Long-running D.C. doom legends PENTAGRAM, with riff-meister Victor Griffin back in the fold, will record their new album, "Last Rites", between November 29 and December 21 for a late March/early April release via Metal Blade Records. The effort will be a double-disc set consisting of the new studio album and a DVD of the band's performance at this year's Maryland Deathfest, which was held on May 28-30, 2010 at Sonar in Baltimore.

Working songtitles set to appear on the CD:

* Walk In The Blue Light
* Horseman
* Virgin Death
* Figure Eight
* Everything's Turning To Night
* Mark My Word
* Sunday's Child
* Old Man
* Thrill Of The Kill

PENTAGRAM's current lineup:

Bobby Liebling - Vocals
Victor Griffin - Guitar
Greg Turley - Bass
Gary Isom (SPIRIT CARAVAN) - Drums

ORPHANED LAND's December 9 and December 10 concerts at Reading 3 in Tel Aviv, Israel will be professionally filmed and recorded for an upcoming DVD release. The band will be joined at both shows by Steven Wilson of PORCUPINE TREE. Also appearing on December 9 will be PARADISE LOST guitarist Greg Mackintosh; famous Israeli singer Yehuda Poliker will perform with ORPHANED LAND on December 10. Poliker reportedly inspired the band to choose the name ORPHANED LAND from the lyrics of one of his songs.

"Yhdeksän Tien Päät", the new video from Lemi, Finland-based metallers STAM1NA, can be viewed below. The song comes off the band's new collection of old demo recordings which were originally "self-released" on cassette tape or CD-R format before the band signed a deal with Sakara Records. Entitled "Vanhaa Paskaa" (which literally translates to "old shit"), the compilation was made available in response to an overwhelming demand from fans who couldn't track down the band's early material.

Vocalist Matt McChesney of Daytona Beach, Florida's THE AUTUMN OFFERING has released the following statement:

"Due to Tommy [Church, guitar] leaving the band, as well as a million other things, we have decided to take a long break. Possibly just end it, depending on what happens. We haven't been dropped by our label or anything, we are just burnt out.

"There is no reason to go on and on with bullshit, we are all friends. All you guys know we love you. Personally, I wish everyone well in whatever they choose to do. As for myself, I have a new band with Jesse Nunn [guitar]. We will enter the studio next month with producer Logan Mader [SOULFLY, MACHINE HEAD, DEVILDRIVER, GOJIRA] to start our new record. It's not going to be a metal band, as I am personally done with metal for awhile. I'm disgusted with the state of it, and I don't want to be a part of it.

"I've always been a well-rounded musician, and the early '90s movement of bands such as SOUNDGARDEN and ALICE IN CHAINS have always held a special place in my heart. I've always wanted to front a rock band, and I'm excited to start. There's been quite a bit invested into this project by some powerful people, so the pressure is on. We plan to deliver. I'm sure whatever Brian [Sculley, drums] and Tom decide to do, it will be rad. They are great musicians. Matt Johnson has become quite the engineer, I'm sure he will leave his mark.

"We want to thank Victory Records for putting out our records, and the hard work put in by all our various managers and booking agents. Take care everyone, it's been a blast."

Swedish rock band CIRKUS is putting the finishing touches on its sophomore album, "Cityslicker", for an early 2011 release. According to the group, "the idea of a 'Cityslicker' album was born during the last tour in the States that had a personal effect on the whole band. Then the band asked a Spanish artist and a great friend of CIRKUS, Elena Vila, to implement the ideas into artwork which can only be described as amazing."

"Cityslicker" is currently being mixed and mastered by Jeff Northrup, who has previously worked with MONTROSE and XYZ, among others. Also involved in the album's production is Jay Messina (KISS, AEROSMITH, SLASH'S SNAKEPIT).

Bassist Shane Embury of British grindcore pioneers NAPALM DEATH has issued the following update:

"Life is, as ever, chaotic in the NAPALM DEATH camp as we get ready to ship our gear over to Hamburg for the first show on the 4th today, and also what with putting ideas together for our new album next year and working hard towards that in our very little spare time we decided that it was time to change our set for the forthcoming shows with WAKING THE CADAVER, MACABRE and IMMOLATION, too!

"We have been pushing the last record pretty hard over the past couple of years, so again we thought with this tour being probably the last European one for awhile we would spice it up somewhat!

"Our familiar 'Scum' medley will change completely with a bunch of oldies we haven't played in years, a few more covers from 'Leaders Not Followers 1' and '2' and a song or two from 'Utopia Banished', 'Fear, Emptiness, Despair', 'Diatribes', 'Harmony Corruption' and a few different songs from the new record but with more emphasis on a set covering the past 20-plus years.

"I am off to pack some more stuff still for the tour. Looking forward to catching up with friends old and new again over the next few weeks and especially looking forward to playing with the bands with us on this tour — it's going to be a great one, I think."

Fan-filmed video footage of NAPALM DEATH's August 28, 2010 performance at the Elsrock festival in Rijssen, The Netherlands can be viewed below (courtesy of "letthedeathmetalflow").

Darryl Sterdan of the QMI Agency recently conducted an interview with legendary heavy metal singer Ozzy Osbourne. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

QMI Agency: Was it tough to make "Scream" after losing Zakk Wylde? He was your guitarist and right-hand man for 20 years.

Ozzy: Let me set something straight: I didn't lose Zakk. It was time for me to move on. I love the guy as much as I've always loved him, and as much as I will always love him. He's like family, you know. I remember when he was in hospital a while back. He had a blood clot in his hip or his leg or something. I sent him an email that said, "Zakk, if you die before me, I'll fucking kill you!"

QMI Agency: Speaking of health, I understand you're writing a health advice column now.

Ozzy: It's just a bit of fun, you know. People ask me questions. Some are really interesting. I can relate to them. One I got recently was about something that drives me nuts. When I use public toilets, I wash my hands after I've been to the fucking bathroom. But then I have to open the fucking door where all those other filthy hands have been. What's the fucking deal with that? I'm not germophobic, but I don't want to touch some door handle that's had more dicks on it than a fucking whorehouse.

QMI Agency: Your son Jack is doing a documentary about you. Is he going to be nicer on you or tougher because you're his dad?

Ozzy: I have not seen a fucking frame of this thing. He's been at it so long I told him he should call it "Chinese Democracy 2". But I've heard it's very good. He's got an interview with Paul McCartney in it, for fuck's sake. But I said to him, "Jack, don't make me out like I'm the nicest guy." Because some people are going to go, "Oh yeah? Well, he was a fucking asshole when he come 'round to my house." I don't mind having everything come out. I've never been shy. I've done some pretty fucking stupid things in my life. Hell, I'm known for that.

QMI Agency: I spoke to Geezer Butler recently and he said he'd love to do one more BLACK SABBATH world tour.

Ozzy: I bet he would. (Laughs) Um, I'm not saying I wouldn't do it. But not right now. I've got another year to finish my tour. And if I do a BLACK SABBATH tour, he's got to promise to stop fucking moaning. Geezer, I love him. But he's always on about something. He's like, "Ohhhhh." And I'm like, "Yeah, great to see you too, Geezer."

Swedish avant-garde rock band DIABLO SWING ORCHESTRA is writing material for its next CD, tentatively due in 2011. The group states, "New album is coming along slowly but surely. We have around 11 songs in various stages of completion at the moment and we're still counting. Some working titles are: 'Día De Los Muertos', 'Voodoo, Mon Amour!' and 'Aurora'. Expect some Turkish pop mixed with black metal and Chinese boy choirs among other things. We're hoping to get the recordings ready some time during the spring of 2011."

CREED singer Scott Stapp says he has "nothing but love, forgiveness and respect" for GODSMACK frontman Sully Erna after Erna issued a "public apology" to the members of CREED, and in particular Stapp, for using a derogatory term for a homosexual male to describe Scott (see video footage below). The reference was made during Erna's lengthy speech midway through the final song of GODSMACK's set at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut on October 9, which saw Erna challenging the audience to form a massive pit on the floor of the venue and "tear shit up."

In his letter of apology, Erna admitted that he had "no excuses whatsoever" for making the "insulting and disrespectful comment" about Stapp but explained that "there has been a lot of bad blood for many, many years between myself and Scott concerning his actions towards a young fan he disrespected and how he has treated people in the past." He went on to say, "I am a 42-year-old dad, with a great career and a much bigger purpose in life than to be stuck in my juvenile past, and wasting my time carrying around useless grudges. I myself have made many mistakes in my life and was no angel, but have been forgiven for those mistakes. So I am here to bury this once and for all."

Stapp took to his official Twitter profile on Friday (October 29) to address Erna's apology, writing, "Sully, I have nothing but love, forgiveness and respect for you, bro. Keep rocking and I look forward to catching your show in Florida with my son Jagger. Rock on."

GODSMACK frontman Sully Erna has issued a "public apology" to the members of CREED, and in particular their singer, Scott Stapp, for using a derogatory term for a homosexual male to describe Stapp (see video footage below) when the Massachusettes hard rock band performed at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut on October 9. The reference was made during Erna's lengthy speech midway through the final song of GODSMACK's set, "Whatever", which saw Erna challenging the audience to form a massive pit on the floor of the venue and "tear shit up."

Erna's "public apology" in its entirety:

"I would like to send my sincerest apologies to the members of CREED, Scott Stapp and any of our fans that I may have offended for an insulting and disrespectful comment I had made towards Scott Stapp and CREED at a show GODSMACK recently played in Connecticut at Mohegan Sun. I have no excuses whatsoever.

"The truth here is, there has been a lot of bad blood for many, many years between myself and Scott concerning his actions towards a young fan he disrespected, and how he has treated people in the past. And from that day forth I had completely lost all respect for him. But the details of what he did are no longer important now. What's important is that it was a long time ago, and I know Scott has come clean, admitting his faults from the past for the most part, and has worked hard on cleaning himself up. And I should have respected that and given the guy the benefit of the doubt. But I didn't. I got hung up in the moment, and said something that was completely out of line through a grudge I have carried for many years about him. For that I would like to 'publicly apologize' to all the members of CREED and their fans. With the exception of Scott, I have been friends with the members of CREED/ALTER BRIDGE for many years, and I am embarrassed as a friend to have insulted them like I did.

"I have suffered no consequences for my actions, nor have I been requested by my record label, management company or attorneys to reach out and correct this matter. I am writing this letter by my own will. I am doing this because I want everyone to know that I recognize this was an immature and meaningless attack, and I am man enough to admit when I am wrong. I would like to think I have grown past these parts of my life, and I have always preached the word that 'music is not a competition,' it is a universal language that we all are connected to and experience in our own ways, and I stick by those words. With that being said, I would be nothing more than a hypocrite to slander another artist for no other reason than for past events that I have held against him.

"I would also like to say thank you to the fans for waking me up on this matter through your reviews, comments and emails, as harsh as some of them were, they helped me realize that I am a 42-year-old dad, with a great career and a much bigger purpose in life than to be stuck in my juvenile past, and wasting my time carrying around useless grudges. I myself have made many mistakes in my life and was no angel, but have been forgiven for those mistakes. So I am here to bury this once and for all.

"I don't expect Scott or any of the guys to accept my apology, but I still feel the least I can do for embarrassing them is to man up and apologize publicly. It was a tasteless and unnecessary comment about four very hard-working guys. We're all in this rat race together, and I am very sorry for disrespecting you."

Maryland-based experimental, progressive metal six-piece PERIPHERY will embark on a massive North American tour in November/December alongside DARKEST HOUR, VEIL OF MAYA and REVOCATION.

Commented guitarist Misha Mansoor: "We are currently preparing for a long tour with DARKEST HOUR, VEIL OF MAYA and REVOCATION, which is going to be a blast and we can't wait to get back out there to play for everyone. Also, we encourage everyone to come and meet us at our merch booth after each and every show to come and hang with us. We love hearing feedback from our fans and getting a chance to meet new people. We also will have a fresh new, longer setlist with a brand-spankin'-new song and a few fun surprises just for this tour. We are also giving lessons on our respective instruments (a lot of days are already booked!), so please come out early to see us and jam with us. Contact us on MySpace or Facebook if you are interested in lessons.

"I am also really happy to announce that PERIPHERY is well into the writing process for our upcoming EP. We have tracked most of the instrumentation and vocals and are making final tweaks on everything but you guys are in for a treat. There will be some re-tweaked material, some rare material and some brand new material on it so there will be something for everyone. We have also been working on material for our second full-length now, so that we can have as much time to refine it before we record the final product. Our goal with our music is to cover as much ground as possible while staying true to our sound, and hopefully evolve from previous work all at once. It's a tall order but a fun challenge nonetheless, and we are doing our best to ensure that the new material will fulfill that goal.

"We want to thank all of our fans for their love and support. We would be nowhere without you and we want to be able to meet you all and thank you in person, so be sure to come out to the shows and hang out with us. We also want to thank DARKEST HOUR for giving us the opportunity to be on this very special tour with them and it is such an honor for us. You guys are in for a treat. See you there."

The self-titled debut album from Washington D.C.'s PERIPHERY sold around 4,500 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 128 on the Billboard 200 chart. The CD landed at No. 2 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

This month's issue of Germany's Metal Hammer magazine — due out November 17 — will contain an exclusive SODOM CD, "The Art Of Killing Poetry", featuring three new songs, plus the band's German classics and a live recording of "Bombenhagel" from the Wacken Open Air festival.

The track listing is as follows:

01. In War And Pieces
02. The Art Of Killing Poetry
03. Feigned Death Throes
04. Die Stumme Ursel
05. Stalinorgel
06. Mantelmann
07. Ausgebombt
08. Wachturm
09. Verrecke

ANNEX THEORY, the Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada-based metal act featuring former QUO VADIS vocalist Trevor Bernie, has completed work on a new EP, to be released digitally this winter. The effort was mastered by TESSERACT's Acle Kahney.

According to a press release, ANNEX THEORY "combines high-level musicianship with catchy choruses and heavy grooves." The band has opened for PORT AMORAL, DESPISED ICON, MISERY INDEX and ELECTRO QUARTERSTAFF, among others.

ANNEX THEORY is:

Trevor Bernie (ex-QUO VADIS) - Vocals
Sam Jacobs - Guitars
Wade Forshaw - Gutars
Matt Rutowicz - Keyboards
Jordan Fehr - Bass
Adam Jefkins - Drums

Swedish metallers PAIN, who are led by HYPOCRISY mainman Peter Tägtgren, have issued the following update:

"What the hell is going on?! Well… It's been a while since the last update and we thought it was about time to let you in on a couple of things.

"The last couple of months every one of us has been pretty busy with anything but PAIN. As you may know, Peter has been concentrating on HYPOCRISY this year and recently came home from a successful tour in South America. David [Wallin, drums], who just got signed up with Zildjian, is working for Unique Pyrotechnic along with doing a lot of different stand-in club shows in Sweden. Johan [Husgafvel, bass] became a dad in August [mother is his girlfriend, NIGHTWISH singer Anette Olzon. — Ed.] (best wishes from us all), and the more time spent away from PAIN means the more time spent with his family. Michael [Bohlin, guitar] is working with different side projects along with his work for Digidesign.

"Now, the following months will be dedicated to PAIN and to finish the new songs. Up 'till today eight songs are more or less ready to go, and at least three or four more are needed before we can start recording. Our plans are to start the recordings in late 2010 or early 2011, and have the album ready for a worldwide release sometime in May 2011. After that, we're about to hit the road and do as many of the summer festivals as we can. Of course, there will be a headline tour as well, and if everything works out we'll even break new grounds. Work has also begun with designing a new stage set that will be something out of the average.

"As you may understand we're more eager than ever to record this album, make it the best, and play it for you live. So stay tuned and visit our websites for continuous information, studio reports, album details, and the first show dates for 2011."

"Coordinates Of Confusion", the sophomore album from Slovenian thrashers NEGLIGENCE, is available for streaming in its entirety on the band's MySpace page. Released in Europe on October 11 (three days earlier in Germany) via Metal Blade Records, the CD was mixed by NEGLIGENCE drummer Ruzz at the band's own Negligence studio and was mastered by Alan Douches at West West Side Music (CONVERGE, HATEBREED, THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN) in New Windsor, New York.

LED ZEPPELIN frontman Robert Plant headlined London, England's Roundhouse on October 29 as part of BBC Radio 2's Electric Proms festival. Plant performed with his new band BAND OF JOY — an updated version of his pre-LED ZEPPELIN group which also featured the late John Bonham — and was joined by The London Oriana Choir.

The show was broadcast live on BBC Radio 2 and can now be streamed at this location.