EDEN`S CURSE haben für ihr kommendes Album "Trinity" (Release am 18. März) gleich zwei Coverversionen eingespielt: "Rock´N´Roll Children" (DIO) und "Unchain The Night" (DOKKEN), von denen Letzterer nur auf der japanischen Auflage von "Trinity" zu finden sein wird. Dafür enthält die Europa-Pressung mit "We Climb" einen exklusiven Song.

Sänger Michael Eden zur Wahl des Dio-Tracks: "I loved Ronnie beyond words and have decided with the members of Eden's Curse to include one of Ronnie's metal gems in tribute to his loving memory which will appear on our third release "Trinity".

Eden über den Tod Dios: "My worst fear realized. I've lost my favorite singer and a guy I'll always consider a friend. Ronnie James Dio was the singer's singer. Heart, soul and an aggressive energy that no singer could touch."

Einen Song von DOKKEN zu covern lag ebenfalls auf der Hand, wie Bassist Paul Logue erklärt: "Unashamedly Dokken, along with Queensryche and Pink Cream 69 have been the three bands whom we built the basis of the Eden’s Curse sound around. We missed bands that created that kind of music, and we tried to get as close to that sound and vibe as possible".

Diese Wahl fiel einstimmig, wie Logue versichert: "Absolutely! It’s a song we jammed at rehearsals or sound checks and we always said "we should record this" – I’m so glad we eventually did”!
“Don and George need to kiss and make up! The hard rock world is a brighter place with Dokken around".

Die Dänischen Melodic Death Metaller MERCENARY haben das Cover sowie die Tracklist des kommenden Albums „Metamorphosis“ veröffentlicht, sowie ihr neues Band Logo enthüllt.

Statement von der Band:

„We're very proud to be able to present our new cover for our upcoming album 'Metamorphosis', as well as a brand new Mercenary-logo!

There's of course a lot of obvious (and indeed slightly cheesy) self-referential symbolism regarding the rebirth of the band in the cover artwork. But apart from that we felt that the motive of a phoenix was a really fitting expression of many of René's lyrical themes on the album, as they deal with personal and existential crisis, overcoming personal obstacles and how we can sometimes redefine ourselves in the proces of taking responsibility for altering the conditions of our very lives. This idea of personal freedom can be a very frightening thought for some, but it's actually a message of hope and optimism - we can always take control of our lives and free ourselves of inner or outer constraints, or at least take pride in the struggle to do so.

(Okay, dropping all the intellectual pretense, we just liked the artwork because it was freaking bird on fire - how cool is that!?)

On a serious note, though, we also felt that a simple, raw and iconic visual theme would support the musical direction of the new album. We feel that the songs are our strongest ever, they're no-bullshit, focused and straight to the point, and our good friend Don G really nailed these concepts with his artwork.

Finally, we have also been searching for a new logo for many years (also before the recent changes in line-up) but we never felt that we found a good enough alternative until now. With the direction of the new line-up and the new album, we not only felt that we had as good an occasion as any, but we also really liked the idea of a less polished, more raw logo which could reflect the changes in musical expression.

Hope y'all dig it.“ MERCENARY

Das neue Album erscheint am 25. Februar 2011 via NoiseArt Records, am gleichen Tag geht die Band zudem auf die Power Of Metal Tour mit Symphony X, Nevermore, Psychotic Waltz und Thaurorod.

The cover artwork is created by Don G (be.net/goerlitz), while the logo is created by BastiBasti @ Blacksome Full Service Agency (www.blacksome.de)

„Metamorphosis“ Tracklisting:
1 - Through the Eyes of the Devil
2 - The Follower
3 - In a River of Madness
4 - Memoria
5 - Velvet Lies
6 - In Bloodred Shades
7 - Shades of Grey
8 - On the Edge of Sanity
9 – The Black Brigade

WHITESNAKE, the legendary rock 'n' roll legacy founded and formed by renowned singer/songwriter David Coverdale, will release its new album, "Forevermore" on March 29 in North America (March 25 in Europe ) via Frontiers Records. The band's eleventh studio album was recorded, produced and mixed by Coverdale, guitarist Doug Aldrich and Michael McIntyre at Snakebyte Studios and Grumblenott Studios & Villas in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, with additional work at Casa Dala, Sherman Oaks, California.

With "Forevermore" Coverdale has reignited an explosively fruitful vein of creativity with guitarist and co-writer/producer Aldrich, Reb Beach (WINGER, ALICE COOPER) on guitar, Brian Tichy (OZZY OSBOURNE, BILLY IDOL, FOREIGNER) on drums and Michael Devin (KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD, LYNCH MOB) on bass, and as with all WHITESNAKE's albums, Coverdale aided so capably by Aldrich opens up his heart and soul to express emotions and empathy rarely heard these days in any musical genre.

More than simply their latest release, "Forevermore" represents WHITESNAKE's no-holds-barred, most heartfelt, melodic and musically muscular excursion for many a year.

The album's release will be anticipated by the digital only release of the first single/videoclip, "Love Will Set You Free", on February 21.

"Love Will Set You Free" audio stream:




"Forevermore" will be specially released on a "Snake Pack" edition for the first three weeks in England only. This very special release — arranged in conjunction with Future Publishing and Classic Rock magazine — will come with a collector's edition 132-page deluxe magazine plus A1 poster and metal pin badge and shall feature an exclusive cover art and two bonus live tracks, "Slide It In" and "Cheap An' Nasty", which will serve as an appetizer for the forthcoming "Live At Donington 1990", to be released in the summer 2011.

The album will be also be released on a double gatefold vinyl format, with deluxe special editions to be announced shortly.

"Forevermore" track listing:

01. Steal Your Heart Away
02. All Out Of Luck
03. Love Will Set You Free
04. Easier Said Than Done
05. Tell Me How
06. I Need You (Shine A Light)
07. One Of These Days
08. Love And Treat Me Right
09. Dogs In The Street
10. Fare Thee Well
11. Whipping Boy Blues
12. My Evil Ways
13. Forevermore

GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal has released the first of a series of singles, a punky guitar-virtuosic cover of THE FOUR TOPS' 1967 Motown hit "Bernadette" The song was recorded in the weeks surrounding Ron's first tour with GN'R as their new guitarist in 2006.

The song is available in MP3 (320kps), AAC, and higher-quality formats FLAC, MP3 HD, Apple Lossless and WAV. An instrumental version is also available in these formats. For guitarists, a "Player Pack" includes a 12-page transcription of the entire lead guitar track (PDF file), accompanied by a Backing Track version of the song (in both MP3 and WAV formats) with everything except the lead/solo guitar parts, so you can play along. And for the studio-savvy, a Producer Pack of mix "stems" — six separate files of drums, bass, rhythm guitar, lead guitar, vocals and backing vocals that you can load into your multi-track software and play with levels, edit, and make your own mixes.

For more information, go to this location.

Norwegian metallers ALLFADER will release their second full-length album, "Black Blood Flux", on January 24 via Osmose Productions. According to a press release, "The band has matured as songwriters and musicians, and, combined once again with the powerful production of Jacob Hansen, this makes for an epic album which will please old fans, and grab unsuspecting listeners by the balls.

"ALLFADER's sound remains instantly recognizable, but with 'Black Blood Flux' the band's traditional heavy metal influences are stronger than ever. In all its heaviness, the album sounds very organic and is completely stripped of synthesizers and clean vocals. The result is a rawer, more aggressive and focused sonic expression."

"ALLFADER has also secured a guest appearance from Tony Tunheim (ENSLAVEMENT OF BEAUTY) on the songs 'Draconian Command' and 'Torn From Flesh', where he contributes two stunning guitar solos.

"The amazing artwork of 'Black Blood Flux' was created by Chilean artist Mauricio J. González, who also designed ALLFADER's new logo."

ALLFADER is:

John Erik Andersen - Guitar and vocals
Finn Henriksen - Guitar
Frode Fridtjofsen - Bass
Cato Skivik - Drums

"Black Blood Flux" track listing:

01. Harbingers Of Night (5:34)
02. Draconian Command (7:19)
03. Son of Nore (6:27)
04. In Death We Trust (7:05)
05. Titan's March (5:12)
06. Torn From Flesh (7:14)
07. Black Blood Flux (Part 1) (3:33)
08. Black Blood Flux (Part 2) (8:08)

Total running time: 50:31

Swedish Viking metalles AMON AMARTH will release their eighth studio album, "Surtur Rising", in North America on March 29 via Metal Blade Records. Named in tribute to Surtur, leader of the fire giants of Muspelheim ("flame land") and the oldest being in the nine worlds of Norse mythology, the record, which was listed among Decibel magazine's most anticipated albums of 2011, features 10 tracks of sword-wielding, fist-pumping, hyper climactic battle anthems. The follow-up to 2008's monolithic "Twilight Of The Thunder God" full-length was recorded again at Fascination Street Studios in Örebro, Sweden with Jens Bogren and features strikingly brutal cover art by Tom Thiel.

"Surtur Rising" track listing:

01. War of the Gods
02. Töck's Taunt - Loke's Treachery Part II
03. Destroyer of the Universe
04. Slaves of Fear
05. Live Without Regrets
06. The Last Stand of Frej
07. For Victory or Death
08. Wrath of the Norsemen
09. A Beast Am I
10. Doom Over Dead Man

UK-based gothic power metallers PYTHIA have posted the following update:

"We are delighted to announce that Pythia have signed with the Japanese Spinning label in a two-album deal.

Our debut album, Beneath The Veiled Embrace, will be released in Japan on February 23rd. As well as the original full UK release there will be 3 extra tracks, 'Sarah' (Acoustic), 'Tristan' (Acoustic) and the band's highly acclaimed cover of the GARY MOORE song 'Thunder Rising'. These tracks were previously only available on our first two single releases, 'Sarah' and 'Army Of The Damned'. The album will also be packaged in brand new artwork.

The second release will be Pythia's as yet untitled second album, which is currently being recorded with release planned for the later part of 2011.

As a taster, see a live version of new song 'Just a Lie', filmed in London towards the end of 2010!"

US metallers PHARAOH, featuring ex-CONTROL DENIED singer Tim Aymar, check in with the following update:

"The EP is done, mixed, mastered, laid out, ready to rock. Not sure when it will be out, but I'm guessing March or April? It's been too damned long, but what can you do?

P4 is underway. Drums were recorded last summer, before a rash of baby births put Pharaoh and its extended family into deep freeze for a while. But, the kids've gotta learn about metal sooner or later, so it's back on the horse for us. Rhythm guitars were tracked this past weekend, and in an unusually quick turnaround for this band, vocal sessions begin this coming weekend. That said, there is a LOT to be done yet: clean and acoustic guitars, melody guitars, solos, bass, and of course singing, so we're not going to be done anytime soon, but the album will definitely come out in 2011, probably in the early fall (September would be nice.) And then, god-willing, we might actually do a proper US tour. But, don't hold your breath for that one. Keep your fingers crossed, if you're gonna do anything."

Dutch metallers SIN7SINS check in with the following updates:

"In these exiting times for Sin7sinS we also have some sad news to relate. Our drummer since the beginning, Armada XTC, decided to leave the band. Unfortunately playing in Sin7sinS became too time-consuming for him. We would like to thank Armada for more than three years of loyalty and dedication. We had loads of fun, played a number of great shows and achieved a lot!

Fortunately we are glad to announce that we already found a worthy replacement in Heresy 101. He is working hard and picking up our songs very fast, which means we can continue playing live shows and promoting our debut album in 2011 as planned."

Another message reads: "Sin7sinS is proud to announce that they have signed a contract with Zwaardvis Music. Zwaardvis Music will be controlling our tour schedule starting January 2011. We are very excited about this new cooperation and we would like to thank Tjerk Maas and all others at Zwaardvis Music for making this possible!"

Britain's A FORST OF STARS have inked a deal with Lupus Lounge/Prophecy Productions. The label has issued the following update:

The year is 1891. The members of the Gentleman's Club of A Forest Of Stars, an exclusive brotherhood of English Victorians, consider themselves to be exponents of their glorious and pompous, at times decadent era characterized by extreme opposites.

A Forest Of Stars channel the experiences gained from their numerous meetings hazed by opium and absinthe, occult rites and séances in the form of a previously unheard-of ghostly and hypnotic music, filled with the spirit of the glorious Victorian Age – a harrowing testimony of their many spiritual and sensual excesses.

For their future undertakings, the Gentleman's Club has now found a loyal partner in Lupus Lounge / Prophecy Productions who are going to support these artists in the realisation of their next five next albums.

The Club's representative, The Gentleman, has this to say about this decision of mutual cooperation: "We are proudly humbled to join the ranks of such great and noble artists. It is an honour to do business with a Mechanical Phonograph Recording Label that allows us to do precisely as we please and that has ensured our much-cherished Gentleman's Club will not unduly fall into ruin or disrepair. In short, we could not ask for a more fitting partnership."

Die Deutschen Extrem Metaller THE VERY END haben die Aufnahmen an Ihrem neuen Album "Mercy & Misery" beendet. Das neue Album wurde an folgenden Terminen via SPV / E1 Music veröffentlicht! Unser CD Review zu "Mercy & Misery" könnt Ihr HIER lesen!

14. Januar 2011 (Germany),
17. Januar 2011 (Rest fo Europe)
25. Januar 2011 (USA)

Aufgenommen wurde "Mercy & Misery" mit Waldemar Sorychta und jetzt wurden auf MySpace die neuen Songs "A Hole In The Sun" und "The Leper" zum probehören online gestellt.

DARK TRANQUILLITY and WATAIN are among the nominees for a Manifest award in the "Hard Rock/Metal" category. Also up for the "Hard Rock/Metal" honor are GHOST and KHOMA.

The Manifest Awards are held by SOM (Svenska Oberoende Musikproducenter) (Swedish Independent Musicproducers), an organization that consists of over 100 record labels. This year's awards ceremony will take place on February 4 at Nalen in Stockholm.

"Hard Rock/Metal" Manifest award nominees:

* GHOST - "Opus Eponymous" (Rise Above)
* WATAIN - "Lawless Darkness" (Season of Mist)
* KHOMA - "A Final Storm" (Selective Notes)
* DARK TRANQUILLITY - "We Are The Void" (Century Media)

Das neue FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND Album mit dem Titel "Welcome Home Armageddon" kommt am 14. März 2011 in den Handel! Die erste Single "Front Row Seats To The End Of The World" wird 24. Januar 2011 als Free Download veröffentlicht. Jetzt hat die Band das "Welcome Home Armageddon" Cover Artwork und die Track List enthüllt.

Welcome Home Armageddon" Track List:

01 This Side Of Brightness
02 Old Hymns
03 Front Row Seats To The End Of The World
04 Sixteen
05 Aftertaste
06 Spinning Over The Land
07 Man Alive
08 Owls (Are Watching)
09 Damned If You Do, Dead If You Don't
10 Medicated
11 Broken Foundation
12 Welcome Home Armageddon

Die beiden FIREWIND Musiker Bob Katsionis und Mark Cross haben 2009 gemeinsam mit dem TALON Sänger Chandler Mogel die Band OUTLOUD gegründet. Die beiden weiteren Member der Band sind Gitarrist Tony Kash und Bassist Jason Mercury. Die Band hat einen Deal mit FRONTIERS RECORDS unterschrieben und das Debut Album "We'll Rock You To Hell and Back Again" wurde am 28. August 2009 in Europa veröffentlicht.

Zurzeit arbeiten die Jungs an ihrem neuen Album mit dem Titel "Love Catastrophe" das im Sommer 2011 in den Handel kommen soll und HIER wurde jetzt die neue Single "Waiting For Your Love" zum probehören onlöine gestellt.

An audio sample of "Demons With Ryu", the new single from the New Fairfield, Connecticut- and Queens, New York-based deathcore act EMMURE, is available for streaming on Amazon.com. The single, which will be released tomorrow (Tuesday, January 18), comes off the band's new album, "Speaker Of The Dead", which is due on February 15 through Victory Records. The CD was produced by Joey Sturgis, who has previously worked with THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA and BORN OF OSIRIS, among others.

Greece-based Rockpages Web Magazine conducted an exclusive interview with DORO PESCH. Among other topics, she talked about her latest DVD 25 Years In Rock and her love for her fans and metal music. Here's an excerpt:

Rockpages.gr : How do you react to the phrase Metal Queen?

Doro: "You know what? When someone is saying something positive I’m so happy and grateful. I love the fans more than anything in this world, I’m still a metalhead myself, I’m still a metal fan, big fan of many other bands. As long as I can do metal I’m happy!'

Rockpages.gr : My last question. You wake up one day, you wash your face, you take a look in the mirror and say 'Okay, Doro, this is the last concert.'

Doro: "I can not even think about that! I wanna do that for the rest of my life, to die on stage! As long as there are fans out there, I wanna do it! I love concerts so much! Music and the fans are everything to me!"

Metal Mind have announced the exclusive reissue of Los Angeles glam rockers BANG TANGO's Psycho Cafe, Dancin' On Coals and Ain't No Jive... Live. The albums will be available in a new digipak edition each limited to 2000 copies. Re-release of Dancin’ On Coals includes two bonus tracks. Metal Mind Productions has set the release date for January 31st.

Bang Tango - Psycho Cafe (re-release)

Tracklist:
'Attack Of Life'
'Someone Like You'
'Wrap My Wings'
'Breaking Up A Heart of Stone'
'Shotgun Man'
'Don’t Stop Now'
'Love Injection'
'Just For You'
'Do What You’re Told'
'Sweet Little Razor'

Bang Tango - Dancin’ On Coals (re-release + bonus tracks)

Tracklist:
'Soul To Soul'
'United And True'
'Emotion In Gear'
'I’m In Love'
'Big Line'
'Midnight Struck'
'Dancin’ On Coals'
'My Saltine'
'Dressed Up Vamp'
'Last Kiss'
'Cactus Juice'

Bonus tracks:
'20th Century Boy'
'Futurama' (live)

Bang Tango - Ain’t No Jive… Live (re-release)

Tracklist:
'Dancin’ On Coals'
'20th Century Boy'
'Someone Like You'
'Midnight Struck'
'Attack Of Life'

On March 11th, the self-titled debut album by German metallers LANTLÔS, which has been sold out for a few months, is going to be re-released by Lupus Lounge / Prophecy Productions.

This re-release in a super jewel case will contain a bonus CD with the tracks from the extremely rare demo, Îsern Himel, two previously unreleased demo recordings - 'Kalte Tage' (instrumental) and 'Þinaz Andawlitjam', as well as the equally unreleased song 'Farbensturm'.

Apart from that, the booklet includes not only the lyrics, but also extensive liner notes by Herbst on the making of the album as well as previously unreleased band photos.

Lantlôs released .neon, their second album, on June 11th via Prophecy Productions. The album was released in North America on July 13th.

The duo - consisting of Herbst and ALCEST frontman Neige seemed restless, and on July 23rd the guys entered Iheartsound studio (Bielefeld, Germany) in order to record their third album.

Herbst offered a few insights into the band's new material: "I think with our new album we'll tread new paths for Lantlôs, both musically and conceptually. In general, the upcoming album will be very vanguard and rather unaccessible and the black metal vibe will be gone almost entirely. Still, the record will be much darker than its predecessors, nihilistic, and strange. It'll be bulky, ugly and will feed off its listeners."

The yet-untitled album is at the moment scheduled for a 2011 release. Further updates to follow.

Danish thrash metal band ESSENCE has signed a record deal with the Belgian company Ultimhate Records for the release of their debut album, Lost In Violence. The album will be out in Europe and the rest of the world on February 25th, and can already be pre-ordered at this location.

About the agreement the band says, "We have chosen Ultimhate Records based on the seriousness and passion for metal, which is very strong amongst them. They have exciting visions for the future and a dedicated labor force, combined with a vast network. We are delighted that our album hits the streets and the internet, so we can spread our thrash metal as broadly as possible. Finally, we can begin to look forward and focus all our energy on getting out on the Danish and European roads in 2011. We will also start writing new material for the next record, which we now can do well-knowing that our first album is in competent hands.”

L.A. GUNS vocalist Phil Lewis has issued the following update:

"Hi guys and a Happy New Year to everyone! Just a quick update for ya's. (Bassist) Kenny Kweens has decided to leave the band. We wish the best for Kenny and we really enjoyed having him with us over the last year and a half. We are delighted to have return with us Scotty Griffin! We'll hit the road on the 18th with Scott bringing back his RNR Sleaze Swagger to the band. Be sure to catch us out on the road!"

On January 10th, long-running Danish thrashers ARTILLERY finished work on their forthcoming album, New Blood.

Metal Mind Productions will release the album on March 14th in Japan (via Kings Records), March 21st in Europe, and April 5th in North America (via MVD).

The album will be released as a jewel case CD and as a digipak CD, including 2 bonus tracks. The Japanese edition of the album will include an exclusive bonus track which won’t be available elsewhere.

Full details to follow soon.

The album was recorded at Medley Studios, Denmark with Søren Andersen as the producer. The band has released a video teaser to give you a foretaste of the new material. The clip can be seen below:

According to Martin Kielty from Rock AAA, an unreleased Phil Lynott track has appeared online on the 25th anniversary of the THIN LIZZY star’s death.

The Story of My Life, available below, features Snowy White on guitar and was recorded during 1981 sessions which spawned the unsuccessful single Trouble Boys. At the time band members weren’t clear on whether they were recording for the upcoming Lizzy album, Renegade, or working on solo Lynott material.