Shawn Fernandes of GibsonGuitar.in recently conducted an interview with METALLICA guitarist Kirk Hammett. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

GibsonGuitar.in: Can Indian fans expect any new material at the [upcoming] shows [in October]?

Kirk Hammett: Well, as far as new material is concerned we're just now starting to think about writing new material. I guess if anything is going to be finished between now and the end of October, who knows? We may play a new song, we may not, but because India's kind of a special place and it's the first time we're playing there, we might even break out a song that we haven't played for a while.

GibsonGuitar.in: Which band, in your opinion, is the best band of the "Big Four?"

Kirk Hammett: Err… well, us [laughs]. But, of course, I'd say us. The better question is who's my second favorite?

GibsonGuitar.in: Fair enough. So who's your second favorite band?

Kirk Hammett: I have to say SLAYER. What can I say, they're evil, they're heavy and they don't really compromise. SLAYER just rules. I also have to say though; Scott Ian [from ANTHRAX] is one of my best friends. I've known him for as long as I've been in the band and we hang out a lot socially. We do things together, our families get together, so I have to say I really just like hanging out with Scott 'cause he's one of my bros.

GibsonGuitar.in: With all the touring, has the band been able to get cracking on a new album?

Kirk Hammett: We haven't really started yet; we're thinking about it, though. [laughs] There's just a bunch of other things that we're doing right now. We keep telling ourselves that we're going to get 'round to start writing songs but, you know, something comes up. Normally it's a show or us having to travel to India to play or something or the other, and then the album gets put on the backburner for a bit. But I think personally, the new album will just happen when it happens.

GibsonGuitar.in: You learnt under a legend, the great Joe Satriani. How did that happen and what was it like?

Kirk Hammett: Well, by that time I had my Flying V and one day I said to a friend of mine, "Your guitar playing's really good. What's up? How come you're playing so good?" He said, "Oh, I found this new teacher in Berkeley, his name is Joe. You should check him out." So I went to this music store called Secondhand Guitars in Berkeley and I walk in and in the back I can hear someone playing guitar, crazy guitar, like no other guitar playing I'd ever heard. I went back there and there was Joe sitting on a chair and he says, "Hi, are you my new student?" I said "Yeah," and so we sat down and Joe just started playing. Even back then he sounded like he does now. I mean, all the components of his guitar style were in place back then. I was just so totally blown away by his technique and his style. The first thing he said to me is: "OK, if you're going to take lessons from me I expect you to learn your lessons. If you come in next week without learning the lessons, you're just going to be wasting our time and there's no real lesson for you to be taking lessons." So he kinda basically told me to have my act together when I came in the next week. So I had the lesson, learnt everything over the week and came back the next week. It just totally grew from there. I could tell that Joe really liked playing with me because we would always play longer than the allotted time. I mean usually he'd spend about a half an hour with his other students but for some odd reason he'd spend more time with me. I found out later that it was just because he liked playing guitar with me. Later on in interviews, Joe said that when he first started teaching me he could see something in my playing style and my approach that was just radically different from most people's approach at the time. A lot of it had to do with the fact that I was way into heavy metal at a time when heavy metal wasn't even popular. It probably also had something to do with the fact that I was listening to guitar players like Ulrich Roth and Michael Schenker. I mean, there weren't a whole lot of people in the United States back then who even knew who those guitar players were. So I was coming from a pretty unique sort of perspective. I learnt a lot of things from Joe, a lot of things about technique especially. I also learnt that feel is better than anything and everything. So I've always strived be a player with a lot of feeling rather than a player with a lot of technique. I was always aware of the fact that you can say just as much with five notes as you can with five thousand notes. Learning that was very, very important to me.

GibsonGuitar.in: METALLICA's been around 28 years now. We've seen many metal bands come and go, the genre itself has been through its ups and downs. What's that special sauce that's kept METALLICA at the very top for the last 30 years?

Kirk Hammett: I honestly don't know. All I can tell you is that I think our music stands the test of time. The music still sounds modern and still sounds relevant 30 years in. People are hearing it and they still hear it fresh. All I can say is that it's just incredible that it's actually happened to us.

GibsonGuitar.in: We have to ask you about this new book about horror movie memorabilia that you're working on called "Too Much Horror Business".

Kirk Hammett: It's a book on vintage horror movie posters and vintage monster toys. I've been collecting this stuff for, like, forever. I bought my first monster movie magazine when I was five years old and I've been into this stuff forever. I just decided one day that because I have this huge collection of posters and monster toys, that I was going to share it with the world. Basically that's what I'm doing right now, I'm just sharing it with the world. It's really fun. It's a lot of work and I'm still working on it right now but it's a lot of fun and I can't wait to release it.

German death metallers HACKNEYED have issued the following statement about their upcoming Lifeforce Records debut, Carnival Cadavre, which is set to be released on August 22nd in Europe (August 19th in Germany) and on August 30th in North America:

“It’s hard to believe. After two years in-between rehearsal room, shows, being on tour and pre-production we finally managed to get our third album ready to launch. It’s named “Carnival Cadavre” and will be tested in human experiment at the Summer Breeze Festival in Dinkelsbühl on August 19th for the first time. Once again we produced our album with Corni Bartels at the Weltraum Studios and Björn Goosses (Killustrations) again purified our disc with a stunning artwork. We added another fine portion of groove and brutality for you and showed once again what Hackneyed is made of. With our new label Lifeforce Records we found the matching partner and we’re really looking forward to our future cooperation. We’re curious where our journey with the Carnival Cadavre will lead us within the next weeks and months. And perhaps soon it’s also close to you they say: The Circus’ Back in town!!!”

Ladies and Gentleman, we proudly present the cover of our new album Carnival Cadavre (above). As with our last album we’ve drawn on the proven work of Björn Goosses from Killustrations. And we weren’t disappointed!!! An artwork 'having hand and foot (German saying for 'holding water')' in the true sense of the word!!! The truth behind the Carnival Cadavre is only revealed after a second glance at the bright fairground and circus atmosphere with Ferris wheel and circus tents. And neither on the cover nor in the songs a lack of blood, guts or Hackneyed’s very own black humor can be observed.”

SYMFONIA — the new melodic metal project featuring Timo Tolkki (STRATOVARIUS, REVOLUTION RENAISSANCE) on guitar, André Matos (ANGRA, SHAAMAN, VIPER) on vocals, Jari Kainulainen (STRATOVARIUS, EVERGREY) on bass, Mikko Härkin (SONATA ARCTICA, KOTIPELTO) on keyboards, and Uli Kusch (MASTERPLAN, HELLOWEEN) on drums — has issued the following update:

"We would like to thank all of you who have supported us and our 'In Paradisum' in the last months. We have received a very good response both in sales and in reviews for the album.

"We are sorry for the lack of news but we have had a good reason for the silence.
We have been waiting for our friend Uli to get better with his hand [after suffering from nerve damage]. We knew we took a risk in waiting, but we considered it best for the band. This is why there has not been any shows so far apart from Helsinki Metal Meeting in February.

"A few weeks ago, we received more news from Uli's doctors and they were very bad. They said that it is not likely that he could play drums this year at all. After talking with Uli and in mutual understanding, we agreed to continue SYMFONIA without him. It is a painful decision for all of us, but after Uli told us it is best for us to go on without him and not to wait anymore due to uncertain future with his hand, we decided to do this. And the truth is, we simply cannot wait any longer.

"We will do some shows with Alex Landenburg [AT VANCE, ANNIHILATOR, MEKONG DELTA, STRATOVARIUS] as a substitute drummer and then go straight to the studio to record a follow-up to 'In Paradisum' for March 2012 release. We already have a good idea how the album will be and we apologize to all those who have been waiting to see us live. Unfortunately, due to the impossible circumstances, it has not been possible, but we will correct this with the next album next year.

"We don't feel that it is the right move now to book more shows than these. We feel it is time for a new SYMFONIA album and then book the shows. We have a lot of time to do this now that the situation is clear with Uli.

"The shows are as follows [below]. Additional shows are still possible for Argentina, Chile, Colombia and some other Latin American countries. The agents are booking them at this very moment."

Jul. 06 - Helsinki, FIN @ Tavastia
Jul. 08 - FRA @ Sonisphere
Jul. 30 - Brasilia, BRA @ Porao do Rock
Jul. 31 - São Paulo, BRA @ Citibank Hall
Aug. 02 - Porto Alegre, BRA @ Bar Opiniao
Aug. 05 - Teresina, BRA @ [to be announced]
Aug. 06 - Sao Luis, BRA @ [to be announced]
Aug. 07 - Rio de Janeiro, BRA @ Fundição Progresso

"In Paradisum", the debut album from SYMFONIA, was released in April in Europe via Edel Germany GmbH and in North America through Armoury Records.

DIE APOKALYPTISCHEN REITER rocked on their fourth russian tour again. 500 kg baggage, over 20 boxes, suitcases and bulky luggage, spread over 10 musicians and crew members, was completely moved in the "Russian style" by buses, trains and planes. Neither meticulous border and customs controls or the inevitable "Russian ten minutes" could stop the Germans to transform the concert halls into a vibrating, sweaty temple. The enthusiasm of the Russians for the sound of the REITER rose with the new album "Moral & Wahnsinn" again, next to the REITER-strongholds of St. Petersburg and Moscow, the band ventured for the first time a jump in the 4 time zones away city of Yekaterinburg. "If the security had not been, had the crazy fans at the signing session are stripped us to the skin and permanently preserved in vodka" commented the band, which were completely surprised of the massive onslaught in the Asian part of Russia. "This was a very bright touching experience. The emotions were on both sides, the joy, warmth and melancholy of the Russians was simply overwhelming. The band spontaneously decided to stay another day in Yekaterinburg, learned the real Russia and made plans for an upcoming Russian tour, which will then carry out the whole of Siberia."

Niklas Kvarforth, founder and frontman of Swedish extreme metallers SHINING, has issued the following statement regarding the recent announcement by KING DIAMOND guitarist Andy La Rocque that he will be working with the band on the recording of its eighth album at his Sonic Train Studios in Varberg, Sweden.

"The pre-production stage of the new album should more or less be finished in August, and we have booked the studios for the whole of January and February 2012 to complete work on it. It's an album I'm particularly looking forward to recording because it will give me the chance to work with Andy La Rocque. I am a huge KING DIAMOND fan, and working with Andy was an opportunity I wasn't going to pass up. He will be attending some of our rehearsals and it will be interesting to see what his input will be to the almost finished album and to SHINING's particular sound. Whilst we're there, we also plan to record some covers for future release. As to the direction 'VIII' will take, well, for the time being let's just say that it will be blacker and more sinister than our previous releases."

ANAL CUNT's publicist, Kim Kelly of Catharsis PR, has confirmed via Twitter that the band's frontman, Seth Putnam, died earlier today (Saturday, June 11) of a suspected heart attack. He was 43 years old.

Commented Kelly: "Yes, it's true. Seth Putnam, one of the most infamous musicians that extreme metal has ever seen, the grindcore GG Allin, has passed away due to a heart attack.

"I handled all the promotion for ANAL CUNT's last album, 'Fuckin' A', and Seth was always happy to oblige any request I sent his way. The band had been working on a new album before his passing, so chances are his musical career's epitaph has yet to be inscribed.

"I want to remind everyone that no matter how outrageous and controversial his musical career has been, Seth was still a human being with friends and family that loved him. I'm hoping that the Internet will remember that. This is a very sad and trying time for those that knew him, and the last thing they need to see is an outpouring of message board hate. The man lived and died by his own rules; if anything, respect him for that."

Putnam was known for his brutal screaming and lyrics that either shock, offend, or invoke morbid humor. Throughout his career, Putnam was involved in many side projects, including providing backing vocals on PANTERA's "The Great Southern Trendkill" album.

Putnam was born on May 15, 1968, in or around Boston, Massachusetts to father Edward R. Putnam and mother Barbara Ann Donohue. Both he and his parents are divorced.

In the mid-1980s, Putnam played bass in the thrash metal band EXECUTIONER.

On October 12, 2004, Putnam was hospitalized after ingesting two months' worth of Ambien sleeping pills. It was reported that he spent the previous day contemplating suicide, although exact circumstances surrounding the drug overdose are vague.

Putnam's reaction to the irony of his having been in a coma after previously writing the song "You're In A Coma" was published in the Boston Phoenix. "Actually, it turned out it was just as gay as the song I wrote nine years ago — being in a coma was just as fuckin' stupid as I wrote it was," he was quoted as saying.

British heavy metal legends JUDAS PRIEST headlined the final day of the Sauna Open Air festival, which was held June 9-11, 2011 in Tampere, Finland. This marked the third show of the band's "Epitaph" world tour, which is also serving as the live debut of the group's latest addition, 31-year-old guitarist Richie Faulkner (LAUREN HARRIS, DIRTY DEEDS), who replaced Kenneth "K.K." Downing in April.

According to Sauna Open Air organizers, this year's event set a new attendance record of 26,000. The opening day of the festival, which featured OZZY OSBOURNE in the headlining slot, drew a total of 8,500 metalheads, while the final day was attended by 11,000 music fans.

JUDAS PRIEST's setlist was as follows:

01. Rapid Fire
02. Metal Gods
03. Heading Out the Highway
04. Judas Rising
05. Starbreaker
06. Victim of Changes
07. Never Satisfied
08. Diamonds And Rust (JOAN BAEZ cover)
09. Prophecy
10. Night Crawler
11. Turbo Lover
12. Beyond the Realms of Death
13. The Sentinel
14. Blood Red Skies
15. The Green Manalishi (With The Two-Pronged Crown) (FLEETWOOD MAC cover)
16. Breaking the Law
17. Painkiller

Encore 1:

18. The Hellion (taped intro) / Electric Eye
19. Hell Bent For Leather

Encore 2:

20. You've Got Another Thing Coming

Encore 3:

21. Living After Midnight

"Worship Music", the long-awaited new studio album from ANTHRAX, one of the four original architects of speed and thrash-metal, has been confirmed for a September 13 release date on Megaforce Records (one day earlier internationally via Nuclear Blast Records), it is announced today. Appropriately, "Worship Music" will street the day before the band's triumphant return to their native New York to play at Yankee Stadium as part of the "Big Four" concert extravaganza.

Not only is "Worship Music" ANTHRAX's first studio release in eight years, but the album marks the return of vocalist Joey Belladonna, whose last studio work with the band was 1990's "Persistence of Time". Belladonna is now firmly back in the ANTHRAX lineup with drummer Charlie Benante, guitarists Scott Ian and Rob Caggiano, and bassist Frank Bello.

"Getting Joey back in as our full-time, permanent singer solidified us as a unit like we hadn't been in years," said Ian. "All of us were on the same page creatively, working together, writing together, and becoming a band again."

"I get goosebumps listening to the new music," Benante admitted. "Scott and Rob's guitars are absolutely on fire, Frankie kicks butt on bass, and hearing Joey sing, well, the band sounds like ANTHRAX — Joey's back and it's great."

Added Ian, "This record is filled with not just four years of our lives, but with our lifetime in the band. It encompasses it all, and when I listen to the record, I can hear all the energy and love and hate and pain and laughter that went into this."

The 11-track "Worship Music" was produced by ANTHRAX, Rob Caggiano and Jay Ruston and recorded over a four-year period at studios in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. Belladonna's return to the band prompted some of the songs originally recorded to be re-crafted with fresh lyrics or tweaked to better suit his overall vibe and energy. Some of the songs were completely replaced with brand-new songs and, of course, all have Belladonna's inimitable vocal stamp on them.

"We had the unusual luxury of hindsight with this album," Ian explained. "We were able to live with the songs we originally recorded, look back on them and see what we really loved about them and what we could make better."

"I'm very happy with the record, it sounds like ANTHRAX," said Belladonna. "There are some interesting twists and turns on it, and plenty of tunes for fans to get their fingers on. I felt very comfortable working with Jay Ruston, and I think everyone brought to the table what they needed to. Now it's time for the fans to listen and get what they've been waiting for. I'll tell you, I'm really excited."

"Worship Music" is loaded with stand-out tracks. While "Judas Priest" is a nod to the huge influence that band has had on the members of ANTHRAX and metal heads everywhere. "I'm Alive" is beautiful and grand with a build that demands audience participation. "Crawl" is dark and moody, and filled with a lot of the emotion and stress the band was feeling when it was written. "Fight 'em 'til You Can't" is a song about killing zombies, and who doesn't love a good zombie song? It's the one new track that ANTHRAX has played live since they started touring with Belladonna a year ago, and has been getting tremendous audience response. The song "Earth on Hell" is classic ANTHRAX thrash. "The Devil You Know" is best-described as "an AC/DC groove filtered through an ANTHRAX lens," while "In The End" is epic-sounding and ANTHRAX's way of remembering the late Ronnie James Dio and Darrell "Dimebag" Abbott.

"'In The End' does have a melancholy feel," confessed Benante,"and when we play it live, Ronnie and Dimebag will be right there with us on stage."

And just where did the title "Worship Music" come from? "One night, many years ago, I fell asleep with the TV on," explained Benante. "About four or five in the morning, I woke up, picked up the remote and pulled up the digital program guide. There was a show on called 'Worship Music', and I thought 'what a great title for an album.' Most heavy metal fans worship their favorite bands, metal heads are so loyal to metal, going to a concert is like going to a house of worship. 'Worship Music' said it all."

When ANTHRAX first started "Worship Music", they had no idea if the music would ever see the light of day, but they carried on because making music is what they do, it's in their blood. According to Ian, "It took everything in us as people to make this record and it shows. We went back to square one and did it for the same reason we did it back then, because we worshipped music and we still do. Music is something worth worshipping."

ANTHRAX will support "Worship Music" with a massive world tour. Dates will be announced shortly.

RockAAA conducted an interview with Duff McKagan (GUNS N' ROSES, VELVET REVOLVER, DUFF MCKAGAN'S LOADED) at this year's edition of the Download festival, which is being held June 10-12, 2011 at Donington Park in Leicestershire, United Kingdom. You can now watch the chat below.

During the chat, McKagan revealed that he hoped to join forces with his former GUNS N' ROSES bandmate Izzy Stradlin for a tour later this year. He said: "It would be, it will be, really fun to go to South America and the U.K. with LOADED and Izzy to do a tour together. He and I have talked about it and it'd be great. At the end we'd do some songs together like 'Dust N' Bones' and 'Pretty Tied Up' or whatever. It would be really cool."
"The Taking", the new album from DUFF MCKAGAN'S LOADED, sold 2,300 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position 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. The group's previous album, "Sick", opened with around 1,400 units back in April 2009 to debut at No. 43 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart.

Released on April 19 via Eagle Rock Entertainment, "The Taking" was recorded at a Seattle-area studio with veteran rock producer Terry Date (SOUNDGARDEN, PANTERA, DEFTONES). Two tracks from "The Taking", were previously made available digitally. Anthemic rocker "We Win" was played during the World Series and riled up football fans for McKagan's hometown Seattle Seahawks. "Fight On" draws inspiration from our military veterans, and proceeds from these downloads go exclusively to the Puget Sound Healthcare System.

MEGADETH recently resumed recording its new album at mainman Dave Mustaine's Vic's Garage studio in San Marcos, California after the sessions were briefly "halted" when producer Johnny K (full name: John Karkazis; DISTURBED, SEVENDUST, MACHINE HEAD, STAIND) was "suddenly struck ill."

In a new video update (see below), MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson takes us through some of the Jackson bass guitars he's been using in the studio.

Mustaine was asked in a recent interview with Pure Grain Audio how the new MEGADETH is sonically different to that of its predecessor, 2009's
"Endgame". "[It's] different, a hundred percent different, unlike anything we've ever done before because the guitar sounds are different; it sounds really super-modern," he said.

"If I was going to say it sounds like a particular band, I would say it sounds like really old classic [BLACK] SABBATH and with a little bit of a modern edge of QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE kind of thing. But then again, with the twists and turns of music that MEGADETH has been famous for over the years, you never know how it'll turn out.

"When we started this record, I had the eleven new songs that I was going to do that's on my contract and then the twelfth song that's due to the Japanese audience, and that was it. And then Johnny said, 'Yeah, but the record company said they'd like you to get to fifteen songs.' And I said, 'That's great, but my contract says twelve, so that's what we're doing.' So we got all the way done with the twelfth song and we started arranging the twelfth song and halfway through it I just started writing this other thing and we're calling it 'song 13' right now. It just came out of nowhere. It's probably the most melodic, most-geared-for-success song out of the whole record based on what makes a song successful and stuff like that, because, you know, it's got really open picking and some acoustic parts and, you know, melodic things and stuff like that. There's some heaviness on it, too."

Swedish melodic death metallers LOCH VOSTOK have inked a three-album deal with ViciSolum Productions. The band's fourth album, "Dystopium", will be released on September 23.

"Dystopium" track listing:

01. A Mission Undivine
02. Repeat Offender
03. World Trade Dissenter
04. Sacred Structure
05. Navigator
06. In The Wake Of Humanity
07. Viral Strain
08. Disconnection
09. Taste The Flame
10. Absence
11. Dystopium

Swedish epic power metallers SABATON will release their first-ever live album, "World War Live: Battle Of The Baltic Sea" on August 5 via Nuclear Blast Records.

Commented bassist Pär Sundström: "Over the years so many people have told us we should make a live album and finally we fell to the demands of all of you, our fans.

"'The World War Tour' was amazing and we wanted to record it and keep the shows alive forever. So, during the magic night aboard the SABATON Cruise 2010 we recorded the whole show and now we stand ready to release it as the first-ever official SABATON live CD. And as if it was not enough, we also recorded many shows all around Europe and put together a whole CD with mixed songs from various cities. And finally we decided to release the recording we did at the first Rockstad:Falun festival 2008 from Falun as a bonus for you who buy the limited edition. In total it will be over 20 different songs and we have also collected a lot of pictures from the tour and put them in a massive booklet. We will reveal all details very soon."

EYES SET TO KILL is going through a rebirth. After completing its deal with the band's old record company, the Phoenix quartet will independently release its fourth studio album, "White Lotus", on August 9 through a joint venture between its management, Maphia Entertainment, and the group's newly-launched label, Forsee.

"White Lotus" marks a new beginning for EYES SET TO KILL and a step away from the band's trademark screamo resonance as the effort possesses more of a metal flavor and more clean singing than was the case in the past.

Regarding the new CD's title, vocalist/guitarist Alexia Rodriguez states, "It's a metaphor for our whole take on our future with a rebirth of our whole band and just having a clear mindset. Everything is a lot heavier. Even the songs that have all singing and not much screaming are still heavy. We're making this what we feel like we ought to be."

Dave Aguilera, EYES SET TO KILL manager and owner of Maphia Entertainment, believes "White Lotus" will see the band blossoming and reaching new commercial heights.

"Their music has really evolved over the last few years from a female-fronted young post-hardcore band to a real radio-metal contender," he states. "The sky is the limit with their new sound. I think the masses are finally about to hear about them."

The first single from "White Lotus" is "The Secrets Between", which will be available for free download on June 16 as a special thank you to the fans who have supported the band in the past. "It's one of the heaviest songs on the album and for the song, we kept the whole singing-and-screaming thing," Rodriguez states. "There's still an even amount, but I think it's a good representation of where we are trying to go and what we wanna sound like."

After releasing its first three studio albums through BreakSilence/Suburban Noize Records, EYES SET TO KILL decided to "escape the fire-breathing world of label politics" and instead launched its own independent label, Maphia/Foresee Records, to release the new CD. They already have the tools in place to make it a success.

"Being on our own and even recording on our own, it's so refreshing," Rodriguez says. "We just went to Europe on our own, we got all these past tours on our own and most of the recent tours we opened, we got on our own without the help of a label. Figuring out we can do everything by ourselves with just the help of our manager and agent made it opens our eyes. I feel like everyone should do this."

As an original founding member of both OTEP and BLEED THE DREAM, Aguilera co-produced nine records and sold over 400,000 units. In 2002, he transitioned into a behind-the-scenes role as he discovered and co-managed platinum-selling act YELLOWCARD. In 2009, he was named the Vice President of A&R for BreakSilence and then in late 2010, he left to form Maphia Management, which currently manages over ten international bands, including EYES SET TO KILL.

With Aguilera lending his expertise and guiding them, EYES SET TO KILL has a strong friend and partner in their corner.

"I put out my own records for years as well worked at labels for years and worked at numerous management companies as a manager," Aguilera says. "Unlike most managers, I started out as an artist myself and can relate to other artists. One thing I will never do is forget why I got into this game in the first place, and that's to protect my bands and not take advantage of them. I think in the future, smart management companies are going to start working with their artists more closely outside of just management."

Arizona grind-masters LANDMINE MARATHON are recording the follow-up to 2010's "Sovereign Descent". Once again, the band's as-yet-untitled fourth CD is being tracked at guitarist Ryan Butler's Arcane Digital Recording Studios, where he's recorded past efforts from the band, as well as those by MISERY INDEX, PHOBIA, THE FUNERAL PYRE and many more.

LANDMINE MARATHON is about to enter the mixing stage and is aiming for a late fall release. Summer tour dates will be announced in the coming days.

Commented Butler: "The new album contains our most raw and vicious material to date. We definitely found a great groove in writing and recording this record, everything feels very fluid. This is in great part due to our new drummer Andy York, who brings a powerful and tight dynamic to the band. I am really excited for the world to hear this new album."

"Abduction", a brand new song from Taylor, Michigan's I AM ABOMINATION, is available for streaming on the band's Facebook page. The track comes off the group's brand new digital EP, "Passion Of The Heist", which is due on July 19. The EP is being released by Good Fight Music, the same label that released I AM ABOMINATION's first critically acclaimed full-length album, "To Our Forefathers".

"'Abduction' is the first song I wrote for 'Passion Of The Heist'," states guitarist Nick Sampson. "The result was beyond my expectation. It's one of the more laid-back songs on the EP technicality wise, but what it lacks in technicality, it makes up for in diversity and great structure."

Described by the band as a concept album, "Passion Of The Heist" was produced, written, engineered, mixed and mastered by guitarist Nick Sampson at his studio in New Boston, Michigan. All lyrics on the EP were written by Brandon Good.

The band plans on releasing new information about the concept of the EP with the release of the new single.

"Passion Of The Heist" includes a guest appearance by ATTACK ATTACK's Caleb Shomo on the track "Ascension".

"We've had such an amazing time putting hard work into this album, and we can't wait for people to hear it," states vocalist Phil Druyor. Sampson adds, "This is the first time we've ever sat down to write an album with no outside opinion, and it turned out awesome."

STRAIGHT LINE STITCH's cover version of SEPULTURA's "Attitude" can be streamed in the SoundCloud player below. The track, which was laid down during the recording sessions for the band's sophomore album, "The Fight Of Our Lives", features a guest appearance by Richie Cavalera, the stepson of SOULFLY/CAVALERA CONSPIRACY mainman Max Cavalera and frontman of the Phoenix, Arizona-based metal band INCITE.

Swedish extreme metallers SHINING are in talks with Andy La Rocque (pictured below) about recording their eighth album at the KING DIAMOND guitarist's Sonic Train studios in Varberg, Sweden in January-February 2012.

Commented La Rocque: "I'm currently listening to their last album to see what we can develop on the next album. I think it's important to preserve the style of the band but drag out 110 percent of all the bandmembers, and I will be present at some of their rehearsals and pre-production."

LIMP BIZKIT will release its new album, "Gold Cobra", on June 28. The band's long-awaited fifth studio CD was recorded with the band's original lineup of Fred Durst, Wes Borland, Sam Rivers, John Otto, and DJ Lethal and was produced by Durst.

Commented Durst, "We've come full circle to absolutely own who we are as a band, an undisputed five-piece rap rock powerhouse who crushes every stage we play."

"Gold Cobra" will come in several configurations. The standard release will feature 13 new songs while the deluxe edition (available digitally only) will feature 16 new songs. Additionally, fans can purchase a physical CD that has 17 original songs exclusively at Best Buy, and that same release of 16 songs will be available digitally at Napster.com.

LIMP BIZKIT has sold more than 35 million albums, filled concert arenas around the globe, and has received countless awards and accolades. Formed in 1995, LIMP BIZKIT achieved massive success with its studio album "Significant Other", which debuted at #1 on the Billboard charts and went on to sell over 16 million copies worldwide. In 2000, the band's third studio album, "Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water", continued the band's success by selling approximately 1.5 million copies in its first week, making it the fastest-selling rock album of all time. The band has been nominated for three Grammy Awards, and was voted Favorite Alternative group at the American Music Awards. They have also won numerous MTV Video Music Awards, MTV Europe Music Awards, and Billboard Music Awards.

LIMP BIZKIT is known for its strong connection to the fans and has more than 2 million followers on Twitter, Facebook and other social media platforms.

"Gold Cobra" album configurations and track listings:

Standard

01. Introbra
02. Bring It Back
03. Gold Cobra
04. Shark Attack
05. Get A Life
06. Shotgun
07. Douche Bag
08. Walking Away
09. Loser
10. Autotunage
11. 90.2.10
12. Why Try
13. Killer In You

Deluxe

01. Introbra
02. Bring It Back
03. Gold Cobra
04. Shark Attack
05. Get A Life
06. Shotgun
07. Douche Bag
08. Walking Away
09. Loser
10. Autotunage
11. 90.2.10
12. Why Try
13. Killer In You
14. Back Porch
15. My Own Cobain
16. Angels

Best Buy Deluxe

01. Introbra
02. Bring It Back
03. Gold Cobra
04. Shark Attack
05. Get A Life
06. Shotgun
07. Douche Bag
08. Walking Away
09. Loser
10. Autotunage
11. 90.2.10
12. Why Try
13. Killer In You
14. Back Porch
15. My Own Cobain
16. Angels
17. Middle Finger (feat Paul Wall)

Danish metallers NEW DISCOLOUR have inked a deal with Mighty Music. The band's debut album, "Short Of Ink", will be released in Europe on August 1.

According to a press release, NEW DISCOLOUR is "a progressive and hard-hitting band that uncompromisingly challenges and explores the metal genre's fundamental sound. The band was formed in 2008 and the year after they recorded their first EP, 'Silent Scream', in cooperation with Christian Bonde (INVISIUS, DAWN OF DEMISE, THE CLEANSING). The EP sparked widespread attention and publicity, [resulting in a nomination] for 'Best Metal Artist' at Underground Music Awards."

NEW DISCOLOUR is:

Artem Kushnirenko - Vocals
Lasse Mikkelsen - Drums
Jesper Rasmussen - Guitar
Søren Thomsen - Guitar
Mayu Tharumann - Bass