Three of the remaining DREAM THEATER members — singer James LaBrie, guitarist John Petrucci and keyboardist Jordan Rudess — have issued separate statements commenting further on the departure of drummer Mike Portnoy, the band's co-founder and leader for 25 years.

James LaBrie: "Thought I would give you time to digest the news of Mike's departure.

"Mike stated that he was burnt out with the DREAM THEATER world and needed a break.

"We have to respect where he is at and where this will lead him at this particular point in time. With that being said, we are more than pumped to continue the legacy of DREAM THEATER and jump full on into the next chapter. Rest assured, it will be great. You can count on it."

John Petrucci: "Obviously you've all heard the news of Mike's departure from DREAM THEATER by now. I felt it important to open up a line of communication in an effort to kill any rumors and to promote clarity.

"I love Mike and really hope he's happy and successful in whatever he does.

"I realize that Mike was always the one to actively stay in touch with our fans, and I just wanted to let you know that I'm going to try to be at least a bit more present on both mine and DREAM THEATER's websites and to let you all know that I am here.

"To me, DREAM THEATER's story is one of defying the odds, standing for true integrity in music and creating our own success through perseverance and hard work, so although Mike's leaving is heartbreaking, I still look forward to an amazing musical journey that continues on with some of the most talented and respected musicians and composers on the planet!"

Jordan Rudess: "Everyone is asking me to comment on my thoughts about Mike Portnoy leaving DREAM THEATER and this huge change that has happened in all of our lives. I have always been able to express my feelings and do my best 'talking' through music, so I decided to voice my statement in this improvisation [see video below]. Hope you 'understand.'"

SLIPKNOT frontman Corey Taylor says he doesn't want to make any rash statements about the band's future following the recent passing of bassist Paul Gray and is focusing, for the time being, on promoting "Audio Secrecy", the new album from his other band, STONE SOUR.

"It's kind of a gray area right now," Taylor tells in FMQB Productions' radio special, "Inside Stone Sour: Audio Secrecy". "Everybody is still feeling it. It's too soon to tell.

"I'm very conflicted about whether or not I want to do anything with SLIPKNOT, because to me, Paul was such an integral part of the band. He was the whole reason that the band was the way it was... Paul was the glue and the orchestrator behind some of the best music we ever wrote. He was the soul of the band.

"I don't want to make any statements that I'll look like a fool in retrospect, but to me, right now, it just doesn't make sense," Taylor says. "Until it does, that's the way it stays for me. That's why I've been saying it's too soon to tell... you never know."

Legendary Chicago doom metallers TROUBLE have issued the following update:

"TROUBLE is getting ready for the studio now. [We] have been making preliminary recordings and working out things in order to bring the best possible TROUBLE release.

"[We are] extremely happy with the direction of the songs. Heavy and melodic are the words that describe this work.

"In other news, be on the lookout for 'TROUBLE blog.' The band has signed on with Ironroad to bring subscribers a weekly blog reporting on everything TROUBLE. Fans can sign up to receive video blogs soon."

New York death metal veterans IMMOLATION performed at The Studio at Webster Hall in New York City on July 28, 2010 as part of The Blackened Music Series. You can now stream the entire show using the audio player below (courtesy of WNYC radio).

The band's setlist was as follows:

01. World Agony
02. Father, You're Not a Father
03. Interlude
04. A Thunderous Consequence
05. Dawn of Possession
06. Power and Shame
07. Harnessing Ruin

"Rockmos!" is the name of the first and onlly QUEEN + PAUL RODGERS photobook containing 342 pages with hundreds of great pictures and interesting stories of 22 shows from 2005 to 2008 in Europe and North America.

The foreword was written by guitarist Brian May, singer Paul Rodgers and drummer Roger Taylor.

The price for the standard edition is 34.90 euros plus+ shipping.

Creator Thilo Rahn is donating 2 euros from each sold book to the Mercury Phoenix Trust.

"Rockmos!" is also available in a special limited edition of 111 numbered copies.

The official release date is October 1.

Paul Kuhr from NOVEMBERS DOOM and Thomas A. G. Jensen from SATURNUS have contributed guest vocals to "The Cimmerian Years", the third album from from Belgium-based metallers THURISAZ, which is tentatively due in early 2011 via an as-yet-undetermined record label.

Commented THURISAZ: "We know both Paul and Thomas from tours in Europe and the States we did in the past. It's a real honor to have them both on our new record. Paul has one of the best and powerful grunts of the metal scene and Thomas has a voice with a lot of emotion and depth in his spoken word and grunt. Paul will appear on the song called 'Last Goodbye'. Thomas will appear on the song 'A Glance of Misperception'."

Former COAL CHAMBER members Miguel "Meegs" Rascon (guitar) and Mikey Cox (drums) have rejoined forces in a brand new Los Angeles, California-based "post-punk" project called WE ARE THE RIOT. The group's current lineup is rounded out by Andy Cole, Jonny Sculls Flanagan and Cheyne Fritts. No further details are presently available.

COAL CHAMBER rose to prominence with a gold-certified debut album in 1997 that established the group as one of the most promising bands on the then-emerging, so-called "nu metal" scene.

Nadja Peulen replaced COAL CHAMBER bassist Rayna Foss Rose in 1999 during Rose's pregnancy for almost 12 months while the band was on the road supporting its second album, "Chamber Music". Rayna came back to the band after her pregnancy leave and recorded COAL CHAMBER's third album, "Dark Days". Shortly after recording "Dark Days", Rayna quit the band and Nadja was recruited for the touring cycle that followed the CD's release. The band broke up during the "Dark Days" tour in 2002.

Former COAL CHAMBER singer Dez Fafara is currently fronting DEVILDRIVER, which will issue its fifth album in early 2011 via Roadrunner Records.

Davide Tiso of Italian avant-garde metallers EPHEL DUATH is back with a new musical project dubbed MANUSCRIPTS DON'T BURN. The project's debut mini-CD will be released in October on Aural Music.

Commented Tiso: "I thought about a one-man band since my black metal days back in the '90s.

"The idea of taking care of every aspect of the creative process has always been something I've been into (see EPHEL DUATH), but with MANUSCRIPTS DON'T BURN I take this to a new limit: not involving anyone in the performing and recording process, too.

"A year ago I started to compose for the Karyn Crisis solo album. I wrote a lot of songs, probably too many and with too much going on: there was no space for vocals. The songs were ready and done, without her voice. I restarted to compose for her from scratch. In the meantime, I remained with enough material to start the solo adventure of above.

"I'm totally absorbed by this new direction; there's something magic about these songs, an extremely positive vibe surrounds them. They have been composed without any kind of effort, like they were already existing and ready to be caught on tape.

"There's something that needs to be spread through these songs: genuine compassionate feelings towards whomever wants to deal with this music.

"This is what I'm proudly doing now, hoping that this new palette will become an important part of my career and last the test of fire (you people) like those manuscripts Bulgakov was talking about."

Jim Kjell, former vocalist/guitarist for the Swedish melodic death metal band GARDENIAN, has launched a brand new project called HERA. Kjell is currently seeking a vocalist, lead guitarist and bass player to complete the group's lineup lineup.

According to the project's official bio, "HERA was started a couple of years ago and was heading towards a record deal with the complete package. Jim turned it down since he had to take care of himself and three years later HERA is very much alive and the ideas of the music is starting to shape up. Right now the focus is put on whether it should be more brutal or more laid back than before. New songs are written and are of a variety of styles. But yet he stays true to his roots and brutality is mixed with nice melodies and choruses."

Wendy Dio, wife/manager of late singer Ronnie James Dio (HEAVEN & HELL, BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW, DIO, ELF), spoke to Greg Prato (MySpace page) of RollingStone.com about Niji Entertainment Group, the newly launched record label which has several releases scheduled for November.

On November 9, Niji will release the double-disc set "Dio at Donington UK: Live 1983 and 1987", featuring two vintage performances by Ronnie's own band, DIO. Two weeks later, the company will reissue DIO's 1983 debut LP, "Holy Diver", on 180-gram vinyl; and "Bitten by the Beast", an album by Ronnie's cousin and former ELF bandmate, David "Rock" Feinstein. The latter effort will include one of two songs Ronnie recorded with Feinstein last year, "Metal Will Never Die". Planned for 2011 a is a mammoth 16-album vinyl-or-CD box set, "For the Record: The Complete Dio Vinyl Collection", "The Complete Bootleg Box"; ELF vinyl reissues, and a DVD release of the import VHS video, "Super Rock Japan 1985". Also in the works: The release of Ronnie James Dio's memoirs, most of which the singer completed before he died; a book of illustrated lyrics; and a photo book.

You can read Wendy Dio's comments about the upcoming releases at RollingStone.com.

The two-disc DVD release of the award-winning documentary about legendary Canadian trio RUSH, called "Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage", has been certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipments in excess of 100,000 copies. (Note: Due to the fact that the set consists of two discs, it was eligible for platinum certification after shipping 50,000 copies; platinum certification for a single-disc release is 100,000 copies.)

The following update has been posted on the official web site of the Dutch symphonic metal band EPICA:

"Although EPICA has been touring around the world for months, [guitarist/songwriter] Mark [Jansen] found the time to put another band together, which he takes very seriously: MAYAN.

"Mark founded MAYAN together with Jack Driessen (ex-AFTER FOREVER) and Frank Schiphorst, [and] named [the band] after the wise and rich Mayan culture.

"The release of the [debut MAYAN] album will take place around May 2011 and the CD presentation will [be held] at Paradiso [in] Amsterdam!

"[MAYAN's] music is a mixture of death, black and progressive metal combined with symphonic orchestral arrangements."

Commented Jansen: "There was only one record label we wanted to sign with — Nuclear Blast — so we didn't even look for other companies to work with, and we're very happy that this appreciation is mutual.

"The debut [MAYAN] album will be recorded and mixed at the end of the year 2010 and the beginning of 2011 by Sascha Paeth (who produced the [previous] EPICA records as well). We're also stoked to announce that Jeroen Paul Thesseling (PESTILENCE, OBSCURA), known for his signature six-string fretless playing in progressive death metal, will join as permanent member on bass guitar. Isaac Delahaye [guitar, EPICA] and Ariën van Weesenbeek [drums, EPICA] will complete the lineup!

"We'll work with some very interesting guests and these will be announced very soon!"

NOCTURNAL FEAR, Detroit's war-thrash death-squad, has parted ways with longtime drummer Aggressor. His replacement, Witchhammer, is already learning the band's set and is rehearsing tracks for the group's forthcoming album, "Excessive Cruelty", to be released next year on Moribund Records.

Commented founding guitarist Rev. Chris Slavehunter PhD.: "It's not easy being in Detroit's and arguably the USA's fastest and most face-ripping thrash band. Witchhammer has the devotion and drive to become a true NOCTURNAL FEAR shock trooper! Our new album and shows will bear this out. Heed my words, posers — the knock on your door in the middle of the night may be us! Death to false metal!"

As previously reported, NOCTURNAL FEAR recently added new member Warmonger on bass. The band is rounded out by Slavehunter on all guitars and Devastator on vocals.

A release date for "Excessive Cruelty" will be announced later this year.

The inaugural episode of the Focus On Metal weekly podcast features a brand new interview with bassist Orion (real name: Tomasz Wróblewski) of Polish bands BEHEMOTH, VESANIA and BLACK RIVER.

When asked about the current condition of Adam "Nergal" Darski, the 33-year-old guitarist/vocalist from BEHEMOTH, who was recently diagnosed with a life-threatening form of leukemia, a cancer of blood-forming tissues of the bone marrow, Orion said, "[Nergal] remains in the hospital. He's going through chemotherapy now. And they're planning a bone-marrow transplant, possibly this year.

"He's doing fine. His attitude is just winning everything. He's with fighting the illness and we're all sure that he's gonne be fine.

"We're still in touch, we're still working on new BEHEMOTH releases — we're working on a DVD now. So he's doing as good as possible [under] these conditions."

On how fans' support has lifted Nergal's spirit:

"It's been just massive support that we get from the fans that he gets, and I'm sure it helps him a lot."

On what fans can do to help:

"To register in a bone-marrow bank, it's just a sample of blood, so that's the least that anybody can do. So if there is any chance for anybody to just go and do it, then go ahead, and that's a huge help. Even if it doesn't help Nergal directly, it helps some other person, most likely. So that's what people can do in order to [show their] support."

On how not all transplants will require the donor to undergo surgery if they are approved as a match (for those people who are afraid of surgery):

"The surgery of a bone-marrow donor, it's just a simple surgery — it takes two weeks to be 100 percent cured and recovered. So it's not a serious thing. And to be a match for somebody, it takes months of testing and everything at the bone-marrow bank. The chance for a person who is unrelated to be a match for somebody is 1 to 40,000, as far as I know, so being afraid of going under a knife, it sounds a little ridiculous to me if you can go through a little surgical [procedure] and save somebody's life. It takes two weeks to get recovered 100 percent — that's it."

Former PANTERA and current DOWN singer Philip Anselmo tells Billboard.com that his collaboration with fellow surviving PANTERA members Vinnie Paul Abbott (drums) and Rex Brown (bass), along with the estate of the late guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, to work together on PANTERA's "Cowboys From Hell" reissue is unlikely to lead to any new original music from the former bandmates.

"I would not want to tarnish the PANTERA name," Anselmo says, according to Billboard.com. "Vinnie himself said a long time ago that if you take any one of us out of the equation and it's just not PANTERA anymore, so I guess I'm just gonna stick to that. And as far as Vinnie and I go, there's a big bridge that both of us would have to cross, and that's an entire subject on its own, before we could even consider making music together."

Regarding the upcoming 20th-anniversary reissue of "Cowboys From Hell" — which is coming September 14 in a three-disc deluxe edition that includes one unreleased song, "The Will to Survive" — Anselmo tells Billboard.com, "It had definitely been a long while since I sat down and listened to 'Cowboys From Hell' from front to back. Basically it was trickier where I thought things might be simplified. We would build these massive intros into songs, and the solo sections, the way they were written was just very, very, very clever. And I can see very clearly how we upped the production. It's been quite an experience."

METALLICA's official web site has been updated with the following message:

"We're getting psyched up for our return to Australia and New Zealand next week . . . It's been six long years since we've visited and we're ready to throw down! The nice people at Universal Music were so darn excited that they actually suggested that we release something special to commemorate this last run of World Magnetic tour dates, so . . . ta-da . . . we present the 'Six Feet Down Under' limited-edition EP! Coming to Trans-Tasman record stores and right here at the Metallica.com store on September 20.

"Here's the story . . . The collective brain trust came up with what we thought might be a kinda fun idea . . . how about some live recordings from each time we have been lucky enough to visit the area? It was all well and good until we realized that we did not start making multi-track recordings of every show until 2004 . . . oops! But you guys, the fans, came to our rescue with some pretty decent bootleg options and we trimmed those down to two songs from each tour in 1989, 1993, 1998, and 2004. In digging a little deeper, it occurred to us that we had tracks that had never before been released as 'live b-sides' (we're not counting the bonus songs on iTunes, okay?) and that that added to the adventure of pulling it all together.

"Be gentle with us . . . a few of these songs are, well, we'll say 'rough,' which may be an understatement!! They do, however, capture the live moments and hopefully you'll have as much fun listening as we did playing on those nights."

"Six Feet Down Under" track listing:

01. Eye of the Beholder - Recorded live on May 4, 1989 at Festival Hall in Melbourne
02. ...And Justice For All - Recorded live on May 4, 1989 at Festival Hall in Melbourne
03. Through the Never - Recorded live on April 8, 1993 at the Entertainment Centre in Perth
04. The Unforgiven - Recorded live on April 4, 1993 at the National Tennis Centre in Melbourne
05. Low Man's Lyric (Acoustic) - Recorded live on April 11, 1998 at the Entertainment Centre in Perth
06. Devil's Dance - Recorded live on April 12, 1998 at the Entertainment Centre in Perth
07. Frantic - Recorded live on January 21, 2004 at the Entertainment Centre in Sydney
08. Fight Fire With Fire - Recorded live on January 19, 2004 at the Entertainment Centre in Brisbane

Drummer Mike Portnoy says that his current involvement with AVENGED SEVENFOLD had nothing to do with his decision to quit DREAM THEATER, the band he formed and led for 25 years. "I BEG of the fans to please NOT hold [AVENGED SEVENFOLD] responsible for MY decision... They are just as shocked as you guys," Mike writes on his Facebook page. He adds, "I had been contemplating this and desiring a 'break' (not split) [from DREAM THEATER] as long ago as last year. Everything else is fully explained in the press release" that Mike issued yesterday announcing his split from DREAM THEATER. Portnoy continues, "Thank you all for your support and understanding... This is the hardest thing I've ever done."

Former WITCHCRAFT/ABRAMIS BRAMA drummer Fredrik Jansson, who also plays bass in COUNT RAVEN, has joined ATLANTIC TIDE, the Swedish project featuring guitarist Freddie Eugene (UNLEASHED, TERRA FIRMA, LOUD PIPES, HARMS WAY) alongside ex-TERRA FIRMA bassist Izmo Ledderfejs, former BLACKSHINE axeman Stabel Miserabel and guitarist Ulf "Uffe" Cederlund (ENTOMBED, MORBID, MURDER SQUAD, NIHILIST, DISFEAR, HAYSTACK).

ATLANTIC TIDE's current lineup:

* Freddie Eugene (UNLEASHED, TERRA FIRMA, LOUD PIPES, HARMS WAY) - Guitar/Vocals
* Izmo Ledderfejs (TERRA FIRMA) - Bass
* Stabel Miserabel (BLACKSHINE) - Guitar
* Ulf "Uffe" Cederlund (ENTOMBED, DISFEAR) - Guitar
* Fredrik Jansson (WITCHCRAFT, ABRAMIS BRAMA, COUNT RAVEN) - Drums

"Invocation", the latest album from German thrashers DEW-SCENTED, will be released in Japan on September 15 via Spiritual Beast.

Commented the band: "We are super-happy to have found a new partner for our album[s] in Japan and will certainly try to return for a third touring visit of the country at some point sooner or later, [as] we haven't played there since 2005!

"The Japanese [edition] of 'Invocation' will come with an alternate coloring of the cover artwork (sort of the 'post-apocalypse version'…) [see below] and include four (!) additional bonus tracks. The bonus tracks are [two original] songs, 'Recall The Pain' (instrumental) and 'The Death Of Common Sense', as well as two cover versions that we also recorded during the main album session, 'Slaughterhouse' by U.S. power-thrashers POWERMAD and the track 'Superstar Destroyer' by GENOCIDE SUPERSTARS from Sweden."

"Invocation" Japanese version track listing:

01. Downfall (1:46)
02. Arise From Decay (4:38)
03. The Invocation (3:38)
04. Have No Mercy On Us (4:37)
05. Artificial Life (3:45)
06. Condemnation (3:05)
07. Totem (1:06)
08. Torn To Shreds (3:48)
09. Revel In Contempt (4:01)
10. A Critical Mass (4:43)
11. Global Hysteria (4:29)
12. Slaves Of Consent (6:20)

Bonus tracks:

13. Recall The Pain (1:08)
14. The Death Of Common Sense (3:44)
15. Slaughterhouse (4:31)
16. Superstar Destroyer (2:56)

Progressive metal giants DREAM THEATER have released the following statement regarding the departure of the band's drummer, Mike Portnoy:

"To all of our loyal fans and friends: It is with profound sadness — regret — we announce that Mike Portnoy, our lifelong drummer and friend, has decided to leave DREAM THEATER.

"Mike's stature in the band has meant the world to all of us professionally, musically, and personally over the years. There is no dispute: Mike has been a major force within this band.

"While it is true that Mike is choosing to pursue other ventures and challenges, we can assure you that DREAM THEATER will continue to move forward with the same intensity — and in the same musical tradition — that you have all helped make so successful, and which is truly gratifying to us.

"Fans and friends: File this episode under 'Black Clouds and Silver Linings.'

"As planned, we begin recording our newest album in January 2011, and we'll follow that with a full-on world tour.

"'The Spirit Carries On.'

"All of us in DREAM THEATER wholeheartedly wish Mike the best on his musical journey. We have had a long and meaningful career together. It is our true hope that he finds all he is looking for, and that he achieves the happiness he deserves. He will be missed."

When Jon Schaffer does something, he does it right. Like creating an eclectic, fan-favorite set list for ICED EARTH's upcoming limited-engagement U.S. tour.

"I wanted to give fans something really special," Schaffer said. "So I put together songs that include some we've rarely played live before, and at least one that reaches back to our first album. Even longtime fans of ICED EARTH are going to be surprised."

ICED EARTH kicks off its four-city U.S. tour on September 10 in Washington DC, followed by Chicago (September 21), New York (September 23), and West Hollywood (September 25).

The touring lineup for ICED EARTH will be

Jon Schaffer - Rhythm and Lead Guitars, Backing Vocals
Matt Barlow - Lead and Backing Vocals
Brent Smedley - Drums
Troy Seele - Lead Guitar
Freddie Vidales - Bass Guitar

AVIAN, the melodic metal band featuring guitarist Yan Leviathan, will release a new EP, "The Path", on September 28. The effort features three new songs plus and acoustic version of "The Fear". Two of the songs on the EP — "The Path" and "When The Night's Undone" — will also appear on AVIAN's next album, "Midnight At The Tower", to be released in mid-2011. The other two tracks — "S.S." (instrumental), and "The Fear" (acoustic) — are exclusive to the EP and will not be featured on the band's next album.

Italian bloodsuckers THEATRES DES VAMPIRES will release their new album, "Moonlight Waltz", on January 14, 2011 via Aural Music. The CD was recorded at Temple of Noise studios in Rome, Italy with producer Christian Ice. The first pressing of the album will be made available in a deluxe limited slipcase edition, including a special bonus DVD with exclusive video material, behind-the-scenes footage from the making of the album, interviews and more.

In a recent interview, THEATRES DES VAMPIRES keyboardist Fabian stated about the band's new material, "This album has the best production of our entire career, and we are delighted by the quality of orchestration parts, thanks to the help of maestro Luca Bellanova and the amazing performance of the Classical Music Academy of Rome.

"Of course, there are some typical THEATRES DES VAMPIRES songs — but with something new, as usual.

"As we always say, with each album we want to make something new, something fresh, and I think these songs go along these lines."

"Moonlight Waltz" track listing:

01. Keeper of Secrets
02. Carmilla
03. Moonlight Waltz
04. Fly Away
05. Sangue
06. Figlio della Luna (MECANO cover)
07. An Illusion
08. Black Madonna
09. Le Théatre du Grand Guignol
10. Obsession
11. The Secret Gates of Hades
12. Medousa

Powerhouse vocalist Tim "Ripper" Owens (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, BEYOND FEAR, ex-JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH) has confirmed the musicians that will be backing him on his upcoming European tour. They are as follows:

* Andy Boss (PAUL DI'ANNO, ABSOLUTE STEEL) - Guitar
* Jon Vegard (PAUL DI'ANNO) - Guitar
* Are Gogstad (PAUL DI'ANNO, QUEENSTREET, ABSOLUTE STEEL) - Bass
* Rick Hagan (PAUL DI'ANNO, QUEENSTREET, ABSOLUTE STEEL, 21ST CENTURY ROX) - Drums

Commented Owens: "The rehearsals for he solo tour wound up tonight and they went great.

"My backing band is just amazing — all just top-notch players — and has the set as tight as ever.

"I am real excited to be going out on my first ever solo European headlining tour.

"The fans are gonna LOVE this tour and the setlist is special... just a metal night."

The dates are as follows:

Sep. 09 - John Dee - Oslo, Norway
Sep. 10 - By Scenen - Haugesund, Norway
Sep. 11 - Alvik Rock - Alvik, Norway
Sep. 12 - Sticky Fingers - Gothenburg, Sweden
Sep. 14 - Colos-Saal - Aschaffenburg, Germany
Sep. 15 - Ballroom - Hamburg, Germany
Sep. 16 - K17 - Berlin, Germany
Sep. 17 - Krushfest - Jaslo, Poland
Sep. 18 - Progresja - Warsaw, Poland
Sep. 19 - Alibi - Wroclaw Poland
Sep. 21 - Exit Music Hall - Prague, Czech Republic
Sep. 22 - Randal Club- Bratislava, Slovakia
Sep. 23 - Crazy Mama - Budapest, Hungary
Sep. 24 - Viper Room - Vienna, Austria
Sep. 25 - Club Mocvara - Zagreb, Croatia
Sep. 26 - Arci Tom - Mantova, Italy

Support acts: THUNDERBOLT (entire tour) and CRIMES OF PASSION (after German leg of the tour)

"Asylum", the new album from Chicago heavy rockers DISTURBED, sold 179,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at No. 1 on The Billboard 200 chart.

The band's previous three albums — 2008's platinum "Indestructible" (first-week sales: 253,000), 2005's double-platinum "Ten Thousand Fists" (first-week sales: 238,000) and 2002's platinum "Believe" (first-week sales: 284,000) — also debuted at No. 1.

DISTURBED's best-selling release to date is its 2000 debut, "The Sickness", which has shifted more than four million copies in the U.S. alone, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

"Asylum" first-week chart positions so far:

USA: #1
New Zealand: #1
Australia: #2
Germany: #4
Austria: #3
United Kingdom: #7

MURDERDOLLS' sophomore album, "Women And Children Last", sold 8,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 43 on The Billboard 200 chart. Released on August 31 via Roadrunner Records, the CD was recorded at a studio in Hollywood Hills, California with producer Chris "Zeuss" Harris (HATEBREED, SHADOWS FALL, 3 INCHES OF BLOOD).

"Feeding The Wolves", the new album from Knoxville, Tennessee's 10 YEARS, sold 19,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 17 on The Billboard 200 chart.

10 YEARS' sophomore effort, "Division", opened with 28,000 units back in May 2008 to land at No. 12.

"Misled By Certainty", the new album from Denver, Colorado-based technical death/grind metallers CEPHALIC CARNAGE, sold around 1,300 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 24 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.