"Your Everyday Disaster", a brand new song from Washington D.C.-based metallers DARKEST HOUR, can be streamed at ArtistDirect.com. The track comes off the band's new album, "The Human Romance", which will be released in Europe on March 7 via Century Media Records and in North America on February 22 through eOne Music. The CD was recorded at a North Carolina studio with producer (and SOILWORK guitarist) Peter Wichers.

This time around, the DARKEST HOUR songs were composed a bit differently than was the case in the past. Guitarist Mike Schleibaum explains, "We have been working on these tunes ever since we left the studio last April.

"'The Eternal Return' was written during a very dark, bleak time for the band and I think that record matches that in both tone and character. Our vision was for it to be an in-your-face, no-frills aggressive assault. The new material shares in that aggression and pushes DARKEST HOUR beyond the unknown."

Wichers previously helmed such acclaimed albums as ALL THAT REMAINS' "The Fall of Ideals" and SOILWORK's latest effort, "The Panic Broadcast".

"The Human Romance" track listing:

01. Terra Nocturnus
02. The World Engulfed In Flames
03. Savor The Kill
04. Man And Swine
05. Love As A Weapon
06. Your Everyday Disaster
07. Violent By Nature
08. Purgatory
09. Severed Separates
10. Wound
11. Terra Solaris
12. Beyond The Life You Know

"Not Strong Enough", the new video from the Finnish rock cello quartet APOCALYPTICA, can be viewed below. The song features the vocals from HOOBASTANK's Doug Robb after the singing of SHINEDOWN frontman Brent Smith was removed from the track due to the fact that APOCALYPTICA failed to secure the right to release the song to radio with Smith's voice on it from SHINEDOWN's label, Atlantic Records. Smith's vocal track remains on the version found on the group's latest album, "7th Symphony".

Former EMPEROR frontman Ihsahn (real name: Vegard Sverre Tveitan) has contributed guest vocals to "Deconstruction" — the third 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.

Commented Ihsahn: "I have been a longtime fan of Devin and his work, and when he asked me to do some vocals for his upcoming 'Deconstruction' album, I said yes right away.

"Devin is one of those few uncompromising artists who goes anywhere with their music, wherever that takes them. Nothing but respect!"

Townsend has tapped Jens Bogren (OPETH, KATATONIA, PARADISE LOST, BLOODBATH) to mix "Deconstruction". The sessions will take place in late February at Fascination Street studio in Örebro, Sweden.

Commented Devin: "'Deconstruction' is brutal in a lot of parts, but pretty glorious in others. It rides the fence of negativity but ultimately ends supremely positive.

"There are two drummers on this one, Ryan Van Poederooyen [TERROR SYNDROME, THE DEVIN TOWNSEND BAND] for the crushing stuff, and Dirk Verbeuren [SOILWORK, SCARVE, ABORTED] for the inhuman stuff.

"This is a record I have been working up to for some time, and while doing it, I realize that not only am I in control of it (totally) but that this newfound control allows me to take it to places I would have never been able to a decade ago. I pretty much believe that this will be one of our finest hours, and although there is some funny moments, it's a pretty 'pointed' record (if ya know what I mean)..."

Several songs into last night's (Thursday, January 27) MURDERDOLLS concert in Bordeaux, France, the band's guitarist, Joey Jordison (who also plays drums for SLIPKNOT and ROB ZOMBIE), suddenly threw his guitar towards the drum set and walked off stage (see video below). The rest of the group finished the track before leaving the stage. The full band came back five minutes later, with singer Wednesday 13 apologizing to the crowd for "technical problems." But after another couple of numbers, Joey walked off stage a second time. After the song ended, the rest of the band left the stage again. They came back five minutes later, this time without Joey, stating that he wouldn't be back on stage but that the rest of the band would finish the show, apologizing once again for "technical issues" and asking the crowd for understanding. They played a few more songs as a four-piece band before exiting the stage one final time, leaving the crow surprised and frustrated.

MURDERDOLLS guitarist Joey Jordison (who also plays drums for SLIPKNOT and ROB ZOMBIE) has released the following statement regarding the band's abbreviated performance last night (Thursday, January 27) in Bordeaux, France:

"Hello to all our fans and friends in France.

"I'm writing to address the situation which took place in Bordeaux on Thursday night.

"As it has been seen in videos online [see below], I threw my guitar and walked off stage.

"I want to clear up what exactly happened.

"I have a condition with my ears called tinnitus, which in my case is very severe, and has been causing me excruciating pain for two years now. That night in Bordeaux, my tinnitus was at an extreme.

"I wanted to come out and play the best show that I could. However, due to technical difficulties, and high-end feedback that persisted in the monitors, the pain within my ears became unbearable. I tried to attempt to play after I walked off the first time but it got worse.

"I'm okay, but I have to watch my ears so as not to cause any permanent damage.

"I want to apologize to the fans in attendance in Bordeaux; I meant no disrespect whatsoever and I hope that my fans understand this."

Vocalist Chris Barnes of Florida death metallers SIX FEET UNDER has issued the following update:

"To the loyal fans of SIX FEET UNDER, our longtime friends and bandmates Terry Butler (bass) and Greg Gall (drums) have decided to move on and depart from SIX FEET UNDER [as first reported by BLABBERMOUTH.NET yesterday]. Steve Swanson (guitar) and myself are grateful for all the fun times we've shared together through the years, and wish them the best of luck in their musical endeavors.

"Just to fill you all in, Steve and myself are very excited about the future of SIX FEET UNDER, and I have been working hard on writing the new SIX FEET UNDER material for the past four months with a new writing partner.

"I will make this guarantee and promise to all the fans of SIX FEET UNDER: the new lineup will be a death metal force to be dealt with, with the long-awaited addition of a brutal-as-fuck drummer and riffs that will rip your face off, vocals ala 1993-1995...

"Thank you all for your continued support and devotion, see you soon!"

Indian death metal band EXHUMATION will release its second album, "Consider This", on March 7. The CD will be released as a free download on the group's ReverbNation page and will contain eight tracks of brutal death metal. The band has also inked a deal with retail store CDRack.in to release a limited edition of the album on CD for diehard fans who would like to own a physical copy. The CDs will be limited to 200 copies and will be hand-numbered. The artwork was created by guitarist Prashant Shah, who has handled all of the band's previous artwork as well as art for bands like SCRIBE and DEMONIC RESURRECTION.

01. All That Is
02. Blood-Drenched Flags
03. Black Plague
04. Worship Thyself
05. Consider This
06. Hell Forbid
07. Absolute Power Now
08. Alpha Omega

Commented Shah: "'Consider This' is about choice — you have two paths, there are external forces from each paths that are trying for you to consider them. Artwork-wise I deviated from the actual lyrical story which is about the darker side of the universe is trying to convince man by giving him valid reasons to consider it over the other side of the universe, and the man chooses the darker side. My interpretation is the opposite, where the brighter side is trying to convince man and prevails. The lyrical content and artwork are choices as well."

Astraeus Airlines was the principal supplier of cargo and passenger carriage on IRON MAIDEN's 2008 "Somewhere Back in Time" tour. The tour covered 20 cities in 13 countries over a period of three months. Astraeus Airlines 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 tonnes.

Following extensive planning and preparation, a dedicated crew accompanied the tour to deliver a bespoke service to meet the individual needs of the passengers whilst onboard.

"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!"

Following on from the success of the 2008 tour, IRON MAIDEN chartered the combi aircraft again for the final leg of their "Somewhere Back in Time" 2009 world tour. This tour saw the aircraft take in 30 countries over a period of 54 days.

Astraeus Airlines will be operating the IRON MAIDEN 2011 world tour. This will see the airline taking in some new stops such as Singapore, Jakarta in Indonesia, Seoul-Incheon International Airport in South Korea, Belem in Brazil and Tampa in Florida.

Photos below courtesy of Astraeus Airlines

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?'"

In the two-minute YouTube clip below, Maryland rockers CLUTCH give you a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of their new "Slow Roll" design tour shirt, which is being sold for under $20 at Clutchmerch.com and on the CLUTCH / MOTÖRHEAD / VALIENT THORR North American tour.

Check out this brand new production video, which not only gives you a bird's eye view of the manufacturing process, but also features a 90-second clip of the first new CLUTCH studio recordings in almost two years. The song is called "Boxcar Shorty's Confession" and will be one of the 10 tracks on the "Blast Tyrant" reissue bonus CD titled "Basket of Eggs", in stores March 29.

Old-school Swedish death dealers MIASMAL have revealed the artwork for their self-titled full-length debut, tentatively due in April. The effort will be made available on CD by Dark Descent Records and given the vinyl treatment through Detest Records and Me Saco Un Ojo. The CD version will contain eight brand new tracks as well as six bonus tunes taken from the band's sold-out demo recording and seven-inch EP.

In other news, MIASMAL is currently gearing up for its first U.S. tour, set to kick off this May. Appearances at Maryland Deathfest and Chaos In Tejas (which runs June 2-5 in Austin, Texas) are already confirmed.

Powerhouse American vocalist Tim "Ripper" Owens (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, BEYOND FEAR, JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH) has issued the following update:

"[Listed below are] some of the songs I will play on the tours and shows in the next few months... with plenty of surprises thrown in! So Eastern Europe; Lima, Peru; Venezuela, Tunisia... ARE YOU READY? Which tunes will you get and which extras will you get?"

Tracks up for consideration:

* Scream Machine (BEYOND FEAR)
* The Human Race (BEYOND FEAR)
* And... You Will Die (BEYOND FEAR)
* Believe (TIM "RIPPER" OWENS solo)
* Starting Over (TIM "RIPPER" OWENS solo)
* It Is Me (TIM "RIPPER" OWENS solo)
* Lost And Found (JUDAS PRIEST)
* Hell Is Home (JUDAS PRIEST)
* One On One (JUDAS PRIEST)
* Burn In Hell (JUDAS PRIEST)
* Blood Stained (JUDAS PRIEST)
* When The Eagle Cries (ICED EARTH)
* Heart Of A Killer (WINTERS BANE)
* A Touch Of Evil (JUDAS PRIEST)
* The Ripper (JUDAS PRIEST)
* Victim Of Changes (JUDAS PRIEST)

A teaser for "Freedom To The Slave Makers", the forthcoming album from Israeli metallers BETZEFER, can be viewed below.

"Doomsday" is a short zombie-flick with strong Israeli and Jewish motifs, promoting "Freedom to the Slave Makers". It was written and directed by BETZEFER frontman Avital Tamir's filmmaker group, the Bong Bros., initially as part of their upcoming feature film "A Land Flowing". The band's heavy involvement in the production, from contributing a song by the same name, "Doomsday", to the soundtrack, to guitarist Matan Cohen-Grumi doing post-production, led to the band using the film as a teaser for their upcoming CD, which will be released worldwide on February 18 via AFM Records.

"Freedom To The Slave Makers" was recorded with acclaimed producer Warren Riker (DOWN, CYNIC, LAURYN HILL, SANTANA) and features the following track listing:

01. Best Seller
02. Backstage Blues
03. Feels So Right
04. Diamond Director
05. Nothing But Opinions
06. Doomsday
07. Empty Magazine
08. Perfect Lie
09. Song For The Alcoholic
10. Heavensent

EARTH's highly anticipated new full-length album willbe released on February 22 via Southern Lord Recordings. Following the band's magnificent 2008 opus, "The Bees Made Honey In The Lion's Skull", the next chapter in the ongoing EARTH legacy, "Angels Of Darkness, Demons Of Light 1", is available for streaming in its entirety at NPR.org. (Note: The stream will only be available until February 7.) Due in February 2011 via Southern Lord Recordings, the recently completed new album has been titled "Angels Of Darkness, Demons Of Light 1" and promises to be a brand new entity within EARTH's already impressive and constantly progressing lineage.

Die aus Montreal stammenden Death Metaller von NEURAXIS haben ihr kommendes, bereits sechstes Studioalbum auf den Namen "Asylon" getauft. Den Nordamerika Release wird Prosthetic Records am 15. Februar 2011 übernehmen - über etwaige europäische Veröffentlichungsdaten bzw. Companies ist indes nichts bekannt. Was aber bekannt ist, dass "Asylon" in den Wildsound Studio zusammen mit Produzent Chris Donaldson (CRYPTOPSY, THE LAST FELONY, THE AGONIST) aufgenommen wurde. Jetzt wurde der neue Song "Savior and Destroyer" zum probehören online gestellt.

STRONGER, FASTER & MORE UNIFIED THAN EVER!
Mercenary waren die letzten 10 Jahre eine der aktivsten und erfolgreichsten Bands der stetig wachsenden Dänischen Metalszene. Fünf Studio Alben wurden bisher veröffentlicht, welche von der internationalen Presse für ihre charakteristische Härte als auch Melodie ausgezeichnet wurden und der Band ein internationales Publikum und eine große Fanbase einbrachten. Mercenary waren konstant auf Tour, u.a. als Support von Megadeth, Arch Enemy, Nevermore, King Diamond, Death Angel und vielen mehr.

Abseits der Bühnen gab es allerdings einschneidende kreative als auch persönliche Meinungsverschiedenheiten, welche sich über die Jahre augebauscht hatten und Ende 2009 schließlich im Weggang des Drummers, Keyboarders und eines der Sänger resultierte. Mit dem neuen Schlagzeuger Morten Løwe and Bord, besteht das Songwriting Team der Band jetzt aus dem Gründungsmitglied Jakob Mølbjerg (Gitarre), Meister-Shredder Martin Buus (Lead-Gitarre) sowie dem vielschichtigen Sänger und Bassisten René Pedersen.

MERCENARY COMBINE THEIR PAST WITH THEIR FUTURE!
Aus den Ruinen auferstanden… Im Jahr 2011 entwickelten Mercenary ihren Sound noch weiter, ihre Trademarks cleane und aggressive Vocals, zusammen mit einem eingängigen, frischen Sound sind besser und präsenter als je zuvor und die Band ist als Einheit stärker denn je zurückgekehrt! Ihr prägnanter Sound ist für Metaller, Prog-Freunde und Death-Metaller gleichermaßen anziehend; Mercenary sind die geniale Schnittmenge aus Children Of Bodom, Soilwork und Arch Enemy, ohne jedoch ihre Eigenheit, ihren Charakter zu verlieren!

FROM ASHES A NEW DAWN AWAKES!
Mercenary´s neues Album “Metamorphosis” wurde von Juni - September 2010 vom Dänischen Produzenten Jacob Hansen aufgenommen und gemixt! Das Album thematisiert nicht nur die Entwicklung der Band selber, sondern auch die persönlichen Veränderungen und die Verantwortlichkeit der Entscheidungen, die wir treffen sowie die Willensstärke die benötigt wird, existenzielle Hürden und Zweifel zu meistern, als auch die Schwierigkeiten, sich selbst und seinen persönlichen Werten treu zu bleiben.

Das neue Album erscheint am 25. Februar 2011 via NoiseArt Records in Europa und am 29. März in den USA via Prosthetic Records. Am 25. Februar geht die Band zudem auf die Power Of Metal Tour mit Symphony X, Nevermore, Psychotic Waltz und Thaurorod.

Seht euch hier den Album Trailer an, der Auszüge aus dem Album beinhaltet und euch einen Vorgeschmack gibt, wie geil die neue Platte geworden ist:

The reunited "Thundersteel" lineup of U.S. metal veterans RIOT is contuing work its next studio album, tentatively due later in the year.

Commented guitarist Mark Reale: "Things are moving forward and the band sounds great. We have four songs just about done. I just have to finish a few leads and maybe a few backing vocal tracks but for the most part there done and sound great! Now we just have to get together again and record the rest of the tunes here in New York.

"We've been getting a lot of interest for the new record and plan on touring when it comes out.

"Due to all the snow here on the East Coast, things have been set back some, but the album will come out this year, hopefully by the summer time."

RIOT last year reunited with Tony Moore — only nine months after announcing that they were parting ways with the vocalist over "differences about how to proceed with the future of the band."

RIOT performed one of the new songs, "Wings Are For Angels", for the first time at the Sweden Rock Festival on June 6, 2009.

Episode 337 of the "Talking Metal" podcast (web site) contains an interview host Mark Strigl conducted with bass veteran Rudy Sarzo (OZZY OSBOURNE, WHITESNAKE, QUIET RIOT, DIO, BLUE ÖYSTER CULT). During the chat, Rudy stated, "I completely support [drummer] Frankie Banali's decision to continue QUIET RIOT without [late singer] Kevin DuBrow. It is basically the same band that was QUIET RIOT before Kevin passed away. I think it is very important to carry on the spirit of QUIET RIOT. The music lives on forever." You can now stream the podcast using the audio player below.

Bassist Terry Butler (SIX FEET UNDER, OBITUARY, DEATH, MASSACRE) has released the following statement to BLABBERMOUTH.NET:

"I would just like to put it out there that Greg Gall [drums] and I have parted ways with SIX FEET UNDER.

"As many of you know, I have been helping OBITUARY out on bass over the past year and now will be officially joining them as a permanent band member.

"Being in SIX FEET UNDER for 16 years, I have had the pleasure of meeting a lot of our dedicated fans and have made many friends along the way. I hope to see you out there!

"I wish nothing but the best for Chris Barnes [vocals] and Steve Swanson [guitar] in their future with SIX FEET UNDER."

The first of three short films giving further insight into the concept of WITHIN TEMPTATION's fifth studio album, "The Unforgiving", can be viewed below. The CD was produced by Daniel Gibson and is based on a comic book story written by script writer Steven O'Connell (BloodRayne, Dark 48). The band asked comic artist Romano Molenaar (Witchblade, Darkness, X-Men) to draw the characters and scenery of "The Unforgiving", which is set for release via Sony Music in Continental Europe and Roadrunner Records in the U.S., U.K. and Ireland, Japan and Australia. The films are based on the comic storyline; the characters are impersonated by actors. Each film is followed by a band performance that, all together, form a dark and compelling tale of life, love, revenge, rage, and regret.

THE NIBIRUAN, the new Finnish metal band featuring former AMORAL guitarist Silver Ots alongside Lauri Koskenniemi (guitar) and Eerik Purdon (bass) of SHEAR, has issued the following update:

"We entered the studio last weekend to record some new stuff and man has it been a blast. Everything has worked out better than we anticipated and we now have recorded the drums and almost all of the guitars to our upcoming release. We will continue recording vocals, bass, some keyboards (cool, huh?) and the lead guitars during this week and I hope that in a month or so we'll have something new for your hungry ears!"

Fastball Music has set a March 18 release date for "Thousand Men Strong", the brand new studio album from the newly revamped lineup of the NWOBHM band TOKYO BLADE — featuring Andy Boulton (guitar), John Wiggins (guitar), Andy Wrighton (bass) and Steve Pierce (drums), alongside new singer Nicolaj "Nick" Ruhnow (IRONY, VOIVITTU, DOMAIN, NICK HELLFORT). The CD was helmed by veteran British producer Chris Tsangarides, who has previously worked with THIN LIZZY, Y&T, FREE, BLACK SABBATH, IAN GILLAN, JUDAS PRIEST, OZZY OSBOURNE and ANVIL, among others.

Exactly thirty years ago Boulton founded TOKYO BLADE together with Alan Marsh (vocals), Ray Dismore (guitar), Andy Robbins (bass) and Steve Pierce (drums) in Salisbury. At first, they called themselves KILLER, then GENGHIS KHAN before they took on the band name TOKYO BLADE for good in 1983.

At the end of 1983, TOKYO BLADE released its self-titled debut album, albeit without guitarist Ray Dismore but with the new addition John Wiggins. The following EP, "Midnight Rendezvous" featured the song "If Heaven Is Hell", representing the band's first musical climax.

"Night Of The Blade" — released in 1984 — is a milestone of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal which should not be missing in any record collection. "Lighting Strikes" and "Rock Me To The Limit" are another two hits from the album which brought TOKYO BLADE the international big break.

Due to internal differences, the band broke up and the band members turned to various other projects. However, Andy Boulton did not give up. In 1990 he returned to the front line together with the original singer Alan Marsh. Together with John Wiggins and the new additions Colin Riggs (bass) and Mark Angel (drums) they released the comeback album "Burning Down Paradise" in 1995.

Boulton reactivated his former companions in 2009 due to the ongoing interest in the band. The race for the position of the vocalist was won by the German prodigy Nicolaj Ruhnow who also takes an active part in the melodic metal band DOMAIN and his own project NICK HELLFORT.

"Thousand Men Strong" track listing:

01. Black Abyss
02. Thousand Men Strong
03. Lunch-Case
04. Forged In Hell’s Fire
05. No Conclusion
06. The Ambush
07. Killing Rays
08. Heading Down The Road
09. Condemned To Fire
10. Night Of The Blade

Commented the band: "We are treating ['Thousand Men Strong'] as [our] third album, or the third album that should have been, so to speak. We view it as the natural follow-up to [1984's] 'Night Of The Blade' as the songs hark back to the glory days of NWOBHM.

The group added, "We have deliberately recorded the whole thing in a very live manner in just over a week (real time) as albums were recorded [back in the early '80s]. No keyboards, no bullshit — just 100% heavy metal helped considerably by the talent of our new vocalist, Nicolaj, and classic heavy metal producer Chris Tsangarides."

TOKYO BLADE in July 2010 parted ways with vocalist Chris Gillen — only eight months after announcing Gillen's addition to the group.

TOKYO BLADE's current lineup is:

Andy Boulton (guitar)
John Wiggins (guitar)
Andy Wrighton (bass)
Steve Pierce (drums)
Nicolaj "Nick" Ruhnow (vocals)

Frontiers Records has announce the signing of legendary British hard rockers URIAH HEEP for the release of their 23rd studio album, tentatively due in April.

Following the completion of URIAH HEEP's 40th anniversary tour, the band started the recordings for its new CD in January at Liscombe Park Studios in Buckinghamshire, England. Entitled "Into The Wild", it will contain 11 brand new songs, including some epic additions to the band's huge catalogue of rock classics.

Commented guitarist and founding member Mick Box: "We are delighted and excited to be joining the Frontiers roster. We see it as a really fantastic move and we are now fully immersed in recording process and hope to deliver the album they want, we want and the fans want."

The band has recorded a video recording diary and the first chapter can be seen below.

Audio clips of all the songs that will appear on "Blood Alliance", the new album from U.K-based metallers POWER QUEST, can be streamed in the YouTube clip below. The CD will be released via Napalm Records on the following dates:

Spain, Finland, Sweden: March 23
Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Benelux, Italy: March 25
Rest of Europe: March 28
USA, Canada: April 5

"Blood Alliance" was recorded at Foel Studios (PAUL RODGERS, NAPALM DEATH, THE WILDHEARTS) in Wales next . Eleven songs were laid down for the follow-up to 2008's "Master Of Illusion", including one bonus track. The CD cover artwork was once again designed by Felipe Machado (BLIND GUARDIAN, SILENT FORCE) and can be viewed below.

Commented keyboardist Steve Williams: "Well, it has been a long time coming but finally the fifth POWER QUEST album is done and I don't think I have ever been so excited about releasing an album. All the guys have given 110% to this record and I'm proud of them all. It's without doubt the heaviest POWER QUEST album yet but without sacrificing the POWER QUEST melodic tradition. I just can't wait for you all to hear it!"

"Blood Alliance" track listing:

01. Battle Stations
02. Rising Anew
03. Glorious
04. Sacrifice
05. Survive
06. Better Days
07. Crunching The Numbers
08. Only In My Dreams
09. Blood Alliance
10. City Of Lies
11. Time To Burn (Japanese bonus track)

From the official website:

After the intensive promotion of "Anno Domini High Definition" Riverside goes back to composing new material. And although ADHD´s successor is to be released no earlier than 2012, some cool things are being prepared for the upcoming year.

"We´ve begun working on the new album, or actually two albums. Because except for the usual long album we'd also like to release a minialbum," says Mariusz Duda. "Why? Well, the band was formed in 2001 so next year it's our tenth birthday. We'd like to celebrate and highlight this anniversary in some way. So next year we're planning to go on anniversary tour not only with invited guests but also something more--a release specially prepared for this occasion, only available at the concerts. So now we're working both on the new album and the above mentioned EP. A short break was good for us because now we have really good ideas."

CAVALERA CONSPIRACY — the project featuring former SEPULTURA members Max (guitar, vocals) and Igor Cavalera (drums) — will release its sophomore album, "Blunt Force Trauma", on March 28 not only as a standard CD but also as an "awesome" CD/DVD package.

"Blunt Force Trauma" was once again tracked with Logan Mader (ex-MACHINE HEAD/SOULFLY guitarist), who co-produced the LP with Max. Logan also mixed the follow-up to the band's debut album, "Inflikted", which has sold less than 45,000 copies in the United States since its March 2008 release, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

The brothers Cavalera co-founded SEPULTURA, the Brazilian metal band that redefined and established the genre outside of the U.S. and Europe. After Max exited the band, there was a rift between himself and his brother, one that was eventually repaired through the redemptive power of music. Some time had passed and Max and Igor were unable to resist the musical pull in their magnetic fields and their musical collaboration was renewed. The duo are back for round two with CAVALERA CONSPIRACY.

CAVALERA CONSPIRACY's lineup is filled out by guitarist Marc Rizzo, who plays with Max in SOULFLY, and bassist Johnny Chow.

"Blunt Force Trauma" CD/DVD track listing:

CD:

01. Warlord
02. Torture
03. Lynch Mob
04. Killing Inside
05. Thrasher
06. I Speak Hate
07. Target
08. Genghis Khan
09. Burn Waco
10. Rasputin
11. Blunt Force Trauma
12. Psychosomatic *
13. Jihad Joe *
14. Electric Funeral *

* Bonus tracks

DVD - Live at Les Eurockéennes Festival, Belfort, France - July 5, 2008 (except *):

01. Sanctuary
02. Territory
03. Terrorize
04. The Doom Of All Fires
05. Inner Self/Nevertrust
06. Arise/Dead Embryonic Cells
07. Desperate Cry/Propaganda
08. Wasting Away
09. Black Ark
10. Holiday In Cambodia/Biotech Is Godzilla
11. Hearts Of Darkness
12. Refuse/Resist
13. Troops Of Doom
14. Must Kill
15. Roots Bloody Roots
16. Sanctuary (music video) *

In an interview with Triple J's "The Racket", Max Cavalera stated about the sophomore album from CAVALERA CONSPIRACY, "We recorded 15 songs, 13 being originals for the album, and then we did a BLACK SABBATH cover, 'Electric Funeral', that's gonna come out on a Metal Hammer compilation in Europe. And we did a BLACK FLAG cover, a song called 'Six Pack'. We also had a collaboration with Roger [Miret] from AGNOSTIC FRONT — he sings on a song called 'Lynch Mob' that we did together in the studio in L.A.; he flew to L.A. to do this collaboration. I was really proud because, to me, Roger is like the godfather of New York hardcore; AGNOSTIC FRONT is one of the pioneer bands of the whole New York hardcore scene, so it was like recording with a legend of hardcore. The CAVALERA album is really intense; that's all I can say about it. It makes the first album sound like pop music."

Regarding the songwriting and recording process for the new CAVALERA CONSPIRACY album, Max said, "I wrote a lot of the stuff and I sent it to Brazil to [Igor] in the form of a CD — like four tracks of the riffs — so that he would be familiarized with the songs by the time I got to the studio. And then I brought another CD with me, which was, like, newer songs I had just got done [writing] for the album. And everything else we did in the studio together — me and him there on the spot. I told him the idea of making a very intense album with some songs being only a minute and a half, so it's a cross [between] MINOR THREAT and SLAYER and CAVALERA CONSPIRACY. So the idea was really cool — Igor really liked that — and from that point on, the album just grew and song after song, every day a new song came in. And I'm really happy with it. I think people are gonna be blown away when they hear it. I think it's a pretty cool album."

"Chaos Elecdead", the new video from Greek modern metallers INSIDEAD, can be viewed below. The song is the title track of the band's debut album, which will be released on April 29 via Massacre Records. The CD was produced by Roberto Dimitri Liapakis at Prophecy and Music Factory studios in Germany, and was mixed and mastered by Liapakis and Christian Schmid (MYSTIC PROPHECY, SUICIDAL ANGELS, SACRED STEEL). The cover artwork was created by Meran Karanitant (SIX FEET UNDER, HATEBREED, DIMMU BORGIR).

Canada's FINNR'S CANE has inked a deal with Prophecy Productions. The band will enter the studio later in the year to begin recording its second album.

With its atmospherically gripping debut album, "Wanderlust", FINNR'S CANE has fascinated and enthused lovers of wintery soundscapes somewhere between mighty offshoots of traditionally grim black metal and sublime post rock.

This unusual trio, which replaces the bass guitar with a cello, is going to take its unconventional musical jaunts supported by Prophecy Productions in the future, as the musicians have signed a contract for five albums.

In their intuitive, epic tracks, the musicians of FINNR'S CANE intertwine bitter-cold riffs with gorgeous melodies, black metal frenzy with ambient-like atmospheric rock, only following their infallible instinct for exciting soundscapes far from well-worn paths. All these features will be apparent in April, when a new edition of the rarely available "Wanderlust" with enhanced artwork will be released.