Developers of the post-apocalyptic massively multiplayer online game (MMO) Fallen Earth today announced a partnership with Nuclear Blast Records, the world's largest independent heavy-metal record label. With plans to incorporate several of the label's popular tracks into the game, developers have alerted players that life in the wasteland is about to get a little more metal.

In the next month, developers plan to uncover a brand new underground bunker bar in game, introducing Nuclear Blast Radio and featuring hit tracks from several of the label's artists, including MESHUGGAH, SOILWORK and TESTAMENT.

"We listen to so much of Nuclear Blast's music at the office," said Senior Game Designer for Fallen Earth, Marie Croall. "This is an awesome opportunity to share our favorite music with our players."

According to developers, artists and tracks featured on Nuclear Blast Radio will cycle out periodically, offering a new variety for listeners.

Nuclear Blast USA's Label Manager Gerardo Martínez comments on the partnership: "The music and gaming worlds are natural allies. Luckily, we're working with game developers who know quality music. Get ready to hear the sounds of Fallen Earth on tour busses across the country!"

By means of the new partnership, several upcoming promotions and artist querstion-and-answer sessions have been planned for Fallen Earth.

Formed in 2003, Fallen Earth, LLC is a special purpose entity born out of Icarus Studios dedicated to the production of the independently produced and published massively multiplayer online game (MMO) unlike any other, Fallen Earth. Set in the Grand Canyon in 2156 and mixing first-person shooter-style action with role-playing game design, Fallen Earth allows players to explore a post-apocalyptic world through crafting, trading, and scavenging. Fallen Earth is rated "M" for "Mature" by the ESRB.

Guitar virtuoso Joe Stump (HOLYHELL, REIGN OF TERROR) has posted the following message regarding the passing of former THIN LIZZY guitarist, noted session player, and blues rock icon Gary Moore:

"I'm deeply saddened about the tragic death of one of my all-time heroes, Gary Moore.

"Gary had a tremendous impact and influence on my playing. He's someone I've been listening to since the early '80s, and still listen to on a regular basis to this day. To me, he combined all of the elements that make hard rock guitar great — killer technique, great emotionally drenched melodic playing, and a massive tone in his hands.

"I remember hearing 'White Knuckles' on a metal radio show almost 30 years ago and being blown away.

"I love both his power blues-era material as well as his '80s-period hard rock and metal stuff.

"I learned every solo on 'Corridors Of Power', 'Victims Of The Future', and 'We Want Moore', as well as many other solos from a bunch of his other recordings.

"I will have some type of Gary Moore tribute style track on my upcoming solo record.

"A more recent example of Gary's influence on my playing would be the track 'The Beacon' on 'Virtuostic Vendetta'.

"It is just a tremendous loss for the music and guitar community."

Three-camera video footage of Joe Stump shredding the axe at a guitar showcase at Sam Ash in Cincinnati, Ohio in June 2010 can be viewed below.

Earlier this week, Justin M. Norton of Hellbound.ca conducted an interview with SAINT VITUS frontman Scott "Wino" Weinrich. Wino discussed his upcoming acoustic album "Adrift"; his relationship with SHRINEBUILDER bandmate Scott Kelly and SAINT VITUS' recording plans. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Hellbound.ca: Have you always wanted to work on a primarily acoustic album?

Wino: I didn't really think about it until a little while ago. I'd been over to Germany and I was playing guitar one day and someone asked me if I had ever considered an acoustic record. It was a few years ago but I wasn't feeling it and I just wasn't interested. There were a strange set of circumstances that led me to playing acoustic live for the first time. It was pretty bad. I decided if I was going to do it I was going to do it right so I sat down and just wrote a few acoustic songs. After that I felt a little more confident. Then I did "Punctuated Equilibrium" and our bass player died unexpectedly. That's when I started to warm up for gigs with the acoustic and it felt good.

Hellbound.ca: You are bandmates with Scott Kelly in SHRINEBUILDER and are touring with him playing acoustic music. Scott's done two acoustic albums — did you talk to him when you started working on this material?

Wino: I did. I asked him about a lot of stuff. He's a good guy to go to for advice. He's been doing this for a while. We played the songs we're doing together for the first time last night and I think it's going to be really cool.

Hellbound.ca: What's the difference after a career playing with SAINT VITUS and THE OBSESSED? Does playing acoustic make you feel more exposed? Or is it a bigger challenge?

Wino: Both, actually. You don't have a big wall of sound behind you. It's you and your instrument. It's a challenge but I like a challenge. Recording "Adrift" was much harder than I though it would be. I thought it would be a breeze, but it ended up being a real learning experience.

Hellbound.ca: The '90s were a tough decade for you. What do you make of the fact that it's 2011 and you are hitting a creative peak as an artist and your old bands are finally getting the attention they deserve?

Wino: I'm pretty stunned, to be honest with you. I never thought this would happen, especially with "Adrift". I never in a million years thought we'd be talking about SAINT VITUS now but here we are on the move again. It's all looking pretty good, and it's unusual. But it's OK with me. When I turned 50, I realized it was time to loosen up. I decided not to worry as much and realized I'd be OK if I had a few beers. I had an attitude change. I'm not as uptight anymore.

Hellbound.ca: VITUS has been touring a lot .. are you working on new songs?

Wino: We're already doing new material. I wrote the lyrics to a song we played live on our last European tour. It went over really well. We're getting together to work on an album in June or July. We're going to go to (drummer) Henry's (Vasquez) house and record.

Hellbound.ca: I imagine it will be interesting recording with those guys… it's been a while since you've been in the studio together.

Wino: I think it's going to be easier because the older you get the more times you've done it. I've been at this for a long time now and I'll be ready to do my part.

Hellbound.ca: Why does VITUS continue to resonate?

Wino: Because it comes from the gut. The music has that low tone and it hits you in those emotional places. I've always tried to make the lyrics just as interesting as the music. It's always been a little bit dark but I'm not drawn to the happy stuff. I like music that grabs you by the balls.

"Virus Jones", the new video from Germany's DEADLOCK, can be viewed below. The clip was filmed in Leipzip, Germany with directors Philipp Hirsch and Heiko Tippelt (HEAVEN SHALL BURN, TRIPTYKON, AMON AMARTH), and attempts to capture the meaning behind the track's lyrics, which deal with pharmaceutical, medical, and biological technology, and the business behind it.

"Mankind has been suffering from diseases for years, blaming it on viruses or whatever, taking medicines and all kinds of medical treatments, but never asking twice, just consuming to forget about its fears," said DEADLOCK vocalist Johannes Prem. "It's all about promoting new products and finding new therapies, but it is never about really helping the patients. In the end you have the choice whether you want to die for fear of the disease, from the disease itself, or because of the side effects of your medicines. The video shows every band member as an individual playing alone on that stage called life."

"Virus Jones" comes off DEADLOCK's new album, "Bizarro World", which will be released on February 28 in Europe and March 16 in the U.S. via Lifeforce Records. The CD was recorded at Slaughter's Palace studio and was once again produced and engineered by the band's musical mastermind and guitar/sound wizard Sebastian Reichl.

"Bizarro World" track listing:

01. Virus Jones
02. State Of Decay
03. Falling Skywards
04. Earthlings
05. You Left Me Dead
06. Brutal Romance
07. Alienation
08. Renegade
09. Htrae
10. Bizarro World
11. Paranoia Extravaganza

"Suicide Woods", the new video from ALL HAIL THE YETI — the Los Angeles-based band featuring guitarist Brian Harrah (PROFESSIONAL MURDER MUSIC, THE MERCY CLINIC) — can be viewed below. A free MP3 download of the song is also available via the ReverbNation TuneWidget below (click on "Songs" tab, then on "Suicide Woods").

ALL HAIL THE YETI's sound "brutally intertwines PANTERA-esque southern metal grooves with hostile doses of grimy hardcore," according to the band's official bio. "Like true pioneers of metal, ALL HAIL THE YETI bleeds the blood of seasoned veterans who have molded their experiences from past projects and influences together, cultivating an orchestra of deep-seeded rage planted with southern roots."

ALL HAIL THE YETI's debut five-song EP, "Trees On Fire With Songs Of Blood", came out last year and is available on iTunes.

ALL HAIL THE YETI is:

Connor Garritty (vocals)
Brian Harrah (guitars)
Nicholas Diltz (bass)
Glendon Crain (drums)

SHADOWS FALL frontman Brian Fair has joined forces with KILLSWITCH ENGAGE bassist Mike D'Antonio and former OVERCAST/SEEMLESS guitarist Pete Cortese in a brand new project called DEATH RAY VISION. According to Fair, the new band's musical direction "will be based on our old-school influences: CRO-MAGS, INTEGRITY, LEEWAY and RINGWORM."

DEATH RAY VISION is:

Brian Fair - Vocals
Mike D'Antonio - Bass
Pete Cortese - Guitar
Zack Wells - Guitar
Colin Conway - Drums

Jackson Browne and Alice Cooper, in partnership with Danny Zelisko, have put together an all-star line-up of musicians for a benefit concert to take place at the Tucson Convention Center (who have donated the building), on Thursday, March 10 at 6 p.m. The event is a fundraiser for the non-profit Community Foundation for Southern Arizona, benefiting the newly established Fund for Civility, Respect, and Understanding. The fund will support individuals and families affected by the January 8 shooting in Tucson, and will promote civility and respect in public discourse, schools, and the community. The fund will also work to increase awareness of mental health symptoms, prevention and treatment services.

Performers on the bill are Jackson Browne, Alice Cooper, David Crosby and Graham Nash, Sam Moore, Nils Lofgren, Keb "Mo", Jerry Riopelle, Dar Williams, Ozomatli, and Calexico. The event will also feature speakers, including Ron Barber, who was among those wounded on January 8, NASA astronaut Mark Kelly (congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords' husband), Lea Marquez Peterson (president of the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce) and Tucson Mayor Bob Walkup (who introduced a nation-wide Civility Accord at the winter legislative meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Washington, D.C. on January 18, which has since been signed by almost 200 mayors).

The Tucson-based Fund for Civility, Respect, and Understanding — to be managed and administered by the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona — was initially set up with contributions from the family of Ron Barber.

"When I was in the ICU, I thought a lot about what it would take to help our community heal and unify," says Ron Barber. "There was a huge outpouring of goodwill, kindness and compassion after the shooting, such a contrast to what happened that day. My family and I wanted to find a way to harness that goodwill to do meaningful things in the community. In the short term, we can help those whose lives were affected on January 8. In the long term, we will work toward improving awareness of mental health issues and services and changing the tone of how we interact with each other in our schools, our communities, and in public policy discussions."

In addition to honoring those who lost their lives or were injured physically and emotionally on January 8, the fund's stated objectives include: paying tribute to the first responders, citizens and medical staff who helped after the shooting; ensuring that individuals who witnessed the shootings will have the resources they need to address the emotional trauma they endured that day; increasing community understanding of mental illness and services, sponsoring programs, discussions and other activities in public schools, faith communities and in the political arena; supporting concerts and artistic events to promote civil discourse regarding public policy issues and respect for different points of view.

Tickets go on sale February 19 at 10 a.m. through the Tucson Convention Center Ticket Office 260 S. Church Ave. (10 a.m. - noon), on the web at Ticketmaster.com, by phone (800) 745-3000 and all Ticketmaster outlets.

During a recent round of radio interviews to promote his DOWN 'N OUTZ project, DEF LEPPARD frontman Joe Elliott was asked to give his thoughts on the passing of former THIN LIZZY guitarist, noted session player, and blues rock icon Gary Moore.

"Well, he's definitely up at the top [of the list of the greatest guitarists of all time], isn't he?" Elliott said. "In fairness, I think that he was probably wrongly accused of being one of these speed merchant guitarists because he could play fast. But the thing about Gary was that he actually came from the blues. Whereas a lot of the '80s guitarists just ripped Eddie Van Halen off."

Elliott singer also spoke about the time Moore opened for DEF LEPPARD in the '80s.

"Funnily enough, he took over from JON BUTCHER AXIS on our 'Pyromania' tour about halfway through it and was special guest to ourselves and KROKUS," Elliott recalled. "He had Ian Paice from DEEP PURPLE on drums. I remember [DEF LEPPARD drummer] Rick Allen was just... [he] couldn't — he was beside himself. He was 16 years old or 17-18 years old and his hero, his drumming hero, was third on the bill to us, you know? We were almost apologizing for it, you know?"

Joe added, "We knew Gary pretty well and he was a lovely chap and it's such a shame and such a waste."

German extreme metallers DEATH OF DESIRE, whose recording lineup includes MAYHEM drummer Hellhammer (a.k.a. Jan Axel Blomberg), have completed work on their debut album, "ANTIhuman". The CD was recorded at the TME Studios in Cincinnati, Ohio with producer/engineer Steve Tucker. Additional engineering was handled by David Voll.

According to the band, "The main idea for the ['ANTIhuman'] cover art was designed by [guitarist] Morbid and F.Z. from the black metal band KYTHRONE is the man responsible for this evil 3D composition."

DEATH OF DESIRE is:

* Dawn Desiree - Vocals
* Morbid - Guitars & Bass
* Jan Axel "Hellhammer" Blomberg (MAYHEM, DIMMU BORGIR, ARCTURUS) - Drums
* Psy Coma (THE KOVENANT) - Synthesizers and Orchestrations
* Attila Csihar (MAYHEM, SUNN O))), ABORYM) - Guest singer

Guest musicians:

* Steve Tucker (NADER SADEK, MORBID ANGEL) - Bass
* David Voll (ex-ROSE FUNERAL) - Bass

"ANTIhuman" track listing:

01. Intro
02. Black Flame
03. Kingdom
04. Into The Void
05. Winds
06. Frozen
07. Inner Sanctum
08. Progenies Of Doom
09. Outro

"Blur", a brand new song from Santa Monica, California metallers DEVILDRIVER, can be streamed using the audio player below (courtesy of AltPress.com). The track comes off the band's fifth album, "Beast", which will be released on February 22 via Roadrunner Records. The CD was recorded at Sonic Ranch studios in Tornillo, Texas with producer Mark Lewis (TRIVIUM, CHIMAIRA, ALL THAT REMAINS) and was mixed by acclaimed British producer Andy Sneap (MEGADETH, EXODUS, MACHINE HEAD, NEVERMORE, ARCH ENEMY) at his Backstage studio in Derbyshire, England. The band recorded 14 songs during the "Beast" sessions, with 12 tracks making the standard version of the CD and all 14 songs appearing on the special edition.

SYMFONIA, the new melodic metal project featuring former members of HELLOWEEN, STRATOVARIUS, ANGRA and SONATA ARCTICA, has inked a worldwide deal (excluding Asia) with Edel Germany GmbH for the release of the band's debut album, "In Paradisum". Due on April 1, the 12-song CD was Studiomega in Varberg, Sweden.

Commented SYMFONIA guitarist Timo Tolkki: "I am extremely happy about the signing with Edel Germany and [marketing office] IAM [International Artist Marketing] and taking the next step in my career. I believe we have now gathered a team that enables SYMFONIA to bring its music to a wider range of audience around the globe.

"We have worked very hard for six months for this album and we think it is a positive and powerful and yet has a fresh and melodic approach. Last time I felt like this was when I signed the first international record deal with STRATOVARIUS back in 1991. A lot has happened ever since but the ship sails on to a new horizon with new and positive energy and we cannot wait to get 'In Paradisum' released and take it on the road."

SYMFONIA recently signed a four-album deal with the biggest Japanese metal and rock label Marquee Avalon for the territory of the entire Asian region, including China.

A press release reads as follows: "They are all legends among the melodic metal community. By sheer coincidence, they all found themselves living on the same continent, in Scandinavia. They decided to join forces and express their talents in the form of a new melodic metal project: SYMFONIA.

"Honoring the heritage of their previous bands STRATOVARIUS, HELLOWEEN, ANGRA and SONATA ARCTICA, SYMFONIA continues their superb melodic metal tradition with an incredible musicianship that is a match made in heaven. This is a force that no serious melodic metal fan will be able to ignore."

SYMFONIA is:

* Timo Tolkki (STRATOVARIUS, REVOLUTION RENAISSANCE) - Guitar
* André Matos (ANGRA, SHAAMAN, VIPER) - Vocals
* Jari Kainulainen (STRATOVARIUS, EVERGREY) - Bass
* Mikko Härkin (SONATA ARCTICA, KOTIPELTO) - Keyboards
* Uli Kusch (MASTERPLAN, HELLOWEEN) - Drums

SYMFONIA will make its live debut on February 18, 2011 at the Finnish Metal Expo (part of the Helsinki Metal Meeting) in Helsinki, Finland.

IRON MAIDEN singer Bruce Dickinson's video tour of Ed Force One — the wonderful customized Boeing 757 owned by the MAIDEN, used to transport the band, its 60-member crew and 12 tons of equipment as they tour the world — can be viewed in two parts below.

Ed Force One is named after MAIDEN's infamous mummy mascot "Eddie" and is piloted by Dickinson.

Astraeus Airlines is once again the principal supplier of cargo and passenger carriage on the 2011 leg of IRON MAIDEN's "The Final Frontier World Tour", which kicked off on February 11 in Moscow. This has already seen the airline taking in some new stops, such as Singapore and Jakarta in Indonesia.

Astraeus Airlines previously converted a Boeing 757-200 into a combi aircraft with 20 business class seats with a seat pitch of 59 inches and 54 premium economy seats with 39 inches. The rear passenger cabin was converted to carry additional band equipment weighing up to 6.5 tons.

"As a professional pilot and a professional singer with IRON MAIDEN, there was no doubt that Astraeus Airlines were the people for the job," stated Bruce Dickinson. "The reliability was superb, and the outcome exceeded the band's wildest expectations. A unique airline, for a unique experience. Astraeus Airlines made it happen!"

Brand new photos of Ed Force One can be viewed below (courtesy of IronMaiden.com).

Dickinson, who is a longstanding pilot with Astraeus, told CNN.com in a 2007 interview, "Aviation's been kicking around my family for as long as I can remember; my uncle was in the RAF. But I always thought I was too stupid. I was useless at maths and majored in history at university, so I thought history majors don't become pilots, let alone rock stars. And then our drummer learned to fly so I said if a drummer can learn to fly then anyone can."

He added, "I never dreamed I would end up flying an airliner. I ended up flying IRON MAIDEN around on tour in a little eight-seat, pressurized, twin-engine plane. Basically we were flying round all the world's major airports, flew across the Atlantic and back, which was quite an adventure. At the end I thought I really want to fly something bigger, but I can't afford it — I can't buy my own 707. If I'm going to do that I have to get a job."

On how the thrill of piloting a 757 compares to taking to the stage with MAIDEN:

"It's a different kind of buzz. Obviously you aren't leaping around the flight deck yelling and screaming, but you have to manage situations... Flying at 35,000 feet is an internal thing, really. Whereas 35,000 people, that's just showing off."

On whether he will be hanging up his leopard-skin spandex forever:

"I could never contemplate giving up music. I have to say I've always been interested in planes, the only difference is I started to fly the darn things 15 years ago. I don't see why I should give up either of them. People say 'Why do you need a second job?' I say 'Why do you need to breathe?'"

British extreme metal group CRADLE OF FILTH performed on this past Monday night's (February 14) edition of Fuel TV's hit show "The Daily Habit". The intimate appearance was filmed last week at the Fuel TV studios in Los Angeles when the band passed through on its headlining trek, dubbed the "Creatures From The Black Abyss Tour".

Check out the "One Foul Step From The Abyss" performance footage below.

"The Daily Habit" features the biggest risk-taking athletes and the most influential faces in entertainment and brings them together on one stage to discuss everything from "stuff that matters to dudes" to "trends that need to end."

CRADLE OF FILTH's North American "Creatures From The Black Abyss" headlining tour kicked off in Houston on February 1. The 31-city trek features support from NACHTMYSTIUM, TURISAS and DANIEL LIONEYE.

CRADLE OF FILTH's new album, "Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa", sold 5,800 copies in its first week of release to debut at position No. 99 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous CD, "Godspeed On The Devil's Thunder", opened with a little over 11,000 copies back in November 2008 to debut at position No. 48 on The Billboard 200 chart. This was slightly less than the first-week tally registered by 2006's "Thornography", which shifted nearly 13,000 copies the first week out to enter The Billboard chart at No. 66, and "Nymphetamine", which premiered with almost 14,000 copies back in October 2004.

Video game publisher Activision announced on Wednesday (February 9) that it was disbanding the unit that makes its "Guitar Hero" games, according to Reuters. The company blamed declining popularity for music-based video games and said it would stop all development of the "Guitar Hero" franchise for 2011. Activision chief executive Eric Hirshberg told Wall Street analysts, "We simply cannot make these games profitably based on current economics."

L.A. Weekly asked guitar icon Slash, star of 2007's "Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock", about why he thought the franchise got axed. "It was inevitable," Slash said. "Sales declined after the success of 'Guitar Hero III'. It was too costly to produce the game as a result."

The "Guitar Hero" series was launched in 2005 by RedOctane and Harmonix Music Systems, and distributed by Activision. Players used a guitar-shaped game controller to simulate playing lead, bass guitar, and rhythm guitar on numerous rock music songs. More instruments and vocals were added to later editions.

After publishing several editions of the game featuring songs from multiple artists, Activision released versions based specifically around the music of AEROSMITH, METALLICA and VAN HALEN.

At the time of the release of METALLICA's game, drummer Lars Ulrich pointed to the "Guitar Hero" franchise as a possible future avenue for music distribution. "This is gonna be a whole 'nother platform that music is gonna reach, an audience, and especially a younger audience, over the years," he told The Pulse Of Radio. "I mean, we put out our last record, 'Death Magnetic', through 'Guitar Hero' and it's great. It works on all fronts. And so I think that over the years, it'll turn into an expected way of releasing records."

Over the past couple of years, however, sales of music-based video games have slid rapidly, a result of tough economic times possibly coupled with consumer fatigue over so many editions of the games.

While the first "Guitar Hero" games and METALLICA's edition sold well, later titles like "Guitar Hero V" have bombed with consumers.

It is not clear how this turn of events will affect the competing "Rock Band" franchise, which has suffered similar woes despite high-profile games based on the music of GREEN DAY and THE BEATLES.

Activision's first-quarter revenue forecast for 2011 was off by nearly $100 million, despite healthy sales of its highly successful "Call of Duty: Black Ops" game.

SMASHFACE, the new band featuring Lorenzo Antonucci (ex-SWORN ENEMY guitarist) on lead vocals and Chris Storey (ex-ALL SHALL PERISH) on guitar, will make its live debut this April on a European tour with FULL BLOWN CHAOS.

Two tracks from SMASHFACE — "Infection of Stupidity" and "As Hard As Life" — can be streamed below.

Commented Antonucci: "The track 'Infection of Stupidity' is one of the songs we wanted to lead off with, because this song perfectly represents who we are and how we feel about the current state of the music industry.

"We never bite our tongues and say what's on our minds at all times.

"This is real and comes straight from the heart so we hope you enjoy it.

"Thanks for listening and hopefully you will let us know what you think.

"We are very excited to be doing a tour with my friends in FULL BLOWN CHAOS. I have known these guys for over a decade and we will bring the party to the shows.

"This is a really awesome opportunity for us; we have never played a show before and our first show/tour will be in Europe. That, to me, is a real blessing. It took SWORN ENEMY (my old band) four years before we got to hit Europe in '04. We're really lucky and happy to be a part of such a great agency M.A.D.

Added Chris Storey : "It's been a while since I have been seen on stage and I couldn't be more excited to finally share my new music with the world. Get ready for some seriously heavy and technical music!!!"

Bassist Rex Brown (PANTERA, DOWN) has amicably left ARMS OF THE SUN — the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas-based band featuring Lance Harvill on vocals and guitar, and Ben Bunker (GRYN) on guitar and John Luke Hébert on drums. A replacement bassist has not yet been announced.

Harvill has released the following statement regarding Brown's departure:

"We have had a situation where we could never see eye to eye concerning the business and creative sides of the band.

"I love Rex as a friend, but if I say it's red, he sees it as blue. It doesn't make either of us right or wrong, but the songs were written long before Rex ever joined this band, so not getting to make executive decisions over certain creative aspects of the band created a problem for me.

"It's understandable — you have the rock star in the band who has earned his stripes and carries the attitude to go with it, and you have me as the maniacal writer, who can pretty much go with the flow about many things, but when it comes to the art and how it is made and sold I feel I should have somewhat of a say. We get along great as friends, but like I said before, we share two separate visions for where a band should go.

"Much love to him, his beautiful family, and his music endeavors."

Brown previously stated about ARMS OF THE SUN, which he described as "THE BEATLES on acid," "It's something that is a real passion for me. Usually when I do a record, I just turn everything off and do something else, but I have been coming back to this music. It's heartfelt and really good. . . . This is a labor of love for me. It's some serious songwriting. . . I have that same spark that I had on [PANTERA's] 'Vulgar Display Of Power'. That's the way I feel about it now. It's not what's to be expected out of me. It's more song-orientated and really good music."

ARMS OF THE SUN recently finished recording more than a dozen tracks that were produced and mixed by Terry Date (DEFTONES, PANTERA, SOUNDGARDEN).

The following songs were laid down during the sessions:

* March Of The Dolls
* Slow
* Coming Up Roses
* Give Metime
* Wasted Me
* Falling To Pieces
* High
* Behind The Sun
* On Me
* Something About Today
* Empty
* Dead Inslde

SLAYER has recruited Gary Holt (pictured below) from veteran San Francisco Bay Area thrashers EXODUS to be SLAYER's guest guitarist, temporary filling in for Jeff Hanneman who is currently recovering from surgery. Holt will immediately join Tom Araya (bass, vocals), Kerry King (guitar) and Dave Lombardo (drums) for their five-date Australian Soundwave Festival tour that begins February 26.

Holt offers the following comments about his upcoming stint as touring guitarist for one of metal’s most venerated bands:

"How can I put into words how excited I am to have been asked to play with SLAYER? Hard to describe, for sure.

"Legendary band, check. Old friends since the birth of thrash metal. Check. Get to play 'Angel Of Death' live, priceless!

"I'll do my best to live up to the standard they've set for so many years, while we all wish Jeff a speedy return to health and his rightful place in SLAYER."

Hanneman underwent emergency surgery on his right arm late last month after contracting a serious infection, possibly caused by a spider bite. He is now recuperating at home and is expected to make a full recovery. He will return to the SLAYER lineup as soon as he has fully recovered.

While Hanneman's doctors were not able to definitively identify the infection's origin, they diagnosed necrotizing fasciitis, an infection caused by bacteria. According to WebMD, necrotizing fasciitis can destroy skin, fat, and the tissue covering the muscles. The disease sometimes is called "flesh-eating" bacteria.

Singer Anette Olzon of Finnish/Swedish symphonic metallers NIGHTWISH will enter the studio in March to begin laying down her vocals for the band's next album, "Imaginarium". Writing on her official blog, Anette states, "Just got an e-mail from [NIGHTWISH keyboardist and main songwriter Tuomas Holopainen] from [the studio in] London [where he is overseeing the recording of the orchestral and choir parts for the new CD with arranger Pip Williams] and he says all is going so super-good and he is so happy and that made me equally full of happiness." She adds, "I am so looking forward to hear the result when I enter the studio in March."

NIGHTWISH's "Imaginarium" project includes the making of a music fantasy film based on the band's forthcoming album and its 13 songs.

The protagonist of the film is a songwriter with an otherworldly imagination. He is an old man who still thinks he's a young boy. While asleep, he travels into his distant past where his dreams of old come back to him mixed to the young boy's world of fantasy and music.

In his dreams the old man fights to find the memories most important to him.

This unprecedented project originated more than two years ago when Holopainen first introduced his ambitious idea of the "Imaginarium" concept to his bandmates and to Stobe Harju, the director of NIGHTWISH's "The Islander" music video.

Harju will helm this full-length feature, which will be produced by Solar Films Inc. along with NIGHTWISH.

The "Imaginarium" filming will begin this spring and the movie will have its premiere in 2012.

Greek demons SEPTICFLESH will release their new album, "The Great Mass", on April 18 in Europe (April 19 in North America) via Season Of Mist. The new opus will be made available in the following formats:

* CD + Blu-ray digipak
* Collector's book, including 2 CDs + Blu-ray
* 12" gatefold LP
* CD jewel case
* Digital download

The cover artwork of the album's jewel case edition, designed by Seth Siro Anton himself, can be viewed below.

"The Great Mass" track listing:

01. The Vampire From Nazareth
02. A Great Mass Of Death
03. Pyramid God
04. Five-Pointed Star
05. Oceans Of Grey
06. The Undead Keep Dreaming
07. Rising
08. Apocalypse
09. Mad Architect
10. Therianthropy

Former SKID ROW frontman Sebastian Bach will head into the studio later this month with his new, young, virtuosic guitarist Nick Sterling and producer Bob Marlette (BLACK SABBATH, SHINEDOWN, ATREYU, FILTER) to record a brand new CD for a summer release via the Italian label Frontiers Records.

Commented Bach: "Just had the greatest talk with my producer Bob Marlette. We are on exactly the same page with the new CD! He agrees with me that tracks 1-7 out of the 13 demos are pretty much done.

"I have lived with these songs for over a year now and the songs have to be real good if I'm still digging them a year later! I have an open mind, though, to whatever magic occurs between Nick Sterling, Bobby Jarzombek [drums], Bob Marlette and myself.

"We start the next record in Los Angeles, California this Monday! I could not be happier."

"Hollow, the new video from Finland's ROTTEN SOUND, can be viewed below. The clip was directed by Casper Haugegaard of Jawbreaker Productions. The song comes off the band's new full-length album, "Cursed", which will be released on March 15 via Relapse Records (except in Finland, where it will arrive on March 16 through Fullsteam Records). The 16-track follow-up to 2008's "Cycles" was recorded at Nordic Audio Labs and is lyrically themed around the six curses of mankind.

GENERATION KILL, the new crossover metal outfit featuring EXODUS frontman Rob Dukes, has inked a two-album deal with Season Of Mist. The band is currently in J. Rod Production Studios in New City, New York (where the vocal tracks for EXODUS' "Let There Be Blood" and OVERKILL's "Ironbound" were previously laid down) recording its as-yet-untitled debut CD for a September release.

Commented the writing team of Rob Dukes and Rob Moschetti: "This release is the most diverse project that either of the two of us been a part of. This is an honest, no-holds-barred album containing various styles of music. In a way, it is a bit of a selfish record. We wrote the kind of material that we like. You can't please everybody, so you might as well please yourself. Honestly, that's what true art is. Freedom of expression."

According to a press release, "The original concept of the band was to break away from the current formula by embracing their roots and incorporating them into the project.

"GENERATION KILL is a true crossover band. Each song has its own identity, and mood, which gives the band its original sound without abandoning their influences.

"By adding two lead guitarist/songwriters to the band, a whole new dimension has been introduced to GENERATION KILL.

"While Jason Trenczer adds technical guitar work, Lou Lehman adds catchy riffs and solos. The final ingredient to the band is veteran drummer Sam Inzerra. Sam has a death metal background which adds speed and power to the project.

"Each member of the band takes part in the writing process.

"While each member has established himself in legendary and underground bands, let it be known that this is no side project."

Drummer Steve Bolognese of Canadian extreme progressive metallers INTO ETERNITY has issued the following update:

"It's a tremendous honor to be invited back to teach at Berklee College Of Music for the spring semester. I always have a great time at the school. There are so many aspiring students getting their start in the field, and it's really amazing to be there to help them out and share any knowledge that I have to better prepare them for this ever-changing industry. Not to mention the world-class faculty that the percussion department has. It's just a real heavy scene. There are some heavy cats walking around those hallways, what I like to call 'total monsters.'

"Mike Mangini left at the end of last semester, so although those are some extremely huge shoes to fill, things are going really well. Mike always helps me out, to make sure I know what's going on before I start. So I'm really excited for the semester.

"After this I will be back on the road this summer playing with BAPTIZED IN BLOOD and will continue to work on the new INTO ETERNITY material as well, which is almost in the final writing stage. It's going to be what I like to call 'epically triumphant.' I know our fans will love the new material."

"Time Immemorial", the latest video from INTO ETERNITY, can be viewed below. The track appears on the group's concept album, "The Incurable Tragedy", which sold 1,900 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The clip, which features vocalist Stu Block in a prominent role, was filmed in Montreal in August 2008, just before the group embarked on the Summer Slaughter Canada tour. That trek was followed by a run alongside ICED EARTH, which capped off a year that also saw the band tour with SYMPHONY X, AT THE GATES and THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, among others.

Reunited San Diego, California-based progressive metal band PSYCHOTIC WALTZ is in the midst of intense rehearsals for its upcoming slot on the "Power Of Metal" tour, set to take place in mainland Europe between February 25 and March 20. The group will play a 45-minute set on the trek, which will also feature NEVERMORE, SYMPHONY X, MERCENARY and THAUROROD. This will mark PSYCHOTIC WALTZ's first live appearances in 14 years, and will see the reunion of the original lineup that recorded the band's first three albums: Devon Graves (a.k.a. Buddy Lackey) on vocals, Dan Rock and Brian McAlpin on guitars, Ward Evans on bass and Norm Leggio on drums.

PSYCHOTIC WALTZ is in the process of confirming two European festival appearances for the summer, but beyond those two dates, it doesn't seem likely that any further live shows will be possible in 2011. Upon returning home at the end of March, the band plans to start creating new material with the possibility of recording a new studio album with the original lineup. Therefore, any fans in the European mainland hoping to see the band are encouraged to attend "Power Of Metal", as tickets are still available for most shows.

In other news, all four of PSYCHOTIC WALTZ 's studio albums will be released together in a deluxe, limited vinyl box by Century Media Records in Europe. Titled "The Architects Arise: The First Ten Years", this box will contain gatefold 180-gram LPs of all four studio records plus their ASLAN (pre-PSYCHOTIC WALTZ) demo from 1986 and the "Into The Everflow" demo. This six-LP box will be limited to 500 copies, and the band will have copies of the box for sale during the "Power Of Metal" tour, while supplies last. Additionally, 500 extra copies of "A Social Grace", "Into The Everflow" and "Bleeding" will be pressed in a different vinyl color and sold individually.

Reini of Austria's Stormbringer.at webzine last year conducted an interview with PSYCHOTIC WALTZ vocalist Devon Graves (a.k.a. Buddy Lackey). You can now watch the chat below.

PSYCHOTIC WALTZ's current lineup is :

* Devon Graves (a.k.a. Buddy Lackey) - Vocals
* Brian McAlpin - Guitar
* Dan Rock - Guitar
* Ward Evans - Bass
* Norman Leggio - Drums

PSYCHOTIC WALTZ's last studio album, "Bleeding", was released in 1996. Scott Burns engineered the effort, which was mixed by Dan Rock and Woody Barber.

In the years that followed PSYCHOTIC WALTZ's demise, Rock recorded two instrumental albums with his project DARKSTAR. In the meantime, Norm Leggio and Steve Cox created the band TEABAG, while Buddy Lackey launched his own group, DEADSOUL TRIBE, where he performs using his real name, Devon Graves.

REVERENCE, the new power metal band featuring vocalist Todd Michael Hall (JACK STARR'S BURNING STARR, HARLET), guitarist Bryan Holland (TOKYO BLADE, ARREST), drummer Steve "Dr. Killdrums" Wacholz (SAVATAGE, CRIMSON GLORY) and bassist Frank Saparti (TOKYO BLADE, OVERLOADED, MINDCANDY), has announced the addition of lead guitarist Pete Rossi, a native of Pittsburg, to the group's ranks.

Commented the band: "As we near the end of the writing stage for our [debut] album, we knew we would need to add an additional guitarist to the lineup. The music calls for two guitarists with a lot of harmony leads and thick riffs, [so] a second guitarist is a must."

Added Holland: "Having previously played in another project with Doc, Pete came to the rest of us with high regards and was the only guitarist we approached to join the band. He is a shredding monster and a great performer on stage. We're really looking forward to the fall European tour."

REVERENCE will enter Sight 16 Studios (TOKYO BLADE, TWOTHIRTYSEVEN, PARIS BLUE, COLDSNAP) in Albuquerque, New Mexico in April with producer Sid Garcia to begin recording its debut album for a tentative fall 2011 release through Razar Ice Records. Working songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Too Late", "Vengeance Is Mine", "Gatekeeper", "Revolution Rising", "Monster", "Lost Generation" and "Phantom Road".

REVERENCE has signed on with No-Nonsense Management and Booking.

Bassist Jim Sheppard of Seattle metallers NEVERMORE will undergo surgery today (Wednesday, February 16) to remove a benign brain tumor. The band's vocalist, Warrel Dane, says, "Please, all metalhead brothers and sisters, send your positive energy for our brother."

Sheppard in 2006 missed a number of NEVERMORE shows after undergoing a minor procedure for Crohn's Disease, a condition he's managed for nearly 20 years. Filling in for Sheppard was longtime friend James MacDonough (ex-MEGADETH, ICED EARTH).

"The Obsidian Conspiracy", the new album from NEVERMORE, sold around 4,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 134 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD landed at position No. 1 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.

Singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, political activist and SYSTEM OF A DOWN frontman Serj Tankian is set to release the digital-only "Imperfect Remixes" EP on March 1 via Serjical Strike/Reprise Records. The lead single, "Goodbye - Gate 21", is a new remix and features Tom Morello (RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE, AUDIOSLAVE) on guitar. Look for an accompanying music video in the near future. Additionally, the EP features remixes of tracks off Serj's most recent solo release, "Imperfect Harmonies". It's not the first time Morello and Serj have worked together; they co-founded the non-profit organization Axis Of Justice in 2002, which strives to bring together musicians, fans of music and grassroots political organizations to fight for social justice.

"Imperfect Remixes" EP track listing

01. Goodbye - Gate 21 (Rock Remix featuring Tom Morello)
02. Reconstructive Demonstrations (Rock Remix)
03. Invisible Love - Deserving? (Electro Remix)
04. Goddamn Trigger (iTunes bonus track)

The "Imperfect Remixes" cover artwork for the effort was created by Patrick Call and can be viewed below.

"Imperfect Harmonies" sold 10,200 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 35 on The Billboard 200 chart.

Tankian's solo debut, "Elect The Dead", opened with 66,000 units back in October 2007 to enter the chart at No. 4.

"Imperfect Harmonies" was the second solo effort from the SYSTEM OF A DOWN frontman. As with "Elect The Dead", Tankian produced the CD himself at his home studio in Los Angeles.

"Where 'Elect The Dead' was essentially a rock record with progressive melodic elements," Tankian said, "'Imperfect Harmonies' could be classified as rock because it is punchy with many peaks throughout, but the instrumentation is somewhat different. Though there are live drums, bass, and some guitars, the driving aspects are electronic and orchestral. It's quite unique in its sound palette. This is, in essence, music that has sat in the vat and matured to a ripe sensation and is now ready to serve.

In other news, Tankian has contributed to "Prayer Cycle 2: Path To Zero", a benefit for the anti-nuclear organization Global Zero. The seven-song set, due out May 10, was written, produced and coordinated by composer Jonathan Elias as a sequel to his 1999 release "The Prayer Cycle".

Bassist Rex Brown (PANTERA, DOWN) has amicably left ARMS OF THE SUN — the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas-based band featuring Lance Harvill on vocals and guitar, and Ben Bunker (GRYN) on guitar and John Luke Hébert on drums. A replacement bassist has not yet been announced.

Brown previously stated about ARMS OF THE SUN, which he described as "THE BEATLES on acid," "It's something that is a real passion for me. Usually when I do a record, I just turn everything off and do something else, but I have been coming back to this music. It's heartfelt and really good. . . . This is a labor of love for me. It's some serious songwriting. . . I have that same spark that I had on [PANTERA's] 'Vulgar Display Of Power'. That's the way I feel about it now. It's not what's to be expected out of me. It's more song-orientated and really good music."

ARMS OF THE SUN recently finished recording more than a dozen tracks that were produced and mixed by Terry Date (DEFTONES, PANTERA, SOUNDGARDEN).

The following songs were laid down during the sessions:

* March Of The Dolls
* Slow
* Coming Up Roses
* Give Metime
* Wasted Me
* Falling To Pieces
* High
* Behind The Sun
* On Me
* Something About Today
* Empty
* Dead Inslde

ARMS OF THE SUN made its live debut on April 17, 2010 at Lakewood Theater in Dallas, Texas.

Die US-Amerikaner von WINDS OF PLAGUE sind zusammen mit Produzent Matt Hyde (Slayer, Hatebreed) in ein Studio in Los Angeles und arbeiten an ihrem neuen Album mit dem Titel "Against The World"! In den Handel kommt das Album am 19. April 2011 via Century Media. Folgende Gastmusiker sind auf "Against The World" zu hören.

Jamey Jasta (HATEBREED),
Drew York (STRAY FROM THE PATH, TERROR)
Martin Stewart & Mattie Montgomery (FOR TODAY)