Dustin Schoof of The Express-Times recently conducted an interview with KISS guitarist Tommy Thayer. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

On still being the "new guy" in KISS — despite having worked with the band for more than two decades:

"I've been so much involved with KISS and (singer/guitarist) Paul (Stanley) and (singer/bassist) Gene (Simmons) so many years, we're talking 25 years, there's a repertoire there already. For me to start as the new lead guitarist was actually a kind of natural, easy transition because we knew each other so well. It wasn't like there was a learning curve there."

On donning the "Spaceman" regalia after Ace Frehley's departure — a decision which was met with backlash by some longtime KISS fans:

"The biggest step was replacing one of the great guitar players of our time who has influenced so many people. Those are big shoes to fill. The biggest challenge walking into that situation and succeeding was that good things take time. Getting in there and trying to fill the role he played and play the parts as well or even try and do it better ... it slowly becomes a little more me and just being the Spaceman, it's been quite a process. There have been so many amazing fans who have been so supportive and honest about letting me know I'm doing a great job and to keep it up."

On the progress of the recording sessions for the follow-up to 2009's "Sonic Boom":

"It's going phenomenally. We've been in the studio for several weeks. We've cut eight songs already. I've heard Paul and Gene. This is definitely some of the best stuff KISS has ever recorded."

"The idea [with 'Sonic Boom'] was to create a classic KISS record going back to the roots of the early records and really try and capture that vibe. I think we did and then some. I slowly wanted to put a little Tommy Thayer in there. I think on this record, we're taking it to the next step.

"We're spending a lot of time making sure it sounds like a great KISS record."

On the inaugural Kiss Kruise, which will set sail in October and feature a full-blown KISS performance as well as acoustic renditions of the band's biggest hits:

"The battle plan is exactly the same: pummel and deafen and blow it up. We're not going to sink the ship, but we're going to do some devastation ... This will be a great and very unique experience for the consummate KISS fan."

On being in a band and performing with his heroes:

"[Performing with the for the first time] was kind of an out-of-body experience. It's something I might have dreamed about, you almost have to pinch yourself remind to you that it's really happening. The enormity of a band like KISS, to be suddenly in that position, is a once-in-a-lifetime (opportunity). I never imagined it would have happened, especially to someone like me, who grew up a fan of theirs ... it's an unbelievable experience."

Fan-filmed video footage of SLAYER's July 12, 2011 performance at Effenaar in Eindhoven, Netherlands can be viewed below.

The band's setlist was as follows:

01. World Painted Blood
02. Hate Worldwide
03. War Ensemble
04. Postmortem
05. Temptation
06. Dittohead
07. Stain of Mind
08. Disciple
09. Bloodline
10. Dead Skin Mask
11. Hallowed Point
12. The Antichrist
13. Americon
14. Payback
15. Spirit in Black
16. Mandatory Suicide
17. Chemical Warfare
18. Ghosts of War
19. Silent Scream
20. Seasons in the Abyss
21. Snuff

Encore:

22. South of Heaven
23. Raining Blood
24. Black Magic
25. Angel of Death

A much-anticipated follow up album to the successful eponymous debut of a rock band packed with successful veterans — guitar hero Joe Satriani, drummer Chad Smith, former VAN HALEN bassist Michael Anthony and frontman Sammy Hagar — has garnered a bevy of buzz and rumors that the band is setting straight today with the official announcement of the album title, full track listing, release date and more: "Chickenfoot III" (not "IV" as previously implied), produced by Mike Fraser (AC/DC, METALLICA), is set for worldwide release on September 26 by earMUSIC/Edel and from eOne Music in North America in a special 3D designed package. The album's lead single, "Bigfoot", is set for release on August 2.

"I am very proud of the new album," says lead singer Hagar. "We're calling the album 'Chickenfoot III' because it's so good, the songs are so tight, it's like we jumped right past having to make a second record." He adds, "We've established a real trust, Joe and I, we truly bring out the best in one another, and that spreads to the whole band."

"Chickenfoot III" features 10 tracks with so many moments of epiphany that one can barely take them all in on first listen. Colossal, stadium-shaking riffs abound on earth-movers such as "Alright, Alright", "Last Temptation", "Bigfoot", and "Lighten Up". Tradition meets innovation on the Nashville pop-tinged "Different Devil", the Delta-blues flavored "Something Going Wrong" and the aching rock ballad "Come Closer". "Come Closer" marks a dramatic twist in that singer Hagar wrote the words first and guitarist Joe Satriani composed the music to suit the lyrics. Elsewhere, CHICKENFOOT tackles issues such as mortality in "Up Next" and the world's economy in "Three and a Half Letters" on hard-as-nails cuts that rock the body while filling one's senses.

"Chickenfoot III" track listing:

01. Last Temptation
02. Alright, Alright
03. Different Devil
04. Up Next
05. Lighten Up
06. Come Closer
07. Three and a Half Letters
08. Bigfoot
09. Dubai Blues
10. Something Going Wrong

American power metallers ICED EARTH have entered the studio to begin recording their new album, "Dystopia", for a tentative late 2011 release via Century Media Records. The CD will mark the band's recording debut with singer Stu Block (INTO ETERNITY), who joined ICED EARTH in March following the departure of Matt Barlow. (Note: Barlow is performing with the band on all summer festival dates. Block will take over from there, starting with the European leg of ICED EARTH's world tour in November.)

Commented ICED EARTH guitarist/mainman Jon Schaffer: "All is well here as we are pushing forward with master tracking the new album, 'Dystopia'.

"We have finished drums and rhythm guitars and are right on schedule.

"I'll be heading to Europe tomorrow for a few festival dates and then right back to work in the studio on Monday.

"[Producer] Jim Morris and I are having a great time, as usual, and are very much looking forward to starting vocal tracks with 'Stucifer' next week!

"Stu Block has contributed a lot to the vocal parts on this record, with co-writing credits on 10 out of 12 songs, and I'm very happy with our chemistry and what we've accomplished together so far. And we're just getting started."

Songtitles set to appear on "Dystopia":

* Dystopia
* Anthem
* Days of Rage
* Soylent Green
* V
* Boiling Point
* Tragedy and Triumph
* Anguish of Youth
* Iron Will

The long drought is officially over. For all of those ANTHRAX fans who have been waiting for the band to finally release new music, "Fight 'em 'Til You Can't", the first track available from the upcoming album "Worship Music", has just gone on sale at iTunes. "Worship Music" is the first new studio album from ANTHRAX in eight years, and the first with vocalist Joey Belladonna since 1990's "Persistence of Time". What a way for the band to celebrate its 30th anniversary.

JANE'S ADDICTION's new album, "The Great Escape Artist", will be released on September 27 (one day earlier internationally) through Capitol Records. The CD was recorded in Los Angeles with producer Rich Costey (MUSE, FRANZ FERDINAND, INTERPOL), with TV ON THE RADIO's Dave Sitek on the team. Sitek, best known for his production work on TV ON THE RADIO, YEAH YEAH YEAHS and THE FOALS, is writing, programming, and playing bass on the album.

Swedish hard rockers EUROPE have tapped Kevin Shirley (IRON MAIDEN, JOE BONAMASSA, BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION, BLACK STONE CHERRY, JOURNEY) to produce their next studio album, slated for April 2012 release.

"We still feel we have one hell of a rock record to make," says EUROPE's singer Joey Tempest. "Kevin's the man for the job. We love his work with BONAMASSA, BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION, and BLACK STONE CHERRY. He's the real deal. We're ready to do some serious damage."

Last week EUROPE met up with Shirley in Stockholm to discuss the direction of the next album. Based on reactions from the fans and media, EUROPE's 2009 album, "Last Look At Eden", proved to be the band's most important record since "The Final Countdown". "I've been a big fan of EUROPE's work for many years," says Shirley. "The band is influential and highly underrated. I can't wait to make the upcoming album their most explosive to date."

Dayton, Ohio Christian metalcore band THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA will release its new album, "Dead Throne", 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).

PURE SWEET HELL, the metal band featuring former NEVERMORE drummer Van Williams, is currently mixing its sophomore album, "Spitting At The Stars", for a late 2011 release. The CD will feature guitar solos from a few of heavy metal's top shredders, including Glen Drover (EIDOLON, MEGADETH) Steve Smyth (NEVERMORE, TESTAMENT, FORBIDDEN), Chris Amott (ARCH ENEMY), Jeff Loomis (NEVERMORE) and Attila Voros (LEANDER, NEVERMORE). John Winters (HATEFIST), who contributed in the production/engineering of the record, got a chance to lay down a solo as well.

Williams and guitarist Jeff Loomis announced their departure from NEVERMORE in April.

PURE SWEET HELL's full-length debut, "The Voyeurs of Utter Destruction As Beauty", came out in February 2005 via Crash Music, Inc.

ARCH/ MATHEOS, the new progressive rock band featuring FATES WARNING/OSI guitarist Jim Matheos and former FATES WARNING singer John Arch, has released the first single off the group's upcoming full-length debut, "Sympathetic Resonance". The new track, a five-minute clip of the song "Stained Glass Sky" that clocks in at just less than 14 minutes, can be heard here.

Cover art for "Sympathetic Resonance" was fashioned using an image created by light painting photographer Dennis Calvert, who has described light painting as "The ability to see in four dimensions, time traveling, and creating fantasy using only what we base all reality on, light."

Due on September 13 via Metal Blade Records, "Sympathetic Resonance" features the following track listing:

01. Neurotically Wired
02. Midnight Serenade
03. Stained Glass Sky
04. On the Fence
05. Any Given Day (Strangers Like Me)
06. Incense and Myrrh

HOTEL DIABLO, the new band featuring LADYJACK and former ADLER'S APPETITE vocalist Rick Stitch, guitarist Alex Grossi (QUIET RIOT), bassist Mike Duda and drummer Mike Dupke (both of W.A.S.P.), has released "Set it Off", the first track recorded with former GUNS N' ROSES and ROCKSTAR SUPERNOVA guitarist Gilby Clarke producing.

"We are very happy with what we have done so far with Gilby," says Stitch. "We have got a ton of material to choose from and I think we are going to end up with a great HOTEL DIABLO record when it is all said and done."

Clarke is best known for his tenure as the rhythm guitarist of GUNS N' ROSES. He joined the band in November 1991, replacing Izzy Stradlin, who quit the group in the middle of a 28-month world tour. Gilby has also played with ROCK STAR SUPERNOVA, HEART, NANCY SINATRA, Kathy Valentine (of THE GO-GO'S) and the reformed MC5 on their 2005 European tour.

The track can currently be heard exclusively on the band's web site, www.thehoteldiablo.com. It is also available on iTunes and other online

"Superfiction", the fifth studio album from Jacksonville, Florida hard rockers COLD, is available for streaming in its entirety at AOL Music. The CD will be released on July 19 via Eleven Seven Music/SonicStar Records.

"Superfiction" track listing:

01. Wicked World
02. What Happens Now
03. American Dream
04. The Break
05. Welcom2MyWorld
06. Emily
07. The Crossroads
08. Delivering the Saint
09. So Long June
10. The Park
11. Flight of the Superstar
12. The Ballad of the Nameless

Reunited '80s Montreal power metallers SWORD (not to be confused with Texas-based luminaries THE SWORD) played their first show in more than 20 years on July 8 in La Baie, Quebec, Canada, in front of a select few hundred screaming fans. According to the Capitale du Metal web site, "The show lasted for 90 minutes and featured flawless interpretations of the band's catalogue, with all four members in great shape."

After devoting late winter season to writing and recording, WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM is in the final stages of completing its fourth full-length opus of epic, earthen black metal ceremony.

For over six months the Weaver brothers, Aaron and Nathan, have been immersed in the painstaking writing and recording process of their newest album, and this week the process is nearly complete, at press time the album in its final mixing stages.

The WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM clan has confirmed the title of this forthcoming astral black metal document as "Celestial Lineage".

The transmutation reaches a new level with the completion of the album. In contrast to the bleakly hypnotic architecture of "Black Cascade", the lifespan of "Celestial Lineage" breathes more expansive and visionary life into the duo's work. The WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM trademark long-form approach to arrangement remains intact, but there is a stronger thread of Popul Vuh-inspired underworld synthscapes and star-lit pulse woven with the intertwining guitar figures. "Celestial Lineage" will end a trilogy of releases which began with "Two Hunters" (2007), and is segued by "Black Cascade" (2009), and like both previous albums, will be released via Southern Lord Recordings, with a street date of September 13 now confirmed. Three songs on the album feature Jessika Kenney's liturgical choir and solo voice, as heard on "Two Hunters" as well as 2009's "Malevolent Grain" EP, the album also including orations from Aaron Turner (ISIS).

Stated WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM drummer Aaron Weaver of the writing process for "Celestial Lineage": "An ornate constellation of imagery is what that guides the songwriting process. Cedar temples crowned with burnished bronze domes glimpsed in a remote valley. Wild Midsummer bonfires and feasting on roasted flesh. All of the sounds serve to evoke the images that exist in our minds eye. With this record we're going to explore an entirely new palette of sound. We want the instruments to sound like the liturgical music of a cedar cult."

Besides closing out a trilogy within WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM's own annals, "Celestial Lineage" also marks the final release to ever be recorded in engineering wizard Randall Dunn's infamous Aleph Studio, the birthplace of a plethora of groundbreaking releases from EARTH, SUNN O))), BORIS, CAVE SINGERS, BJORK/OMAR SOULEYMAN and countless more over the past decade, as well as where the immense tones and energy on WITTR's lauded "Two Hunters" and "Black Cascade" albums were captured.

"You Only Live Once", the new video from California deathcore masters SUICIDE SILENCE, can be viewed at Guvera.com. The clip was directed by Nathan Cox, who has previously worked with MARILYN MANSON, DISTURBED, DEVILDRIVER and HIM, among many others. The track comes off the band's new album, "The Black Crown", which is being released on July 12 via Century Media Records. The CD was recorded with heavyweight producer Steve Evetts (THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, EVERY TIME I DIE, HATEBREED) and features guest appearances by KORN singer Jonathan Davis and SUFFOCATION frontman Frank Mullen.

Danish hard rock veterans PRETTY MAIDS will record their long-awaited concert DVD/CD on Saturday, October 1 at Z7 in Pratteln, Switzerland. On this night, the band will play songs spanning its 30-year career of melodic hard rock and heavy metal.

Commented the band, "Hope to see a lot of fans and supporters from all over Europe for one hell of an anniversary party On October 1st."

PRETTY MAIDS' forthcoming live DVD/CD will mark the first-ever visual release for the band, and will be made available in early 2012 on Frontiers Records. The DVD release will be followed by a tour during the spring and summer of 2012.

MOTÖRHEAD has issued the following statement regarding the passing of the band's former guitarist Michael "Würzel" Burston:

"We are greatly saddened to confirm that our long-time friend and comrade Würzel died Saturday at his home. Würz was pouring a Guinness and cracking a joke when he succumbed to a heart attack; at least we know he went with a smile.

"It is a cliché to say that words cannot describe how we feel, and in this case, other than ones such as 'shit' and 'awful' and 'very, very sad,' it is true, they really can't. We all shared many many great times together, and what he did for MOTÖRHEAD is quite simply indelible.

"As our good friend Steve 'Krusher' Joule said, 'RIP, dear Würzel, a rocker and a gentleman.'"

MOTÖRHEAD frontman Lemmy Kilmister added: "Wurzel was my friend and my brother and he's never going to laugh with me again or bitch me out or do….anything. And that truly and cosmically SUCKS.

"RIP Wurz. Godspeed. Good man."

Reformed German heavy metal legends ACCEPT will have their performance at this year's edition of the Bang Your Head!!! festival in Germany filmed for a future DVD release.

Commented ACCEPT's manager Gaby Hoffmann (who is also married to the band's guitarist, Wolf Hoffmann): "The show in Balingen is the only one in the new life of ACCEPT that is going to be filmed! I expect the Bang Your Head!!! to be both the ending and the highlight of ACCEPT's exciting comeback. Neither one of us — or the people who helped us — expected ACCEPT to be welcomed by the fans in this way. We're grateful and happier than anyone else and would like to close this chapter — with a cinematic documentation which shall capture the atmosphere in Balingen."

In a recent interview with Decibel magazine, ARCH ENEMY/CARCASS guitarist Michael Amott was asked about the status of CARCASS, which reunited for a few festival appearances in 2008 and has played a number of dates since.

"The last show we played was a festival in Finland last summer," Amott said. We actually only did a handful of shows last year."

He continued, "The CARCASS reunion was obviously an amazing thing for us, and for me personally it was amazing to reconnect with Bill Steer, Jeff Walker and Ken Owen. It was initially just supposed to be a handful of shows in 2008, but then all this other stuff got added on. It was a good time for me, because we were restructuring our whole business setup with ARCH ENEMY. But I told Jeff and Bill last summer that I have to prioritize the new ARCH ENEMY album. So, I don't really know what they're planning. It's their band, really. They put out two albums before I joined the band, and they put one out after I left. [Laughs]

"I hope we can do some more shows together when ARCH ENEMY slows down again, but they're obviously free to do whatever they wanna do. I don't know what they're planning, though. It seems like they're keeping a lid on that."

According to TMZ.com, COHEED AND CAMBRIA bassist Michael Todd was arrested for armed robbery last night shortly before the band's performance at the Comcast Center in Mansfield, Massachusetts as the support act for SOUNDGARDEN. Todd allegedly walked into a Walgreens in Attleboro, Massachusetts and threatened to blow up the store with what was apparently a fake bomb unless he was given Oxycontin. Todd made off with six bottles of the pain pill before police tracked the cab he escaped in. He was arrested outside Comcast Center and officially charged with armed robbery and unlawful possession of prescription narcotics.

In a statement released last night, COHEED AND CAMBRIA confirmed that it had secured a replacement bassist and that it would continue on with its currently scheduled dates.

"Michael Todd was arrested today on what we consider very serious charges and therefore he will not be finishing up the current tour," the band said. "Wes Styles, longtime member of the COHEED family, will take on bass duties starting tomorrow for the remaining dates. No shows will be canceled.

"We are surprised, to say the least, and will address the situation with Michael after the tour. For now, we just want to have a great time out here and finish with some killer shows in Boston, Poughkeepsie, Quebec City and Halifax."

Todd previously left COHEED AND CAMBRIA in 2006 in order to seek treatment for heroin addiction. After a stint in rehab, he returned to the group in 2007.

German rockers SINNER - featuring PRIMAL FEAR bassist / co-founder Mat Sinner - have unveiled the cover art of their new album, One Bullet Left. Check it out below:




The tracklist is as follows:

'The One You Left Behind'
'Back On Trail'
'Give & Take'
'One Bullet Left'
'10 2 Death'
'Haunted'
'Atomic Playboys'
Suicide Mission'
'Wake Me When I'm Sober'
'Mind Over Matter'
'Mend To Be Broken'
'Rolling Away'

Arizona band EYES SET TO KILL will unleash its fourth studio album, "White Lotus", to fans on August 9. As an added bonus, the "White Lotus" pre-order includes an immediate download from the album of the band's cover of NIRVANA's "Polly".

EYES SET TO KILL will join the Vans Warped Tour on August 5 in Colorado and will continue on for a few weeks, returning to Arizona in time for a hometown record-release show at the Martini Ranch on August 20.

"White Lotus"'s opening track, "The Secrets Between", was quickly embraced and praised by fans when it was released online last month and the next "White Lotus" sneak peek, "Harsh" is available at this location. In addition to this version of the song, an acoustic adaptation of the track will be the album's closer. "White Lotus" also includes an intimate cover of HOLE's "Doll Parts", a tribute to the '90s grunge era they were raised on.

When sisters Alexia and Anissa Rodriguez started the band in 2003, their looks opened eyes and opened ears; but it is their music that has kept EYES SET TO KILL growing at a steady and rapid pace. A quick search of the band on YouTube shows millions of views and album sales, critical acclaim and social networking numbers reflect the loyalty of an abundant and worldwide fan base that the band holds dear and interacts with on a regular basis. Currently, the group is on tour in Indonesia, where they are selling out shows, including a headlining slot at the Jakcloth Summerfest in Jakarta to over 2,000 screaming fans, exceeding their expectations for their inaugural visit.

Traditionally a "white lotus" represents rebirth. Just like the beautiful flower, EYES SET TO KILL has gone through a metamorphosis. After years of steadily progressing as a band, measured in accomplishments, fan base as well as growing and maturing musically, the Phoenix, Arizona-based collective reveal their evolved identity on "White Lotus".

"It's a symbolic name," Alexia Rodriguez states. "We have a clear mindset, we have purity and we know exactly what we want to do with our music. We know who we are and where we want to go, and so we wanted to use a white lotus to symbolize how confident and focused we are. It's a leap for us because we have a clearer vision of what we want."

Down to a more concentrated four-piece, EYES SET TO KILL slowly drowned out their screamo vibe and have transformed into a metal band led by Rodriguez's piercing vocal prowess. Tie that in with stellar musicianship, mature songwriting and an adrenaline-charged resonance, and it's clear this explosive quartet is on the verge of redefining the genre.

Those sentiments are further backed by singles like "The Secrets Between", a heavy single about withholding the truth from a significant other; "Forget", an intense ditty about the desire to erase your memory from a terrible experience with an ex-lover; and "Where I Wanna Be", a love song with a dark edge.