THE MAN-EATING TREE — the new atmospheric metal band featuring former SENTENCED drummer Vesa Ranta alongside current/former members of POISONBLACK, REFLEXION and EMBRAZE — will release its debut album, "Vine", in Finland on September 22 via Cobra Records and in other territories through Century Media Records. The CD was recorded at Mastervox Studio in Oulu, Finland with producer Hiili Hiilesmaa (HIM, SENTENCED, AMORPHIS).

"Vine" track listing:

01. Lathing A New Man
02. The White Plateau
03. This Longitude Of Sleep
04. King Of July
05. Of Birth For Passing
06. Out Of The Wind
07. Nights In White Satin
08. Tide Shift
09. Instead Of Sand And Stone
10. Amended

The song "This Longtitude Of Sleep" can be streamed in the YouTube clip below.

"Out Of The Wind", the first single from THE MAN-EATING TREE, recently entered the official chart in the group's home country at position No. 3.

According to the group's official bio, THE MAN-EATING TREE was formed when "Vesa Ranta, having taken a break from music after SENTENCED, began to overcome his post-SENTENCED battle fatigue and lack of musical motivation. The idea of a new band — or bands — was eventually brainstormed over a period of time between Vesa and his friends, including gentlemen Miika Tenkula, Aaron Rantonen, Janne Markus and Mikko Uusimaa. Plans were made reality in 2009; the outfit was completed by the addition of Tuomas Tuominen as a vocalist and Heidi Määttä as a keyboard player. First demo recordings were made in the spring and summer of 2009.

"The bulk of compositions are the origin of Janne Markus, with some contribution also from Aaron Rantonen. Much of the lyrical input is contributed by Tuomas Tuominen. These are the building blocks of the music, which is finally arranged hands-on at the band house by the entire group."

THE MAN-EATING TREE is:

Tuomas Tuominen (ex-FALL OF THE LEAFE) - Vocals
Janne Markus (POISONBLACK) - Guitar
Mikko Uusimaa (REFLEXION) - Bass
Heidi Määttä (ex-EMBRAZE) - Keyboards
Vesa Ranta (ex-SENTENCED) - Drums

Video footage of the DIO tribute band SACRED HEART performing a cover version of the BLACK SABBATH classic "Heaven And Hell" — with special guest appearances by Mike Tirelli (BURNING STARR, HOLY MOTHER, RIOT, MESSIAH'S KISS) on vocals, Bobby Rondinelli (RAINBOW, BLACK SABBATH, BLUE ÖYSTER CULT, THE LIZARDS) on drums and Teddy Cook (DIO, VIRGIN STEELE, GREAT WHITE) on bass — at this past Sunday's (July 18) "A Long Island Farewell to Ronnie James Dio" concert at Mulcahy's in Centereach, New York can be viewed below.

As previously reported, QUEENSRŸCHE frontman Geoff Tate made a surprise guest appearance at the event by singing a cover version of the BLACK SABBATH classic "Neon Knights".

"A Long Island Farewell to Ronnie James Dio" was presented by Johnny WildChild and Grey Wolf Productions and included many local tribute and cover bands, all of whom performed Dio songs within their sets.

The bands that were scheduled to perform:

* CINTRON
* JUST PURPLE (DEEP PURPLE tribute)
* LIVE AFTER DEATH (IRON MAIDEN tribute)
* OVERDRIVE
* OZZMOSIS (OZZY tribute)
* SNAKEBITE (WHITESNAKE tribute)
* XCITER (JUDAS PRIEST tribute)
* LIVE EVIL (Dio-era BLACK SABBATH/HEAVEN & HELL)
* SACRED HEART (all eras of DIO)

There were also many local and national special guest performers, including Deanna D (HEARTLESS), Chris Collins (MAJESTY, WINTERSPELL), Bobby Rondinelli (RAINBOW, BLACK SABBATH, BLUE ÖYSTER CULT), Mike Tirelli (BURNING STARR, RIOT) and other "surprise guests."

All proceeds from this benefit go to Ronnie James Dio's charity, "Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund".

Ronnie James Dio died of stomach cancer on the morning of May 16 at the age of 67.

Axel Rudi Pell (STEELER), Doro Pesch (WARLOCK), Doogie White (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, RAINBOW, CORNERSTONE, TANK) and Manni Schmidt (RAGE, GRAVE DIGGER) are among the musicians who performed at a tribute/charity concert to celebrate the life and work of Ronnie James Dio and to raise funds for the "Stand Up And Shout" cancer awareness charity set up by Ronnie's wife/manager Wendy Dio. The show took place on Monday, July 12 at Zeche in Bochum, Germany.

The following musicians performed at the event (among others):

* Doro Pesch
* Axel Rudi Pell
* Doogie White (RAINBOW, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN)
* Manni Schmidt (RAGE, GRAVE DIGGER)
* Bernd Aufermann (RUNNING WILD)
* Marco Wriedt (AXXIS)
* Harry Oellers (AXXIS)
* Martin Kesici

Watch video footage of the performance below.

Prior to the show, Doogie stated the following regarding being asked to appear at the tribute concert: "I was deeply, deeply saddened when I heard Ronnie had died. I was alone in a 'strange city' in a 'strange land,' taking a tourist bus tour of the city, when the text messages breaking the news started coming through. I had to abandon the bus tour and stuck on the headphones and listened to 'Follow The Tears' and 'To Live For The King'.

"With [Argentinean rock band] RATA BLANCA in that 'strange land,' we played 'Catch The Rainbow' every night of the tour [see video below].

"Even though spoken language was a barrier most of the time, three words united everyone in the halls we played, every night. We sang together, we shed tears together and we remembered. We remembered the music the words and the man.

"The three words were... Ronnie James Dio.

"I am very happy and humbled to asked to sing a few songs that were a huge part of my musical education. I will try and do them justice. Maybe there will be more tears... Who can say?? But in the end, let's remember what Ronnie sings at the end of the Kerry Livgren song 'To Live For The King': 'Rejoice!! Rejoice!! Rejoice!! Is there any choice?'"

After taking part in this year's Heavy MTL festival on Saturday (July 24), MEGADETH played a "secret" club show early this morning (Sunday, July 25) between 2:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m. at Métropolis in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

The band's setlist was as follows:

01. Dialectic Chaos
02. This Day We Fight
03. Wake Up Dead
04. In My Darkest Hour
05. Skin O' My Teeth
06. Hook In Mouth
07. Angry Again
08. The Right To Go Insane
09. Paranoid
10. She-Wolf
11. Mechanix
12. Anarchy In The UK (beginning only)
13. Rattlehead

Commented MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson: "We just finished one of our first-ever 'secret shows' tonight at the Metropolis in Montreal, right after our full-on festival set. That's right, two for one! It was a total off-the-cuff show that was announced last minute (even to us!) and gave us an opportunity to kick it old-school (as in club gig) and play some tunes we don't normally play in our regular set, i.e. 'Mechanix', 'Rattlehead' and the likes. So, be on the lookout for more of these random late night shows in our future travels in your town... oops, that's right, it's a secret!"

"Blood O.D.", a brand new song from the reunited Swedish death/thrash metal act THE CROWN, is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page. The track comes off the group's new album, "Doomsday King", which is scheduled for release on September 27 via Century Media Records.

THE CROWN 2010 is:

* Jonas Stålhammar (GOD MACABRE, MACABRE END, ABHOTH) - Vocals
* Marko Tervonen - Rhythm Guitar
* Marcus Sunesson - Lead Guitar
* Magnus Olsfelt - Bass
* Janne Saarenpää - Drums

THE CROWN split up more than six years ago due to "too many tours gone bad due to not at all professional tour arrangements," according to a March 2004 statement released by Saarenpää. He added, "Coming home from tours with empty pockets, equipment falling apart and having a pile of bills on the doorstep is simply 'horns down'. Paying the bills with tour memories and floorscores is just not possible. We do love standing on stage but we don't know much about the business part, and that's a bad combination."

THE CROWN's last CD, "Possessed 13", was released in October 2003 through Metal Blade. The self-produced effort, which was recorded at Gothenurg's Studio Fredman during May-June 2003, was made available in a special limited-edition double-CD digipack, featuring a bonus CD that contained the band's 1993 "Forever Heaven Gone" and 1994 "Forget The Light" demos, a cover of BATHORY's "Burnin' Leather", and a demo version of "Rebel Angel" (off 2000's "Deathrace King" CD).

In a December 2009 interview with Metal Sucks, guitarist Marko Tervonen was asked if former THE CROWN vocalist Johan Lindstrand was approached take part in the band's reformation and whether Johan supports the group's new lineup. "He supports the new lineup," marko said. "Actually, when I talked to him about DOBERMANN [the band that evolved into the reunited THE CROWN], he asked me why we don't use the name THE CROWN, so he's cool with it. Johan was asked to join us for the DOBERMANN ride, but he was too busy with his ONE MAN ARMY band. So we started looking for other options. And when we discovered that Jonas was the man, we at that time decided to use the name THE CROWN. We kind of discovered how much like THE CROWN everything sounded, so in the end it would have been plain silly to call it something else."

When asked if there were any issues with re-announcing the DOBERMANN project as THE CROWN, Marko said, "We hesitated a lot. First we wanted to have a completely different name. But when the album started to take form, everything just sounded so CROWN. First we thought, 'Well, maybe we should call us something CROWN-related after a song or album,' until someone said 'Fuck it, let's do this as THE CROWN.' When we decided to go that way, it all just felt great. And scary too, to be honest… We're all determined to do this our way this time. No bullshit, just good death metal albums and shows."

To celebrate the 20-year anniversary of PANTERA's classic major-label debut, "Cowboys From Hell", the band's official webstore is offering a limited-edition exclusive box set. This box set contains merchandise only available in the band's official webstore.

Box set includes:

* "Cowboys From Hell" logo flask
* Belt-buckle bottle opener
* "Cowboys From Hell" exclusive T-shirt
* Four-piece guitar pick set
* "Cowboys From Hell" 20th-anniversary expanded CD

All items come in a Texas-shaped collector's box.

To pre-order this item, go to this location.

PANTERA found its growl and groove on "Cowboys From Hell", a landmark album whose bone-powdering intensity, razor-sharp riffing and pummeling rhythmic assault represented a turning point in modern metal when it was released in 1990. More than just PANTERA's major label debut, many consider this album to be the official debut of the PANTERA lineup with singer Philip Anselmo, guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, his brother, drummer Vinnie Paul and bassist Rex Brown.

To celebrate the 20-year anniversary of "Cowboys From Hell", Rhino rounds up a three-disc "Ultimate Edition," a three-disc "Deluxe Edition," and a two-disc "Expanded Edition." All three editions include a newly remastered version of the original album along with unreleased and rare live performances from the "Cowboys From Hell" tour. The "Ultimate" and "Deluxe" editions will also feature a disc of unreleased demos for nearly every album track, plus, "The Will To Survive", a previously unreleased song recorded during the album's sessions.

"'The Will To Survive' is a great track. With so many killer songs, it was hard to pick and choose the ones that should make our major label debut," says Vinnie Paul. "After hearing it for the first time in about 20 years, it's a pretty stellar performance and I am definitely proud that it will see the light of day for all the die-hard PANTERA fans around the world! It shows the true musical diversity of the band at that time!"

The "Deluxe" and "Expanded" editions of "Cowboys From Hell" will be released September 14 at all retail outlets, including www.pantera.com
and www.rhino.com . The "Deluxe Edition" will be available for a suggested list price of $29.98 (physical) and $17.99 (digital) and the "Expanded Edition" for $19.98 (physical) and $12.99 (digital).

The "Ultimate Edition" will feature all three discs included in the "Deluxe Edition" and will be housed in an intricate box including several replica memorabilia pieces from the "Cowboys" era. The "Ultimate Edition" will be available on November 23 and final pre-order details, as well as the contents, will be unveiled soon on PANTERA's Facebook page.

Along with the remastered version of "Cowboys From Hell", all three sets include a disc of live music recorded during the tour for the album. It begins with seven unreleased performances from PANTERA's September 15, 1990 appearance at the Foundations Forum metal convention in California, a show recorded for radio broadcast but never released commercially. The remainder of the disc contains the five-song EP "Alive And Hostile", a collection of performances recorded in 1991 at the Monsters of Rock festival in Moscow that was previously available only in Australia as part of a 1994 boxed set.

The "Ultimate" and "Deluxe" editions of "Cowboys From Hell" include a third disc that contains the previously unreleased "The Will To Survive", along with demos for 10 of the album's 12 songs, including early versions of the title track "Psycho Holiday", "The Art Of Shredding" and "Cemetery Gates".

After being turned down "twenty-eight times by every major label on the face of the earth," ATCO Records A&R rep Mark Ross saw the band when Hurricane Hugo stranded him in Texas. The rest, as they say, is history, including another seven years and over a million miles of touring for "Cowboys" to be certified platinum (one million album sales) by the RIAA.

The album's liner notes include essays by each of the band's surviving members, producer Terry Date, and the aforementioned Ross. Recalling the first time he saw PANTERA, Ross writes, "By the end of the first song, my jaw was on the floor. The sonic power of it all — the attitude and the musicianship — blew me away. Basically, you had to be an idiot to not think they're amazing. I mean, how could you see these guys and not think, Holy shit!?"

"Cowboys From Hell" 20th-anniversary reissue track listing:

Disc One - Ultimate, Deluxe, and Expanded Editions

01. Cowboys From Hell
02. Primal Concrete Sledge
03. Psycho Holiday
04. Heresy
05. Cemetery Gates
06. Domination
07. Shattered
08. Clash With Reality
09. Medicine Man
10. Message In Blood
11. The Sleep
12. The Art Of Shredding

Disc Two - Ultimate, Deluxe, and Expanded Editions

01. Domination (live) *
02. Psycho Holiday (live) *
03. The Art Of Shredding (live) *
04. Cowboys From Hell (live) *
05. Cemetery Gates (live) *
06. Primal Concrete Sledge (live) *
07. Heresy (live) *
08. Domination (live, "Alive And Hostile" EP) †
09. Primal Concrete Sledge (live, "Alive And Hostile" EP) †
10. Cowboys From Hell (live, "Alive And Hostile" EP) †
11. Heresy (live, "Alive And Hostile" EP) †
12. Psycho Holiday (live, "Alive And Hostile" EP) †

Disc Three - Ultimate and Deluxe Editions Only

01. The Will To Survive *
02. Shattered (demo) *
03. Cowboys From Hell (demo) *
04. Heresy (demo) *
05. Cemetery Gates (demo) *
06. Psycho Holiday (demo) *
07. Medicine Man (demo) *
08. Message In Blood (demo) *
09. Domination (demo) *
10. The Sleep (demo) *
11. The Art Of Shredding (demo) *

* Previously unreleased
† Unreleased in the U.S.

Auburn Records has posted exclusive free song downloads from Cleveland metallers SHOK PARIS and ETERNAL LEGACY on the label's official MySpace page.

"Take You Away", the new track by SHOK PARIS, will appear on the forthcoming "Décharge Électrique" album — the band's first new studio release in 21 years.

SHOK PARIS reunited in 2009 to perform at the Auburn Records 25th Anniversary Concert in Cleveland, Ohio on December 12, 2009.

Auburn Records has posted exclusive free song downloads from Cleveland metallers SHOK PARIS and ETERNAL LEGACY on the label's official MySpace page.

"Take You Away", the new track by SHOK PARIS, will appear on the forthcoming "Décharge Électrique" album — the band's first new studio release in 21 years.

SHOK PARIS reunited in 2009 to perform at the Auburn Records 25th Anniversary Concert in Cleveland, Ohio on December 12, 2009.

ETERNAL LEGACY's "Cauterize" will appear on "Seeking No Peace" which is currently being recorded and mixed at the band's Mercinary Studios, with ETERNAL LEGACY guitarist/vocalist Jason Vanek handling the production duties.

Both albums are tentatively scheduled for release later this year via Auburn Records.

Finnish melodic metallers GHOST MACHINERY will release their second album, "Out For Blood", in Europe on August 27 and in North America on October 5 via Germany's Limb Music. The cover artwork (see below) was designed by Rainer Kalwitz, who has previously worked with such artists as METAL CHURCH, SHADOW GALLERY, PRAYING MANTIS and DARE.

"Out For Blood" track listing:

01. Face Of Evil
02. Out For Blood
03. Guilty (guest solo from Olaf Lenk of AT VANCE)
04. Blood From Stone
05. Name Remains In History
06. Fortune Teller
07. Lost In Time
08. Sentenced To Life (In Paradise)
09. Mask Of Madness
10. Eternal Damnation
11. Send Me An Angel (BLACKFOOT cover)

Swedish black metallers DARK FUNERAL have parted ways with singer Emperor Magus Caligula (real name Masse Broberg) - his statement reads as follows:

"I would like to inform all of our fans that on Saturday, August 21, at the Summer Breeze festival in Germany, I will be doing my last show with Dark Funeral.

Naturally I have mixed feelings about this decision, but it is final!

They say that every person will have about 15min of fame during their life....!

Well, I have had a hell-of-a-ride for 15 years now together with Lord Ahriman and Dark Funeral.

As some people love to spread weird rumors about others, let me make this clear once and for all. I have not committed suicide, I have not taken an overdose, nor are there any personal issues between me and Dark Funeral.

However......!

My life has taken a new turn lately, and I am also getting married this year (NOT to some crazy bitch in the U.S though….Hahaha), whereof my priorities in life lie somewhere else.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank ALL of our fans for their amazing support during all the 15 years I’ve been with the band. And I would also like to thank my brothers in Dark Funeral for all these years together.

Lord Ahriman and I have managed to raise Dark Funeral from the deepest of abyss, when we have confronted problems before. And there is NO doubt in my mind, that Dark Funeral, without me, will raise once more, stronger than ever...

Thus I have spoken, thus shalt it be......"



Dark Funeral leader Lord Ahriman comments on Caligula's departure:

"Caligula and I have shared some 15 kick ass years together. And I would naturally like to thank my brother for the amazing work he has done for Dark Funeral over all these years. It’s been a pleasure indeed working together. You will be missed deeply! But as with everything else, I understand when people change course and get new priorities in life. And I fully respect that. Life moves on after all, and so will DARK FUNERAL.

In the meantime, and while we’re searching for a new vocalist, the most logical thing for us to do, is obviously to enter writing mood. And that’s exactly what we’ll be doing. From now on and until we have found and installed a new killer vocalist we begin to work on a new full-length album. However, you can be rest assured that as soon as we have found a new vocalist, we’ll set full force, and continue to tour the world in usual Dark Funeral manner.

This statement also serves as an official launch for a new vocalist!
Naturally, our demands on a new vocalist will be very high, but I/we are fully confident that there are some amazing vocalists out there that would fit us like a hand in glove. So if you do believe that you have what it takes to blow us away with your vocal skills, and to replace Caligula, don’t hesitate to send us some audio/DVD files of your vocal performance! Send to: vocalist@darkfuneral.se.

Since the show at Summer Breeze Festival on August 21st will be the very last show we will do with Caligula behind the Mic, you can be sure that we’ll prepare a very special pyro show. See you there!"

Florida death metal veterans MONSTROSITY are writing material for the follow-up to 2007's "Spiritual Apocalypse" for a tentative 2011 release.

Commented MONSTROSITY drummer and founding member Lee Harrison:

"We're just now really starting to get going on writing a new record.

"We've had numerous tours to support 'Spiritual Apocalypse' and our fans know by now we like to take our time and create albums that are unique in their own right and not thrown together like so many of our counterparts.

"We've got a few solid ideas together, so it's just a matter of just continuing on the path were on."

MOSTROSITY kicked off its South American tour last night (Friday, July 23) in Lima, Peru.

"Spiritual Apocalypse" was released in Europe on Metal Blade Records and in the U.S. through Conquest Music Inc. The album has received great reviews and is widely considered to be the group's strongest effort to date. Tracks like "Firestorm", "Remnants Of Divination", and the title track, "Spiritual Apocalypse", prove MONSTROSITY has truly risen to another level in a genre largely thought to have reached its creative peak years ago.

MONSTROSITY is:

Mike Hrubovcak - Vocals
Lee Harrison - Drums
Mark English - Guitar
Mike Poggione - Bass

Professionally filmed video footage of WE ARE THE FALLEN's June 2010 performance at the Rock Am Ring festival in Nürburgring, Germany can be viewed below (courtesy of Dasding).

WE ARE THE FALLEN is the group formed by EVANESCENCE co-founder Ben Moody (guitar) and other former members (John LeCompt on guitar and Rocky Gray on drums) along with "American Idol" powerhouse vocalist Carly Smithson and bassist Marty O'Brien (DISTURBED, KELLY CLARKSON, STATIC-X, METHODS OF MAYHEM,TOMMY LEE).

The band's debut album, "Tear The World Down", sold 13,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 33 on The Billboard 200 chart. To date, the CD has shifted 34,000 units in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan.

"Tear The World Down" was made available on May 11 via Universal Republic Records.

WE ARE THE FALLEN made its live debut on March 23 at Kings College in London, England. A 28-city U.S. tour as the support act for HIM launched on March 26 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and wrapped on May 9 in New York City.

In a recent interview with Billboard.com, Moody said, "We had initially intended to go at this alone because we didn't feel like a major label was up to the challenge. I've had mixed experiences in the past, and major labels can fuck things up faster than anybody. But the entire Universal Republic team got what we wanted to do, and it was worth changing our plans and worth the risk to partner with them because we thought the outcome would be greater than something we'd do on our own."

Moody told Billboard.com that WE ARE THE FALLEN was most pleased that, along with co-producer Dan Certa, they could approach "Tear the World Down" as a piece of work rather than a compilation. "We definitely hunkered down and decided to write specifically for a cohesive record after we signed with Universal," he said. "We don't want albums to just be a collection of songs. We wanted to have a beginning, a middle and an end. So we sort of re-planned our attack at writing after we signed the deal."

Professionally filmed video footage of INSOMNIUM's performance at this year's Ilosaarirock festival, which was held July 16-18, 2010 in Joensuu, Finland, can be viewed at this location (courtesy of the Finnish broadcasting company YLE).

INSOMNIUM's latest album, "Across The Dark", entered the official chart in the band's home country at position No. 5. The CD was recorded at Fantom studio (where the group recorded its 2006 LP, "Above the Weeping World").

An e-card for "Across The Dark", which contains audio samples of three new songs — "Equivalence", "Down With The Sun" and "Where The Last Wave Broke" — is available at this location.

INSOMNIUM's "Down With The Sun" video was directed by Ville Rissanen of Obscure Entertainment.

Former NIGHTWISH singer Tarja Turunen's cover version of the WHITESNAKE classic "Still Of The Night" is one of the bonus tracks included on the two-CD "deluxe edition" of her sophomore solo album, "What Lies Beneath", which will be released in North America on August 31 via The End Records. The CD's first single, "Falling Awake" (featuring Jason Hook from FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH), will be released August 17 as a limited-edition seven-inch single through The Omega Order and available August 24 at all digital outlets . The track is backed with "The Good Die Young" — a song from the SCORPIONS' most recent album that features Tarja's vocals.

"What Lies Beneath" two-CD deluxe edition track listing:

Disc 1:

01. Anteroom Of Death (feat. Van Canto)
02. Until My Last Breath
03. Dark Star (feat. Phil Labonte)
04. Underneath
05. Little Lies
06. Rivers Of Lust
07. In For A Kill
08. Montañas de Silencio (exclusive U.S. track)
09. Falling Awake (feat. Joe Satriani)
10. The Archive Of Lost Dreams
11. Crimson Deep

Disc 2:

01. We Are
02. Naiad
03. Still Of The Night (WHITESNAKE cover)

Fan-filmed video footage of Turunen's performance of WHITESNAKE's "Still Of The Night" during the June 12, 2010 "Classic and Divine" concert at the Miskolc International Opera Festival at at the Miskolc Ice Hall in Miskolc, Hungary can be viewed below.

Featuring U.S.-exclusive artwork and a bonus track, "What Lies Beneath" was recorded and produced by Tarja and mixed by Tim Palmer (PEARL JAM, THE CURE, ROBERT PLANT), Colin Richardson (SLIPKNOT, MACHINE HEAD, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE) and Slamm Andrews (scores of "Angels & Demon", "Pirates of The Caribbean", "Gladiator"). Special guests on ther CD include Phil Labonte (ALL THAT REMAINS), Joe Satriani, Jason Hook (FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH), Will Calhoun (LIVING COLOUR), Slovak National Symphony Orchestra and Choir and more.

Video footage of Italian progressive death metallers SADIST soundchecking for their June 3, 2010 concert at Estragon in Bologna, Italy as the support act for MEGADETH can be viewed below.

SADIST released its latest album, "Season In Silence", on March 19 via Liveglobal/Self. The CD was produced, engineered and mixed by Tommy Talamanca for Nadir Music. According to a press release, the new CD promises to be the band's "most technical and extreme" effort to date.

"Season In Silence" track listing:

01. Aput
02. Broken and Reborn
03. Season in Silence
04. The Attic and the World of Emotions
05. Evil Birds
06. Ogron
07. Night Owl
08. Snowman
09. Bloody Cold Winter
10. The Abyss
11. Frozen Hands
12. Hiberna

SADIST debuted some of its new material live during the Italian Gods of Metal Festival in Milan, Italy on March 21. This event was the first of many European festivals SADIST is going to take part in during the spring/summer of 2010.

SADIST's self-titled comeback album was released in 2007 via Beyond Productions.

Formed in 1991, SADIST split up in 2000 after releasing the "Lego" album and later reunited in 2005. Their compositions are said to involve "a heavy usage of guitar solos and keyboard solos, with progressive, jazz and some Eastern influences. Although SADIST are a death metal outfit, the album 'Lego' is a nu metal album with a thrash metal background."

"Sadist" featured a guest appearance by GOBLIN keyboardist Claudio Simonetti, who contributed a special version of the instrumental track "Sadist", which previously appeared on SADIST's 1993 debut album, "Above the Light".

"Metalmorphosized", the new album from Danish metallers IRON FIRE, will be released on the following dates:

Sep. 29: Spain
Oct. 1: Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, Benelux
Oct. 4: Rest of Europe
Oct. 12: USA/Canada

Check out the cover artwork below.

According to IRON FIRE, "Metalmorphosized" is a celebration of the band's ten-year anniversary as recording artists. The group states, "Instead of just making a best-of album, we give you 13 new greatest hits. We have picked up some previous unreleased songs back from the years between 'On The Edge' [2001] and 'Revenge' [2006], and updated them to how we think IRON FIRE should sound in 2010. There will also be brand new written tracks that will show the path of future albums to come.

"To complete this anniversary package, all previous album recording members of the band will be guest-appearing on the record."

IRON FIRE will record a song for the upcoming VIRGIN STEELE tribute album, "By The Gods: A Noble Tribute To Virgin Steele".

IRON FIRE last year parted ways with guitarist Marc Masters (FORCENTURY). The band stated, "In the end, Marc did not have the dedication to the band that we need, but there are no bad feelings involved in his departure and we wish him the best of luck in the future.

"Kirk [Backarach, IRON FIRE's other guitarist] will do all the guitar work on the upcoming album."

IRON FIRE's latest album, "To The Grave", was released in January 27, 2009 via Napalm Records.

IRON FIRE is:

Martin Steene: Vocals
Kirk Backarach: Guitars
Martin Lund: Bass
Fritz Wagner: Drums

IRON FIRE released its fourth album, "Blade of Triumph", in June 2007 via Napalm Records. The CD was the follow-up to "Revenge", which was released in March 2006 via Napalm.

IRON FIRE issued two full-length albums through the Sanctuary/Noise label prior to signing with Napalm: 2000's "Thunderstorm" and 2001's "On the Edge".

Former MEGADETH guitarist Marty Friedman will release his tenth solo album, "Bad D.N.A.", in Japan on August 25 via Avex. The CD was produced by Marty and engineered by Steve Hardy and Shinnosuke Miyazawa (LADY GAGA, GUNS N' ROSES) this April/May at The Village in Los Angeles, California.

According to a posting on Friedman's web site, "Bad D.N.A." is "a natural progression, picking up where 'Loudspeaker' and 'Tokyo Jukebox' left off and adding its own twists and turns."

The first Japanese pressing will include the first music video for the title track, "Bad D.N.A.", directed by Visual Trap, which has directed all of the videos for DIR EN GREY.

"Bad D.N.A." track listing:

01. Specimen
02. Bad D.N.A.
03. Weapons Of Ecstacy
04. Hatejoke
05. Glorious Accident
06. Random Star
07. Picture
08. Battle Scars
09. School Spirit Delinquent
10. Exorcism Parade
11. Time To Say Goodbye (bonus track)

Friedman's ninth solo album, "Tokyo Jukebox", was released in Europe on February 22, 2010 via Mascot Records. The CD features extensive liner notes (written by Friedman in the "story behind the song" format) which are exclusive to the European release.

According to the Los Angeles Times, marijuana and unidentified controlled substances were found on two of POISON singer Bret Michaels' tour buses by police Wednesday night in Indiana.

The buses were pulled over near Ashley, Indiana for a problem with lights on one of the buses, police said. A K-9 team got positive results on walk-throughs of both buses, and the drugs were found in subsequent searches. Michaels was not on the bus where police say they found controlled substances.

Bret's representative released the following statement to TMZ.com regarding the incident:

"Two of Bret's tour buses were pulled over late last night. Officers on the scene claimed there were no trailer tag lights. No arrests were made. Mr. Michaels allowed an open search of the buses and everything was handled in a professional manner."

Sumerian thrashing black metallers MELECHESH have set "The Epigenesis" as the title of their fifth album, due later in the year via Nuclear Blast Records. The 11-song effort was recorded in the newly built Babajim Studios in Istanbul, Turkey and was mixed by Reuben de Lautour and mastered by Pieter Snapper.

Commented mainman and founding member Ashmedi: "As I have mentioned earlier, we wanted to defy the norm and record eastwards rather than remain in Europe. This was mainly due to the inspiring surrounding we found in Istanbul as well as the high quality of the studio and gracious staff.

"This city is a mesh of east and west and had a very long tradition of rock music.

"['The Epigenesis' is the result of] two months of grueling work and very long hours.

"We took a risk and it paid off; the outcome is phenomenal! The production is very dynamic and big!

"The album is definitely MELECHESH and as always unlike its predecessors and we as a band are exactly where we want to be at this point in time.

"There are several moods on the album, from very aggressive raw songs with minimal riffs to ritualistic near eastern metal opuses, one of which is a 12-minute song that combines Mid-Eastern music, psychedelic rock and metal.

"On one third of the album we have used 12-string electric guitars for the main rhythm riffing. We have included two instrumental compositions with completely different moods as well.

"Lyrically, the album deals with several themes within the spheres of MELECHESH, such as Sumerian/Mesopotamian/Anunnakian themes, as well as other occult near-eastern and cosmological philosophies and ideas. Nevertheless, the lyrics do have dual meanings that are to some extent subliminal and can relate to one's own life journey, but that's for the individual to figure out. As for traditional instruments, we subtly included several instruments such as Baglama Saz, Tanbour, Persian Santur, Ney, Indian Sitar, Azeri Tar, Bindir… I say subtly because we definitely wanted the album to be metal…. Sumerian thrashing black metal."

METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich has told U.K.'s Classic Rock magazine that further "Big Four" shows — featuring METALLICA along with SLAYER, MEGADETH and ANTHRAX — could happen in 2011 or 2012.

"The vibe on this thing [the 'Big Four' tour] is so big, we'd be stupid to ignore it," Ulrich said. "You know on your iPhone, you can move the weather maps up and down? Well, the 'Big Four' is quickly moving up to the top in terms of potential occurrences for the next couple of years."

But foremost in Ulrich's mind at the moment is enjoying some well-earned time off.

"We started in May 2008, so we've got to go and lie down pretty soon!" he said. "We've got three runs out in Australia, Japan and New Zealand in the Fall, then we're going to take a little bit of a breather because at that point we will have been two-and-a-half years on the road.

"So I would champion trying to do this [the 'Big Four' tour] in 2011 or 2012, obviously in England and the United States. It's just a matter of logistics. I don't think there's anybody involved who considers there's a sell-by date on this.

"But here's the stuff: on November 20th my ass is going home. I'm going to sit at home, and I know the other fellas in the band are gong to do the same thing. I would say we're going to take at least six months off and do nothing, and then at some point in the spring or summer of 2011 we'll start to figure out what to do next."

According to EspyRock, the track listing for "Abrahadabra", the forthcoming ninth album from Norwegian symphonic black metallers DIMMU BORGIR, has made revealed as review copies are being handed out to music journalists.

"Abrahadabra" will be released in Germany on September 24, in the rest of Europe on September 27, and in North America on October 12 via Nuclear Blast Records.

The word "abrahadabra" (which roughly translates into "I will create as I speak") first publicly appeared in Chapter III of "Liber AL vel Legis" (commonly referred to as "The Book of the Law") written by Aleister Crowley in Cairo, Egypt in 1904.

"Abrahadabra" track listing:

01. Xibir (2:50)
02. Born Treacherous (5:02)
03. Gateways (5:10)
04. Chess With The Abyss (4:08)
05. Dimmu Borgir (5:35)
06. Ritualist (5:13)
07. The Demiurge Molecule (5:29)
08. A Jewel Traced Through Coal (5:16)
09. Renewal (4:11)
10. Endings And Continuations (5:58)

VADER has just finished a very intense and exhausting promotional campaign for their Necropolis album. With the new lineup, the band appeared on many tours and festivals all over the world.

The final part consisted of Vader's appearances at three big events, Rock Harz Festival, Getaway Festival and Seven Festival.

Shots from Seven Festival can be viewed here.

You can also visit band's official YouTube channel to watch some freshly added and devastating footage from the aforementioned summer festivals.

Frontman Peter Wiwczarek checks in: "Another three successful festivals are behind us. Pretty exhaustive weekend, thousands of kilometers we spent on the road, first bus, then plane, bus and again. Fortunately we managed to appear on these three stages and play pretty cool shows. If someone is disappointed, because of the cancelled interviews, because we had no chance to meet the fans after the show - a very sorry! But sometimes we were not able, like on the Rock Harz Festival and Seven, where almost straight from the bus, after a grueling journey we had to jump on stage and play the show! Now we free and finally we have a chance to get some rest. We will be back in late August!"

Vader recently announced a special tour for their native Poland. It will be the band's last Polish tour for 2010 and will feature a special set.

Wiwczarek stated: "Playing such a special tour, consisted mostly of some places passed over during the latest Blitzkrieg campaign, I would like to give it some kind of a special rank. So, to make the upcoming tour even more unique, in connection with the 15th anniversary of Vader's classic record, we are going to play the entire De Profundis album as a part of our standard live set. Hopefully Vader's fans will enjoy the idea and we will be able to repeat it during some band's future tours."

Bassist Nalley Påhlsson of Swedish progressive/experimental metallers THERION will sit out the band's upcoming European headlining tour. According to Påhlsson, the reason for him not being able to take part in the trek is threefold. He says, "1) I'm alone with my two children and it's not possible for me to be away for over two months. 2) I'm right now studying and I have to complete my education this autumn. 3) I have lately had a drinking problem, and to be on tour is not the best thing for me right now."

He adds, "I'm doing well at home, feeling good and everything is under control and that's the way I'm gonna keep it!

"If everything goes as planned, I'm gonna stay a member of THERION playing on the forthcoming albums and hopefully I will also be able to show up and play live in the future."

THERION will release its new album, "Sitra Ahra", in North America on October 26 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was mixed at the legendary Polar Studios in Stockholm by Lennart Östlund (LED ZEPPELIN, ABBA). The cover artwork was created by Thomas Ewerhard, who worked on all of the band's most recent releases in addition to collaborating with EDGUY, AVANTASIA, RAGE and HAMMERFALL, among others.

Powerhouse vocalist Rob Rock (IMPELLITTERI, M.A.R.S., DRIVER) was among the musicians who took part in a tribute concert to the legendary heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio (HEAVEN & HELL, DIO, BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW) on Saturday, July 17 at The Haven in Winter Park, Florida.

Video footage of Rock's performance — where he is joined by other Florida-based players, including keyboardist Wink (ELEVEN29) and guitarist Craig Smith (THEM) — can be viewed below.

Rock can be heard/seen covering the following classics:

* Kill The King (RAINBOW)
* Long Live Rock 'N' Roll (RAINBOW)
* Man On The Silver Mountain (RAINBOW)
* Heaven And Hell (BLACK SABBATH)
* The Last In Line (DIO)

Metal Hangar 18 reports that a building in the city of Kavarna, Bulgaria features a specially commissioned portrait of former NIGHTWISH singer Tarja Turunen painted onto it. The artist responsible for the Turunen piece is Jasen Nenkov, who has previously painted portraits of Klaus Meine (SCORPIONS), Ian Gillan (DEEP PURPLE), Ronnie James Dio (HEAVEN & HELL, BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW) and Glenn Hughes (DEEP PURPLE, BLACK SABBATH) on various buildings in Kavarna.