MEGADETH has tapped Johnny K (full name: John Karkazis; DISTURBED, SEVENDUST, MACHINE HEAD, STAIND) to produce the band's new album, tentatively due this fall via Roadrunner Records. The drum tracking for the CD began earlier this month, with the entire recording process expected to be completed by the time the group hits the road this summer as part of the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival with DISTURBED and GODSMACK.

In a brand new online posting, MEGADETH drummer Shawn Drover writes, "As of last night, I have completed five drum tracks, with song #6 and #7 in line to be done today and I am really happy with the way things are going thus far. Johnny K has been a blast to work with as he shares the same vision as we do, which is to make a solid, heavy record. We are definitely on the right path here...

"We have one song completely done and submitted for a video game. Without going into the details of it, anybody who knows me and what I like musically, this tune put a big smile on my face. In time, you will all hear what I am talking about, but for now, it's back to work at Vic's Garage [MEGADETH's studio in San Marcos, California]."

Speaking to U.K.'s Terrorizer magazine, MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine stated about the band's upcoming album, "This is our 13th studio record, and we've already had a bunch of weird things happen. Car problems, stuff disappearing, a guy who worked for me that was the most white-laced guy you could imagine falling out on drugs and disappearing...but this one's got me excited!"

Relapse Records has announced the signing of Swedish technical death metallers SPAWN OF POSSESSION. The band is currently writing material for its new album for a fall release.

SPAWN OF POSSESSION (Jonas Bryssling: guitar, Dennis Röndum: vocals, Erlend Casperson: bass, Henrik Schönström: drums, Christian Münzner: guitar) formed in 1997 and has previously released two full-length albums. The band's latest CD, "Noctambulant", received international critical acclaim for its blend of musical chops and unfettered extremity.

Commented SPAWN OF POSSESSION guitarist Jonas Bryssling: "We are very excited to have become part of the Relapse family and their amazing roster.

"The new album will contain nine tracks plus an instrumental intro which we'll be recording throughout the summer starting in June.

"Once again we'll be teaming up with producer Mankan Sedenberg at Pama Studios in Sweden.

"Right now we're prepping the recording and straightening out the last details of the material.

"More good news is on the way so keep your eyes open for a brand new SPAWN OF POSSESSION website which will be launched soon.

"As usual we like to keep what is coming under wraps, but rest assured this record will be quite a slab of imaginative brutality for you guys to sink your teeth into."

SPAWN OF POSSESSION's sophomore album, "Noctambulant", was released in 2006 via Neurotic Records. The CD was recorded at Pama Studios in Kristianopel, Sweden with producer Magnus Sedenberg.

"By The Hammer Of Zeus (And The Wrecking Ball Of Thor)", the new video from U.S. metallers VIRGIN STEELE, can be viewed below. The song comes off the band's latest album, "The Black Light Bacchanalia", which was released last November via SPV/Steamhammer. The effort was made available as a limited-edition digipak, standard CD, limited-edition LP box set and as a digital download. Each version had its own unique artwork.

Paul Rodgers was honored for outstanding contribution to British music at the most prestigious British music awards, Ivor Novello Awards, yesterday in London, England.

The award was presented by Chris Blackwell, founder of Island Records and the first label to sign Paul with his band FREE.

Other past recipients include, Paul McCartney, Erick Clapton, David Bowie and Elton John.

Given each year, The Ivors, presented by the British Academy of Composers & Songwriters in association with The Performing Rights Society (PRS), are given to celebrate British songwriting and acknowledge the music of the previous twelve months. It is the only British awards ceremony which specifically honors the songwriter.

Former Metal Blade recording artists HERETIC have reformed and are rehearsing and writing material for a new studio album, to be released in 2012. The band's current lineup features original members Julian Mendez on vocals, Brian Korban on guitar and Dennis O'Hara on bass, along with new additions Glenn Rogers (ex-HIRAX) on guitar and Federico Dupay on drums.

A couple of new rehearsal photos can be viewed below.

According to The BNR Metal Pages, "HERETIC was a rather typical power/thrash metal band of the Eighties, managing one EP and one album before calling it a day. At least part of the reason for the band breakup was vocalist Mike Howe's departure to METAL CHURCH — ironically, the man he replaced there, David Wayne, recruited two HERETIC members for his then-new band, REVEREND."

Massachusetts rockers STAIND have parted ways with drummer Jon Wysocki. The remaining members of the band said in a statement, "We wish [Jon] the best, and thank him for all the years he dedicated to STAIND." The group adds, "Drummer Will Hunt [EVANESCENCE, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, TOMMY LEE] will join us on our upcoming dates. We look forward to seeing [the fans] at Rock On The Range, the Miller Lite Carb Day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and Rocklahoma."

STAIND recently regrouped after a year-long break in to begin writing the follow-up to 2008's "The Illusion Of Progress". Singer Aaron Lewis described the CD to AOL's Noisecreep as "the heaviest thing we have recorded in a long time. It's definitely one of the heaviest collection of songs that we have put together."

When asked if the band was going back to the band vibe it had before its 1999 major-label debut "Dysfunction", Lewis said, "Well, we're going back to before these songs that I've brought to the table over the years blurred that line as to who and what STAIND was. It's back to the 'Dysfunction' days, but it's not a carbon copy. It's new material with a heavy sound. . . It allows STAIND to go back to being the heavy band that we always were without any confusion."

The group is recording the follow-up to 2008's "The Illusion Of Progress" in a converted barn on Lewis' property in rural Massachusetts. Johnny K, who produced "Illusion", is back at the helm.

"On the last record, what we did was we took my barn and Johnny K brought all his transportable equipment in a big trailer and set it up in the [barn]," Lewis explained. "And at the end of the record we all felt that sonically — as far as the raw tones went — it sounded better than any studio we recorded at yet. So when Johnny was gonna come in again we said, 'Hey listen, instead of bringing all of your stuff like you did last time, we'll give you our corporate credit card and why don't you attain all of the stuff that you brought last time, or as close [to it] as possible, and bring it with you and set it all up. And when you leave, leave it.' So we now have a vintage Neve recording studio right here on my property in the Berkshires in Massachusetts."

The new disc will be STAIND's final release under its contract with Atlantic Records, and Lewis told The Pulse Of Radio that the quartet plans to explore other options in the future. "There are different ways of doing it that are much more favorable to the artist if the artist has a core fan base that are gonna want to continue to get their music regardless of whether it comes out of a music store on a CD or not," he said.

"A God Among The Waste", a brand new song 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 — is available for streaming at this location. The track comes off the band's long-awaited debut album, "Tactical", which is scheduled for release on July 26 in North America and July 29 in Europe via Nuclear Blast Records.

Swedish extreme metallers SHINING will release a CD single which will only be available in their home country. The single will contain two tracks — "Förtvivlan, Min Arvedel", taken from the band's new album, "VII / Född Förlorare"; and a previously unreleased cover of the ALICE COOPER song "Prince Of Darkness". This will be the first time that SHINING has released a single, and founder and front man Niklas Kvarforth is hopeful that the new video, which was filmed recently and is currently being edited, will be included along with the two tracks. "We are trying to get the video included, but the people behind the single are a little nervous, and probably quite rightly so given its subject matter and content. We are looking into the possibility of maybe including a censored version. We'll see how that pans out, but whatever happens, the uncensored version will definitely appear very soon, so SHINING fans who have been waiting for it, will not be disappointed”.

Following the Swedish release, the band will consider the possibility of releasing a different version of the single elsewhere.

Dutch female-fronted gothic rock outfit NEMESEA has set "The Quiet Resistance" as the title of its third album, due this summer via Napalm Records. The CD was produced and mixed by Joost van den Broek, who has previously played with AFTER FOREVER, AYREON, SUN CAGED and VANDENBERG.

Commented the band: "We can tell you that Joost is almost done with the mix, so in a few weeks the promotion of the new album will start. We're really looking forward to share our music with all of you, but we have to be patient a little while longer!"

Joe Bosso of MusicRadar.com recently conducted an interview with DREAM THEATER guitarist John Petrucci and keyboardist Jordan Rudess about the departure of the band's founding drummer Mike Portnoy and addition of Mike Mangini. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

MusicRadar.com: You've all been free to explore outside projects, but how did you initially feel about Mike's [Portnoy] plan to play with AVENGED SEVENFOLD? Did you think it might be too much time away from DREAM THEATER?

Rudess: "Mmmm. There were a lot of feelings in the band about Mike's plan. We had a lot of discussions about that. Various people had differing feelings, too. My first thought was, Wow, that seems like a great opportunity. He'll go out and play with AVENGED SEVENFOLD, and that'll result in a lot of their fans coming back and checking out DREAM THEATER. So, at first, I didn't have a problem with it. [to Petrucci] You had a problem with it, though…"

Petrucci: "Yeah, I did. I remember he told me he was going to play on their album, which was OK by me. I thought, Oh, that's cool. But then he told me he was going to go on tour with them, and I remember telling him, 'I don't think that's such a good idea, Mike.' We had some pretty intense conversations about it. But you know, I can't control what Mike does or what anybody wants to do. Going on the AVENGED tour was his decision, but I made it very clear how I felt about it. Doing projects, that's fine. We all do outside things. But playing in somebody else's band, and to that degree… that's different. I thought it was treading dangerous waters, for sure."

MusicRadar.com: He went off with AVENGED, but in December, when it became clear that he wasn't staying in that band, he came to you guys and asked if he could rejoin.

Rudess: "Yeah, that was a very challenging time. It was several months later, and what basically happened was…[pauses] You know, just to give you an idea of how deep this was to lose him, how difficult it was…after we got off the phone with him, when he told us what was going to happen, that he was leaving…I literally sat on the steps of my studio and cried. This is a guy who's a friend of mine, who we all love and admire. We didn't want to see it come crashing down. The whole thing brought me to tears. But we all realized that we had to find a way to keep going. This is our business. We enjoy it, we love it — how do we keep doing this? So we went into motion. Through us putting our heads together, we decided, OK, we've got to find another drummer. And that resulted in us finding these seven amazing drummers to check out. And that, too, was also very emotional: How do you bring a new guy into a situation where you've been with somebody else for so long? It was a very heavy thing."

Petrucci: "It was sort of like when somebody dies. After you're done crying, the planning kicks in: 'OK, we've gotta do this, we have to arrange the funeral and put everything in order.' Even though we were in shock and were filled with a lot of emotions, we knew we had to carry on."

MusicRadar.com: But still, Mike asked to rejoin…

Rudess: "Yes, well, OK, so we put everything together. We got the drummers in, which everybody knows, and we filmed the audition process and put a lot of care into the documentary. So after that whole process, we found somebody who we thought was great — Mike Mangini. 'Oh my God, this guy is fantastic! This can work. We can do it.'"

Petrucci: "And something I should point out — Mike Mangini's life changed dramatically. He was a professor at Berklee, and he had to give notice that he was leaving. He's got a wife and two kids — the whole thing. So he came down and we started making a record. Everybody was supportive at the label. Things were feeling good. We had our feet on the ground again. And then Mike asked if he could get back in..." [He shakes his head]

MusicRadar.com: It was too late.

Rudess: "Yeah. You know, Mike Mangini resigned from Berklee. You can't just tell him… We were in motion with him. We were invested in Mike Mangini and our future. Everything was going full steam. So Mike Portnoy came to us and asked to rejoin: 'Hey, guys I've reconsidered, I've made a…a mistake.' It was like, 'Oh my God, you can't do this to us. You can't pull the rug out from under us like this.' It was…[sighs] it was hard. Here we went through this whole drama, and we finally found this new guy who we were happy with. At a certain point, you just throw up your hands and go, 'This can't be happening!'" [laughs]

Bassy Stacy of Bay Area Rocks conducted an interview with bassist Paulo Xisto Pinto Jr. of Brazilian/American thrashers SEPULTURA when the band played at the Regency Ballroom in San Francisco, California on May 11, 2011. You can now watch the chat below.

SEPULTURA will release its new album, "Kairos" (an ancient Greek word signifying a time in between, a moment of undetermined period of time in which something special happens) on June 24 in Europe and July 12 in North America via Nuclear Blast Records. The artwork for the CD was created by Erich Sayers, a Los Angeles-based freelance digital artist and photographer whom SEPULTURA first met at the band's recent concert at the House Of Blues in West Hollywood, California.

SEPULTURA's new CD was recorded at Trama Studios in São Paulo, Brazil with producer Roy Z. (JUDAS PRIEST, HALFORD, BRUCE DICKINSON, HELLOWEEN). 13 tracks were laid down during the sessions, including cover versions of MINISTRY's "Just One Fix" and THE PRODIGY's "Firestarter".

"Kairos" track listing:

01. Spectrum
02. Kairos
03. Relentless
(2011)
04. Just One Fix (MINISTRY cover)
05. Dialog
06. Mask
(1433)
07. Seethe
08. Born Strong
09.Embrace The Storm
(5772)
10. No One Will Stand
11. Structure Violence (Azzes)
(4648)

"Kairos" deluxe edition track listing:

01. Spectrum
02. Kairos
03. Relentless
(2011)
04. Just One Fix (MINISTRY cover)
05. Dialog
06. Mask
(1433)
07. Seethe
08. Born Strong
09. Embrace The Storm
(5772)
10. No One Will Stand
11. Structure Violence (AZZES)
(4648)

Bonus tracks:

12. Firestarter (THE PRODIGY cover)
13. Point Of No Return

* Plus bonus making-of DVD

In a recent interview with BLABBERMOUTH.NET, Kisser was asked how the band came up with the "Kairos" title. "The whole theme of the album is the concept of the time, and the title reflects that — it's like one concept of time which is not chronological, from one to two; it's like a an instant in time, it's a special time of change," he replied, before adding, "Everyone's life is written by [their] choices — you have many 'kairos' moments, like if you go [from] point A [to point] B [to point] C, you are driven by your choices or your guidance; you have to go either one way or the other. And that's the kind of time we talked about — not about aging or getting old or going back [in time]; it's just [about those important] moments that can change everything. . .We thought about [that in regards to] SEPULTURA itself — 26 years of history and the moment where we are now; why we're here; why we're doing this album and why we have what we have; the changes we have inside and outside the band. It's a collection of 'kairos' [moments] that [got us] here. It's being inspired by our own biography, but mostly [focusing] on what SEPULTURA is today."

"Kairos" song (audio stream):

"Drop The Match", the new Shan Dan-directed video from Los Angeles metallers WINDS OF PLAGUE, can be viewed below. The song comes off the band's third full-length album, "Against The World", which sold 8,700 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 60 on The Billboard 200 chart. Released on April 19 via Century Media Records, the CD features guest appearances from members of HATEBREED, TERROR, FOR TODAY, STRAY FROM THE PATH and former world heavyweight wrestling champion and sports entertainment legend Ultimate Warrior (who performs an epic spoken-word track entitled "The Warrior Code"). It is described in a press release as "the heaviest-hitting record of the band's already heralded career."

Paul Anthony of U.K.'s Rock Radio conducted an interview with vocalist James LaBrie of progressive metal giants DREAM THEATER this past Wednesday night (May 18). Click on the audio player below to hear James talk about the departure of Mike Portnoy, the search for new drummer Mike Mangini and how much the band is looking forward to coming back to the U.K. for the High Voltage festival in July.

When asked about the status of the recording sessions for the follow-up to 2009's "Black Clouds & Silver Linings" album, LaBrie said, "Right now, I'm talking to you, and then, literally, within about a half an hour after we're done talking, I'm going into the studio and I start doing vocals for the new DREAM THEATER. So I'm about six songs into the album. I'm recording up in Canada, and as I'm recording my vocals, Jordan [Rudess] is currently recording his keyboards, piano and putting on all his amazing sounds from his various software that he has, and he's doing that down in New York. The drums, the guitar and the bass are all done, so it's just a matter of Jordan and I finishing our parts, and the mix is to commence… I think May 30 or the 31st we're supposed to start mixing the album. But it's all going incredible and it's all moving ahead. We're looking at an early September release — somewhere around the 7th or the 10th, somewhere around there is the release indication at this point."

San Francisco Bay Area metal veterans TESTAMENT are currently writing material for the follow-up to 2008's "The Formation Of Damnation" for a tentative late 2011/early 2012 release. The new CD will be recorded this summer with British producer Andy Sneap, who has previously worked with MEGADETH, ARCH ENEMY, NEVERMORE, EXODUS and MACHINE HEAD, among others.

In a brand new posting on his Twitter profile, TESTAMENT guitarist Alex Skolnick writes, "Another tune done! My riffs from last week [plus] some of [fellow TESTAMENT guitarist Eric Peterson's plus] new ones we wrote today. Planning one more, then we've got more than we need."

According to The Pulse Of Radio, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH is zooming through the recording of its third album, with nine of the planned 14 songs already completed. The band is working on the set in Las Vegas, which three of its four current members call home, and guitarist Zoltan Bathory told The Pulse Of Radio living and working in Sin City can be distracting. "Writing a record is not like a nine-to-five job," he said. "It's a 24/7 job, you know. Once you're done with the studio, you have to go home and we still, you know, keep writing. So that's how it gets distracting because, you know, you kind of — you worked already whole day, you want to relax, but in the second you want to relax for a second, Las Vegas will get you. You know, there's always something going on and you have to force yourself to not be distracted."

CONSFEARACY (formerly PROPHESY), the American/German metal band featuring lead vocalist Brian O'Connor (ex-VICIOUS RUMORS), guitarist Fabian Schwarz (THE NEW BLACK), bassist Günter Auschrat (THE NEW BLACK, ABANDONED), guitarist Ira Black (ex-VICIOUS RUMORS, LIZZY BORDEN, METAL CHURCH) and drummer Timo Weis, will release its self-titled debut album on July 4 (three days earlier in Germany) via Massacre Records. The group produced, recorded and mixed the CD, then mastered it with Achim Köhler in Germany.

"Consfearacy" track listing:

01. Pain Infantry (4:49)
02. Ritual Sacrifice (4:19)
03. Fall From Grace (4:33)
04. World Domination (4:49)
05. Live Again (3:22)
06. Dying To Kill (4:38)
07. Forever Falling (3:48)
08. Unbreakable (4:25)
09. Flesh & Bone (5:00)
10. Your Dead To Me (3:26)

The song "Pain Infantry" is available for streaming at this location.

After three years' turmoil, Jyväskylä, Finland's RANDOM EYES returns stronger than ever and armed with its third album, "Light Up", and a rejuvenated lineup, featuring drum prodigy Rolf Pilve (SOLUTION.45, STATUS MINOR, BEYOND THE DREAM, CODE FOR SILENCE) and two new guitarists. Run by Christian Palin, the Uruguayan/Finnish vocalist who fronted French power metal unit ADAGIO, RANDOM EYES presents its own brand of melodic metal in which modern metal soundscapes, created by NIGHTWISH producer Tero Kinnunen, meet melodic hooklines, simultaneously contemporary and bowing to the '80s.

Light-hearted and uplifting, yet thought-provoking, RANDOM EYES is unique as a Finnish melodic metal act because of its international and multi-cultural influences. The group draws influences from the musical cultures of countries ranging from Uruguay to Egypt to Sweden to Finland.

Due on May 25, "Light Up" is full of music and vibes that will move your body and envigorate the soul. RANDOM EYES prove that even though a band plays metal, you can still be sleek and sexy, enjoy life and even shake your booty!

Yet, to truly understand RANDOM EYES, we must look to the town of Carrasco in Uruguay, where group frontman Christian's father immigrated as a missionary back in the day. Christian's father married a local girl from Uruguay, and she bore two boys, Christian and Selim. Christian's father enrolled both of his sons in piano classes early on.

Christian proved to be a multi-faceted musician, playing the piano, guitar and drums in the churches of South America. The conservative-minded locals were befuddled by the pastor, whose son had long hair. Christian went on to tell the locals about his vision, to perform at big music festivals which no one had ever heard of before.

Christian moved from Uruguay to Finland when he was 20 years of age. He immediately entered the Finnish Army, where he had to lose his long hair and learn the Finnish language. As Christian sang away in the army barrack showers, his musical skills were noticed by others. A fellow by the name of Timo Kuusijärvi, also serving his term with the Finnish Army at the time, asked Christian to come aboard his band as vocalist. A few years later, the fruits of their combined labors became known as the debut album of RANDOM EYES in 2002.

Over the years, Christian has sung in France's ADAGIO, finished in the final stage of Finnish "X Factor", voluntarily bowing out of the show, and fathered RANDOM EYES like his own child, both musically and as a performer. The band's lineup today is professional in every sense, a passionate group of good looking musicians who know their craft.

"Light Up" is currently being streamed at Imperiumi.net until May 25.

"Light Up" track listing:

01. Light Up The Dark
02. Decadence
03. Hold Me
04. Tell Me
05. Blind Man
06. Megalomaniac
07. Stand Your Ground
08. Eclipse
09. Chaos Theory
10. Vendetta

RANDOM EYES is:

Christian Palin - Vocals
Sami Rönkkö - Guitar
Karim Elbanna - Guitar
Voitto Rintala - Bass & Vocals
Rolf Pilve - Drums

GUNS N' ROSES guitarist DJ Ashba told Nui Te Koha of Australia's long-running rock station Triple M that the band's frontman, Axl Rose, has three albums' worth of new material written, most of which will never see the light of day.

"Axl has a lot of great songs up his sleeve," Ashba said. "He probably has three albums worth of stuff recorded.

"The stuff I've heard… I've been up in his hotel room many nights and he just sits down at the piano and plays. I'm like, 'This is amazing. People have to hear this song.' And he's like, 'Ah, this is something I'm tinkering on.'

"He's just a genius when it comes down to music and I just cannot wait to sit down with an acoustic guitar and just write. He's just got this gift that's very, very rare."

In addition to Ashba and sole original member Axl Rose (vocals), the current lineup of GUNS N' ROSES includes guitarists Ron Thal and Richard Fortus, bassist Tommy Stinson, keyboardists Dizzy Reed and Chris Pitman and drummer Frank Ferrer.

Ashba joined GUNS N' ROSES in March 2009 following the departure of Robin Finck.

As previously reported, "Chinese Democracy", the 2008 album released by the current edition of GUNS N' ROSES after a 15-year wait, can now be purchased at BestBuy.com for $1.99.

Best Buy was the exclusive U.S. retailer for "Chinese Democracy", reportedly paying $14 million for 1.6 million copies. But the album was a major sales disappointment, moving less than 620,000 copies despite the curiosity and hype surrounding its release.