace
Would you pull me up
Would you drop the mental bullet
Would you pull me by the arm up
Would you still kiss my lips
Hiccup: the dream is over
Get the coffee: turn the lights on
Say hello to junior dad
The greatest disappointment
Age withered him and changed him
Into junior dad
Psychic savagery [End of lyrics]

Video footage of Reed and his wife, Laurie Anderson, performing "Junior Dad" in Paris in September 2009 can be seen below.

Gary Graff of Billboard.com recently conducted an interview with AVENGED SEVENFOLD singer M. Shadows. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

On the band's plan to take a break after it finishes touring to promote its fifth studio album, "Nightmare":

"We've always taken a long time [between albums], and everyone's told us we're stupid for doing that. But I think bands burn themselves out. Look what happened to DISTURBED; those are good friends of ours, and you just get caught up in the do a record, tour for two years, do a record, tour for two years...We're very cautious of making sure that everybody has their time. We need to go home...and make sure everybody's mentally in the right spot to do a new record."

"We all hang out with each other. Me and [guitarist Synyster] Gates are married to twin sisters and they're best friends, so it's a total family thing we have going on. And I have a studio in my house. So does [Gates]. So we'll hang out and lay some stuff down and joke around with it, and eventually it turns into something for the band — which is a much healthier way to do it instead of putting a lot of stress on ourselves to meet a deadline or something."

On AVENGED SEVENFOLD's new drummer, Arin Ilejay:

"[Ilejay] is great. He's 23 now, and the first show he played was in front of 16,000 people, and from there we went to Rock Am Ring, 80 or 90,000 people in Germany. As far as personality and his playing, he's our guy, but we haven't been able to write a record with him yet. So we want to make sure for his good and for our good that he can write with us and bring something to the creative and be comfortable in the situation. We're just trying to work towards that, and hopefully everything works out 'cause we love the guy."

Massachusetts metallers KILLSWITCH ENGAGE are preparing to enter the studio to begin working on the follow-up to their 2009 self-titled album. Guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz writes on the band's Facebook page, "YO! It's Adam D! We're about to begin writing our new record. Thanks to all of our fans for waiting so friggin' patiently … now let's turn on the 'riff faucet' and RAGE."

Dutkiewicz and KILLSWITCH guitarist Joel Stroeltzel spent the last few months touring with TIMES OF GRACE, Adam's collaborative project with former KILLSWITCH ENGAGE vocalist Jesse Leach. That band's debut album, "Hymn Of A Broken Man", came out in January via Roadrunner Records.

Dutkiewicz recently revealed that he may also be involved in another group, which he described in an interview as "a death metal side project with the drummer from THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER and the singer from CANNIBAL CORPSE."

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE bassist Mike D'Antonio has been busy with his DEATH RAY VISION, his new project with SHADOWS FALL frontman Brian Fair and former OVERCAST/SEEMLESS guitarist Pete Cortese.

Das für 9. September 2011 via Roadrunner Records avisierte THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA Album "Dead Throne" steht unter deadthrone.com im Komplett Stream bereit.

"Dead Throne" Trackliste:

01. Dead Throne 2:45
02. Untidaled 2:55
03. Mammoth 2:43
04. Vengeance 3:01
05. R.I.T. 2:49
06. My Questions 3:12
07. Kansas 3:36
08. Born To Lose 3:04
09. Forever Decay 3:24
10. Chicago 2:44
11. Constance 3:19
12. Pretenders 3:28
13. Holdfast 3:48

Am 09. September 2011 wird das mit „Staind" selbstbetitelte neue Album von STAIND erscheinen. Via Guitarworld.com kann man jetzt in den neuen Track "Paper Wings" reinhören.

STAIND "Paper Wings" via Guitarworld.com: http://www.guitarworld.com/exclusive-staind-premiere-new-song-paper-wings

"Staind" Trackliste:

1.Not Again
2.Eyes Wide Open
3.Falling
4.Wannabe
5.Throw It All Away
6.Now
7.The Bottom
8.Take A Breath
9.Paper Wings
10.Something To Remind You

BLIND GUARDIAN's Hansi Kürsch has issued the following update:

"A long, long time ago we promised additional material for the ones who bought the digipack version of At The Edge Of Time. As usual, things take far longer than expected, but at the very end we keep our promise. This is just another perfect example.

Enjoy our alternate mixing ideas for 'Curse My Name' and 'Wheel Of Time'. One appears a little heavier, the other a little more "Riverdancish":. Enjoy music, enjoy life."

The folks at FUNKO have come up with yet another way to reinvent one of the most influential rock and roll bands of all-time of all time... KISS! On September 7, they will release their new line of KISS Plushies to the masses.

The line consists of four dolls: Gene Simmons "The Demon", Paul Stanley "The Starchild", Ace Frehley "The Spaceman", and Peter Criss "The Catman".

Each doll is seven inches tall and is available for pre-order at this location. They will start shipping to customers on September 11, at which time they will be available at local FYE stores. Each doll will retail in the $10.99 - $12.99 price range.

Gene's cynicism and dark elements, as well as his love for comic books. Paul Stanley became the "Starchild" due to his tendency to be referred to as the "starry-eyed lover" and "hopeless romantic." Ace Frehley's "Spaceman" makeup was a reflection of him wanting to go for a ride in a space ship and supposedly being from another planet. Peter Criss' "Catman" makeup was in accordance with the belief that Peter had nine lives due to his rough childhood in Brooklyn.

Century Media Records has announced the signing of U.K. death metal band VALLENFYRE.

Just like SONNE ADAM from Israel, VALLENFYRE debuted with a seven-inch single on the underground label Imperium Productions and also shares a similar approach of mixing classic death metal with doom and in case of VALLENFYRE some British crust on top.

Commented Jens Prueter, head Of A&R, Century Media Records Europe: "I was already blown away by VALLENFYRE's old-school orgy of doomy and crusty death metal riffs when I heard the first demo last winter and the new seven-inch sounds even better. So I couldn't hesitate to offer them a deal straight away. That's how we signed GRAVE and ASPHYX over 20 years ago — and we all know that it was a good decision. So welcome to another chapter of Century Media's death metal legacy.

"VALLENFYRE's debut album, 'A Fragile King', is already recorded and will be released in late October 2011.

"If you like a mix of early ENTOMBED, CELTIC FROST, AUTOPSY and AMEBIX, you should hurry up to buy the last few copies of the 'Desecration' seven-inch single, which was limited to only 500 copies by Imperium Productions."

Former IRON MAIDEN and current WOLFSBANE frontman Blaze Bayley will have his September 23 solo concert at De Rots in Antwerp, Belgium professionally filmed for a forthcoming DVD.

Commented Blaze: "I have chosen to record the show at The Rots as it is one of the smallest gigs on my European tour, the people are crazy, and every time I have played there it has been a real event.

"My last two DVDs have been great but they were big shows. This time I want to capture the intimate vibe, up close and personal with my fans. So it is made by my fans, for my fans and with my fans in mind.

"I will be performing one brand new song at the gig! After, we will be staying at the Rots to sample the collection of Belgium's finest beers.

"Feel free to join us at the after-party.

"Everyone who sends in a picture of themselves with me from the show will be mentioned in the credits and your picture might end up in the booklet of the DVD.

"The whole show will be recorded with professional equipment.

"If you want to bring your own camcorders or phones to help us make this a really special DVD, send us your recordings as we will try to include it somewhere on the double DVD that will be released in March 2012.

"The DVD will have extras like interviews, backstage footage, acoustic songs and many other things."

Bayley and his solo band played a "secret" warm-up show on May 12, 2011 at De Verlichte Geest in Roeselare, Belgium to prepare for their recent festival appearances. Check out video footage of the performance below.

Blaze's band at the show consisted of the following musicians:

Blaze Bayley: Vocals
Steve Deleu (GWYLLION, DOUBLE DIAMOND, FIREFORCE): Guitar
Nick Meganck (NATIVE INSTINCT): Bass
Dave Andrews: Guitar
Claudio Tirincanti: Drums

Canadian thrash pioneers SACRIFICE will release a vinyl-only demo anthology titled "198666" on October 28 through Canadian label War On Music Records. The limited double vinyl release will include the legendary "Exorcism" demo tape (featuring tracks which would later be included on "Torment In Fire"), the 1986 "Forward To Termination" demo sessions (including a rare cover of DISCHARGE's "Possibility Of Life's Destruction"), and the full 1989 "Soldiers Of Misfortune" demo sessions. This is some of the best early recordings of any classic thrash act; the tapes sum up the raw power that was early SACRIFICE and showcase the bands evolution from album to album through the '80s. The double LP release will be strictly limited to 666 hand-numbered copies on blood-red vinyl in a gatefold jacket featuring the stunning artwork of Hans Memling.

ALICE COOPER's Welcome 2 My Nightmare album will be released in mainland Europe on September 9th, the UK on the 12th and North America on the 13th by Universal Music Enterprises.

The US Best Buy version will feature the following four exclusive bonus tracks:

'Under The Bed' (new studio track)
'Poison' (live at the Download Festival)
'No More Mr. Nice Guy' (live at the Download Festival)
'Black Widow' (live at the Download Festival)

According to KORN fan site Kornspace.com, KORN's experimental recording on which the band is collaborating with a number of dub step producers/DJs, including Kill The Noise, Excision, Skrillex and 12th Planet, will carry the title of "The Path To Totality" and will be made available on November 15. Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Burn The Obedient", "Illuminati", "Kill Mercy Within", "Narcissistic Cannibal", "Chaos Lives In Everything" and "Get Up!", the latter of which can be heard using the SoundCloud player below.

Video footage of MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine unboxing the deluxe 5Disc+3LP box set version of the expanded, commemorative 25th-anniversary reissue edition of MEGADETH's "Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?" album can be seen below.

The 25th-anniversary reissue edition of "Peace Sells" sold around 1,800 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The platinum-certified set was digitally remastered for the first time and made available in multiple configurations on July 12 by Capitol/EMI. All of the versions, including a 2CD lift-top box, digital album, and a deluxe 5Disc+3LP box set, include a previously unreleased 1987 concert from the band's first world tour and new liner notes written by MEGADETH's Dave Mustaine and METALLICA's Lars Ulrich. The deluxe box set also includes previously unreleased and rare mixes of the album's tracks and hi-res audio for the remastered album and concert, as well as an expanded 20-page book, plus 8"x10" photos and reproductions of vintage MEGADETH memorabilia. The cover of the box uses a new, unique process of lenticular 3D which reinterprets the original cover, creating the illusion of MEGADETH's Vic Rattlehead character jumping out of the art.

"Judgment Awaits You", the new video from TOXIC HOLOCAUST, can be seen below. The clip was produced by Eric Schrader and filmed in southeastern Connecticut.

"Judgment Awaits You" comes off TOXIC HOLOCAUST's new album, "Conjure And Command", which is out now internationally and available on a variety of formats, including a limited-edition deluxe CD and DVD set that includes a full TOXIC HOLOCAUST live set.

TOXIC HOLOCAUST is in the middle of a six-week North American headlining tour in support of "Conjure And Command". The band will then head to Europe in November for a five-week tour alongside KVELERTAK, TRAP THEM, and WOLVES LIKE US.

"Echo Friendly Discharge", a brand new song from the seminal grindcore/extreme metal outfit BRUTAL TRUTH, can be streamed at SickDrummerMagazine.com. The track comes off the band's new full-length album, "End Time", which will be released on September 27 in North America via Relapse Records. The CD was recorded with Doug White at Watchmen Studios in Lockport, New York and was mixed by Jason P.C. at Goatsound Studios. Mastering duties were handled by Scott Hull at Visceral Sound.