Ohio metallers SKELETONWITCH entered a Los Angeles studio today with producer Matt Hyde (SLAYER, MACHINE HEAD, KREATOR) to begin recording the follow up to 2009's "Breathing The Fire". Due this fall via Prosthetic Records, the as-yet-untitled effort will include the track "The Infernal Resurrection", the demo version of which appears as the B-side on the soon-to-be-released seven-inch single, which constitutes the final part of a limited-edition vinyl trilogy. This will mark SKELETONWITCH's first recording with the group's new drummer, former DEMIRICOUS skin-pounder Dustin Boltjes.

Commented SKELETONWITCH guitarist Scott Hedrick: "Waiting fucking sucks! So, after months of writing, it's great to finally be in the studio tracking the new album.

"It's not rocket science... it's epic, it's brutal, it's fucking SKELETONWITCH! We can't wait for everyone to hear it.

"We'd also like to officially welcome aboard our newest member Dustin Boltjes. He's a great fucking dude and an animal behind the kit. We couldn't have found a better fit."

New York hardcore veterans SKARHEAD will release their new album, "Dreams Don't Die", in July via I Scream Records. With this CD, SKARHEAD founder Lord Ezec is paying tribute to some of his favorite bands from the unforgettable era between 1986 and 1989.

A SKARHEAD release isn't a SKARHEAD release unless Lord Ezec is surrounded by an impressive list of guests and that's exactly what he did for "Dreams Don't Die".

"Dreams Don't Die" track listing:

01. The Hard Way (originally by OUTBURST) (feat. Scott Vogel)
02. Backtrack (originally by KILLING TIME) (feat. Mad Joe)
03. As One (originally by WARZONE)
04. Trueblue (originally by UNDERDOG) (feat. Jimmy Williams & Stress The Whiteboy)
05. Pete's Sake (originally by SICK OF IT ALL) (feat. Bundy Blunts)
06. Malfunction (originally by CRO-MAGS) (feat. Eddie Sutton)
07. Sit Home And Rot (originally by MURPHY'S LAW) (feat. Stress The Whiteboy)
08. United Forces (originally by S.O.D.) (feat. Adlib)
09. Stand For (originally by LEEWAY) (feat. Eye-Ra-Haze)
10. Cup O Joe (originally by SHEER TERROR)
11. Break Down The Walls (originally by YOUTH OF TODAY) (feat. Ivan Murillo)
12. Soulcraft (originally BY BAD BRAINS) (feat. Eddie Sutton)
13. With Time (originally by AGNOSTIC FRONT)
14. When You Were Mine (originally by CYNDI LAUPER) (feat. Paul Bearer)

Nach der Tracklist für das im Herbst erscheinende neue OPETH-Album wurde soeben nun auch das Cover-Artwork veröffentlicht. Designer des Covers ist ein langjähriger Freund der Band, Travis Smith, der auch schon mit vielen anderen Genregrößen wie KATATONIA, ANATHEMA, DEVIN TOWNSEND, NEVERMORE, SOILWORK, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD und AVENGED SEVENFOLD zusammengearbeitet hat.

Trackliste zu "Heritage":

01. Heritage
02. The Devil's Orchard
03. I Feel The Dark
04. Slither
05. Nepenthe
06. Haxprocess
07. Famine
08. The Lines In My Hand
09. Folklore
10. Marrow Of The Earth

"Pandemic", the new video from reformed heavy metal legends ACCEPT, can be viewed below. The song comes off the band's latest album, "Blood Of The Nations", which was released in North America on September 14, 2010 via Nuclear Blast Records. Recorded at Backstage Studio in Derbyshire, England with acclaimed British producer and SABBAT guitarist Andy Sneap (MEGADETH, EXODUS, ARCH ENEMY, MASTERPLAN), the CD marks the debut of the band's latest addition, vocalist Mark Tornillo (ex-TT QUICK).

Sven Soderlund, guitarist and vocalist for the legendary '80s thrash band MERCENARY, has joined the San Francisco-based traditional hard rock/heavy metal act MIDNIGHT CHASER as the group's second guitarist.

Commented Soderlund: "I have put the recording of MERCENARY S.F.'s debut release on the backburner for now as a few people have been doing other projects as of late.

"Playing in [MIDNIGHT CHASER] has brought back a lot of cool memories of when I listened to NWOBHM style metal when I was 14! I think that playing in a traditional style metal band has made me appreciate how simplicity in riffs can really be challenging because you're not always keen to it. Playing so fast all the time, you're losing some of the feel to a large degree."

Heavy Artillery Records has announced the signing of San Francisco traditional hard rock and heavy metal purveyors MIDNIGHT CHASER. The band's debut album is tentatively due in February 2011.

Forged in the blast furnaces of Pittsburgh and tempered in the waters of the San Francisco Bay comes a new force in the art of badass; enter MIDNIGHT CHASER! Influenced by the gods of '70s and '80s hard rock and heavy metal, MIDNIGHT CHASER was originally conceived of by guitarist Stephen Lauck and bassist "Texas" Josh Hunt while both still living in Pittsburgh, the Rust Belt of Pennsylvania. However it wasn't until both rockers found themselves relocated to the fog-cloaked Bay Area of California that MIDNIGHT CHASER began to take shape.

First recruiting the steam hammer drumming skills of Brandon Thomas, the pair immediately knew that they had found the missing piece of their rhythm section that they had been searching for. All that was lacking now was a voice that could suitably realize their ambitions. Unsatisfied with the pool of vocal talent in their new surroundings they imported fellow Pittsburgh native Scott Atwood in order to complete the original lineup of MIDNIGHT CHASER.

German rock and rollers 9MM have inked a deal with Napalm Records. The band's new album, "Dem Teufel Ein Gebet Sein", will be released on September 23.

Commented the group: "We are very happy and proud to let our fans know that our new album will be released by one of the best and most successful labels in the world. From now on, we are in the illustrious company of MONSTER MAGNET, GRAVE DIGGER, SALTATIO MORTIS and many more. We look forward to a long and successful cooperation and want to celebrate this announcement with a thunderous salute!"

NoiseArt Records and Rock The Nation have announced the signing of German thrashers HELLISH CROSSFIRE.

Commented the band: "HELLISH CROSSFIRE has finally decided join forces with Austrian label Noiseart Records and booking company Rock The Nation. At the moment the band is working on new songs for an upcoming third album in the rehearsal dungeon. HELLISH CROSSFIRE is looking forward to this new chapter in the band's history!"

According to Undercover, ROSE TATTOO's manager Greg Clarke died in Sydney from a suspected heart attack. He had only just turned 50 in April.

Greg has been tour manager and front-of-house engineer for ROSE TATTOO since January 2006.

ROSE TATTOO guitarist Mick Cocks died in December 2009 from a short battle with liver cancer.

Another ROSE TATTOO guitarist, Pete Wells, passed away in March 2006 after a long battle with prostate cancer.

The readers of Sweden Rock Magazine, the country's biggest-selling music magazine, have voted for the 50 greatest albums released in the past 10 years for the publication's 10-year-anniversary issue. The results show that Sweden is truly IRON MAIDEN country. Not only was "A Matter Of Life And Death" named the greatest album of the last decade, "Dance Of Death" came in at No. 2 and last year's "The Final Frontier" landed at No. 5.

"Wow, that's amazing," says IRON MAIDEN bassist Steve Harris. "There have been polls before where we've had albums in top 20 or top 10, but never before top one and two. Three albums in the top five is outrageous."

The June issue of Sweden Rock Magazine is on sale on June 14. In addition to an exclusive interview with Harris, former DISSECTION guitarist Set Teitan breaks his silence about his time in DISSECTION and on the band's swan song "Reinkaos", which was named ninth greatest album of the past 10 years.

Top 10 albums 2001-2011 as voted by the readers of Sweden Rock Magazine:

01. IRON MAIDEN - "A Matter Of Life And Death"
02. IRON MAIDEN - "Dance Of Death"
03. GHOST - "Opus Eponymous"
04. METALLICA - "Death Magnetic"
05. IRON MAIDEN - "The Final Frontier"
06. AC/DC - "Black Ice"
07. WATAIN - "Lawless Darkness"
08. KISS - "Sonic Boom"
09. DISSECTION - "Reinkaos"
10. AVANTASIA - "The Metal Opera"

Guitarist/vocalist Joe Duplantier of French extreme/progressive metallers GOJIRA recently spoke to U.K.'s Metal Hammer magazine about the band's forthcoming four-song EP, the proceeds from which will benefit Sea Shepherd, an anti-whaling organization.

The new issue of Metal Hammer, which hits the shelves today, comes packaged with a "Razor" CD that contains the new GOJIRA track "Of Blood And Salt" featuring guest appearances by Canadian musician/producer Devin Townsend (STRAPPING YOUNG LAD) and Fredrik Thordendal (MESHUGGAH).

According to Duplantier, the new GOJIRA EP will feature guest appearances by the following musicians:

* Devin Townsend (STRAPPING YOUNG LAD)
* Fredrik Thordendal (MESHUGGAH)
* Randy Blythe (LAMB OF GOD)
* Anders Fridén (IN FLAMES)
* Max Cavalera (SOULFLY, CAVALERA CONSPIRACY, SEPULTURA)

"I decided to ask a few singers from other metal bands if they would help us," Duplantier explained. "They all said yes! So Randy Blythe from LAMB OF GOD is involved. He sings on one song. Max Cavalera is involved, too, and Anders from IN FLAMES. Devin Townsend is also singing on the EP. It's taking a long time to organize but it's gonna be worth it."

The GOJIRA EP is tentatively scheduled for release in September, with a new full new album to follow later.

Guitarist Emanuele Ninu has left Italian melodic metallers BROKEN MELODY for "personal" and "health" reasons and has been replaced by Cristian Sotgiu.

Emanuele took part in BROKEN MELODY's U.K. tour in 2009 and appeared on the group's debut album, "Mirroring Identities". In addition, he was involved in the songwriting process for the band's upcoming sophomore CD.

In other news, BROKEN MELODY has announced the addition of pianist and composer Giulio Fanelli to the group's ranks.

A photo of the band's new lineup can be seen below.

Commented BROKEN MELODY: "It will be a totally new and exciting path. We are motivated by this change and confident about what will happen in the future."

According to the Henley Standard, former DEEP PURPLE keyboardist Jon Lord will compose a piece of music for the Henley Festival Youth Orchestra.

Lord, a patron of the festival where the 70-piece orchestra will perform his work on Saturday, July 9, he visited the Trinity Primary School in Henley over the weekend to see some of the young musicians rehearsing.

He said: "I was asked to write a little piece for the young performers and I thought that seemed like a great idea."

He added, "I very much liked what I saw [during rehearsal]. To play together in an orchestra well takes many years of practice and these guys are just the first few steps along that road. Some are a little further ahead than others but they will all get there and it's great to see.

"It's the collaborative side of things that is so important. Everyone is playing their part and it's only when they all work together that the best music is made. That's what it's all about, really."

Gary Graff of Billboard.com recently conducted an interview with legendary heavy metal singer Ozzy Osbourne. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Billboard.com: How do you feel about the "Blizzard..." and "Diary..." reissues and the box set?

Ozzy Osbourne: They've done a good job, haven't they? To be perfectly honest, my wife (manager Sharon Osbourne) is in the driver's seat with this one. I had approval with what was used. What really surprised me is the quality's so fucking good. I thought we wouldn't have stuff left, and there's a lot. I think it's a fair package. We've done the best we can with it. There's only a limited amount of stuff you can put over that they haven't already got, but we tried to make it as interesting as possible.

Billboard.com: No Ozzfest, but you'll be doing some live shows this summer, yes?

Ozzy Osbourne: I know that I'll do some gigs in Europe and around England for the rest of the tour. I put all my irons in the fire, and whatever turns out the best I go for. I have the great thing of choice now; if I don't want to do something, I don't have to. Maybe I'll do a reunion with BLACK SABBATH; I'm here if they want to call me.

Billboard.com: Could that really happy? Geezer (Butler) has said no way.

Ozzy Osbourne: Well, you know, it's rumbling about. I'm sure eventually somebody will pop the question in a serious manner. I'm having such a good time in my band now, I don't want to go back and have an unhappy time. I'd love to do another great BLACK SABBATH album to say, "Here we are. We can still do what we started out to do." But the longer it goes on, the more pressure it is, 'cause I don't want people to go, "We waited so many years for this and this is all you have to offer?" The pressure's on if you're gonna do that. You really have to be dedicated to what you do. If it's meant to happen, it'll happen; if it's not meant to happen, it won't."

Billboard.com: How do you feel about the new documentary about you that your son, Jack, co-produced?

Ozzy Osbourne: I think he did a very good job. It's very...honest. (chuckles) When Jack said he was gonna do it, I said, "All I want you to do is don't make a film to make me happy. Make a film as you." I didn't say, "I don't like that, take that out." Whatever he felt he wanted to do in, I didn't have anything to do with it whatsoever. I let him decide what to do with it, and it got received exceptionally well.

SLAYER bassist/vocalist Tom Araya tells Billboard.com that the band will not return to the studio until ailing guitarist Jeff Hanneman has fully recovered from necrotizing fasciitis, a flesh-eating bacteria syndrome that was likely contracted from a spider bite.

"There's no way we'd go into a studio without him," Araya says. "As a band we're not going to do something without him. He's an integral part of the band. We require his musical skills, his writing skills. He's an integral part of the band. So we're going to hold off until he's at 100 percent and can join that process and be part of it."

Hanneman stepped onstage with SLAYER at the April 23 "Big Four" concert in Indio, California, marking the first time he has played with the band since last October. Hanneman surprised the crowd of 50,000 when he walked out onto the stage, unannounced, and played the two-song encore, "South Of Heaven" and "Angel Of Death".

"It was a big deal for him to play — for us it was, too," Araya tells Billboard.com. "We thought that would be a nice surprise for everybody and also make everybody aware that he's still there. It's pretty severe what he's going through. He's had skin grafts, and he's got to rehabilitate his arm and get it back in shape again. It's going to require a lot of time."

The cover artwork for "Tactical", the long-awaited debut album from WORLD UNDER BLOOD — the melodic death metal side project featuring CKY guitarist/vocalist Deron Miller alongside Tim Yeung (MORBID ANGEL, DIVINE HERESY, VITAL REMAINS, HATE ETERNAL) on drums, Risha Eryavec (DECREPIT BIRTH) on bass, and Luke Jaeger on guitar — can be seen below. The artwork was brought to life by the twisted mind of Pär Olofsson (IMMORTAL, THE FACELESS, ABYSMAL DAWN).

"The Legacy", the new video from Los Angeles theatrical dark rockers BLACK VEIL BRIDES, can be viewed below. The song comes off the band's sophomore album, "Set The World On Fire", which will be released on June 14 via Lava Music/Universal Republic Records.

"Everything is bigger — more songs, more vocals, more melodies," proclaims frontman and founder Andy Biersack. "And it all came naturally; it's not an attempt to try to outdo our first record, but we wanted to show how we had naturally grown as a band and as songwriters. This is my favorite record I've ever made — and most importantly, the best album anybody's ever made,".

Brooklyn, New York trio TOMBS will release its new album, "Path Of Totality", on June 7 via Relapse Records. The follow-up to "Winter Hours" was recorded at Elmwood Recording studios in Dallas, Texas with engineer John Congleton (BARONESS, EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY, BLACK MOUNTAIN, ST. VINCENT). It will be made available on CD, 2xLP, and digitally and features artwork from Thomas Hooper of Hoopers Electric.

"Path Of Totality" is now available for streaming in its entirety at NPR.org.

TOMBS recently released a 14-songs collection of early material, tracks from split releases, and previously unreleased demos. Titled "Fear Is The Weapon", the collection is strictly limited to a one-time pressing of 1,000 copies and is available exclusively through Relapse mailorder.

TOMBS' last album, "Winter Hours", was released in February 2009 via Relapse Records. The CD was recorded at the Etching Tin Studios in Richmond, Virginia with engineer Ian Whalen.

TANGERINE DREAM: ZEIT (2CD - New 2011 Remaster - Stock # T1415827) Normally 2CD £15.99 - Ltd Offer 2CD £13.99
Esoteric Recordings have announced the release of a Newly Remastered Edition of the classic album 'Zeit' by Tangerine Dream. Released in August 1972 on the OHR label in Germany, 'Zeit' was recorded at the Dierks Studio near Cologne and also featured a guest appearance by Florian Fricke of Popol Vuh. One of the group s finest early albums, 'Zeit' was enthusiastically championed in the UK by the late John Peel, and was a major breakthrough for Tangerine Dream.
This Newly Remastered Edition includes a Previously Unreleased Bonus CD of Tangerine Dream's legendary Klangwaldt performance recorded in Cologne in November 1972, and also fully restores the entire unedited double LP version to Compact Disc and includes a Lavishly Illustrated Deluxe Booklet with New Essay.
Track List - Disc 1 [Zeit - The Original Album]:
01. Birth Of Liquid Plejades
02. Nebulous Dawn
03. Origin Of Supernatural Probabilities
04. Zeit
Track List - Disc 2 [The Klangwaldt Performance - Cologne November 1972)
01. Klangwaldt - Part One
02. Klangwaldt - Part Two

We have to inform you that there are also plans to issue 'Zeit' as a Limited Edition Collectors Boxed Set that will contain the 2CD set (as above), a Double LP pressed Blue Vinyl of the same in a Gate-Fold Sleeve with copy of Original Insert, plus a 7" x 7" Book and Various Postcards Cards etc.
This should happen around June 2011, but the price will be at least £50 + Shipping.
If you are interested, then please let us know a.s.a.p.
These boxed sets will be limited to just 1000 copies worldwide.

TANGERINE DREAM: POLAND (2CD - 2011 Remaster / Complete Un-Edited Performance - Stock # T1415828) Normally 2CD £15.99 - Ltd Offer 2CD £13.99
Esoteric Recordings have announced the release of a Newly Remastered Edition of 'Poland-The Warsaw Concert' by Tangerine Dream. On the 10th December 1983, Edgar Froese, Chris Franke and Johannes Schmoelling performed a legendary concert in the Ice Stadium in Warsaw - a unique event, given the political situation in Poland at the time. The resulting 'live' album was issued as a double LP set on the Jive Electro label the following year to great acclaim. Of all the subsequent CD releases of the album, only two early editions, released in the USA & Germany, featured the full un-edited version of the original double LP. This Newly Remastered Edition fully restores the Entire Unedited Double LP Version to Compact Disc and includes a Lavishly Illustrated Deluxe Booklet with New Essay.

Track List :
Disc One
Poland (22.34)
Tangent (15.51)
Rare Bird (4.01)

Disc Two
Barbakane (18.02)
Horizon (21.10)

MEGADETH has 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." According to Mustaine, Day 29 in the studio was spent working on the arrangements of the 12th and final song that will appear on the CD, with overdubs slated to begin next week.

Finland's progressive death/doom maestros BARREN EARTH have entered Helsinki's Sonic Pump Studios to record the follow-up to last year's highly acclaimed debut album, "Curse Of The Red River". The band has written 12 new songs, and is currently laying them down with engineer/co-producer Jukka Varmo. Dan Swanö (KATATONIA, OPETH) will once again be at the mixing helm. The tracks mainly continue in the vein of the previous record, having perhaps even more '70s prog influences, but maintaining the basic heaviness and brutality one has come to associate with BARREN EARTH.

The album is due for release in autumn 2011 on Peaceville Records, and the artwork will be made by Paul Romano (MASTODON). Studio reports will be updated at BARREN EARTH's Facebook page.

BARREN EARTH recently completed a successful U.S. tour with fellow Finns FINNTROLL and ENSIFERUM, and received the accolades of "Newcomer Of The Year' at the Finnish Metal Awards and "Best Debut Album" at the Metal Storm Awards 2010 for "Curse Of The Red River".

"Juggernaut Of Justice", the new album from Canadian heavy metal legends ANVIL, will be released in Europe on June 20 (three days earlier in Germany) via SPV/Steamhammer. The effort will be made available as a limited-edition digipak (including two bonus tracks), double gatefold LP in blue vinyl, standard version and a digital download.

Limited-edition digipak including two bonus tracks:

01. Juggernaut Of Justice (3:40)
02. When All Hell Breaks Loose (3:11)
03. New Orleans Voodoo (4:25)
04. On Fire (3:23)
05. Fukeneh! (4:08)
06. Turn It Up (2:57)
07. The Ride (3:12)
08. Not Afraid (3:44)
09. Conspiracy (3:20)
10. Running (2:54)
11. Paranomal (7:04)
12. Swing Thing (3:00)
13. The Station (bonus track)
14. Tonight Is Coming (bonus track)

Jewel case version:

01. Juggernaut Of Justice (3:40)
02. When All Hell Breaks Loose (3:11)
03. New Orleans Voodoo (4:25)
04. On Fire (3:23)
05. Fukeneh! (4:08)
06. Turn It Up (2:57)
07. The Ride (3:12)
08. Not Afraid (3:44)
09. Conspiracy (3:20)
10. Running (2:54)
11. Paranomal (7:04)
12. Swing Thing (3:00)

Double gatefold LP, colored blue vinyl:

LP 1

Side 1

01. Juggernaut Of Justice (3:40)
02. When All Hell Breaks Loose (3:11)
03. New Orleans Voodoo (4:25)

Side 2

01. On Fire (3:23)
02. Fukeneh! (4:08)
03. Turn It Up (2:57)

LP 2

Side 1

01. The Ride (3:12)
02. Not Afraid (3:44)
03. Conspiracy (3:20)

Side 2

01. Running (2:54)
02. Paranomal (7:04)
03. Swing Thing (3:00)