RAM, the traditional Gothenburg, Sweden-based heavy metal band featuring drummer Morgan Pettersson (ex-B-THONG), has completed work on its as-yet-untitled third album. The CD was recorded at Welfare Sounds Studios in the group's hometown and was mastered by Dragan Tanaskovic at Bohus Sound.

RAM is currently "in negotiations" with "a number of record companies" concerning the release of the new album.

Commented vocalist Oscar Carlquist: "Again we are pushing the envelope of the RAM sound.

"This album differs quite a bit from our 2009 release, 'Lightbringer'; the sound is rawer and has a strong nerve and honest live-like feel, but still it is extremely powerful. It was produced by me and Harry Granroth (guitars) and Per Stålberg and Olle Björk and recorded at Welfare Studios here in Gothenburg. Dragan Tanaskovic is also a huge part of this by contributing massive power in the mastering process. Song-wise, we are showing new sides of the band.

"The album is a 10-song sonic rollercoaster displaying an array of different styles, emotions tempos and aggressions, but all within the concept of traditional heavy metal, of course.

"In all honesty, I can't choose one single song that is representative of the sound of the album as a whole. We are really pleased with this album that feels like a really cool direction to take from 'Lightbringer' and we can't wait to blast these new song live!"

RAM's second album, "Lightbringer", was recently released on vinyl through High Roller Records The CD, which originally came out on June 19, 2009 via Germany's AFM Records, was produced by Johan Reivén and was mixed at Studio Bongo in the group's hometown. The follow-up to 2005's "Forced Entry" was mastered at Bohus Sound by Dragan Tanaskovic.

hode Island-based death/black metallers VITAL REMAINS have issued the following update:

"We are looking for a pro lead guitarist with good gear and good attitude. Must have valid passport, valid driver's license and clean criminal record!

"If you are chosen, you must relocate to Rhode Island. No exceptions!

"Must be able to tour anytime, anywhere, without question.

"No druggies, junkies, pot-heads, burnouts, drunks, posers, lazy, pussy-whipped motherfuckers need not apply! Also, no dead-beats with their hands out need apply as well!! Team players only.

"We are looking for a long-term dedicated musician who wants to work hard.

"Requirements for audition:

"Please make a video of yourself playing solos off the songs 'Icons of Evil' and 'Dechristianize'. Also include a bio, CD and a list of anything you might have done in the past.

"If we like what we see, you will be contacted and asked to come out for a live audition. You will be responsible for covering your own flights and living costs while you are here.

"Only if you are chosen for this gig will you then be reimbursed for flights. All others will have to cover their own flight home.

"Please send all interested parties and or videos to the following email: vitalremains2000@aol.com."

Carlsbad, New Mexico-based metallers KRYOBURN have officially called it quits. Guitarist Allen Scott said in a statement, "Thank [to all the fans] for your love and support over the years; you have no idea what that means to all five of us." He added, "Chris [Huber, drums] and myself are gonna start writing new material for a new project and who knows what will come?!"

"Broken Hero", the latest Marcos Morales-directed video from KRYOBURN, can be viewed below. The track comes off the group's sophomore album, "Three Years Eclipsed", which was produced by vocalist/guitarist Todd Brashear and KRYOBURN at the KryoLab in Carlsbad and was mixed and mastered by Tue Madsen (HALFORD, THE HAUNTED, MNEMIC, SICK OF IT ALL, AUGUST BURNS RED) at Antfarm Studio in Aarhus, Denmark. The artwork was created by Bill Reid and can be viewed below.

"Three Years Eclipsed" track listing:

01. Broken Hero
02. Burning The Doubt
03. Event Horizon
04. Slaughtered With Lies
05. Introspective
06. Season Of Suicide
07. Reinvention
08. Mortal Instinct
09. The Sickening

KRYOBURN in 2009 announced the addition of guitarist Allen Scott (BLESSED DISEASE) and keyboardist Sam Logan to the group's ranks. In addition, Les Huber moved from guitar to the bass to replace Hunter Correll, who left the band in August 2009 with keyboardist Kelly Bogues.

Regarding the band's collaboration with Tue Madsen, Brashear previously said, "When we heard Tue wanted to work with us, we were extremely excited. We feel his sound is going to fit perfect with the direction of our new material. He has done some amazing albums and we are all big fans of his work."

IWRESTLEDABEARONCE — the Shreveport, Louisiana quintet now transplanted to Los Angeles, California — recently completed work on its second album at the band's former house in Birmingham, Alabama. Guitarist Steven Bradley told Alternative Press about the 10-song effort, "In terms of [a] heavier style of music, we don't really know how to do anything other than ADD heavy music with random whatever parts thrown in. If people enjoyed the last full-length, they would, I assume, enjoy this one. It's the same style, but taken in each direction further — it's got the heaviest stuff we've ever done and also has the catchiest stuff we've ever done and then weird stuff. I never know how to describe our music.

"Not that we’re METALLICA, but we have our little style of music that we always seem to write," he continued. "I don't know; I feel like it might not be the best thing alive, but I definitely feel like we have our own style of putting things together, so I don't know that we'll ever stray too far from that, I suppose."

He added, "We know what we like — and whether we want to or not, [we] have a certain way that we seem to always do things. There’s] not a pre-decided structure or anything, but you can pretty much always count on having some heavy stuff, some softer, epic stuff and some random jazz or weird things thrown in. If people are down for that, then they should be down for this."

IWRESTLEDABEARONCE's new album is due this summer via Century Media Records.

"Fragile", a brand new song from the Dutch/Norwegian goth metal band IMPERIA — which is fronted by Norwegian singer Helena Iren Michaelsen (the original vocalist of the Holland-based band SAHARA DUST, which later changed its name to EPICA) — can be streamed at this location. The track comes off the group's new album, "Secret Passion", which is scheduled for release on March 25 via Massacre Records. The CD was recorded at Spacelab studio in Germany. The album's first single, "Let Down", features a guest appearance by cellist Tina Guo.

"Secret Passion" track listing:

01. Touch Of Your Hand
02. Secret Passion
03. Fragile
04. Out Of Sight
05. Let Down
06. Violence
07. Like Rain
08. Suicide
09. Hold On
10. Greed
11. Missing It All
12. My Sleeping Angel
13. Mistress (digipak bonus track)

Swedish death metal "supergroup" BLOODBATH will release of an all-new live DVD, "Bloodbath Over Bloodstock", on April 25 via Peaceville Records. The deluxe mediabook-packaged set will feature BLOODBATH's August 2010 performance from the Bloodstock festival — one of the U.K.'s leading metal events — consisting of songs from the critically acclaimed "The Fathomless Mastery" (2008) album, as well as other classics and fan favorites. The full package will also include a 16-page booklet and a wealth of extras, featuring bonus footage taken from Germany's Party.San Open Air festival in 2008 and extensive band member interviews.

BLOODBATH's "Breeding Death" (1999) album was re-released via Animate Records on January 8, 2010 as a high-quality gatefold 12-inch mini-LP with a black inner sleeve on 180-gram vinyl. The LP contains two bonus tracks and is limited to 999 copies (first 200 copies as collector's edition in golden wax). On side B there's an etched picture which is laser-manufactured and "simply looks killer," according to the band.

"The Fathomless Mastery", the most recent studio album from BLOODBATH, sold around 1,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The CD debuted at No. 45 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 Fathomless Mastery" was previously described by the band as representing "nothing but hateful brutality." Promising its "most crushing production yet," the group's lineup on "The Fathomless Mastery" is the same as that on BLOODBATH's "Unblessing the Purity" mini-CD, which came out in March 2008:

Mikael Åkerfeldt (OPETH) - Vocals
Martin "Axe" Axenrot (OPETH) - Drums
Anders "Blakkheim" Nyström (KATATONIA) - Guitar
Jonas Renkse (KATATONIA) - Bass
Per "Sodomizer" Eriksson (ex-21 LUCIFERS, GENOCRUSH FEROX) – Guitar

Austria-based melodic death/dark metallers LOST DREAMS have set "Blinded By Rage" as the title of their fifth album, tentatively due late spring. The CD will feature the following track listing:

01. Born In Dust
02. Deamons Call My Name
03. Lost Control
04. Black Rain
05. Loco Motive
06. Hide And Seek
07. Painted Man
08. Black Sheep
09. Secrets
10. The Moon Will Watch Me Die
11. Living In A Mass (re-recording of song from band's 2005 album)

The "Blinded By Rage" cover artwork can be viewed below.

FAITHSEDGE has inked a deal with Scarlet Records for the worldwide release of the band's debut album. Due on April 19, the self-titled effort was mastered by Tom Baker of Precision Mastering (JUDAS PRIEST, MÖTLEY CRÜE).

FAITHSEDGE was started in early 2009 by singer/songwriter Giancarlo Floridia in Huntington Beach, California,. The band's all-star lineup includes renowned producer/bassist Fabrizio Grossi (STEVE LUKATHER, STARBREAKER), former DOKKEN guitarist Alex De Rosso and drummer Tony Morra (REBECCA ST. JAMES, VAN ZANT). The resulting effort is a perfect mix of hard rock, heavy metal and progressive, with lots of vocals and hooks, shredding guitar solos, pounding bass and drums and plenty of melodically challenging songwriting.

"Faithsedge" was produced, recorded, and mixed by Fabrizio Grossi at Noize Factor Studio in Valencia, California.

According to the Michael Kiske Official Fanclub, UNISONIC — the new band featuring former HELLOWEEN vocalist Michael Kiske alongside Dennis Ward (bass) and Kosta Zafiriou (drums) of Germany's PINK CREAM 69 and Swiss guitarist Mandy Meyer (who has previously played with ASIA, GOTTHARD and KROKUS) — is continuing work on the material for its debut album, which is now scheduled for release late summer via an as-yet-undisclosed label. Kiske says, "We have many songs, but we are very critical and want to do more writing."

Longtime ICED EARTH vocalist Matt Barlow has announced his retirement from the band.

In his heartfelt statement, Barlow cites his commitment to his family and the need for ICED EARTH to tour more as the reasons for his retirement; however, he has committed to perform with ICED EARTH on all 2011 European festival dates, which will be his last with the band.

Matt Barlow's official statement is as follows:

"Brothers and sisters,

"Let me begin by saying how much of an honor it has been to share my time in ICED EARTH with Jon and the guys…and with all of you! Since my return to the band in 2007, it has truly been extraordinary. I have had the opportunity to travel the world and see old friends and meet new ones. Though we had originally thought that the ICED EARTH touring schedule would be very limited, we were able to play our fair share of concerts.

"During that time we were also able to have a live DVD produced [the forthcoming 'Festivals Of The Wicked']. However, due to the rapidly changing music industry, it has become increasingly clear to recording artists that the only way to keep a band viable and to truly reach its potential is through live performances. That means that a band must reach out to new regions of the globe and become pioneers for their own livelihood. Since 2007, Jon and I have always had the best intentions for the future of ICED EARTH, and we still do. However, given the band's projected touring schedule, ICED EARTH's future and mine must now take separate paths.

"On my departure from ICED EARTH in 2003, I made a commitment to my wife and to the idea that we would start, and raise, our family together. Two years later, my first child was born and two years after that, my second. My youngest son was born about a week before Jon asked me to return to ICED EARTH. It was a very exciting and emotional time for all of us, but we were all clear on our intentions. It is apparent to us now that regardless of our belief at that time, time can change an intended outcome. In this instance, I hope that change will not be regarded as a bad thing, but rather as a necessary part of evolution.

"Jon and the band must venture into new realms to continue to grow ICED EARTH. I commend him for his ideals and wish nothing but to share in his vision. I know that this is not the last time Jon and I will work together, but it will be my last endeavor with ICED EARTH. ICED EARTH is a name and force of its own. It has been very good to me and has allowed me to live a dream that others would give most anything for. I have been truly blessed to share this experience with everyone. I will continue to support Jon and ICED EARTH in every way. I will also continue to create and perform in my own capacity.

"These next months will prove to be a very emotional time for me. I am extremely happy to be able to share the experience with Jon, Brent, Freddie, Troy and the ICED EARTH family. I am proud to know them and honored that they consider me their friend. It is going to be phenomenal to share the love of this music during several summer festivals and I know that it will be a time we will never forget.

"Please consider all that I have brought forth and all of Jon's offerings before passing judgment on the future of ICED EARTH. This band has always strived to give its listeners the very best and I know that Jon, as always, will continue to lead that charge.

"To ICED EARTH and all of you…I wish you the very best!!!"

Band founder and leader Jon Schaffer reacted to his friend's decision with
equal parts sadness and praise.

"I knew Matt wrestled with this for a long, long time," said Schaffer. "It wasn't an easy decision for him. But I love him dearly and I can't fault his reasons."

Schaffer continued: "Matt is one of the most sincere people I know, and one of the most talented. His departure deeply saddens me, but I hope all fans of ICED EARTH will cut him some slack. I wish Matt well, respect him greatly, and I ask everyone else to do the same."

With a new album in the works, and a world tour pending, Schaffer has already begun the search for a new vocalist.

"I have a few guys in mind," said Schaffer. "And as you can imagine, it is a very important decision. One thing is for certain: we are not looking for a Matt Barlow ‘clone' — we are looking for a front man that brings power and character of his own to the table. There's only one Matt, and that era of the band's history will always hold a special place in my heart."

The band's long-awaited six-hour, three-concert live DVD, "Festivals Of The Wicked", is scheduled for release this spring.

DEF LEPPARD singer Joe Elliott spoke to Billboard.com about the three new songs that will appear on the band's new live album, "Mirrorball", due out this summer.

"When we decided to do (the live album), it just got said — I don't know by who — 'Why don't we chuck a couple of new songs on the end?'" Elliott tells Billboard.com. "And that two became three, and in fairness it could've been four if we'd just had a little bit more time. But we wanted to tour this summer, so any fourth or fifth song we had brewing, we'll save them for the next record."

Regarding the three new tracks — "Undefeated", "All About Believin'" and "Kings Of The World" — Elliott says, "They're all very different to each other. They don't sound specifically like any previous DEF LEPPARD songs, but they sound like DEF LEPPARD songs. They have to have our identity on them, otherwise they might as well be Tom Waits or R.E.M. We have a signature sound that we're not scared of anymore."

DEF LEPPARD will continue to write new material while on the road this summer, with the hopes of "pull[ing] together the other seven or eight songs" for the band's next album. Elliott tells Billboard.com, "We'd start recording them when the tour's over and hopefully have them ready for summer of 2012... or if not, then out in the autumn for the Christmas market."

Die UK Progressive Rock Veteranen PENDRAGON werden ihr neues Album "Passion" am 15. April 2011 via Madfish/Snapper/Edel veröffentlichen. Das "Passion" Artwork wurde von Bjoern von Killustrations in Deutschland erstellt. Die Band hat jetzt auf You Tube drei Audio Samples von den neuen Songs "Empathy", "Skara Brae", und "This Green & Pleasant Land" zum probehörem online gestellt.

"Passion" Tack List:

01. Passion
02. Empathy
03. Feeding Frenzy
04. This Green And Pleasant Land
05. It’s Just A Matter Of Not Getting Caught
06. Skara Brae
07. Your Black Heart

DVD – NTSC REGION 0
01. Progumentary

Die Deutschen Gothic/Folk-Metaller von LYRIEL haben am 11. Dezember 2010 einen Plattenvertrag beim Label AFM Records unterschrieben und werden Ihr neues Album im Herbst 2011 veröffentlichem. Am 01.04.2011 ist es soweit und es ist kein Aprilscherz, das Album "Paranoid Circus" bekommt einen Re-Release über AFM Records, sowie ein neues Cover-Design! Zudem erscheint in Kürze ein brandneues Musikvideo zum Titeltrack "Paranoid Circus"!

Season of Mist haben im Dezember 2010 die französischen Brutal Death Metallers von BENIGHTED unter ihre Fittiche genommen. Das neue Album mit dem Tiel "Asylum Cave" kommt am 21. März bei uns und am 29. März 2011 in den USA in den Handel. Jetzt wurde HIER der neuen Song "Fritzl" zum probehören online gestellt.

"Asylum Cave" Track list:

01. Asylum Cave
02. Let the Blood Spill between my Broken Teeth
03. Prey
04. Hostile
05. Fritzl
06. Unborn Infected Children
07. The Cold Remains
08. A Quiet Day
09. Shadows Descend
10. Swallow
11. Lethal Merycism
12. Drowning

Die amerikanische Melodic Metal / Hardcore Band ACROSS THE SUN hat im Juli 2010 einen Vertrag beim Label Metal Blade Records unterschrieben und wird ihr neues Album "Before The Night Takes Us" am 15. März 2011 veröffentlichen. Gestern wurde der neue Song "Descent & Discovery" HIER zum probehören online gestellt.

"Before The Night Takes Us" Track List:

01. Tipping The Scales
02. Song for the Hopeless
03. Seasons
04. Descent & Discovery
05. Ghost of Grandeur
06. Before the Night Takes Us
07. A Moment of Clarity
08. Blessing in Disguise
09. In the Face of Adversity
10. Belay My Judgment

Die San Francisco Bay Area Metal Veteranen VICIOUS RUMORS unterschreiben weltweiten Vertrag beim Deutschen Label SPV/Steamhammer. Das neue Album "Razorback Killer" kommt am 28. März 2011 in den Handel. Das 10 Song Album wurde mit Produzent Juan Urteaga und Mastermind/Guitarist Geoff Thorpe in den Trident Studios in Pacheco, USA aufgenommen. Jetzt wurde HIER der neue Song "Razorback Blade" zum probehören online gestellt.

"Razorback Killer" Track List:

01. Murderball
02. Black
03. Razorback Blade
04. Blood Stained Sunday
05. Pearl Of Wisdom
06. All I Want Is You
07. Axe To Grind
08. Let The Garden Burn
09. Rite Of Devastation
10. Deal With The Devil

From the team that brought you "We Wish You A Metal Xmas" comes "SIN-atra", heavy metal's tribute to the genius of Frank Sinatra. Twelve songs made famous by Ol' Blue Eyes are given a radical and individual new treatment from some of the finest voices in rock including members of ANTHRAX, TWISTED SISTER, DEEP PURPLE, QUEENSRŸCHE, MR. BIG, WARRANT, NONPOINT, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, KING'S X and CHEAP TRICK with the backing of a superb band led by guitarist Bob Kulick (KISS, MEAT LOAF). The songs are known to everyone but you've never heard them quite like this before!

"SIN-atra" track listing:

01. New York, New York (Devin Townsend)
02. I've Got You Under My Skin (Glenn Hughes)
03. Summerwind (Geoff Tate)
04. It Was A Very Good Year (Dee Snider)
05. Witchcraft (Tim "Ripper" Owens)
06. Fly Me To The Moon (Robin Zander)
07. Lady Is A Tramp (Eric Martin)
08. I've Got The World On A String (Doug Pinnick)
09. Love And Marriage (Elias Soriano)
10. Strangers In The Night (Joey Belladonna)
11. High Hopes (Franky Perez)
12. That's Life (Jani Lane)

The "SIN-atra" house band features Bob Kulick (guitar); Brett Chassen (drums); Billy Sheehan (bass); Doug Katsaros (keyboards, orchestrations); Richie Kotzen (lead guitar on "That's Life").

"SIN-atra" will be in stores March 29 via Eagle Rock Entertainment.

"New York, New York" (featuring Devin Townsend) audio stream:

"Sinister", a brand new song from the Dutch death metallers PESTILENCE, can be streamed below. The track comes off the band's new album, "Doctrine", which will be released late April through Mascot Records. The eleven-track CD was recorded and mixed at Woodshed Studio in southern Germany with engineer Victor Bullok (TRIPTYKON, DARK FORTRESS).

Regarding the direction of the band's new music, PESTILENCE guitarist/vocalist Patrick Mameli previously stated, "The new material will sound, again, way different from the previous albums, and is going to top all previous PESTILENCE material, stated by insiders already.

"The new songs have the rawness of [1989's] 'Consuming Impulse', the theatrical [quality] of 1991's 'Testimony Of The Ancients' and the brutallity of [2009's comeback effort] 'Resurrection Macabre'. But this time we will try to top all our material by using the RG2228-GK [Ibanez guitar]."

"Doctrine" track listing:

01. The Predication (intro)
02. Amgod
03. Doctrine
04. Salvation
05. Dissolve
06. Absolution
07. Sinister
08. Divinity
09. Deception
10. Malignant
11. Confusion

"Sinister" audio stream:

Australian extreme music collective THE AMENTA has revealed the track listing for its enormous multimedia release, "V01D". Combining the harsh, ugly electronics of previous works with a wall-of-noise approach to melody which has hitherto only been hinted, "V01D" is a true multimedia experience.

"V01D" track listing:

Audio

01. Empty
02. V01d (exclusive new song)
03. Erebus (re-recorded)
04. Ache
05. Junky (re-recorded)
06. Spine (re-recorded)
07. Null
08. Vermin (re-recorded)
09. Nihil (re-recorded)
10. Nil
11. Enigmatize (originally performed by ARMOURED ANGEL)
12. None
13. Junky (remix)
14. Nihil (remix)
15. Vermin (remix)
16. Erebus (remix)

Video

The Amenta Live In Sydney - Multi-Camera, Pro-Audio Video:

01. Junky
02. Vermin
03. Mictlan
04. Erebus
05. Vermin (film clip, never before released)

"V01D" will be released free of charge on March 8 via TheAmenta.com exclusively.

"Eden", brand new song from U.K. progressive metal hopefuls TESSERACT, is available for streaming on the band's Facebook page. The track comes off the group's debut album, "One", which is scheduled for release on March 22 via Century Media Records. The follow-up to last year's "Concealing Fate" EP includes a bonus DVD that features "Concealing Fate" being performed live in the studio — no overdubs, no re-recording, just pure and raw; the way music was meant to be. The audio for the DVD will be available in stereo and a 5.1 Surround Sound mix. The DVD also features interviews and footage from the band's recent U.S. tour.

Commented TESSERACT bassist Amos Williams: "Ever since we first started performing and recording, we've always wanted to explore the idea of surround sound. The density and layers of TESSERACT's music lends itself perfectly to multichannel sound. So, we came up with the idea of filming and recording 'Concealing Fate' in 5.1 Surround Sound for a special DVD that would come as standard with the album release.

"It's really great for us to show you guys the evolution of the songs as they've grown slightly since we've started touring them.

"There is absolutely nothing better than the energy and euphoria of live music and hopefully with this DVD we've helped represent that. We enjoyed the experience and the result so much that we may just do the next album like this, too!"