"Against The Wall", a brand new song from New Jersey/New York's ILL NIÑO, has been available for purchase via iTunes. The track comes off the band's new album, "Dead New World", which is scheduled for release on October 26 via Victory Records. The follow-up to 2008's "Enigma" was self-produced, with co-production coming from Clint Lowery (SEVENDUST) and Sahaj Ticotin (RA), and mixed by Eddie Wohl (36 CRAZYFISTS, ANTHRAX, SMILE EMPTY SOUL). The album artwork was created by Tim Butler of XIII Designs (DISTURBED, SLIPKNOT, METALLICA, SLAYER, MICHAEL JACKSON).

"Dead New World" track listing:

01. God Is Only For The Dead
02. The Art Of War
03. Against The Wall
04. Mi Revolucion
05. Bleed Like You
06. Serve The Grave
07. If You Were Me
08. Ritual
09. Killing You, Killing Me
10. How Could I Believe
11. Bullet With Butterfly Wings (SMASHING PUMPKINS cover)
12. Scarred

Drummer Adam Suleiman has left Norwegian doom metallers SYRACH. The band states, "We have been seeing this coming for some time, since he's only been in Bergen twice in one year for rehearsals. Fair enough, since he got a great job in Oslo he have our understanding and the best of luck in the future. Hopefully he will not quit drumming, as he is FAR too good to leave his sticks on the shelf, especially since he is only 25 years old... (joke!)."

SYRACH in June entered the studio to make a pre-production recording of four brand new songs.

Swedish progressive metal band DARKWATER will release its new album, "Where Stories End", on November 12 in Europe through Ulterium Records and November 23 in North America via Nightmare Records. The follow-up to 2007's "Calling The Earth To Witness" was mixed by Fredrik Nordström and Henrik Udd at Studio Fredman (IN FLAMES, DIMMU BORGIR, HAMMERFALL).

"Where Stories End" track listing:

01. Breathe
02. Why I Bleed
03. Into The Cold
04. A Fools Utopia
05. Queen Of The Night
06. In The Blink Of An Eye
07. Fields Of Sorrow
08. Without A Sound
09. Walls Of Deception

The track "Why I Bleed" is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page.

Vocalist/guitarist Nornagest of Belgian black metallers ENTHRONED has joined forces with the Colombian ambient/ritual act THE RED ANGLE. According to a posting on the ENTHRONED MySpace page, "This project is the work of magickal forces into left hand path tantra and luciferian sorcery. THE RED ANGLE creates old-school black metal combining the essence of ritual, ambient sound waves.

"The first offering in this form will be recorded by the end of the year."

Liverpool, U.K.-based "purveyors of misery and hope" SEROTONAL — who feature in their ranks original ANATHEMA vocalist Darren White along side guitarist Jon Francis-White and drummer Wayne Denny — are currently working on their sophomore album, "The Renunciant", for an early 2011 release. According to a press release the follow-up to "Monumental - Songs of Misery and Hope" will contain "passages that are heavier and more intensely crushing than before, intertwined with dynamic grooves and emotive, quiet moments they aim to make the aural journey more interesting to the listener."

Some of Sweden's finest heavy metal musicians gathered to pay tribute to Ronnie James Dio during this fall's edition of the Sweden Rock Cruise, which sailed on October 7 from Stockholm, Sweden for Åbo, Finland and returned the following day. There was a long tribute concert with a number of guest musicians performing classic songs from Dio's career with a main band consisting of members of LION'S SHARE. The show ended with all artists performing HEAR 'N AID's "Stars" (Dio was behind the HEAR N' AID project, a collection of metal artists who recorded the track "Stars" in 1985 to raise funds for African famine relief.)

Fan-filmed video footage of the event can be viewed below.

Special guest musicians at the concert:

* Jens Johansson (STRATOVARIOUS, YNGWIE, DIO) - Keyboards
* Rikard Zander (EVERGREY) - Keyboards
* Björn Gelotte (IN FLAMES) - Guitar
* Peter Iwers (IN FLAMES) - Guitar
* Mike Wead (BIBLEBLACK, KING DIAMOND) - Guitar
* Mats Levén (KRUX, CANDLEMASS, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN) - Vocals
* Charles Rytkönen (MORGANA LEFAY) - Vocals
* Messiah Marcolin (CANDLEMASS, MEMENTO MORI) - Vocals
* Joakim "Jocke" Berg (HARDCORE SUPERSTAR) - Vocals
* Johan Edlund (TIAMAT) - Vocals
* Johan Hegg (AMON AMARTH) - Vocals
* Magnus "Adde" Andreasson (HARDCORE SUPERSTAR) - Drums

The setlist was as follows:

01. E5150
02. Mob Rules (LION'S SHARE)
03. Stand Up And Shout (LION'S SHARE)
04. Holy Diver (LION'S SHARE)
05. Egypt (The Chains Are On) (LION'S SHARE + Johan Edlund)
06. Man On The Silver Mountain (LION'S SHARE + Johan Hegg)
07. Don't Talk To Strangers (LION'S SHARE + Charles Rytkönen)
08. One Night In The City (GOTHENBURG ALLSTARS)
09. Rock 'N' Roll Children (GOTHENBURG ALLSTARS)
10. Stargazer (GOTHENBURG ALLSTARS)
11. Children Of The Sea (LION'S SHARE + Messiah Marcolin, Mike Wead)
12. Sign Of The Southern Cross (LION'S SHARE + Messiah Marcolin, Mike Wead)
13. Tarot Woman (LION'S SHARE + Mats Levén, Jens Johansson)
14. Rainbow In The Dark (LION'S SHARE + Jens Johansson)
15. Heaven And Hell (LION'S SHARE)
16. Stars (everyone)

GOTHENBURG ALLSTARS lineup:

* Björn Gelotte (IN FLAMES) - Guitar
* Peter Iwers (IN FLAMES) - Bass -
* Joakim "Jocke" Berg (HARDCORE SUPERSTAR) - Vocals
* Magnus "Adde" Andreasson (HARDCORE SUPERSTAR) - Drums
* Rikard Zander (EVERGREY) - Keyboards

Minnesota quintet AFTER THE BURIAL will release its new album, "In Dreams", on November 23 via Sumerian Records. According to a press release, "This group has something for everyone and could be best described as a MESHUGGAH and UNEARTH hybrid that pleases the tech nuts while providing an entertaining stage show that is sure to always get the metalcore kids into a violent frenzy."

Commented the band: "We've spent the last year putting all of our hard work into this album, and we can assure you that the intricate dynamics of 'In Dreams' will satisfy your appetite for the crushing guitars, driving drums and powerful vocals you've come to expect from us.'

AFTER THE BURIAL will spend this winter touring relentlessly across North America on the "December Decimation" tour with WINDS OF PLAGUE, CARNIFEX, WAR OF AGES and UPON A BURNING BODY.

German extreme metallers NEAERA have posted another new song, "In Defiance", at the MetalBlade.de web site. At the same location you can stream "Heaven's Descent", the first single from the band's new album, "Forging The Eclipse", watch the studio webisodes the bandmembers filmed and pre-order the new CD. In Europe you can order the limited digipak version of the album for just 12.99 euros and a bundle including the digipak and an exclusive t-shirt for 19.99 euros.

Rob Zombie has contributed his voice and music to "Rock Of The Dead", a zombie-themed first person shooter game which is coming to Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, and PlayStation 3 on October 19.

A description of the game reads as follows: "This is a first-person shooter in which players assume the role of an aspiring rock star who finds himself in the midst of a zombie/alien invasion. Players defeat the creatures by accurately hitting notes, matching inputs, and creating successful riffs — these guitar attacks kill the various enemies. When the bugs, zombies, aliens, and mutant dogs are hit by guitar attacks, brief blood-splatter effects occur. Green blood stains also appear on the floor, in elevators, and on walls. Some song lyrics contain brief references to sexuality (e.g., 'And vicious t-bird breed on the whore' and 'Brain trash porn flash what is why'). During a protracted boss battle, a giant zombie will spew green vomit onto the ground."

Zombie was reportedly written into the fiction of the game, and players can collect eight of his body parts to unlock a Rob Zombie boss character.

DECOMPOSTER, the new project featuring FINNTROLL frontman Mathias Lillmåns, entered the studio yesterday (Monday, October 11) to begin recording "three tracks of ass-grinding death metal." No further details are currently available.

DECOMPOSTER's entire first demo, "Futile", is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page. Check out the songs "The Composter", "Final Outpost" and "Futile" at this location.

DECOMPOSTER is:

Mathias Lillmåns (FINNTROLL) - Vocals/Bass
Samuli Ponsimaa - Guitar
Mika Aaltonen - Guitar
Rainer Tuomikanto - Drums

Canadian thrash metal pioneers EXCITER are scheduled to release their new album, "Death Machine", on October 29 via Massacre Records. The effort will be made available as a standard CD, a digipak and a limited-edition (500 copies) gatefold LP.

"Death Machine" track listing:

01. Death Machine
02. Demented Prisoners
03. Dungeon Disciples
04. Hellfire
05. Power and Domination
06. Pray For Pain
07. Razor In Your Back
08. Skull Breaker
09. Slaughtered In Vain

The song "Death Machine" is now available for streaming on the band's MySpace page.

Jon Oliva (SAVATAGE, TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA, JON OLIVA'S PAIN), Tim "Ripper" Owens (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, BEYOND FEAR, ex-JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH), Zak Stevens (CIRCLE II CIRCLE, SAVATAGE), Roland Grapow (MASTERPLAN, HELLOWEEN) and Blaze Bayley (IRON MAIDEN, WOLFSBANE) are among the singers who have contributed guest vocals to "The Labyrinth Of Truths", the second full-length album from the Brazilian power metal opera project SOULSPELL. The CD is scheduled for release on October 18 via Inner Wound Recordings/Ulterium Records.

Check out the album's title track on the SOULSPELL MySpace page.

Norwegian black metallers SATYRICON have issued the following update:

"Our off year is coming to an end and in a few months time we will start writing for a new album.

"We are feeling fresh and charged.

"In 2011 we will re-release all albums from the Nineties with updated artwork and remastering where it is needed. There might even be some interesting shows to go with it!

"Unfortunately, we never had the opportunity to visit Russia with [the last SATYRICON album] 'The Age Of Nero', until now that is. Therefore we are pleased to announce shows in St Petersburg and Moscow in December!"

The details are as follows:

Dec. 11 - St. Petersburg, Russia - Orlandina Club
Dec. 12 - Moscow, Russia - Tochka Club

Australian melodic death metallers UNIVERSUM are putting the finishing touches on their sophomore album, "Mortuus Machina", for a tentative early 2011 release. The follow-up to 2008's "Leto Destinatus" will be mixed and mastered by Jens Bogren of Sweden's Fascination Street Studios (OPETH, SOILWORK, AMON AMARTH, KATATONIA) and will feature guest appearances by the following musicians:

* Christian Älvestam (SCAR SYMMETRY, SOLUTION .45)
* Marios Iliopoulos (NIGHTRAGE)
* Olof Mörck (NIGHTRAGE, DRAGONLAND, AMARANTHE)
* Ola Frenning (SOILWORK)
* Tuomas "Tommy" Tuovinen (MYGRAIN)
* Paul Wardingham

"Mortuus Machina" track listing:

01. Fractured Archetype (feat. Älvestam)
02. Morte Noir
03. Sum Of The Universe (feat. Älvestam, Iliopoulos, Mörck)
04. Genetic Sequence Distortion
05. Asymmetric Dimensional State (feat. Frenning, Tuovinen)
06. Slaves To The New Order
07. Aeon Displacement (feat. Wardingham)
08. Transcendence 0.0
09. 2.0 (feat. Älvestam)
10. Take Another
11. Blank Infinity

THE WILDHEARTS mainman Ginger has just released "10", a 16-track compilation album featuring the best of the first ten years of his solo work. In addition, the CD includes two brand new tracks exclusive to this release — "No Way Out But Through" and "This Too Will Pass".

Writing of the LP in his blog, Ginger says: "This album represents ten years of recording outside of THE WILDHEARTS family, but for me it represents even more than that. This album tells the story of the first steps I took alone in creating an independent personality for myself as a writer and as a father."

"10" track listing:

01. Sonic Shake
02. Yeah Yeah Yeah
03. How Hard Can You Make It
04. Mother City
05. Any Way But Maybe
06. Black Windows
07. Church Of The Broken Hearted
08. Drinking In The Daytime
09. The Man Who Cheated Death
10. This Is Only A Problem
11. When She Comes
12. I Knew You
13. Girls Are Better Than Boys
14. Jake
15. No Way Out But Through (new track)
16. This Too Will Pass (new track)

The current lineup of the legendary hardcore band CRO-MAGS — featuring John Joseph on vocals, Craig Setari (SICK OF IT ALL) on bass, A.J. Novello (LEEWAY) on guitar and Mackie Jayson on drums — is planning on releasing a new album in 2011. In a recent interview with Nettverk For Dyrs Frihet, Joseph stated about the timetable for the band's next CD, "We are looking to release something next year." He added, "We always just roll with the punches. We want to release something with this lineup. My philosophy is, 'I don't talk about shit; I just do it.' When it's getting ready to come out, you will hear about it. That's what I did with my books. I just wrote a film. There is no need to 'big-talk' something. I think everybody knows what to expect, so when it's getting ready to come out people will hear about it."

RAVENS CREED, the "VENOM-worshipping scumbags" featuring Steve Watson (ex-IRON MONKEY), Jason Graham, former SABBAT bassist Frazer Craske, and newly added vocalist Al Osta (a.k.a. The Syrian Destroyer), will release a brand new EP, "Nestless And Wild" (formerly "Black Bullets"), before the end of the year via Doomentia Records.

The track listing for the EP is as follows:

01. Stampede Of Skeletons
02. Breaking The Lord
03. Shoot The Wounded
04. The Wires Will Kill You

According to the band, "The cover will be thick card (like the [RAVENS CREED debut album] 'Albion Thunder' die-hard version) and will have posh as fuck UV spots to die for (Doomentia do the best-looking vinyl releases, don't you think?) as well as a lyric insert."

RAVENS CREED previously stated about the upcoming EP, "This is a great way of introducing the new lineup, so [four] tracks that we have already recorded for our second album (the power that dare not speak its name) will be used for the EP and the six songs we've written for the third LP will replace the ones that will be on the EP."

Iranian power metallers ANGBAND have posted three new songs on their MySpace page. The tracks come off the band's sophomore album, "Visions Of The Seeker", which will be released on October 29 via Pure Steel Records. The CD was mixed and mastered by veteran producer/sound engineer Achim Köhler (PRIMAL FEAR, AMON AMARTH, BRAINSTORM).

"Visions Of The Seeker" track listing:

01. Forgotten Glory (2:16)
02. Blind Anger (5:14)
03. Battle For... (5:41)
04. The Seeker (5:50)
05. Easy to Believe (5:23)
06. Forsaken Dream (4:54)
07. Truth of Life (5:30)
08. Fate & the Fear (5:00)
09. Astral Hallucinations (2:14)

Although their guitarist was a long-time member of QUEENSRŸCHE, don't assume that the music of THE STICK PEOPLE is based in challenging prog metal. While they do indeed have elements of metal in their sound, it's more of a "party-hearty" metal vibe, with energetic punk rock added to the mix as well. For the proof, all you have to do is surf on over to iTunes and give a listen to the group's digital single "Think About That".

Comprised of Stephen Duffy on lead vocals/guitars, Mike Stone on vocals/guitars (the group's aforementioned "QUEENSRŸCHE connection"), Billy Close on bass, Bernie Godwin on lead guitar, and Frankie Anthony on drums, THE STICK PEOPLE recently signed with EFM/Bungalo, which issued "Think About That". A video for the song was also completed.

"The band wasn't calculated, it just happened," explains Duffy. "Bernie, Frankie, and I were in the studio working on promotional material, and we clicked. Stone called in, roped in Billy, and suddenly, we were 'THE STICK PEOPLE.'"

Adds the band's producer, Dito, "THE STICK PEOPLE is a 'bands' band.' Great players, great chops, great songs and they love each other. How often do you find that?!"

THE STICK PEOPLE recently signed on with Ashley Talent International, LLC and is gearing up for live dates before the end of the year. Godwin says the band can't wait to hit the road. "THE STICK PEOPLE is a band of diverse musicians and walks of life," he says. "Together, we make a statement that is universally seen and heard by all people in our music. We use everyday life for inspiration. We can't wait to give you the show of your life!"

According to the Orphaned Disciples web site, 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 by two very special guests during the shows — PARADISE LOST guitarist Greg Mackintosh will appear at the December 9 gig; and 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.

KING'S X is back and better than ever, currently wrapping up a co-headlining run with reformed heavy metal legends ACCEPT. In 2011, the rock titans will unleash a brand new album on the masses but — just in time for the holidays — the band will release "Live Love in London", a 2CD/DVD package featuring some of the greatest hits from the past 30 years. This release features two hours of KING'S X's best material performed live, including such classics as "Over My Head", "Goldilox" and "Pray".

The first-ever official KING'S X concert DVD, "Live Love in London" was recorded in January 2009 at the Electric Ballroom in London, England. On October 25, the 2CD version of "Live Love in London" will be available in stores everywhere while the "deluxe edition" featuring both CDs as well as the DVD will be available exclusively through CMDistro.com. The DVD-only edition will be released to stores everywhere on November 23. A pre-order is available through CMDistro.com and fans that order the deluxe edition will receive a FREE autographed poster while supplies last.

"Live Love in London" track listing:

01. Groove Machine
02. Alright
03. Pleiades
04. Move
05. What Is This?
06. Lost In Germany
07. Black Flag
08. Pray
09. Dogman
10. Go Tell Somebody
11. Julie
12. Looking For Love
13. Summerland
14. Over My Head
15. It's Love
16. We Were Born To Be Loved
17. Goldilox
18. Visions
19. Moanjam

You might know Devon Graves from the alt-metal band DEADSOUL TRIBE — or you might be more familiar with his real name, Buddy Lackey. He spent 11 years working as frontman and singer-flute player for one of the original prog-metal bands, PSYCHOTIC WALTZ.

Throughout the journeys of touring with DEADSOUL TRIBE, Devon met many musicians who really stood above the crowd. One day he began to wonder: "What would it be like to play in a band made of the very finest players I have met along the way?"

So like Dr. Frankenstein did, by sewing the greatest, strongest pieces of the greatest strongest men and then adding a sick and demented brain to create his monster, so it is the same with Devon's creation of his monster THE SHADOW THEORY who are featuring some of the finest musicians that Devon could possibly gather:

* Demi Scott - Keyboards
* Arne Schuppner (COMPLEX 7) - Guitar
* Kristoffer Gildenlöw (DIAL, ex-PAIN OF SALVATION) - Bass
* Johanne James (THRESHOLD, KYRBGRINDER) - Drums

Four years in the making, THE SHADOW THEORY will releasing its first studio album on Devon's longtime home InsideOut Music. "Behind the Black Veil" is a sinister roller-coaster ride of sound and lyrical imagery combining elements of thrash, psychedelic and symphonic metal fused with folk and prog-rock undertones. Devon's first "concept album" ever, it tells a horror story of a man who wakes from one nightmare into another, into another until he can no longer tell where the dream ends and reality begins… Or if he was ever dreaming at all.

THE SHADOW THEORY's "Behind the Black Veil", both frightening and compelling, is sure to be a standout amongst the vast myriad of music releases this year. THE SHADOW THEORY will be a touring band and is already looking into possible touring in early 2011.
"Behind the Black Veil" track listing:

01. I Open Up My Eyes (7:04)
02. The Sound of Flies (4:40)
03. Ghostride (5:32)
04. Welcome (5:02)
05. By the Crossroads (5:35)
06. Selebrate (3:17)
07. Snakeskin (3:48)
08. Sleepwalking (5:17)
09. The Black Cradle (5:15)
10. A Candle in the Gallery (3:57)
11. A Symphony of Shadows (7:55)

"The Sound Of Flies" is available for streaming on the THE SHADOW THEORY MySpace page.

"Behind the Black Veil" release dates:

Germany, Austria, Switzerland: Friday, November 19
Spain, Italy: Tuesday, November 23
Sweden, Finland, Hungary: Wednesday, November 24
Rest Of Europe: Monday, November 22
Australia/New Zealand: Friday, November 26
North America: Tuesday, January 25