German progressive/atmospheric metallers RE-VISION have issued the following update:

"With sad heart but conscious of their decision RE-VISION have decided to quit after 17 years, four albums, countless shows and precious memories!

"Thanks to everyone who has supported us, we appreciate it still!

"Dominik Nowitzki [drums] is part of CAPITAL JOKE now, the new band of ex-GRAVE DIGGER/RAGE guitar player Manni Schmidt, hitting the drums as hard as he can. Daniel Dürig [guitar] continues working with PERZONAL WAR, Anke Willnat [vocals] stays active in her cover bands, which she has established over the years. Moreover Dom, Daniel and bass player Christoph Lücker (Gonzo) are still on the road together as the backing band of Paul Di'Anno."

Canadian blackened doom metal act WOODS OF YPRES has released a brand new music video for the song "I Was Buried In Mount Pleasant Cemetery". Hosted on DecibelMagazine.com, the clip is a visual compliment to the melancholy track off "Woods IV: The Green Album" which vividly looks at loss in its many forms. Richly colored and drenched with scenes of mourning, regret and memories of better times, the video perfectly primes fans for the March 22 reissue of "Woods IV: The Green Album", as well as the impending release of "Woods V" later this year.

Formed in 2002, WOODS OF YPRES has earned critical acclaim for its ever-evolving, envelope-pushing mix of blackened doom metal. Most often compared to bands such as AGALLOCH and TYPE O NEGATIVE, WOODS OF YPRES toe a thin line between the catchy, the artistic and the extreme to create an unmistakable signature sound.

WOODS OF YPRES is:

David Gold - Vocals/Guitar
Evan Madden - Drums
Shane Madden - Bass
Joel Violette - Lead Guitar

Guitarist/vocalist Alexi Laiho of Finnish metallers CHILDREN OF BODOM will release his third instructional DVD, "In Your Face Guitar", on March 8 through Rock House. In this new two-DVD set, Laiho teaches you his signature scale patterns and sequences he uses to move across the neck. He reveals his techniques for string skipping and tapping arpeggios, arpeggio progressions and advanced bending that give him a soulful sound all his own. Alexi shows you how he writes and constructs leads, syncopated rhythms and his personal tricks for making crazy guitar sounds. By the end of this program, your skill will advance to in-your-face playing!

A short promotional trailer for the upcoming DVD can be viewed below.

Alexi has already released two DVDs through Rock House — titled "Metal Guitar, Melodic Speed, Shred & Heavy Riffs Level 1 & 2".

Most of the members of AEROSMITH spent a few days last week working on songs for a new album with co-writer Marti Frederiksen at a studio in Los Angeles. The only man missing was guitarist Joe Perry, who was unable to join his bandmates for the sessions due to what Billboard.com described as an "unspecified commitment."

Video footage of the band on the last day of recording can be viewed below.

The irony of the situation is rich since it was Perry who has expressed the most concern that work on a new AEROSMITH album would be delayed by Steven Tyler's duties as a judge on "American Idol". But Tyler himself said on a recent conference call that the issue has been blown out of proportion: "We've certainly been writing," he said. "I know Joe's got some licks and I've got a bunch of songs that I've written, and we're into a writing program with the band, so...we're already booked for a tour, November/December, that should be South America and Japan. So, I mean, what you hear in the press about Aerosmith getting in the way of 'American Idol', it just isn't so."

Former DREAM THEATER drummer Mike Portnoy revealed in a new Twitter message that he is currently working on a new project with SYMPHONY X frontman Russell Allen. He writes, "VERY excited about a new project I'm working on [with] one my [favorite] singers in the world: my bro, Sir Russell Allen." He adds, "Wait 'till you hear this shit!!!"

Portnoy recently began work on a new project with guitarist Steve Morse (DEEP PURPLE, DIXIE DREGS), multi-instrumentalist Neal Morse (TRANSATLANTIC, SPOCK'S BEARD), bassist Dave LaRue (DIXIE DREGS) and vocalist Casey McPherson (ALPHA REV, ENDOCHINE). The group's debut album is tentatively due later in the year.

According to the Plotek.pl web site, Adam "Nergal" Darski, the 33-year-old leukemia-stricken guitarist/vocalist of the Polish extreme metal act BEHEMOTH, will remain in the hospital until at least next Tuesday so that he can continue to receive tratment for an infection he developed six weeks after he underwent a bone marrow transplant procedure.

"The patient is feeling well and is under constant medical observation," Andrzej Hellmann of Department of Haematology and Transplantology at the Medical University of Gdansk told the web site. "Being in the hospital is certainly safer for the body."

"Deconstruction" and "Ghost" — the third and fourth in a series of albums from Canadian musician/producer Devin Townsend (STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, STEVE VAI, LAMB OF GOD, DARKEST HOUR, GWAR) to be made available under THE DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT moniker — will likely be released in the summer. Townsend writes on his Twitter account, "I deliver [the finished masters] on March 1, so maybe [the record company] can get it out earlier [than the summer]."

In other news, Townsend's previously announced new live EP, which was supposed to be made available for free download this week via Century Media Records' web site, has been delayed until next Wednesday, February 9. Devin states, "Getting the free EP up has been more semantics than I assumed."

Producer/engineer Jim Morris from Morrisound Recording Studios (TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA, ICED EARTH, CANNIBAL CORPSE) in Tampa, Florida has just finished remixing the legendary 1991 album from DEATH called "Human".

Commented Morris (pictured below): "[This was] an awesome experience for me." He added, "We were contacted by Chuck Schuldiner's intellectual property lawyer, Eric Greif, the former manager of DEATH."

"Human" will be reissued in 2011 internationally in a partnership between Relapse Records and Perseverance Holdings Ltd. The reissue will mark the 20th anniversary of the original release of "Human" on Relativity/Sony and will include loads of extras, including DEATH's cover of "God Of Thunder" by KISS.

Added Eric Greif: "The former DEATH guys Paul Masvidal (guitar), Sean Reinert (drums) and Steve DiGiorgio (bass) are all 'ecstatic' about the prospect of a heavier mix, where all the instruments can be heard and modern technology utilized. Jim said he took into account everything he and Chuck agreed upon during the making of 'Symbolic' (1995) and 'The Sound Of Perseverance' (1998) as his guide for what he believed Chuck would want from such a remix. I myself am thrilled."

"Human" is the best-selling DEATH album of the SoundScan era, having shifted 94,000 copies in the United States since its October 1991 release.

Chicago-based progressive metal hybrid BORN OF OSIRIS will release its third full-length album, "The Discovery", on March 22 via Sumerian Records. The CD was recorded at BOTA Studio in Lake In The Hills, Illinois and was mixed by Jason Suecof (ALL THAT REMAINS, TRIVIUM, DEVILDRIVER).

A track from the forthcoming album, "Follow The Sign", is now available for streaming on the band's Facebook page.

A series of specially priced pre-order bundle packages are now available for a limited time only.

Commented guitarist Lee McKinney: "The track 'Follow The Signs' is a song we've done a lot of experimenting with. We recorded it a couple different times, once in demo form with Misha Mansoor of PERIPHERY, and once again on 'The Discovery'. This version has a different structure than we originally planned for, but we like the way it has progressed. It's one of the more straightforward songs on the album, and the ending gives an idea of how we've stepped up the guitar work for this effort."

BORN OF OSIRIS is preparing to co-headline the third annual "Atticus Metal" tour with DARKEST HOUR. AS BLOOD RUNS BLACK and THE HUMAN ABSTRACT round out the stellar bill. SLEEPING GIANT will be special guests on all West Coast dates and look for other special openers on other shows depending on the region.

BORN OF OSIRIS's sophomore album, "A Higher Place", came out in 2009.

German Viking metallers VARG will release their new album, "Wolfskult", on March 4 via NoiseArt Records. The artwork was created by Thomas Ewerhard and can be seen below. A limited-edition two-CD digipak version of the album will be made available in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

The track listing is as follows:

CD 1:

01. Jagd
02. Wir Sind Die Wölfe
03. Schwertzeit
04. Wolfskult
05. Naglfar
06. Glorreiche Tage
07. Phönix
08. Blutdienst III
09. Sehnsucht
10. Glutsturm

CD 2 (digipak)

01. Rotkäppchen (feat. Anna Murphy of ELUVEITIE)
02. Aus Der Asche Ins Licht
03. Helden Der Nacht
04. Nichts Zu Fürchten
05. Urd (acoustic version)
06. Verdandi (Wolfszeit acoustic version feat. Masha of ARKONA)
07. Skuld (Skal acoustic version)
08. [Hidden Track]

The track "Wir Sind Die Wölfe" can be streamed using the Soundcloud player below.

"Wolfskult" was once again produced by Andy Classen (LEGION OF THE DAMNED, BELPHEGOR, DIE APOKALYPTISCHEN REITER) at Stage One Studios in Kassel, Germany.

Commented the band: "We are still blown away by the killer production which Andy Classen did for the album. The sound is outstandingly amazing, and the main riff of 'Wolfskult' will tear your spine in pieces. A choir of 50 real and true VARG fans and maniacs from Germany and Austria can be heard on 'Wir Sind Die Wölfe' and with the 10-minute epic 'Sehnsucht' we've accomplished the biggest and best piece in music of our history so far!"

Video footage from the studio can be viewed below.

VARG released its sophomore album, "Blutaar", on January 22, 2010 via Nuclear Blast Records.

Keyboardist Jordan Rudess of progressive metal giants DREAM THEATER is featured in a new Goldmine article in which he shares the albums that have influenced him and "changed his life."

His selections were as follows:

* EMERSON LAKE AND PALMER - "Tarkus"
* GENESIS - "Trick Of The Tail"
* GENTLE GIANT - "Free Hand"
* YES - "Close To The Edge"
* TANGERINE DREAM - "Phaedra"
* RICK WAKEMAN - "Six Wives Of Henry The VIII"
* KING CRIMSON - "Court Of The Crimson King"
* JIMI HENDRIX - "Electric Ladyland"
* PINK FLOYD - "Dark Side Of The Moon"
* APHEX TWIN - "Come to Daddy"

Southern California metallers WINDS OF PLAGUE will release their new album, "Against The World", on April 19 via Century Media Records. The CD was recorded at a Los Angeles studio with renowned producer Matt Hyde (SLAYER, HATEBREED) and will feature guest appearances by Jamey Jasta of HATEBREED, Drew York of STRAY FROM THE PATH, TERROR guitarist Martin Stewart and Mattie Montgomery from FOR TODAY.

"Against The World" track listing:

01. Raise The Dead
02. One For The Butcher
03. Drop The Match
04. Built For War
05. Refined In The Fire
06. The Warrior Code
07. Against The World
08. Monsters
09. Most Hated
10. Only Song We're Allowed To Play In Church Venues
11. California
12. Strength To Dominate

Performance footage of new WINDS OF PLAGUE song "Refined In The Fire" in Hamburg, Germany on November 17, 2010 with guest vocals by Mattie Montgomery of FOR TODAY can be viewed below.

After annihilating the masses on the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival throughout the summer of 2010, WINDS OF PLAGUE will further spread its carnage across North America on the Vans Warped Tour in the summer of 2011.

"The Great Stone War", the latest album from WINDS OF PLAGUE, sold 6,300 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 73 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD was released on August 11, 2009 in the U.S. via Century Media Records.

"Blood Culture", the new video from Danish thrash metallers ESSENCE, can be viewed below. The song comes off the band's debut album, "Lost In Violence", which will be released on February 25 via Belgium's Ultimhate Records. The CD was recorded at Medley Studios (ARTILLERY, PRINCE, RADIOHEAD, MARY J. BLIGE, KELLY CLARKSON, THE CARDIGANS) in Copenhagen and was produced and mixed by Soren Andersen (Glenn Hughes, Dave Mustaine, Mike Tramp). The mastering duties were handled by Nikolaj Vinten at Vinten Mastering (COLDPLAY, D-A-D, DIZZY MIZZ LIZZY). The cover artwork was created by Justin Osbourn from Slash Design (ABORTED, SUICIDE SILENCE, ABIGAIL WILLIAMS, MAROON, SKELETONWITCH) and can be viewed below.

This message was posted on FOREFATHER MySpace page:

"Since we've been getting a lot of enquiries about our activities lately, here is an update on the FOREFATHER camp. In the coming week we will be entering the studio to begin recording work in earnest on our sixth album. We've been working on small parts here and there over the last year, but now it's time to tie them all together into a new release. We have a lot of songs in the works and there is therefore likely to be material left over for another future album. We will update again once we have progressed further in the creative process. For now, thanks for all your interest and support!".

After repeated requests from their fans and concert promoters alike, Danish hard rockers ROYAL HUNT and their former lead singer D.C. Cooper have mutually decided to reunite — for a very few selected dates — in order to perform the entire "Paradox" (their first concept album from 1997) and several of "everybody's all-time favorite" songs from that period.

In other news, guitarist Marcus Jidell has left ROYAL HUNT "due to [his] new commitments with EVERGREY." He says in a statement, "The last five years has in every way been a great journey for me.

"I always felt very fortunate to be able to play with the great musicians of ROYAL HUNT and to have had the chance to get to know the supportive and wonderful fans of the band.

"It has been years of great fun, new experiences in music and we've visited places I've never seen before.

"I met so many people on the road with ROYAL HUNT that I really hope to see again."

MIKE TRAMP & THE ROCK 'N' ROLL CIRCUZ, the new project led by WHITE LION singer Mike Tramp, will release its second album, "Stand Your Ground", on March 28 via Target Records. Mike wrote all the songs on the CD, which was recorded almost live at Medley Studios in Copenhagen with Søren Andersen and Mike Tramp as producers. The album was mixed by Jacob Hansen (VOLBEAT, RAUNCHY, THE STORM, SURFACT). The cover artwork (see below) was created by Karsten Sand (VOLBEAT).

A teaser for the album can be viewed below. Also available is an interview with Tramp and Søren Andersen conducted by TC Electronic.

"Stand Your Ground" track listing:

01. Don't Let Them Put It On You
02. Alright By Me
03. Distance
04. Gotta Get Away
05. Straight From The Look In My Eyes
06. Got Me Crazy
07. Wish You Well
08. World Is Changing
09. Prettiest Thing
10. Say What You Will
11. The Soldier Never Started A War

QUEENSRŸCHE singer Geoff Tate stars in the psychological thriller "The Burningmoore Incident". The film focuses on the murderous rampage that took place in March 2010 in Bayside, Queens, as the construction team of Cole Contracting was being video taped by multiple cameras on the first day of what was to be a home makeover reality show. By sundown the house was a bloody scene of carnage.

Longtime admirers of Geoff's onstage theatrics and commanding presence, Fires At Midnight Films, found him to be a perfect fit as the film's unstoppable killing machine. Geoff also contributed an exclusive new track to the film.

Jeb Wright of Classic Rock Revisited recently conducted an interview with Mark Huff, the San Diego, California-based vocalist who has signed on as lead singer for QUIET RIOT, succeeding Kevin DuBrow, who died in 2007.

"I am honored and very excited to be QUIET RIOT's new singer," exclaimed Huff. "I am also humbled and feel a bit of pressure. Who wouldn't feel pressure? Kevin DuBrow was a one-of-a-kind songwriter, musician and a consummate performer. He had an incredible vocal range; I have mass respect for Kevin."

Regarding what fans should expect to see from the new lineup of QUIET RIOT, Huff said, "I don't think trying to duplicate Kevin's every sound or movement is what honors Kevin DuBrow or QUIET RIOT. It's important for me to stay true to the songs as they were written, as the fans remember them, and to bring the live show to full strength. I am not here to replace Kevin DuBrow."

He continued, "Frankie [Banali, drums] summed it up best when he said, 'Kevin DuBrow was one of a kind and cannot be replaced.' I am here to help QUIET RIOT continue to keep the music alive in the most flattering way possible."

Canadian heavy metal legends ANVIL will release their new album, "Juggernaut Of Justice", on May 10 via The End Records. The CD was recorded at Dave Grohl's (NIRVANA, FOO FIGHTERS) Studio 606 in Northridge, California with famed producer Bob Marlette (BLACK SABBATH, AIRBOURNE, FILTER, ATREYU, ALICE COOPER). Prior to the arrival of the new album, The End will release the definitive ANVIL anthology. The collection will be comprised of classics old and new, with some surprises, and will showcase the band's entire career spanning back to 1978.

Commented ANVIL singer/guitarist Steve "Lips" Kudlow: "I must say that this is by far the best ANVIL ever. There will be a few new surprises including [bassist] Glenn 5's first lead vocals in ANVIL's history. The production that Bob Marlette has done far surpasses anything we've done in the past. The excitement within the band is over the top and we can't wait to unleash this amazing cd to the fans."

Drummer Robb Reiner concurred, "The new album is pure ANVIL with a new fresh kick, very exciting.

"Looking to rocking with The End, putting the music where it belongs — in everybody's ears and face!"

In a 2009 interview with Suite101.com, Reiner stated about the group's forthcoming CD, "It's going to be the best album we've ever done. We've invented a new genre; we've invented metal-jazz . . . We've pioneered something that I believe is going to be revolutionary. I'm a jazz drummer: the world knows that I just happen to be in a metal band. And Lips listens to a lot of old-time swing jazz these days." Lips added, "I've been getting into Benny Goodman and Gene Krupa, really fast swing. It's really similar to speed metal, it's just that it's done with horns." Reiner continued, "We play this stuff live right now, and it blows people away beyond anything I've ever seen. We've innocently created something that's never been done before."