Drummer Matthias Voigt of German death metal and hardcore fusionists HEAVEN SHALL BURN has been forced to sit out the band's European tour with AS I LAY DYING, SUICIDE SILENCE and DEW-SCENTED due to a "back injury."

He says in a statement, "I'm feeling well at the very moment, but there is too much responsibility towards my own health, my bandmates and, of course, also towards [the fans] who pay to see a good show. I guess everyone understands I'm disappointed, but at the same time I'm glad and thankful that, once again, our friend Christian Bass [DER WEG EINER FREIHEIT, WHITE EYES] will step in. It won't be his first time with HEAVEN SHALL BURN and he really knows how to do it. I will be back as soon as possible."

Welsh melodic death metallers ANTERIOR have entered the studio to record the long-anticipated follow-up to their 2007 debut album, "This Age Of Silence".

Comments the band: "That's right! We have entered the studio to start drum tracking for the second ANTERIOR album! We started production at Grindstone Studios with Scott Atkins (STAMPIN' GROUND, SYLOSIS, GAMA BOMB, MAN MUST DIE) at the helm.

"The fact that we have finally entered the studio to record our second album is an achievement in itself! After so many problems and having multiple things stacked against us, we came through it all, finished an album, got a new drummer, and now it's time to get things right!

"We are currently recording our second, as-yet-untitled album due for an early 2011 release and to say that we are as excited about it as kids are at Xmas would be a gross understatement. We feel that the songs are so much stronger and that we have matured as a band since 'This Age Of Silence' and we are bursting for you to hear it! We feel that this album will definitely show that we have our strongest line-up ever and will mark a great return for us.

"We plan to make 2011 the busiest time we have ever had. We expect to be touring relentlessly and hitting some new places so be afraid, be very afraid!"

Florida-based extreme metallers HATE ETERNAL have entered frontman Erik Rutan's own Mana Recording Studios in St. Petersburg, Florida to begin recording their fifth studio album) for an early 2011 release via Metal Blade Records.

J.J. Hrubovcak has been added as the band's bassist and the devastating combo of Erik Rutan on guitar and Jade Simonetto on drums is at work once again.

Commented Rutan: "The band has been locked up in Mana Recording Studios doing pre-production for the past two months, finishing up songs that we have been writing over the last year in between tours and albums that I've produced, and we feel we have come up with one of HATE ETERNAL's heaviest, most twisted, evil, melodic, and insane albums yet.

"It was my goal to expand upon what the band has done in the past, and add new dynamics and twists to the traditional, dissonant HATE ETERNAL style, yet keep it in the same vein. It took the three of us really pushing ourselves, and digging deep into the essence of who we are as musicians and writers and players to create something very unique and special. We cannot wait for everyone to hear what we have in store."

HATE ETERNAL is:

Erik Rutan - Guitar and Vocals
Jade Simonetto - Drums
J.J. Hrubovcak - Bass

New York hardcore legends AGNOSTIC FRONT will enter Mana Recording Studio in St. Petersburg, Florida tomorrow (Tuesday, November 9) to begin recording their highly anticipated follow-up to 2007's "Warriors". 15 new powerful and anthemic songs will be laid down by Erik Rutan (MADBALL, GOATWHORE, CANNIBAL CORPSE, etc.) under the watchful guide of producer Freddy Cricien of MADBALL. This will be AGNOSTIC FRONT's third release for Nuclear Blast and second produced by Cricien. An early 2011 release is expected.

MANOWAR has decided that its fans deserved to hear the songs from its debut album, 1982's "Battle Hymns", with the massive sound and production that has become the group's signature over recent years and records.

With the decision to reinterpret the music came the need to revisit the famed narration of the legendary Orson Welles. There was only one obvious choice and that was Sir Christopher Lee. Recorded at the famed Abbey Road Studios in London, his own inspired interpretation of the late, great Orson Welles on "Dark Avenger" will be another jewel in the crown of the Kings Of Metal.

"Battle Hymns 2011" release dates:

MP3 (from The Kingdom Of Steel): November 26
CD - Europe: November 26
CD - Kingdom Of Steel: December 13
CD - U.S./Canada: February 2011

"Transformations Within Fictional Mutation", the new video from the Los Angeles horror-inspired black/death metal band DAWN OF ASHES, can be viewed below. The clip was filmed a few weeks ago with director by David H. Greathouse (special effects master, film director, and music video director behind MUSHROOMHEAD's videos), and was produced by Robert Kurtzman's (KNB EFX founder, special effects legend, director) Precinct 13, who also handled the special effects. DAWN OF ASHES shot on location at the Bissman Building in Mansfield, Ohio, which is widely rumored to be haunted and was also recently featured on an episode of the Syfy Channel's "Ghost Hunters".

"Transformations Within Fictional Mutation" comes off DAWN OF ASHES's latest album, "Genocide Chapters", which came out earlier this year via Metal Blade Records. The CD was recorded with producer Fred Archambault, known for his work with AVENGED SEVENFOLD, DEATH BY STEREO, EIGHTEEN VISIONS, and many more. Handling the cover art for "Genocide Chapters" was Machine-Room (MY DYING BRIDE).

DAWN OF ASHES is:

Kristof Bathory (Horrid screams / Keyboards)
Volkar Kael (Guitar)
Othuum (Bass guitar)
Bahemoth (Keyboards)
Orias (Drums)

Eagle Vision has set a November 16 release date for the "Live In Houston" DVD from VELVET REVOLVER. Footage for the set was filmed in Houston, Texas in 2005 during the tour in support of the band's debut album, "Contraband". The full-length live tracks are intercut with snippets of interview with the various bandmembers talking about how VELVET REVOLVER came into being. The setlist, naturally, focuses on that debut release but is complemented by two tracks from the GUNS N' ROSES catalog and two songs from STONE TEMPLE PILOTS debut album, highlighting the history of the VR bandmembers.

An e-card for "Live In Houston" is available at this location.

Seattle progressive rockers QUEENSRŸCHE have partnered with Capitol/EMI for the November 9 release of an expanded 20th-anniversary edition of the band's triple platinum-certified breakout album "Empire". The new 2CD and digital packages both include the remastered album, featuring six hit singles, including the #1 smash "Silent Lucidity", as well as 13 bonus tracks, among them 10 previously unreleased live performances recorded in 1990 at London's Hammersmith Odeon. The 2CD package is presented in a lift-top box with five postcards, a fold-out poster and a booklet featuring rare photos from the band's personal archive.

You can now stream the entire expanded 20th-anniversary edition of "Empire" at AOL Music.

Norwegian thrash metal band DEAD TROOPER has released a brand new EP, entitled "Sickening". The four-song effort contains two new DEAD TROOPER tracks and two cover versions — HATEBREED's "Proven" and BLACK DEBBATH's "Problemer Innad I Høyre". The song "Sickening Serenity" features guest appearance by ZYKLON's Secthdamon.

"Sickening" is the first recording from DEAD TROOPER to feature Tor (1349, PANTHEON I) on bass and Bokn (ZEROZONIC) on drums. Sverre from Norwegian old school-thrashers AUDIOPAIN also makes an appearance on the EP.

"Sickening" track listing:

01. Sickening Serenity (3:40)
02. Inner Riot (5:34)
03. Proven (HATEBREED cover) (2:38)
04. Problemer Innad i Hyre (BLACK DEBBATH cover) (4:29)

None of these musicians need an introduction.

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

Honoring the heritage of their previous bands Stratovarius, Helloween, Angra and Sonata Arctica, SYMFONIA continues their superb melodic metal tradition with an incredible musicianship that is a match made in heaven. This is a force that no serious melodic metal fan will be able to ignore.
SYMFONIA will make its World Premiere 18.2 at the Finnish Metal Expo, an International Metal Meeting, where they will take the stage at 11PM in the evening.

The recordings for the debut album of SYMFONIA will start in November at Studio Mega in Sweden, for a Spring 2011 release.

Chicago-based symphonic black metal band VENEFICUM will release its third album, "In Tranquil Absurd", on November 30 as a digipack CD directly through the band. The follow-up to 2003's critically acclaimed "Enigma Prognosis" can currently be downloaded on iTunes and includes former/current members of NACHTMYSTIUM and CENTAURUS. Featured among the 11 tracks are "The Absolute Surrender", "Trauma Vortex" and "Paradox Breed".

Despite many changes in the band's lineup over the last few years, VENEFICUM "still retains the remarkable balance of precision, aggression and atmosphere for which they are known," according to a press release. "In fact, this latest addition to the band's repertoire builds upon the success of their last two albums with a more diverse approach to songwriting and faster, tighter execution."

Brian Fischer-Giffin of Australia's Loud magazine recently conducted an interview with guitarist Silenoz (real name: Sven Atle Kopperud) of Norwegian symphonic black metallers DIMMU BORGIR. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

On DIMMU BORGIR's new album, "Abrahadabra":

"It's a step forward for sure! Maybe more of a leap. I would consider this our most complete album to date. We have again incorporated a full orchestra, and a choir for the first time as well, so I think the combination of these elements comes together better now than in the past. 'Death Cult Armageddon' had a full orchestra as well, but I think this time it just has more impact I think and it just sounds bigger than before. We kept the elements we are known for, of course, but we've also experimented a bit."

"For each album we do something new. I think that it has been a much smoother album this time, but at the same time it's been more work. I wouldn't consider it hard work, but it's more work, for sure. We paid attention to small details and all the things we overlooked in the past. The previous album was spontaneous and direct, but this time we incorporated the idea that it was going to sound huge from the beginning. So we started thinking in a primitive way when we put the songs together. So we paid a lot more attention to dynamics and the flow of the songs."

On DIMMU BORGIR's eveolution from the primitive melodic black metal of the early '90s to the sophisticated, bombastic symphonic metal of today:

"Sometimes as a musician you get impatient and you want results right away. But it's also important to think ahead more than just three months. It's very difficult now in this industry to think more than three months ahead because such a lot can happen in such a short time, but we've always been a band that has been gambling. If you don't gamble, you certainly won't win. We've taken any challenge and any opportunity that's come our way and considered it heavily. But we've never been as reluctant to do stuff that many of our contemporaries in the so-called black metal scene have, and still do. They're so afraid of stepping out of the boundaries and, 'Oh, what will other people say if we do this or that, let's stick to the formula... blah, blah, blah.' The only formula we have is to not to stick to anything! I think that's what separates us from many other bands. We work harder, and that sees bigger results as well. And that of course is in combination [with being] in the right place at the right time. For sure we have been in the wrong place at the wrong time, so many times!"

On how he considers the term "black metal" to be no longer relevant to DIMMU BORGIR:

“I don't think it really ever had [any relevance], either. It's just a term. I think when you listen to music, it's still a subjective thing. If you call your music black metal, that doesn't decide if the music is good or not. It's always up to the ears to hear and it's subjective. At this time in our career, we don't take too much notice of it. We know where we come from, but at the same time we have taken several steps further. Bands from the same genre have stagnated either because they can't take it further or just because they want to stay there. We always look forward: full on, full ahead, forward."

On touring with KORN:

"There was some weird responses [from fans], and that was expected. For some fans it might be something really risky and dramatic, but for us it's not, really. We've always been about challenging ourselves and indirectly challenging the fans. It's not the first time we've been asked to support KORN, and this time the timing was OK and there's no restrictions on sound or stageshow or anything like that. If there was, we wouldn't do it. We feel that as much fun and pleasureable as it is to play in front of your dedicated fanbase, we as artists also want to branch out. It's again something we don't see the drama in. Because ever since '96-'97 we have played all these different alternative festivals all over the place, where one day you play with FAITHLESS and the next you play with fucking MEAT LOAF! For us it's nothing new, but I can understand that for the 15, 16-year old fans, it might be something not 'true' or whatever. You always have a certain percentage of your fan base who are very conservative... they stick to one thing. But the majority of KORN's and DIMMU's fans are open-minded enough to let some other impressions sink in. It's all about sharing our music with as many people as possible. Preaching to the converted all the time is not going to make that difference!"

Hungarian extreme metallers EKTOMORF will release their new album, "Redemption", on December 17 via AFM Records. The CD was recorded at Antfarm studios in Århus, Denmark with producer Tue Madsen, who has previously worked with DARK TRANQUILLITY, THE HAUNTED and HEAVEN SHALL BURN, among others.

"Redemption" track listing:

01. Last Fight
02. Redemption
03. I’m In Hate
04. God Will Cut You Down
05. Stay Away
06. Never Should
07. Sea Of My Misery
08. The One (feat. Danko Jones)
09. Revolution
10. Cigany
11. Stigmatized
12. Anger
13. Kill Me Now (limited-edition digipak bonus)

"Remains", the 1996 album from Canadian melodic thrash metal pioneers ANNIHILATOR, has been reissued and is out now in Europe.

Following the recent release of ANNIHILATOR's critically acclaimed, self-titled new album, Earache Records announced the "Total Annihilation" campaign, reissuing six albums from the band's illustrious back-catalogue. "Remains" is the sixth and final release in the series, following "Carnival Diablos", "Criteria For A Black Widow", "Waking The Fury", "King Of The Kill" and "Refresh The Demon".

"Remains" is available now on CD in a custom slipcase and includes three bonus tracks plus a guitar workshop video with ANNIHILATOR guitarist and mainman Jeff Waters.

The full track listing for "Remains" is as follows:

01. Tricks And Traps
02. Murder
03. Never Forget
04. Reaction
05. Human Remains
06. I Want
07. Dead Wrong
08. No Love
09. Sexecution
10. Wind
11. Bastiage
12. Words From Jeff Waters*
13. Back To The Palace (1999 Demo)*
14. Annihilator (1985 Radio Ottawa Demo)*

* bonus tracks

Dutch/Norwegian goth metal band IMPERIA — which is fronted by Norwegian singer Helena Iren Michaelsen (the original vocalist of the Holland-based band SAHARA DUST, which later changed its name to EPICA) — has entered Spacelab studio in Germany to begin recording its new album for a February 25, 2011 release via Massacre Records.

IMPERIA's sophomore album, "Queen of Light", was released in March 2007 via Massacre Records. The follow-up to 2004's "The Ancient Dance of Qetesh" contains 13 tracks and was described in a a press release as "heavier and more varied" than its predecessor. "There are fast and powerful metal songs, slow ballads, heavy songs as well as a lot of serious guitar leads and oriental keyboards. It is a diverse album with crystal clear sound!"

Quebec City, Canada-based folk metal band NORDHEIM has released its debut album, "Lost In The North". The CD was produced at MGL Studio by Maxime and contains "10 tracks of pure energy and melodic riffs," according to a press release. The mastering was handled Jean-Francois Dagenais (KATAKLYSM). The album cover was designed by Nicolas Francoeur (KÄLTER, FARSIGHT) and can be viewed below.

"Lost In The North" track listing:

01. Lost In The North
02. Nightborn
03. Far Away
04. Beer, Metal, Trolls And Vomit
05. Promise To The Gods
06. Glorious March
07. Sailing The Drakkar
08. Old Crazy Man
09. Beyond The Howling North
10. Blessing From The Stars

PARKWAY DRIVE was honored in the "Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Album" category at the 2010 ARIA Awards (an annual awards night celebrating the Australian music industry, put on by the Australian Record Industry Association [ARIA]).

The ARIA Awards took place earlier tonight (Sunday, November 7) at the Sydney Opera House and was broadcast on Australia's MTV and Network Ten.

"Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Album" nominees were as follows:

* AIRBOURNE - "No Guts, No Glory" (EMI)
* DEAD LETTER CIRCUS - "This is the Warning" (Warner Music Australia)
* PARKWAY DRIVE - "Deep Blue" (Resist Records/Shock)
* THE AMITY AFFLICTION - "Youngbloods" (Boomtown/Shock)
* VIOLENT SOHO - "Violent Soho" (Liberation Music)

Multi-camera video footage of PITCH BLACK FORECAST — the project featuring vocalist Jason "J" Popson (MUSHROOMHEAD, IN COLD BLOOD, Fractured Transmitter Records), drummer Gene Hoglan (FEAR FACTORY, DETHKLOK, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, DEATH, DARK ANGEL, TESTAMENT), guitarist Robert Reinard (NDE), bassist Steve Rauckhorst (INTEGRITY, KERATOMA) and guitarist Tom Shaffner (KERATOMA) — performing live at Peabody's in Cleveland, Ohio on November 5, 2010 as the support act for THE DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT can be viewed below.

German folk metallers NACHTGESCHREI will release their third album, "Ardeo", on November 26 via Massacre Records.

"Ardeo" track listing:

01. An Mein Ende
02. Kein Reiner Ort
03. Herzschlag
04. Herbst
05. Ad Astra
06. Ardeo
07. Ich Hör Nichts Mehr
08. So Weit Wie Nötig
09. Lichtschimmer
10. Hinter Deinen Augen
11. Der Reisende

The song "An Mein Ende" is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page.

Mickey Finn, original vocalist for JETBOY, has officially announced his departure from the band. The split took place mid-September when Finn revealed he would not be able to take part in a planned European tour. JETBOY has chosen to continue without Finn and the European tour will take place November 12 through mid-December.

Commented Finn: "I wish the guys the best but from here on out they should start fresh and change there name because it's just not JETBOY anymore." He added, "I apologize to all the JETBOY fans who will be disappointed by this news and thank you for your support over the years."

Finn formed JETBOY with longtime friends Billy Rowe and Fernie Rod in 1983.

Twenty years after the release of the highly acclaimed "Damnednation", JETBOY's latest EP, "Off Your Rocker", was made available on March 2 via iTunes and Amazon.com.

According to a posting on the Polish-language version of BEHEMOTH's official web site, the band's 33-year-old leukemia-stricken guitarist/vocalist, Adam "Nergal" Darski, has found a bone marrow donor that is a genetic match. He will soon undergo radiation to destroy his old bone marrow — where blood is made but which also contains the leukemia cells — and replace it with healthy donor bone marrow, which will then — hopefully — go on to produce healthy blood.

Every year, more than 10,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with leukemia or lymphoma, and a bone-marrow transplant from an unrelated person is their best or only hope for survival. There is no data available on how many people die waiting for a match, but only four out of 10 patients receive the needed transplant.

Darski's fiancée, 26-year-old Polish pop singer Doda (real name: Dorota Rabczewska), was one of the people who donated her bone marrow but her tissue type was not a close enough match.

BEHEMOTH's "Evangelia Heretika" DVD will be released in the U.S. on November 9 via Metal Blade Records, in Poland via Mystic Records, and in the rest of Europe through Nuclear Blast. It contains three discs featuring two full shows ("Live In Paris 2008" and "Live In Warsaw 2009"); every BEHEMOTH music video ever made; "Evangelion" tour documentary featuring band interviews plus tons of backstage footage; and a bonus "Live in Warsaw" audio CD.

AEROSMITH frontman Steven Tyler has responded to Kid Rock after Rock called Tyler's decision to be a judge on "American Idol" "the stupidest thing he's ever done in his life. He's a sacred American institution of rock 'n' roll, and he just threw it all out the window. Just stomped on it and set it on fire."

Rock added: "I think whoever's advising him ... we should bring back the guillotine, or whatever they call that thing. And if it was himself, he needs some serious counseling. I love him to death, but I gotta speak the truth."

On Thursday, at an "Idol" press conference in Los Angeles, Tyler responded to Rock's comments (see video below) by saying, "He's just jealous, he's just jealous. And he's working his new record, so God bless him."

Tyler's move to "Idol" stunned his bandmates in AEROSMITH, who nearly split with the singer last year but regrouped for a tour this past summer. Tyler says he can juggle both.

Rock will release his new record, "Born Free", on November 16.

AEROSMITH drummer Joey Kramer said in a new interview he expects to see a new album from the band "within a year," adding, "My brothers and I are destined to make another record in the next year or so." He said that the album will be "an old-school AEROSMITH record. We're going to do it the old way with the whole band (in the same room) and it should be a good one. We're all anticipating." Kramer said that the band will begin recording over the winter and work around frontman Tyler's schedule on "Idol".