Guitarist Craig Locicero of reactivated San Francisco Bay Area metallers FORBIDDEN has released the following statement to BLABBERMOUTH.NET:

"This is the most painful update I have ever had to write...

"Due to family obligations on the part of our longtime drummer Mark Hernandez, FORBIDDEN is forced to cancel its tour of Europe and will start to search for an adequate permanent replacement right away. Compounding things is the fact that Mark and I also play in DEMONICA, who were to open the tour.

"Unfortunately, at this late date, there is no time nor budget to find a replacement who can handle both bands and our only option right now is to cancel the entire tour.

"FORBIDDEN would like to apologize to all of the different promoters, Continental Concerts, the bands COMMUNIC and DEMONICA, our label, Nuclear Blast, and most importantly, our fans who have been waiting for us to finally make it overseas for our first proper European tour in support of 'Omega Wave'. You all deserve better. This is a collective kick to every ones stomach and it is very difficult for us to swallow.

"If there were any way to find one drummer to do both jobs and learn over 22 songs of material in only a couple of days, we would do it. But there is no way to teach somebody all of that material from the ground up and give the fans our very best. Our first choice was longtime brother Gene Hoglan, and since Gene is very familiar with our current set list, this makes the most sense. However, he only has a very small window to work with and no time to commit to an entire tour. But he did agree to fly out to Belgium with us so that FORBIDDEN can play the Alcatraz Festival on August 27th! That works out to be the only days that work within Gene's busy schedule and it also allows us to get in front of as many fans as possible for one show.

"In no way does this make up for all of the other gigs we will miss. They MUST be rescheduled for the future! Unfortunately, that future will have to be without Mark Hernandez. He has played for the last time with FORBIDDEN and we will be looking for the right replacement as soon as the dust settles. Obviously, it takes a great player to play drums in FORBIDDEN. We will only accept the best!

"We all love Mark and hope he finds peace and serenity in his future with his family. In the meantime, we will continue and take the momentum we have gained from 'Omega Wave' and use it as fuel for the next record and beyond!

"Looking forward, not back..."

FORBIDDEN's "Omega Wave" video can be seen below. The clip was created by SchneppZone video director Jon Schnepp of "Metalocalypse" fame.

SOL INVICTO, the side project of DEFTONES guitarist Stephen Carpenter and Richie Londres from the C.L.P. (CULTURA LONDRES PROYECTO) on production/guitar, has made its debut EP, "Initium", available for free download at this location. The project is described in a press release as "twisted cinematic drum 'n' bass mixed with the tones of Stephen Carpenter and tribal percussion of CYPRESS HILL's Eric Bobo.

"Initium" features guest drummer Zach Hill (HELLA, TEAM SLEEP) who originally joined the project for the recording back in 2008.

SOL INVICTO plans to release a further two EPs over the next couple of months.

Commented Londres: "'Initium' is our way of introducing the SOL INVICTO project as we build towards the debut album. We wanted to make it available for fans for free; they have been very patient, it felt like the right thing to do.

"We have two EPs in the production stage which will feature Dan Foord
(SIKTH) and the plan is to get these out by the end of September. We are not tied in to any labels right now. It's great that we can just make and release music instantly without anything holding us back."

Norwegian black/death metallers FESTER have completed work on their first studio album in 17 years, "A Celebration Of Death", for a late 2011/early 2012 release via Abyss Records.

Original member Bjørn "Tiger" Mathisen has recruited Thomas Andresen (ALGOL) on vocals, Jon Bakker (KAMPFAR) on bass, and jazz musician Audun Kleive on session drums. Mortiis has made a hellish and dark remix of one of the songs and there are contributions from Mr. Kyrck and Guido of YSENGRIN. The art was created by the infamous Alex Brown of Bad News Brown.

On the selection of Kleive for session drumming, Mathisen had this to say: "He is famous for his ability to become one with the music he plays, and does so in such an unorthodox and dark way. He has never done metal. He listened to the tunes once before he agreed to session them and ended up doing most of the parts in one take. Using only a single bass drum he has helped us create the sinister and lonely mood that we wanted."

As for what to expect musically on "A Celebration of Death", Mathisen is unequivocal about staying the course. "FESTER has kept their old-school feel, and maybe even taking it back to the Stone Age," he said. "No effect boxes are used on the guitars; just the basic and sick sounds of old guitars, amps and racks from the late '60s and early '70s, produced in the most dark and wicked way you can imagine. The influence of old-school metal acts like CELTIC FROST, BATHORY, etc., can be heard on this release, too. FESTER has kept its identity from the past. This is surely an atypical metal sound, but cold as ice and mean as hell!"

Pioneers in the seamless blending of black and death metal in the early '90s and well known for their obscure, melancholic and dark way of making music, FESTER are now back with their darkest, harshest and most mournful album to date. Having laid the groundwork with Abyss reissues of 1992's "Winter Of Sin" and 1993's "Silence", FESTER is now poised to commence this new era of darkness.

BLACK SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi has released the following statement regarding the reports of a reunion of the band's original lineup:

"I'm saddened that a Birmingham journalist whom I trusted has chosen this point in time to take a conversation we had back in June and make it sound like we spoke yesterday about a BLACK SABBATH reunion.

"At the time I was supporting the Home Of Metal exhibition was merely speculating shooting the breeze on something all of us get asked constantly, 'Are you getting back together?'

"Thanks to the Internet it's now gone round the world as some sort of 'official' statement on my part; absolute nonsense. I hope he's enjoyed his moment of glory, he won't have another at my expense.

"To my old pals, Ozzy, Geezer and Bill, sorry about this, I should have known better."

The original SABBATH lineup has not toured together since summer 2005, and last convened for their induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in early 2006.

SABBATH did try to record a new album 12 years ago, their first since 1978, but abandoned the attempt after just a couple of songs.

According to TMZ.com, the promoters of the Michael Jackson tribute concert have dropped KISS from the event's billing because of negative comments KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons made about Jackson in interviews the days and weeks after his death two years ago. Simmons spoke about his suspicions that Jackson, who was acquitted of child molestation in 2005, was a pedophile.

The promoters tell TMZ.com, "We have listened to Michael's fans and are grateful to have been alerted to these unfortunate statements by Gene Simmons. Under the circumstances we fully agree that even though KISS is a band Michael admired we have no choice but to rescind our invitation to them to appear in our tribute concert."

In a 2010 issue of U.K.'s Classic Rock magazine, Gene Simmons told journalist Geoff Barton he believed Jackson was a child molester despite the fact that the singer was acquitted of child-molestation charges in 2005.

"I knew Michael," Simmons was quoted as saying. "I ran into him a few times. I met him the first time before he became the superstar, when he was sort of teenagey, when he was still a JACKSON FIVE. This was in the Cher days, when Cher and I lived together.

"But as time moved on, and no matter what my fond memories and fond images of Michael were, with one allegation of pedophilia after another and another and another…Oh dear."

Simmons went on to say that he knew some of the musicians Jackson toured with, and cited one who quit after seeing "boys coming out of the hotel rooms...Well, you know, where there's smoke there's fire. There's no question in my mind he molested those kids. Not a doubt."

Simmons also said, "There's never been a single female of any age that I've ever known about who has ever made a claim that she has had a physical relationship with Michael, ever.

"The only sexual references ever made about Michael Jackson that were made by anyone, anywhere around the world, have always been made by kids, and specifically males usually 10 to 14 years of age; never females, that age or older, and never grown men."

Hell-bent for eyeliner and ready to rock the world, 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 U.K. 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.

Rhino Handmade taps into that power with "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 glammed-up gatefold made from heavy-duty cardstock and die-cut into the shape of the iconic TWISTED SISTER logo.

Mirroring the setlists from both shows, the collection's 13 blistering performances feature singer Dee Snider, guitarists Jay Jay French and Eddie "Fingers" Ojeda, bassist Mark "The Animal" Mendoza and drummer A.J. Pero. Until now, the only way to hear some of this historic two-night stand was through a series of seven-inch and 12-inch records released in 1983 exclusively in the U.K.

Due on September 20, "Live At The Marquee Club" combines those 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. Bits of Snider's legendary stage banter — also unreleased — can be heard interspersed between a few songs.

"Live At The Marquee Club" track listing:

01. What You Don't Know (Sure Can Hurt You)
02. Sin After Sin
03. Bad Boys (Of Rock 'N' Roll)
04. Destroyer
05. Leader of the Pack
06. Tear it Loose
07. Band Rap
08. You Can't Stop Rock 'N' Roll
09. Run For Your Life
10. Shoot 'Em Down
11. Dee's Rap
12. It's Only Rock 'N' Roll (But I Like It)
13. Band Introductions
14. I Am (I'm Me)
15. Under The Blade
16. Let The Good Times Roll

For more information and audio samples, go to this location.

The night of August 12th – 13th, 1961: the sector's borders in Berlin are being closed, against all former announcements the GDR regime starts building what is to be know as the Berlin Wall, parting friends, families, the German people.

For the 50th anniversary of this important historic event, the German edition of Metal Hammer asked musicians like Rob Halford (JUDAS PRIEST), Lemmy (MOTÖRHEAD), Barney Greenway (NAPALM DEATH), Hellhammer (MAYHEM) and others about their memories and stories, concerning the border and the wall. A few excerpts follow:

Rob Halford:

Q: Have you been to the Wall?

A: "I went there the first time Priest played Berlin in the 70's. I stood on one of the viewing areas around 2 AM in November. A border guard was watching me through binoculars. Behind me, Berlin was bright and alive but behind the guard it was blacked out and seemed dead."

Lemmy:

Q: Have you been to the GDR during the Wall's time?

A: "We were in the GDR quite a few times. They said it was safe to walk the streets at night in the GDR! But don't try to go to the other half of your own city-cos then they shoot you! Any questions?"

Barney Greenway:

Q: Are the effects of the Wall still perceivable in people today?

A: "Hard one to answer. I do try to speak to people about it, but they were either too young to fully comprehend at the time or feel slightly uncomfortable about it still. I know there are people who would still rather live at least with the conditions that the wall gave them on the Eastern side - almost guaranteed employment, a uniform way of living etc. - but you don't meet them so often. From an aesthetic perspective, you can still find a lot of GDR architecture, vehicles and other things around, and i love that stuff I must admit. I hope those things never disappear, as I'd run out of things to collect!"

Hellhammer:

Q: Did your family talk about the special political situation in Germany as a divided country?

A: "Yes, of course. We all hated the communistic Sovjet state as the plague. May no wall separate one country again!"

Read more at this location.

BLEEDING THROUGH bassist Ryan Wombacher has launched Hellmerica Customs, a brand new company serving the motorcycle and extreme sports communities.

A longtime Harley enthusiast and skateboarder, Wombacher has combined his passions for these endeavors into Hellmerica which boasts a line of uniquely hand-painted helmets, boards and more.

"Ever since I bought my first car, a 1971 Ford Torino, at the age of sixteen I've been messing around with custom painting," Wombacher says. "One summer during a break from touring with BLEEDING THROUGH, I decided to take my hobby to the next level by forming this company."

Wombacher's initial run of hand-painted vintage motorcycle helmets did well enough that he's continued to branch out in incremental steps. Airbrush, 1-shot paint, pin striping, gold/silver leafing and leather tooling are among the skills Wombacher has developed with Hellmerica.

Hellmerica Customs has also expanded to include custom paint jobs for guitars, basses and other band equipment. And this week, the company launched a brand new online store.

"Everything I do is one of a kind. I don't like to repeat myself," Wombacher points out.

BLEEDING THROUGH has sold close to a half a million albums and toured around the world with bands like SLAYER, MACHINE HEAD, MARILYN MANSON, AFI, SENSES FAIL and on Ozzfest, Warped Tour and more. They've been featured on the covers of Revolver, Metal Edge and Chord. They recently entered the studio to record a brand new album for Rise Records, to be released in 2012.

Metal Blade Records has set a November 8 North American release date for "Circle Of 8", the long-awaited new album from Dutch metal veterans MARTYR.

During the five years that MARTYR was alive and kicking (1982-1987), the band released two albums that are considered classics and a delight for those who love strong melodies, speedy riffs and a high level of technicality — "For The Universe" (1985) and "Darkness At Time's Edge" (1986). During that period, MARTYR appeared on compilation albums from Roadrunner and Metal Blade, was voted Holland's best new metal band in Aardschok magazine, toured with several international acts and appeared on Sky channel's "Monsters Of Rock" program.

MARTYR disbanded in 1987, but reunited in 2001 to play at the Heavy Metal Maniacs festival. Four years later, the band reformed with almost the complete 1982 lineup to perform at the Headbangers Open Air and Keep It True festivals. The flame has been burning again and the band continued to play live ever since.

In December 2008 MARTYR supported U.S. shock rockers LIZZY BORDEN on their European tour and played shows in 2009 and 2010 with FLOTSAM AND JETSAM, VICIOUS RUMORS, JAGUAR and EVERGREY, among others.

In 2009, the first new MARTYR record in almost 25 years saw the light of day. A new EP titled "Fear" was coupled with a re-release of the classic "For The Universe" album and made available as a double digipack entitled "Fear The Universe" on Rusty Cage Records.

In 2010 and 2011 MARTYR re-entered the studio and began work on the follow-up to "Fear" featuring 11 new tracks and a re-recording of the fan-favorite classic "Speed Of Samurai".

Comments the band: "MARTYR is really pleased to have the new album, 'Circle Of 8', released by Metal Blade Records. It feels like a reunion with metal friends for us after the 'Metal Massacre VI' release in 1986!"

BLACK SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi has confirmed to Birmingham Mail that the band's original lineup is getting back together.

Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward have begun rehearsing for a tour and new studio album.

In June this year vocalist Ozzy and guitarist Iommi wrote new material for a record that will be released next year.

"We're really looking forward to it and I think the stuff we've been writing is really good," said Iommi. "It's more back to the old original stuff."

He added that the reunion has been kept under wraps for some time.

"It's all been very hush-hush. Ozzy's been the worst at trying to hold it back. He's doing a lot of TV and he’s being asked stuff about a reunion and he's going, 'Well, I never say never.' He told me, 'I don't know what to say."

Iommi said his only concern about the current reformation was the health of drummer Bill Ward who in the past has suffered a heart attack.

"He hasn't been 100 per cent. He had an operation a few months ago, so we'll see how he is."

Video footage of Seattle progressive rockers QUEENSRŸCHE performing an acoustic version of the song "Around The World" at the studios of WDHA-FM 105.5 FM, the rock music station licensed to Dover and Morristown, New Jersey, can be seen below.

QUEENSRŸCHE singer Geoff Tate told Billboard.com that the band is already starting work on its next album despite having just released its 12th LP, "Dedicated To Chaos", in late June.

"We kind of have that practice, to jump from one to the next," he explains. "It's what drives us to get up in the morning, the new music, writing the music. If we don't do that, we're just resting on our laurels and playing songs we've played a million times before, and none of us want to do that."

Tate says QUEENSRŸCHE is currently "putting some sketches together and discussing direction and that kind of thing," and he expects some songs will start to surface while the group is on the road. "We have studios with us at all times," he notes. "If you come backstage at any given show, we have a room set up, everybody here and there, working away. It looks like a laboratory. That really keeps the music flowing, too."

Metal Blade Records has announced the signing of Swedish occult rockers NOCTUM.

NOCTUM was formed in September 2009 by Tobias Rosén (bass), David Indelöf (vocals/guitar) and Gustaf Heinemann (drums) during the growing of the globally well-known classic rock scene inspired by the late '60s and '70s. After a short while Per Wikström (guitar) came along.

In October of 2009 they recorded their first songs and after only two weeks they signed with the German record label High-Roller Records for the release of their full-length debut. The resulting effort, "The Séance", was laid down in less than 24 hours at Studio Oblivion and was issued through High-Roller Records (vinyl) and Stormspell Records (CD) in September 2010.

With a new album out and great criticism from papers/promoters worldwide, NOCTUM decided to make its first trip to Germany for a couple of dates in April 2011. After their first tour, they went into the studio once again to record the upcoming EP, "The Fiddler", including two brand new tracks and one classic PENTAGRAM cover, "Lazy Lady".

Commented NOCTUM: "We're very pleased to announce a new chapter in NOCTUM's history! We have now signed a worldwide record deal with one of the leading record labels, Metal Blade Records! We're thrilled to work with such experienced people — people who started out as regular tape-traders back in the days and worked their way to the top among thousands of labels. People who have managed to stick around and keep the fire burning, stronger than ever before. This is a new beginning, Stay tuned."

NOCTUM recently parted ways with guitarist Per Wikström and is currently seeking a replacement.

The original line-up of Black Sabbath have reformed and have begun rehearsing for a forthcoming tour and possible new album.

While the MetalTalk.net troops converged on Bloodstock Festival, the spies went further afield to find Bill Ward and Geezer Butler lurking around in another part of the Midlands and today, we bring you our best ever exclusive and can tell you first that the original Black Sabbath line-up have reunited.

A decision was made fourteen days ago and this morning (Monday 15th August), Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer ('it will never happen') Butler, and Bill Ward gathered in their secret rehearsal studio and began the process of putting the show back on the road.

Much, much more to follow on this story. For now, the original line-up of Black Sabbath have reformed and will be back in action very soon...

"Curl Of The Burl", a brand new song from Atlanta progressive metallers MASTODON, can be streamed using the SoundCloud player below. The track comes off the band's new album, "The Hunter", which will be released in several configurations that feature an exciting interactive 3D experience known as Augmented Reality. The technology, created by Los Angeles-based company Total Immersion, combines virtual and real worlds to create a 3D one-of-a-kind interactive experience that users can control. Just by using a camera on a computer, their own face and the cover art on "The Hunter", the user can turn themselves into "The Hunter" sculpture that is pictured on the cover.

Legendary doomsters PENTAGRAM DVD will release the first DVD of their 40-year career, "When The Screams Come", in North America on August 30 via Metal Blade Records. The set features a full PENTAGRAM show, recorded on May 30, 2010 at the tail end of the Liebling/Griffin reunion dates at Sonar in Baltimore, Maryland during Maryland Deathfest VIII. There is also exclusive interview footage with vocalist Bobby Liebling.

The latest clip from the DVD features the song "Relentless" as well as a clip of an exclusive interview with vocalist Bobby Liebling. Check it out below.

"When The Screams Come" track listing:

01. Day Of Reckoning
02. Forever My Queen
03. Ask No More
04. Run My Course
05. You're Lost, I'm Free
06. Review Your Choices
07. Relentless
08. All Your Sins
09. 20 Buck Spin
10. Sign Of The Wolf
11. When The Screams Come

After 15 years of friendship, hard work and big passion, fully invested in the creation of symphonic music and an epic saga that will remain in the history of heavy metal, keyboardist Alex Staropoli and guitarist Luca Turilli of Italian symphonic metal masters RHAPSODY OF FIRE have decided to go their separate ways.

"10 albums released and the end of the saga represent, musically and lyrically, an important artistic goal finally reached, underlined by the success of our last release, 'From Chaos To Eternity', for which we want to thank our wonderful fans once again. Now it came the time when new artistic stimulations need to be found, in respect of both parts' visions and perspectives and of our longtime friendship," Staropoli and Turilli said in a joint statement.

Due to legal reasons, Staropoli will continue under the RHAPSODY OF FIRE name with a band lineup that will also include Fabio Lione on vocals, Tom Hess on guitar and Alex Holzwarth on drums. Turilli, on the other hand, will make his future efforts available under the RHAPSODY moniker (RHAPSODY's original name), in which he will be joined by musicians Dominique Leurquin, Patrice Guers and Alex Holzwarth.

Commented Alex: "While wishing the best to Luca and his new band, I want to tell you that Fabio and myself feel motivated and stronger than ever and that RHAPSODY OF FIRE are already planning a great worldwide tour. More information regarding the new bass player and the new second guitar player will follow. Stay tuned!"

30-second audio samples of all the tracks that will appear on "Kicking & Screaming", the new album from former SKID ROW frontman Sebastian Bach, can be streamed at Amazon.com. Due on September 27 via Frontiers Records, the CD was produced by Bob Marlette (BLACK SABBATH, SHINEDOWN, ATREYU, FILTER) and features young virtuosic guitarist Nick Sterling and drum pro Bobby Jarzombek (HALFORD, RIOT, ICED EARTH). The follow-up to 2007's "Angel Down" was mastered at Precision Mastering in Los Angeles with Tom Baker. A digital single containing the album's title track will precede the full-length effort on August 23.

Vocalist Alan "Nemtheanga" Averill of Irish pagan metal masters PRIMORDIAL has released the following statement regarding the band's appearance at this year's edition of the Bloodstock Open Air festival, which was held August 12-14, 2011 at Catton Hall in Derbyshire, United Kingdom:

"Firstly I have to thank everyone for their support and dedication during a very difficult show at Bloodstock on Sunday; we were all deeply humbled by everyone's response and hearing your voices loud and clear singing our own songs back to us was moving.

"The simple fact is from one line to the next my voice completely disappeared. From feeling perfectly normal, within seconds I could not even whisper. This has never happened to me before in my twenty years of singing. Slowly my voice came back and if we had another hour left I would have been able to sing again. It seems to have either been an allergic reaction to something I ate or drank that morning mixed with a complete dehydration of the vocal cords.

"Sitting here typing this, I am more or less back to normal. I can only rationalise it that it happens to the best of us and the law of averages states eventually it was going to happen if you play enough shows. This doesn't help the fact that I was and am still gutted we could not give 100% because before it happened, the show was shaping up to be incredible... we could all feel the energy and electricity.

"I can only humbly apologise and hope that we can come back very soon to make it up to all of you. I am only human, and, unfortunately, also are my vocal cords.

"This all said, we have to thank you all for your understanding, dedication and support as we were all moved by this and also immense thanks to the staff and crew of Bloodstock who really showed their worth and understanding. Much respect to all of you... and hopefully I can chalk this one down to experience."

Former KISS and current GRAND FUNK RAILROAD guitarist Bruce Kulick recently spent time in the studio working with "an incredible artist named Andrew London." Kulick states, "This kid can sing, write, and play guitar and piano in a refreshing way that I am really excited about being his session guitar player for. Jeremy Rubolino, who produced [Kulick's latest solo album] 'BK3', is his producer."

Kulick's third solo album, "BK3", sold around 1,700 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at No. 12 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.

"BK3" was released in Europe in January 2010 via Frontiers Records and in North America in February 2010 through Twenty 4 Records/Rocket Science Ventures. The first single from the album, "Hand Of The King", featuring Nick Simmons (son of KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons), was a digital-only release available at all online music stores, including iTunes.

British extreme metallers CRADLE OF FILTH will release a new mini-album, entitled "Evermore Darkly…", on October 10 via Peaceville Records. A follow-on from last year's triumphant "Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa" album, the set will arrive as a CD/DVD package including new tracks and rarities, with a lengthy on-the-road documentary and ten songs filmed live at this year's Graspop Metal Meeting in Dessel, Belgium, as well as the video for the song "Lilith Immaculate".

The "Evermore Darkly…" CD features brand new musical beast "Thank Your Lucky Stars", plus a special remix of "Forgive Me Father", courtesy of ANTHRAX guitarist Rob Caggiano, an extended rendition of "Lilith Immaculate", as well as tempered demo versions of three "Darkly, Darkly…" songs. The mini-album closes with a special taster from CRADLE OF FILTH's impending orchestral project in the form of a haunting, classic reworking of fan favorite "Summer Dying Fast".

The "Evermore Darkly…" DVD contains footage from summer 2011 when CRADLE OF FILTH embarked on a rapid spat of tours, accompanied by two eager filmmakers. The resulting documentary, "You Can't Polish A Turd, But You Can Roll It In Glitter", combined with performance and interview footage culminates in a forty five minute film of the not so glamorous reality of life in a touring band at work and play, as they trawl their way across Europe over eight performances. The DVD includes an interview with ghoul-guide Dani Filth, interspersed and peppered with live footage and backstage shenanigans, culminating in the entire hour long set from this year's Graspop Metal Meeting appearance.

According to Dani, "Evermore Darkly…" is "a much-loved musical stop-gap between albums, a pleasure treasure trove of wild and wicked wonders primed especially for fans. Something for them to sink their teeth into this autumn as the CRADLE invasion fleet is primed for future contagion."

"R.I.T.", a brand new song from the Dayton, Ohio Christian metalcore band THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, has been "leaked" and can be streamed in the YouTube clip below. The track comes off the group's new album, "Dead Throne", which will be released in the U.S. on September 13 via Ferret Music and one day earlier internationally through Roadrunner Records. The follow-up to 2009's critically acclaimed "With Roots Above and Branches Below" was recorded at Zing Studios in Massachusetts with producer Adam Dutkiewicz (KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, TIMES OF GRACE). Additional synth/key production was handled by Joey Sturgis (who has worked on all of the THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA records so far) with further assistance on the vocal production by Jeremy McKinnon (A DAY TO REMEMBER).

"Empires (Part 2)", the new video from the veteran all-girl Canadian metal outfit KITTIE, can be seen below. The track comes off the band's sixth album, "I've Failed You", which will be released on August 30 via eOne Music. The CD was recorded at Beach Road Studios in Goderich, Ontario, Canada. The band once again worked with producer Siegfried "Siggy" Meier, who helmed KITTIE's last CD, 2009's "In The Black".

Commented KITTIE guitarist/vocalist Morgan Lander: "'Empires (Part 2)' is about the fall of something that at one time was considered great and indestructible. It likens a union, or relationship to the idea of a great empire, and as history has taught us, even the most mighty and powerful of empires crumble and fall eventually. Nothing is forever."

Regarding the song's relationship to the album's "Empires (Part 1)" , Morgan said, "Well, musically, 'Empires (Part 1)' and '(Part 2)' are based around the same guitar chords and structure, and '(Part 1)' is more like a soft, acoustic introduction to the fury of the second part, much like a time of peace before unrest."

THE WRETCHED END — the Norway-based band featuring guitarist Samoth (EMPEROR, ZYKLON) and bassist Cosmo (MINDGRINDER) alongside Swedish drummer Nils Fjellström (DARK FUNERAL, IN BATTLE, AEON) — is preparing to enter Strand Studio in Oslo begin recording its sophomore album, tentatively titled "Inroads", for an early 2012 release via Nocturnal Art Productions/Candlelight Records. Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Death by Nature", "Cold Iron Soul", "Blackthorn Winter", "Fear Propaganda", "Hunger", "Throne Renowned Of Old", "Tyrant of the Mountain", "Deathtopian Society" and "The Haunting Ground".

9 CHAMBERS, the new band featuring producer/singer/guitarist Greg Hampton (ALICE COOPER, BOOTSY COLLINS, LITA FORD), ex-MONSTER MAGNET guitarist Ed Mundell and current GOV'T MULE bassist Jorgen Carlsson, will release its self-titled debut album on September 27 via Samson Records/E1 Entertainment. The CD's cover art can now be viewed below.

Hampton and Mundell recently recalled how they crossed paths and came up with the idea of working together. "I used to run into Greg at the bootleg place up at the Pasadena Flea Market," remembers Mundell. "He'd always be buying MAHOGANY RUSH, FREE, or JIMI HENDRIX bootlegs!" Adds Hampton, "I would see Ed and we'd run into each other at NAMM, and we'd go have dinner. I knew he was sort of looking for other projects to get involved in, because with the MONSTER MAGNET thing; he had a huge history."

As one of the trailblazers of the "stoner rock movement" Ed Mundell's signature guitar sound can be heard on MONSTER MAGNET classic albums "Superjudge", "Dopes To Infinity" and gold-certified "Powertrip". But by late 2010, Mundell had had enough. "It was 18 years with MAGNET. Since 1992, since I was a kid, barely legal to drink I'd been on the road! The last few years of touring was just the same old thing. It wasn't treading on any new territory — we were just playing the same set every night, all the time. And I was just like, 'I've got to do something else, I'm going to go crazy here.' So I just needed to take a break. I ran into Greg, and we started playing."

And just like that, 9 CHAMBERS came together — the same way plenty of classic rock bands did way back when, naturally, and over the love of similar styles of music. "We just started jamming, and all of a sudden, we wrote a couple of songs," recalls Hampton. "The next thing we knew, we wrote six songs or something. It was pretty organic with the fact that we have a lot of the same guitar players that we love. We've pretty much got the same record collection. I'd play the verse, and then hand him the guitar halfway through, and he'd play the rest of it. Sometimes, you don't even know who's playing what." And as Mundell adds, "All of a sudden, it's 20 songs later! Like, what the hell? We're mixing now and going, 'God, how many guitars are on there?' We forgot about all these cool parts."

Rounding out 9 CHAMBERS will be what promises to be kick-ass rhythm sections, comprised of GOV'T MULE virtuoso bassist Jorgen Carlsson and BLACK SABBATH/DIO/HEAVEN & HELL drummer Vinny Appice (as schedules permit).

According to Mundell, the creative process regarding songwriting is coming fast and furious for 9 CHAMBERS. "Even the other day, we picked up two guitars, and all of a sudden, we had another song. It's like, 'How did that happen?'"

With nearly two albums worth of compositions and ideas to choose from for a single disc, Hampton already has several early favorite tracks.

"'It's hard because it's a real 'album-oriented' record. With 'Life Moves On', the music came together because it's a real fast-cooking tune. Ed and I did the live solos on the floor with each other — the dual leads. That was the part to me that was the most exciting. The way the bridge came together was another interesting approach, because Ed was playing an electric twelve-string with a reverse pedal, and I was playing the straight part that had a completely different riff and arrangement...two completely different things that wouldn't even fit if you heard them separately . But when you put them together it was just amazing. It fit just like a glove."

"On 'Bury Yourself', Vinny's brother Carmine had a band CACTUS who a lot of '70s bands were influenced by. Carmine and I have been friends forever... Vinny is obvioulsy aware of his brother's work, but in regards to the riff and the music itself, it was something that reminded us of that.

"There are also elements of a CREAM and MOUNTAIN thing to it also. We were listening to a lot of that stuff, ARMAGEDDON, CAPTAIN BEYOND. It helped keep our mindset. In the song 'One Thing Missing' there are elements of that in the bridge. The solo I played on that was a one take — the first take. I plugged in, turned it on, and that was it! The title 'Bury Yourself' came from a George Harrison quote. He once said that 'The more you say, the more you bury yourself.' He was referring to John Lennon… when Lennon made the Jesus comment and all that..."

In a brand new interview with Revolver magazine (see cover image below), ex-SKID ROW singer Sebastian Bach spoke about his recent divorce from Maria Bierk, his wife of 18 years with whom he had been coupled since before joining his former band. According to Bach, the marriage started unraveling after tales of his past dalliances began to crop up online.

"When you go on tour starting in the mid-'80s and then someone invents the Internet in, like, 1996, you're pretty much fucked," Bach said.

He added, "I mean, the shit on these web sites is the reason my three kids don't have a father right now. You can go online and there's a 'cock chart' where you can check out my rig, and find these chicks typing whatever they want to type."

In addition to online accounts, Bach pointed to a 2010 book, "The Last Living Slut: Born in Iran, Bred Backstage", penned by a self-professed groupie named Roxana Shirazi, as contributing to the breakdown of his marriage. "There's all these lies about me in there when we toured with GUNS N' ROSES in 2006," he said. "You read the book and it's like, I'm backstage with a case of dildos that I'm using on all these different women. Dude, can I tell you something? I do not travel on the road with a case of dildos. That never fucking happened. But my ex-wife doesn't give a fuck. She's in Barnes & Noble reading this and it's like… what are you gonna do? I said to my lawyer, 'Should I sue?' And he said, 'All you're going to do is make the book bigger.'"

Bach was most recently linked to 26-year-old model Minnie Gupta, who appears in the videos for two songs from Bach's forthcoming album, "Kicking & Screaming", and serves as the model on the CD's cover art.

Said the singer: "You know, Dave Mustaine wrote in his autobiography something like, 'If you're gonna try and be married and have a family and then go on the road and be in a heavy-metal band, just don't.' And I get it. Because it's tough being in a relationship with a guy who plays rock and roll. It takes a strong woman to do it." He laughed. "Or at least a woman who doesn't know how to use a computer."

BOSTON's publicist, Gail Parenteau, has released the following statement to BLABBERMOUTH.NET regarding Michael Sweet's (STRYPER) departure from the group:

"We truly enjoyed having Michael Sweet sing and play guitar on stage for the 2008 BOSTON tour along with Tommy DeCarlo, who was the lead vocalist replacing Brad Delp. However, Michael has not been involved in the recording of BOSTON's next studio album, which is now 85% complete. We have always understood his obvious commitment to his band STRYPER, and wish him and his band the best of luck with their new endeavors.

"The lead vocals for BOSTON's soon-to-be-released studio album include Brad Delp's singing on many songs, along with several excellent performances by our other three lead vocalists. The album reflects an intentional effort by principal songwriter and producer Tom Scholz to capture the recognizable sound and energy of his original releases, combined with the musical sophistication expected from exceptional players and vocalists all performing within the traditional framework of the well-known BOSTON sound."

Delp committed suicide in 2007, leaving behind a note in which he called himself "a lonely soul."

STRYPER frontman and accomplished solo artist Michael Sweet has issued the following update:

"I feel the need to clarify that my statement released on August 10 about my decision to focus on STRYPER in the near and distant future and therefore not allowing me the time to perform with BOSTON certainly should not imply that BOSTON is no more. They will continue on and all BOSTON fans should be encouraged and excited about the future of the band and what lies ahead. I wish them nothing but the best and as a fan myself, I'll be the first in line when they tour and the first to purchase the next BOSTON record!"

Sweet announced his departure from BOSTON this past Wednesday in order to devote his full attention to his longstanding role as the lead vocalist and lead guitarist for rock outfit STRYPER — a band he co-founded in 1983. Sweet joined BOSTON in 2008, sharing lead vocals and playing guitar on a headlining tour of North America, performing the band's classic hits like "More than a Feeling", "Peace of Mind", "Amanda" and "Don't Look Back".

Following the BOSTON tour, STRYPER released the 2009 studio album, "Murder by Pride" (featuring a cover of BOSTON's "Peace of Mind"), which led to a yearlong world tour with all of the original members. In 2010, STRYPER released "The Covering", and another world tour recently concluded. STRYPER is currently in the studio working on an untitled release for 2011, with tour dates already announced for this fall.

"My focus and my loyalty lies with STRYPER, the band that I've committed almost thirty years of my life to," said Sweet. "The guys in STRYPER are my brothers and I'm excited about our future together. The music of BOSTON helped shape who I am as an artist, and the opportunity to be a part of their musical legacy is overwhelming. It's been an honor to share the stage with them, and a bigger honor to call them my friends."

In addition to the increasing demands for STRYPER, Sweet has been spending some of his time off the road in Nashville, writing with A-list songwriters such as Blair Daly (RASCAL FLATTS, UNCLE KRACKER, LYNYRD SKYNYRD), Luke Laird (CARRIE UNDERWOOD, BLAKE SHELTON, TIM MCGRAW), Britton Cameron (STEEL MAGNOLIA, LONESTAR, EDEN'S EDGE) and others.

"I've always loved the writing process and to be able to collaborate with some of the greatest writers in Nashville is an absolutely amazing experience for me," explained Sweet. "I'm looking forward to many more successful trips to Music City."