AMON AMARTH arbeiten an Ihrem neuen und achten Album, am 1. Oktober 2010 wurden mit den Aufnahmen der Drum Parts in den Park Studios begonnen, danach wurden die Bass und Gitarre Parts in den Fascination Street Studios aufgenommen. Das neue Album wird "Surtur Rising" heißen und am 29. März 2011 via Metal Blade Records in den Handel kommen.

"Surtur Rising" Track List:

01. WAR OF THE GODS
02. TÖCK'S TAUNT – LOKE'S TREACHORY PART II
03. DESTROYER OF THE UNIVERSE
04. SLAVES OF FEAR
05. LIVE WITHOUT REGRET
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

Finnish melodic metallers STRATOVARIUS have issued the following update:

"Some good news and some bad news at the same time.

"Well, the good news is that we're back on the road with HELLOWEEN. And [drummer] Jörg Michael [who was recently diagnosed with cancer and had his entire thyroid removed] is back in his drum chair after his brush with death.

"The bad news is that Timo Kotipelto [vocals] caught some sort of bacterial infection. We suspect it was something from the backstage food in December, but we don't know. Two of the other people on the tour had the same thing: a very bad dysentery-like stomach infection with vomiting and diarrhea, dehydration, also eventually had to go to hospital, etc.

"Timo's infection is stubborn and in addition to ruining his Christmas break, it has dried out his vocal cords. In his own words, he can't sing a note at the moment. We are currently in France and so far we had to cancel playing in Paris and Lyon.

"We are, of course, very sorry about this, and nobody is more heartbroken or frustrated than Timo himself. Apart from heeding the advice from doctors we are in touch with, the only thing we can do at the moment is to hope Timo gets better. We will ride the 1000 km to Bilbao tonight and hopefully we will all get some sleep on the nice smooth French motorways."

Perth, Western Australia-based "progressive extreme" metallers KHARIOT will release their debut album, "Disymposium", as a limited-edition digipak in March/April. Recorded at Southern Darkness Recordings from July to November 2010, the CD consists of "11 tracks of dissonant melodies, obscure twin harmonies and counterpoint, thrashing solos, crushing technical riffs, hypnotic basslines, dual diabolical screams and gutturals; and chaotic drumming," according to a press release. The cover artwork was created by Alex Eckman-Lawn (PSYOPUS, ILLOGICIST, VALE OF PNATH, ARCHITECTS).

"Disymposium" track listing:

01. Malediction Eclipse
02. Upon Thy Mortal Throne
03. Crimson Sanctorum
04. The Hermit
05. Spectral Monarchy
06. Dimension Shift
07. Cacophony Of The Insane
08. Cerebral Continuum
09. Shade
10. ...Of Frail Entanglements
11. 11:11

Norwegian death metal band EXECRATION has completed work on its second album, "Odes Of The Occult", for a March release as a double 12-inch vinyl through Vendlus Records (USA) and Duplicate Records (Norway). According to a press release, the follow-up to 2008's "Syndicate Of Lethargy" "contains 11 tracks of vicious, evil death metal. It parts with the percussive style of previous releases in favor of a wider set of influences drawing from death metal, doom and cult black metal. The 60-minute album will make your ears bleed from dark, brutal doom-laced death metal chemically cleansed of any 'modern' death metal tricks. With 'Odes Of The Occult', the band has also added more diverse vocals in addition to their traditional guttural growls, giving their musical universe a new dimension. The resulting album is a definite step ahead from previous releases."

A track from the CD, "Left In Scorn", is now available for streaming on the EXECRATION MySpace page.

"Manipulation", a brand new song from the Singapore grindcore trio WORMROT, is available for streaming in the YouTube clip below. The track is described in a press release as "a minute-long burst of ferocity, terror and outright aggression. It hits all of the marks that have endeared WORMROT to the worldwide metal underground."

"Manipulation" comes off WORMROT's new album, "Dirge", which is scheduled for release in North America on May 3 via Earache Records.

In many ways, "Manipulation" is as raw as WORMROT gets — a hell of a way to raise the already high expectations for "Dirge".

The "Dirge" cover art was created by Andrei Bouzikov (MUNICIPAL WASTE, SKELETONWITCH, CANNABIS CORPSE) and can be seen below.

"Dirge" track listing:

01. No One Gives A Shit
02. Compulsive Disposition
03. All Go No Emo
04. Public Display Of Infection
05. Overpowered Violence
06. Semiconcious Godsize Dumbass
07. Spot A Pathetic
08. Evolved Into Nothing
09. Butt Krieg Is Showing
10. Fucking Fierce So What
11. Ferocious Bombardment
12. Principle Of The Puppet Warfare
13. Deceased Occupation
14. Waste Of Time
15. Stench Of Ignorance
16. Meteor To The Face
17. Addicts Of Misery
18. You Suffer But Why Is It My Problem
19. Erased Existence
20. Back Stabber Mission Aborted
21. Destruct The Bastards
22. Plunged Into Illusions
23. Manipulation
24. A Dead Issue
25. The Final Insult

LINKIN PARK is about 10 days away from the start of its 2011 North American tour, the band's first here in support of its latest album, "A Thousand Suns". While the group has already played places like Europe, Israel and Australia since the album's arrival last September, vocalist Mike Shinoda told The Pulse Of Radio he thinks it's okay to give the U.S. a little more time with the new record. "Giving the U.S. a beat to really hear the record and give it a chance and listen to it and know some of the songs before we come out and play it live definitely seems, in theory, to work to our advantage," he said.

"A Thousand Suns" debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard album chart with sales of 240,000 copies in its first week, lower than the band's previous efforts.

LINKIN PARK frontman Chester Bennington told MTV News last October that the days of the band selling 10 million copies of an album, like its 2000 debut "Hybrid Theory", are long gone.

Bennington explained, "Trying to compare anything to 'Hybrid Theory' in terms of sales is an exercise in futility: It's not gonna happen. That's the reality of the situation. (Second album 'Meteora') did huge numbers the first week, it was like 800,000. 'Minutes To Midnight' was in the 600,000 mark, and this one's at the 240,000 mark; that's a sign of the times . . . people get their music in different ways now."

"Meteora" sold 810,000 copies in its first week of release, while 2007's "Minutes To Midnight" moved 623,000.

Thanks to downloading and file sharing, Bennington said, "There's probably 10 million people out there who have the record that we don't know about."

LINKIN PARK will offer every concertgoer who attends the tour a complimentary download of the live recording of the show they attend.

All fans have to do is send a text to a short code that will be displayed at each venue, and a link to the download will be emailed to them following the concert.

Bassist Dave "Phoenix" Farrell said in a statement, "The energy we get from our fans is what makes a great show. We wanted to show our appreciation by giving that experience back to them."

As usual on recent LINKIN PARK tours, one dollar from each ticket will go to Music For Relief, a charity founded by LINKIN PARK to provide relief to victims of natural disasters.

LINKIN PARK kicks off its North American tour on January 20 in Sunrise, Florida. Support acts will be THE PRODIGY, PENDULUM and DOES IT OFFEND YOU, YEAH?

Fallen is the 9th studio album from Burzum, and follows the highly critically acclaimed 2010 release Belus which put Burzum straight back at the at the top of the chain as of one of the most innovative and creative metal artists of our time. Fallen follows Belus in sound and structure, and can also be compared to the music on the groundbreaking DET SOM ENGANG VAR. Fallen is more dynamic and hard hitting then Belus and has an even bigger sound, but still carries the same trademark melodic melody lines throughout that makes Burzum sound so iconic and unique.



Burzum says of the new album and his style of music:
"Musically FALLEN is like a cross between BELUS and something new, inspired more by the debut album and DET SOM ENGANG VAR than by HVIS LYSET TAR OSS or FILOSOFEM. The sound is more dynamic – we mastered the album as if it was classical music – and I was more experimental than I was on BELUS in all respects. Lyric wise it is similar to the debut album, in the way that it is more personal and focuses on existential issues, but the mythological undertone known from BELUS is still there. I have also included some ambient tracks – a short introduction and a longer conclusion."
I. Fra Verdenstreet
II. Jeg faller
III. Valen
IV. Vanvidd
V. Enhver til Sitt
VI. Budstikken
VII. Til Hel og tilbake igjen

Norwegian death metal tyrants BLOOD RED THRONE wrapped up 2010 with their first-ever North American tour, which saw the band playing alongside the likes of DIMMU BORGIR and ENSLAVED.

Now, in 2011, BLOOD RED THRONE is back and planning its next stage of attack.

The band has issued the following update: "BLOOD RED THRONE just got back home from a six-week U.S./Canada tour with DIMMU BORGIR and ENSLAVED.

"Despite a couple of accidents, smashing another car and flipping our trailer, we had a blast over there and we made many new fans as well as old fans who were thrilled to see us for the first time.

"It was strange experiencing both winter in Canada and summer in California on the same tour and we spent countless hours in the van. But it was all worth it, playing the bigger venues and sharing the finest Norwegian death metal with you!

"As for 2011, Død has written five new killer tunes for an upcoming album.

"We're returning to Mexico the first weekend in June, playing a festival with SEPULTURA.

"In August, we're playing with MORBID ANGEL, VADER, GORGUTS and NEVERMORE at the Brutal Assault Festival!"

THULCANDRA — the reactivated German black/death metal band featuring members of OBSCURA, DARK FORTRESS and HELFAHRT — has issued the following update:

"We just entered well known Woodshed Studios to record our second full-length [album] 'Under A Frozen Sun' alongside producer V. Santura. Seraph (DARK FORTRESS) will take care of the drum duties for the new album.

"The new material is way more epic, the songs are longer and we added a ton of guitar layers and leads to top our debut, 'Fallen Angel's Dominion'.

"While the debut album was based on old material back from the earlier years until 2008, 'Under A Frozen Sun' consists only new material.

"Everyone who is into the tradition of early No Fashion releases from the Nineties will be pleased by this album.

"We will just take a break from the recordings for a performance at Bavarian Battle Festival which is scheduled for January 15. Alongside DARK FORTRESS, SEAR BLISS and ODEM ARCARUM we will celebrate our intention of black metal.

"Besides a new album, we are working on official live footage of last year's Helion Festival. The complete material will be released as 'Thulcandra - Live Demise' in a free full HD streaming format in March."

"Thulcandra - Live Demise" track listing:

01. In The Realm of Thousand Deaths
02. Night Eternal
03. Fallen Angel's Dominion
04. Frozen Kingdom
05. Everlasting Fire
06. Spirit Of The Night
07. The Somberlain (DISSECTION cover)

THULCANDRA's debut album, "Fallen Angels Dominion", was released in June 2010 via Napalm Records. The CD was recorded at Woodshed Studios with producers V. Santura and Steffen Kummerer and features the artwork of Kristian Wåhlin (a.k.a. Necrolord; AT THE GATES, DISSECTION, EDGE OF SANITY, EMPEROR, DARK FUNERAL, SACRAMENTUM).

THULCANDRA is:

Steffen Kummerer - Vocals, Guitar
Sebastian Ludwig - Guitar
Tobias Ludwig - Bass
Seraph - Session Drums

Multinational melodic metal band EDEN'S CURSE has paid tribute to the memory of vocal legend Ronnie James Dio by recording a rendition of the DIO classic "Rock 'N' Roll Children", which is set to be included on all territorial releases of the band's third studio album, "Trinity", due out in mid-March.

In a statement released on May 16, 2010 — the day of Dio's passing — EDEN'S CURSE vocalist Michael Eden said, "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'." He added that "today is 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."

EDEN'S CURSE also recorded a cover version of a song from one of the group's "biggest influences," which has also now been identified as the DOKKEN classic "Unchain The Night". EDEN'S CURSE's rendition of the track be included on the Japanese release of "Trinity", due on March 16 via Spiritual Beast.

Commented EDEN'S CURSE bassist and chief songsmith Paul Logue: "Unashamedly, DOKKEN, along with QUEENSRŸCHE 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."

When it came to providing a bonus track for the Japan release, Logue explained there was one unanimous choice. "Absolutely!" he said. "It's a song we jammed at rehearsals or soundchecks and we always said, 'We should record this.' I'm so glad we eventually did."

Logue went onto comment on the proposed DOKKEN reunion plans. "Don [Dokken] and George [Lynch] need to kiss and make up! The hard rock world is a brighter place with DOKKEN around."

One-minute audio samples of EDEN'S CURSE's cover versions of DIO's "Rock 'N' Roll Children" and DOKKEN's "Unchain The Night" are available for streaming on the EDEN'S CURSE Facebook page.

Jester King Craft Brewery, the Austin, Texas-based brewery launched by former attorney Jeffrey Stuffing, has just released its first-ever seasonal beer — Black Metal Imperial Stout, a.k.a. Suds of Northern Darkness, a.k.a. Iron Sword, a.k.a. El Martillo del Muerte.

Black Metal is a cruel and punishing beer fermented by the sheer force of its awesome will. It is Jester King's winter seasonal release. Weighing in at about 10% ABV, it's filled with huge flavors of roast, chocolate, burnt malt and alcohol and carries a hint of leather.

Jester King encourages Black Metal to be enjoyed from a snifter at a serving temperature between 57 and 61 degrees Fahrenheit.

Black Metal is currently available only in kegs. It will be available in 750mL bottles later this winter.

Imperial Stout OG: 1.108 ABV: ~10% IBU: 60 Malt: Maris Otter, Caramalt, Extra Dark Crystal, Brown Malt, Black Malt, Roasted Barley Hops: Magnum, East Kent Goldings

For more information, go to this location.

Back On Black, which specializes in vinyl editions of classic metal albums and is dedicated to providing top-quality releases for record collectors and metal fans worldwide, has announced that February will see the release of the classic THIN LIZZY albums on vinyl. All albums will be 180-gram heavyweight vinyl and packaged in deluxe gatefold sleeves. The first 1,000 copies of each title will come in limited-edition colored vinyl.

The following albums will be made available next month:

* Jailbreak (1976)
* Johnny The Fox (1976)
* Bad Reputation (1977)
* Live And Dangerous (1978)
* Black Rose (1979)
* Chinatown (1980)
* Renegade (1981)
* Thunder And Lightning (1983)

German death metallers OBSCENITY have announced the addition of 33-year-old singer Jeff Rudes from Tampa, Florida to the group's ranks. The band states, "[Jeff] has already sung a couple of demo songs in his home studio for the forthcoming OBSCENITY album. He is gonna move to Germany this February to join the band and practice for the [upcoming] album. A drummer is in trial now and a guitar player is wanted to complete the band."

Finnish melodic metallers STRATOVARIUS were forced to cancel last night's (Tuesday, January 11) performance at the Elysée Montmartre in Paris, France as the support act for HELLOWEEN after STRATOVARIUS singer Timo Kotipelto was taken ill.

Video footage of Kotipelto explaining the reasons for STRATOVARIUS' Paris cancelation from the stage at last night's concert can be viewed below (courtesy of Rock Hard France).

Said Kotipelto: "We were touring with HELLOWEEN and we played, I think, in Poland and the Czech Republic, so I got some food poisoning, some bacteria. And my Christmas was not so nice and I still have some problems — my vocals cords are completely dry. I [saw] a doctor in Paris yesterday and today as well, so it's like... unfortunately, I can't sing a fucking note, and this never happened to me before. I'm very sorry about this and we wanna make it up to you, guys. We're gonna be back in Paris, back in France — I don't know when; hopefully this year. So I hope you understand the situation. Thank you so much. Merci beaucoup."

HELLFIGHTER, the band formed by ex-members of cult U.K. thrashers XENTRIX, will release its debut album, "Damnation's Wings", via Heavy Metal Records on the following dates:

Europe (via Plastic Head distribution): February 28th
U.S., Canada (via MVD distribution): April 5

The album will also be released digitally worldwide on iTunes on February 1.

According to a press release, "Damnation's Wings" was recorded at Viscon Studios in Northwest England and at Backstage Studios in Derbyshire, U.K. and it "showcases ten new songs [that see] HELLFIGHTER sticking to their thrash and metal roots whilst introducing a strong, modern, melodic edge."

HELLFIGHTER's current lineup consists of Simon Gordon (vocals, ex-XENTRIX), Kristian Havard (guitar, ex-XENTRIX), Den Gasser (drums, ex-XENTRIX), Pete Smith (guitar, ex-KILL II THIS) and Mel Gasser (bass).

In a recent interview, Havard talked about the making of "Damnation's Wings": "In some ways we have revisited the bands and sounds that we loved as kids — bands like MAIDEN, PRIEST, FORBIDDEN, TESTAMENT, ANTHRAX — but really we've just made the sort of record that we want to hear today.

"Everyone in the band and at the record label is very excited about 'Damnation's Wings'. It's taken a little while longer than we had hoped to complete the writing and recording process but we didn't want to compromise on anything. The end result is something we're extremely proud of. Most of all, we're looking forward to getting out on the road to promote the album."

"Damnation's Wings" track listing:

01. Tower Of Sin
02. A Lesser God
03. Legacy Of Hate
04. Faith In Lies
05. Damnation's Wings
06. Revolution Within
07. Epitaph
08. Bring Only Pain
09. Descent
10. Firewalker

The album artwork can be seen below.

"The painting is by a guy called Steve Smith who's based here in the north of England," says Gordon. "We didn't want to go totally down the digital-art route because there was a definite vibe when we were writing and recording where we looked to a lot of the bands we grew up with for inspiration. We carried that through to the artwork.

"I remember that buzz we used to get from looking at all the detail on the new MAIDEN album cover or whatever. So we gave Steve the album title and asked him to come up with something that suggested the nastier side of modern life and technology as a bit of a nod to all those great bands."

Montreal-based death metallers NEURAXIS will release their sixth album, "Asylon", in North America on February 15. The cover art was created by artist Dennis Sibeijn of Damnengine Artwork, who worked with the band on its previous CD, "The Thin Line Between", as well with JOB FOR A COWBOY, CHIMAIRA and more.

"Asylon" track listing:

01. Reptile
02. Asylum
03. Savior and Destroyer
04. By The Flesh
05. Sinister
06. Trauma
07. Resilience
08. Purity
09. V
10. Left To Devour

On February 8, the eclectic, experimental hard rock project PRAXIS will release the latest creation, a bone-crunching new album titled "Profanation: Preparation For A Coming Darkness". The new album finds the trio once again collaborating with various musicians, this time with the spotlight clearly on lead vocalists. Among them are Iggy Pop, SYSTEM OF A DOWN's Serj Tankian, FAITH NO MORE's Mike Patton, RAMM:SLL:ZSS, Doctor Israel, WU-TANG protégé Killah Priest and Jamaica-born toaster Hawk.

The U.S. release of "Profanation" comes with two live bonus tracks not included in the rare, Japan-only import. The album is also one of the last recordings to feature the gothic futurist RAMM:SLL:ZSS, an incredibly multi-talented visual artist, hip hop icon, performance artist, and one of the most unique humans to patrol this planet.

Since 1992, the core members of PRAXIS — Buckethead (guitars), Bill Laswell (bass), and Brain (drums) — has churned out an eclectic series of albums rooted in aggressive avant-rock improv with slabs of hip-hop, psychedelic, funk thrown in. On top of that, a constantly morphing army of innovators including John Zorn, Bootsy Collins, Bernie Worrell, Yamantaka Eye, Grandmixer DXT, and scores more have contributed to past PRAXIS live and studio projects — each one a unique musical experiment.

"Was It Worth It?", the new single from Finnish metallers CHILDREN OF BODOM, will be made available for streaming tomorrow (Thursday, January 13) at 5:00 p.m. GMT on the band's Facebook page. It can also be heard in the YouTube clip below. The song comes off the group's new album, "Relentless Reckless Forever", which will be released on March 8, 2011 via Universal Music.

"The single is a total party song," says guitarist/vocalist Alexi Laiho. "It doesn't have your typical BODOM sound, but it's one of my favorites and heavy as hell!"

SYMFONIA / ex-STRATOVARIUS guitarist Timo Tolkki has checked in from the studio:

"Still here in Sweden recording Andre's (Matos / ex-ANGRA) vocals. Some of the vocal lines are... how should I put it... rather 'extensively difficult', but Andre has been singing really well.

The picture you see is my 'working station' where I sweat my butt daily for 10 hours. It's called Mother 128, don't ask me why.

There is something very special in spending a long time in a place where there is NOTHING but snow. You really start hearing your own voice. I am 100% convinced that if we would bring someone, let's say from New York, here for two weeks, the person would go nuts. The silence is just incredible. Not a single sound.

Yesterday I saw two baby deer walking four meters from the cabin we are recording and lot of rabbits. Maybe I should call to Lou Marullo."

According to The Peterborough Examiner, the case against former SKID ROW frontman Sebastian Bach was briefly addressed in court Tuesday (January 11) before being put over to February 1.

Bach was charged assault, possession of marijuana and mischief on November 15, 2010 after he allegedly bit the hand of a bartender trying to throw him out of Riley's Olde Towne Pub in Peterborough.

A surveillance video posted on TMZ.com showed the singer smashing his wine glass on the ground morning and walking towards the entrance of the establishment after he was asked to the leave the bar due to his allegedly rowdy behavior.

A staff member reported Bach bit him on the hand while he was trying to restrain Bach until police arrived.

Bach was in Peterborough dealing with the estate of his father who passed away.

Bach was not in court Tuesday.

Brooklyn, New York native Sal Abruscato — who played drums on three TYPE O NEGATIVE albums ("Slow, Deep & Hard", "Origin Of The Feces", "Bloody Kisses"), as well as four LIFE OF AGONY releases ("River Runs Red", "Ugly", "River Runs Again", "Broken Valley") — is now the singer, songwriter and guitarist for A PALE HORSE NAMED DEATH.

Abruscato has recruited Johnny Kelly from TYPE O NEGATIVE, Bobby Hambel from BIOHAZARD and Steve Zing from DANZIG to round out A PALE HORSE NAMED DEATH's touring lineup, which will make its live debut on February 20 at the Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, New Jersey as the support act for MONSTER MAGNET and SEVENTH VOID.

Although Johnny, Steve and Bobby are not confirmed as official A PALE HORSE NAMED DEATH members, it is suspected this could be the solid lineup moving forward.

A PALE HORSE NAMED DEATH lineup for Sayreville show:

* Sal Abruscato (LIFE OF AGONY, TYPE O NEGATIVE) - Vocals, Guitar
* Matt Brown (SEVENTH VOID) - Guitar
* Bobby Hambel (BIOHAZARD) - Guitar
* Johnny Kelly (TYPE O NEGATIVE, SEVENTH VOID) - Drums
* Steve Zing (DANZIG) - Bass

MEGADETH fans will be excited to learn that the Jackson Custom Shop is introducing its new Chris Broderick signature guitar model in January 2011. Broderick himself worked closely with Custom Shop master craftsmen to create a distinctive guitar based on a classic Jackson design.

That guitar, the Jackson Chris Broderick Soloist, brings his long and exacting search for instrumental excellence to a most satisfying conclusion.

"After an exhaustive search for the highest-quality instrument, I've found it at Jackson," Broderick said. "I've been looking for a guitar this incredible for quite a while, and the guys at the Custom Shop really understood what I was after and where I was coming from. I have spent countless hours ensuring that this guitar is playable and stylish."

Broderick's Soloist model boasts an unusual new touch in the form of a slightly offset carved-top body design for which the guitarist collaborated with longtime Jackson Custom Shop master builder Mike Shannon. Other features include dual DiMarzio humbucking pickups and a 24-fret 12"-radius fingerboard. Further, the guitar will be available in six- and seven-string models.

The Colorado-bred Broderick is not only a formidable shred guitarist, but also an extraordinary musician in a much wider sense. He started playing at age 10, studying guitar, voice, violin and piano, and eagerly devoured a wealth of diverse musical influences extending well beyond rock into classical, jazz, blues and country forms. He earned a degree in classical guitar performance from the University of Denver's Lamont School of Music, and he himself has taught guitar for more than a dozen years.

Broderick joined MEGADETH in early 2008. His molten guitar work has contributed to the band's current revitalization, including 2009 album "Endgame", the "American Carnage" and "Rust in Peace" 20th-anniversary tours, and the summer 2010 Sonisphere festival shows in Europe that featured several metallically historic "Big Four" shows.

Jackson's unveiling of Broderick's new signature model comes closely on the heels of the guitar maker's announcement of its partnership with MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson, who received his own new signature bass model in early 2011 and who will be collaborating with Jackson on the development of other new bass models.

Regarding the reasons for his split with Ibanez, Broderick said in an online post, "I knew people would want to know why I left Ibanez, and I had the whole event written for all to read but I deleted that and don't want to focus on why it didn't work out with them. Let's just say that the events that occurred with them this last year left me feeling like my guitar company wasn't anywhere near as loyal to me as I was to them.

"For those who are curious, you can read this old post that kicked things off.

"I talked to a lot of different guitar companies about a potential move and Jackson, by leaps and bounds, stepped up and was able to build a guitar that is nothing less than my perfect guitar. I spent countless design hours on it. With a double neck that I built when I was 17 being the basis for the guitar, and with Mike Shannon behind the tools, I think you guys will be impressed."

Steven Patrick of Uweekly.com recently conducted an interview with JUDAS PRIEST/HALFORD frontman Rob Halford. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Uweekly.com: Pat Lachman, he was one of your guitarists in HALFORD, who went on to front the band DAMAGEPLAN. This being a Columbus, Ohio, paper and the Dimebag tragedy still fresh in our memory, I'm sure metal fans in the area would like to know how he's doing and what he's up to. Do you stay in contact with him?

Halford: I'll be seeing Pat soon. I think he's living in Dallas now. I got an e-mail from him the other day and I hope to be seeing him in the next couple of weeks. I don't really know what he's doing musically, but when I see him I'll be asking him obviously. He's an incredibly talented guitar player, but a great voice as well. I certainly hope he's still working. He's got everything that he needs to be a great metal musician.

Uweekly.com: I wouldn't be able to call myself a metal fan if I didn't ask about the news that JUDAS PRIEST will be doing a farewell tour in 2011. What brought that on? Was it just time?

Halford: Yeah, I think it's time, you know. We're not the first band to say farewell, it's just the way everyone comes to at some point and we're gonna say a few more things early next year, so I think the main thing that we just want to ask everybody to consider is don't be sad about this, start celebrating and rejoicing over all the great things we've done in JUDAS PRIEST.

Uweekly.com: Does this news mean that HALFORD will be getting more of your attention in the future?

Halford: Yeah, I've always said regardless of anything else that's going on when time permits and when there's no conflict with PRIEST, I love to do what I do with the HALFORD band, so that really hasn't changed at all.