SPV/Steamhammer has set a September 28 North American release date for the "Best Of A Decade" best-of collection from legendary hard rockers UFO.

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. The Wild One (5:39)
02. Hard Being Me (3:35)
03. Lights Out (live) (6:17)
04. Saving Me (5:08)
05. Daylight Goes To Town (4:33)
06. Let It Roll (live) (5:05)
07. This Kids (live) (5:06)
08. Heavenly Body (3:52)
09. Helldriver (4:26)
10. Too Hot To Handle (live) (5:16)
11. Mr. Freeze (4:43)
12. Shoot Shoot (live) (5:02)
13. Black And Blue (5:29)
14. Can´t Buy A Thrill (5:14)
15. Baby Blue (4:32)
16. Doctor Doctor (live) (7:06)

MIDNATTSOL — the German-Norwegian band featuring vocalist Carmen Elise Espenaes (the younger sister of LEAVES' EYES singer Liv Kristine) — has completed work on its third album at Studio E (THE VISION BLEAK, LACRIMAS PROFUNDERE, SECRETS OF THE MOON) with producer Markus Stock. A late 2010 release is expected.

Commented the group: "We've done it! Our third album is recorded, including mixing and mastering. And we are really proud of the result — we think it's amazing.

"Our feeling is that everyone of us has developed as well as the band together. Nevertheless we are still MIDNATTSOL.

"We had an awesome time in Studio E and want to thank Markus Stock for his great work — also as a producer for us. But there are still thousands of things to do until the CD will be released.

"In the next time, we will work on the cover and artwork for the CD. Of course we will keep you informed about the process. And to shorten the time you have to wait, here is a small video of Carmen's recordings for you [see below]."

As BLABBERMOUTH.NET first reported on June 4, Ozzy Osbourne told The Pulse of Radio recently that a lawsuit between him and guitarist Tony Iommi over the use of the BLACK SABBATH name has been settled and that everything is now okay between them.

Osbourne and Iommi have now issued the following joint statement on the matter:

"Ozzy Osbourne and Tony Iommi of the legendary heavy metal band BLACK SABBATH have amicably resolved their problems over the ownership of the BLACK SABBATH name and court proceedings in New York have been discontinued. Both parties are glad to put this behind them and to cooperate together for the future and would like it to be known that the issue was never personal, it was always business."

The original SABBATH lineup of Ozzy, Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward has not toured together since the summer of 2005, and last convened for their induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in early 2006.

KISKE/SOMERVILLE, the new project featuring former HELLOWEEN vocalist Michael Kiske and American singer Amanda Somerville, will release its self-titled debut album in Europe on September 24 and in the U.S. on October 12 via Frontiers Records. A single, "Silence", will precede the full-length CD on August 20.

The collaboration between Kiske and Somerville was conceived as a suggestion by Frontiers Records president Serafino Perugino. "I did a duet with a female singer on 'Breathing Water' by INDIGO DYING," explains Kiske. "It was so nice that [Serafino] offered me a chance to make an album of all duet songs with a famous female singer."

"Kiske/Somerville" sees Mat Sinner (PRIMAL FEAR, SINNER) and Magnus Karlsson (STARBREAKER, PRIMAL FEAR) handling most of the songwriting (with additional contributions from Sander Gommans, formerly of AFTER FOREVER, and Somerville herself), and Sinner overseeing the production and mix at various recording studios in Europe.

Somerville is the American singer-songwriter and vocal coach who was tapped to replace EPICA vocalist Simone Simons on the band's North American tour with SYMPHONY X due to Simons' health issues.

Amanda was featured on KAMELOT's latest release, "Ghost Opera", and toured with AVANTASIA. She released her solo album, "Windows", in 2008.

A Michigan native, Amanda has resided and worked mainly in Germany and the Netherlands since 1999. She has collaborated with several other bands in the metal scene along with producers Sascha Paeth and Miro, and co-wrote the rock opera "Aina". Her own music is of the pop-rock genre.

"When Mat Sinner asked me if I wanted to be the 'other half' of the face of the album, I was very honored and quite looking forward to working more closely with Michael Kiske," Amanda said.

"We'd both been involved in various projects over the years together, such as 'Aina' and AVANTASIA, but it was always through third parties and we didn't sing together like we do here.

"It's not for nothing that Michael's a legend in the scene. He's got a very unique voice, a special delivery of his performance and is a wonderful person on top of it all.

"This has been a great experience all across the board!"

Added Kiske: "To sing together with the gifted and beautiful Amanda was another genius idea of Serafino! And it was a most pleasant experience to meet her.

"Amanda has by far the best female voice I have heard for ages. And the album is a killer."

KISKE/SOMERVILLE filmed two videos — "Silence" and "If I Had A Wish" — on March 28 and March 29 in Nuremberg, Germany. Joining Kiske and Somerville for the shoot were Sinner, Gommans, drummer Rami Ali and keyboardist Jimmy Kresic (VOODOO CIRCLE). The clips were directed by Martin Mueller of RCN TV who previously helmed U.D.O.'s "Black and White" and "Mean Streets" and GOTTHARD's "The Call" videos.

Check out behind-the-scenes footage from the video shoot below.

"Kiske/Somerville" final track listing (composers for each song listed in parenthesis):

01. Nothing Left To Say (Mat Sinner, Magnus Karlsson)
02. Silence (Mat Sinner, Magnus Karlsson)
03. If I Had A Wish (Mat Sinner, Magnus Karlsson)
04. One Night Burning (Mat Sinner, Magnus Karlsson)
05. Arise (Sander Gommans, Amanda Somerville)
06. End Of The Road (Mat Sinner, Jimmy Kresic)
07. Don't Walk Away (Mat Sinner, Magnus Karlsson)
08. Devil In Her Heart (Mat Sinner, Jimmy Kresic)
09. Rain (Mat Sinner, Magnus Karlsson)
10. A Thousand Suns (Sander Gommans, Amanda Somerville)
11. Second Chance (Mat Sinner, Magnus Karlsson)
12. Set A Fire (bonus track) (Sander Gommans, Amanda Somerville)

The bonus DVD will include the "Silence" and "If I Had A Wish" videos plus a "making-of" documentary.

MERCYFUL FATE guitarist Michael Denner has recorded a guest appearance on "Beyond Hell/Above Heaven", the fourth studio album from Danish metal rock 'n' rollers VOLBEAT. As previously reported, other musicians who are scheduled to appear on the CD include NAPALM DEATH's Mark "Barney" Greenway and KREATOR's Mille Petrozza. Additionally, Jacob Oelund of the Copenhagen rockabilly outfit TAGGY TONES and songwriter Hanrik Hall swung by the studio to lay down some seriously swinging double bass and harmonica.

"We were listening to those guys when we were 14, 15 years o

The End Records has set an August 31 U.S. release date for former NIGHTWISH singer Tarja Turunen's sophomore solo album, "What Lies Beneath". 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.

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. A limited-edition deluxe version of "What Lies Beneath" is in the works, with details to be announced soon.

A five-minute video clip featuring footage from the recording sessions for Tarja's new album can be viewed below. The audio track featured in the video is an edited version of "Falling Awake" featuring a guest appearance by Joe Satriani (CHICKENFOOT) on guitar.

"What Lies Beneath" track listing:

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

Veteran Arizona metallers FLOTSAM AND JETSAM will release their long-awaited new album, "The Cold", on September 14 via Driven Music Group, the label created by former KORN guitarist Brian "Head" Welch. According to guitarist Mark Simpson, the CD features "10 songs — ALL brutal, ALL killer, NO filler!!" The cover artwork, which can be viewed below, was once created by Travis Smith (OPETH, NEVERMORE), a collaboration that the band is "extremely excited about because of his amazing skill and vision," says Simpson.

"The Cold" track listing:

01. Hypocrite
02. Take
03. The Cold
04. Black Cloud
05. Blackened Eyes Staring
06. Better Off Dead
07. Falling Short
08. Always
09. K.Y.A.
10. Secret Life

rogressive death metal act OBSCURA has entered Woodshed Studio in southern Germany with engineer V. Santura (TRIPTYKON, DARK FORTRESS) to begin recording its new album for an early 2011 release via Relapse Records.

Commented OBSCURA founder Steffen Kummerer: "We are glad to work with our longtime friend V. Santura once again to record our new album.

"The new material feels broader in some way as everybody in this band brought many unique ideas to the songwriting and we were able to integrate different elements into our sound. More open chords, more acoustic guitars, more seven-string shred tunes.

"Remember: more is always more.

"We are excited to create another album of progressive death metal and to start touring through the whole world in early 2011."

LEAVES' EYES — the German/Norwegian band formed by ex-THEATRE OF TRAGEDY singer Liv Kristine Espenaes Krull and members of ATROCITY — has entered Mastersound Studio in Germany to begin recording its new album for a tentative late 2010/early 2011 release.

Commented LEAVES' EYES guitarist Thorsten "Tosso" Bauer: "It feels great to be back in our own studio and record the guitar tracks for the new LEAVES' EYES album.

"Seven songs are already finished guitar-wise. They all feature the LEAVES' EYES guitar trademarks, like the downtuned guitars, the romantic melodies, clean and accoustic guitars, as well as some really cool surprises.

"I think you can expect nothing less than a killer album.

"I can't wait to hear the final result."

Hells Headbangers Records have announced they have signed Greek black metallers ZEMIAL for their album Nykta.

Zemial vocalist Vorskaath comments: "So here it is at last! I am very pleased to announce that the long-awaited Nykta will be released via Hells Headbangers Records worldwide. As some of you have already noticed, a teaser of Nykta is already uploaded to give you a taste of what is to come. Yet, the scope of Nykta reaches farther, into new territory and the music itself will speak louder than anything I have to say here. Good things take time and the time for this good thing is almost here. Now Hells Headbangers were Zemial's very first distribution partner in the USA when I decided to release In Monumentum via NYX and have remained one of our closest and most valued associates over the past four years.

Having secured a major distribution deal with RED handling Canada and the USA and PHD/Code7 handling international distribution, Hells Headbangers will ensure that the music of Zemial will finally become widely available to friends and fans across the globe - an important step for us after years of very limited distribution.

In the meantime, the recording of Nykta continues. What I have uploaded is only a rough version of the final product. However I am very glad to see everybody's appreciation of the new material and sound I thank all of you who wrote with positive commentary. Being the musician, sound-engineer and producer at the same time is a challenging task and your opinions and feedback give me that much needed objectivity.

I anticipate having completed Nykta by September. When it is done, it will fully represent the vision I have in mind and something to be remembered as progressive and musical.”

To listen to the teaser for Nykta go to this location.

KORN guitarist James "Munky" Shaffer has recorded a guest appearance on two songs that will be featured on the new full-length album from the Montreal, Quebec, Canada-based band DEADLY APPLES.

"I have known James for several years and DEADLY APPLES shared the stage with KORN last year," commented DEADLY APPLES frontman and founder Alex Martel.

"This collaboration is the result of fruitful meetings in Toronto and New York.

"It is very heartening to see how much he believes in us and gives his time generously."

DEADLY APPLES — Alex Martel (vocals, samples, tambourine), Antoine Lamothe (drums, keyboards), Gabriel Maurice (bass), Daniel Pelletier (guitar) — expects to complete work on the new CD before the end of the year for an early 2011 release.

DEADLY APPLES will perform at this year's Heavy MTL, Montreal's loud music festival promoted by Evenko (formely Gillett), which will take place at Parc Jean-Drapeau on July 24-25. The band will once again share the stage with KORN, as well as ROB ZOMBIE, ALICE COOPER, MEGADETH, SLAYER, AVENGED SEVENFOLD and many others.

"We are flattered that we were invited to take part in this year's festival, especially being one of the very few bands from Quebec to actually be on the bill," said Martel.

"We've been around for seven years, always doing our own thing and never trying to fit into any trend; that is what defines us and what assures longevity."

KISKE/SOMERVILLE, the new project featuring former HELLOWEEN vocalist Michael Kiske and American singer Amanda Somerville, will release its self-titled debut album on September 24 via Frontiers Records. A single, "Silence", will precede the full-length CD on August 20.

KISKE/SOMERVILLE filmed two videos — "Silence" and "If I Had A Wish" — on March 28 and March 29 in Nuremberg, Germany. Joining Kiske and Somerville for the shoot were bassist and main composer Mat Sinner (SINNER, PRIMAL FEAR), guitarist Sander Gommans (AFTER FOREVER, HDK), drummer Rami Ali and keyboardist Jimmy Kresic (VOODOO CIRCLE). The clips were directed by Martin Mueller of RCN TV who previously helmed U.D.O.'s "Black and White" and "Mean Streets" and GOTTHARD's "The Call" videos.

Check out behind-the-scenes footage from the video shoot below.

"Kiske/Somerville" final track listing (composers for each song listed in parenthesis):

01. Nothing Left To Say (Mat Sinner, Magnus Karlsson)
02. Silence (Mat Sinner & Magnus Karlsson)
03. If I Had A Wish (Mat Sinner, Magnus Karlsson)
04. One Night Burning (Mat Sinner, Magnus Karlsson)
05. Arise (Sander Gommans, Amanda Somerville)
06. End Of The Road (Mat Sinner, Jimmy Kresic)
07. Don't Walk Away (Mat Sinner, Magnus Karlsson)
08. Devil In Her Heart (Mat Sinner, Jimmy Kresic)
09. Rain (Mat Sinner, Magnus Karlsson)
10. A Thousand Suns (Sander Gommans, Amanda Somerville)
11. Second Chance (Mat Sinner, Magnus Karlsson)
12. Set A Fire (bonus track) (Sander Gommans, Amanda Somerville)

Norwegian psychedelic post-black metal band ENSLAVED will release its new album, "Axioma Ethica Odini", in Europe on September 27 and in North America on September 28. The CD's cover artwork was created by the Norwegian artist Truls Espedal, who has painted every ENSLAVED album cover since 2001's "Monumension".

Commented ENSLAVED bassist/vocalist Grutle Kjellson: “On every new album cover, me and [rhythm guitarist/songwriter] Ivar [Bjørnson] come up with the idea of what the cover art shall include in terms of elements, symbolism and so forth. After that, we contact Truls and tell him about our ideas for the cover art. Then we arrange a meeting where we sit down for a couple of hours making sketches. Truls also has the opportunity to come up with his own ideas of how we can transform our original ideas the best possible way. He has made a masterpiece this time as well! The cover art is simply amazing! Amazing…"

Added Espedal: "I'm always excited about working with ENSLAVED, which is the reason I feel that too much time goes by between releases — ha, ha! But once again I sat down with Ivar and Grutle, and their ideas were more complex and interesting than ever. Also, their expectations and confidence that I'm able to come up with something better than before pushes me to set the bar even higher. This time around, we set out to expand further what we have done on earlier works: mixing the figurative paintings with the 'symbolic' design even more. By doing this, I feel that we are able to convey a lot more atmosphere, story, and a visually more interesting cover throughout. Hopefully other people will think the same. Good times."

Fan-filmed video footage of Seattle progressive hard rockers QUEENSRŸCHE performing a cover version of the BLACK SABBATH classic "Neon Knights" as a tribute to legendary heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio (DIO, HEAVEN & HELL, BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW) on July 17, 2010 at this year's edition of Bang Your Head!!! festival in Balingen, Germany can be viewed below.

QUEENSRŸCHE previously recorded a version of "Neon Knights" for its November 2007 collection of covers, "Take Cover", which sold 5,500 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 173 on The Billboard 200 chart.

Back in May, QUEENSRŸCHE released the following statement regarding the passing of Ronnie James Dio:

"Ronnie James Dio was undoubtedly one of heavy metal's greatest performers and will continue to influence the world of heavy metal forever. He was certainly a very big influence on QUEENSRŸCHE and along the way became a cherished friend too. We will all miss him greatly, but Ronnie will live on every time we raise our metal horns high! The man on the silver mountain will always be our rainbow in the dark."

Bassist Bobby Burns has left SOULFLY after seven years and four albums with the Max Cavalera-led band. He writes on his Twitter profile, "To all the fans... SOULFLY and I have decided to part ways. Stay tuned for my next projects already in the works. Thanks 4 ur support!!!"

Burns, a self-described "bass player, guitarist, songwriter and producer," also handles guitar, bass and vocal duties for the hip-hop/punk/metal band PRIMER 55.

Bobby and wife Joy welcomed their first baby, a son named Ryder Lee Burns, in February.

Burns appears on the following SOULFLY albums:

* "Prophecy" (2004)
* "Dark Ages" (2005)
* "Conquer" (2008)
* "Omen" (2010)

Metal Sickness conducted an interview with Burns before SOULFLY's June 4, 2010 concert in Toulouse, France. You can now watch the chat in three parts below.

SOULFLY's new album, "Omen", sold 6,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 73 on The Billboard 200 chart.

SOULFLY's last album, "Conquer", opened with 8,400 units back in August 2008 to land at position No. 66 on The Billboard 200 chart. This number was in line with the opening tally of the CD's predecessor, "Dark Ages", which shifted a little more than 8,000 copies during its first week of release in October 2005 to enter the chart at No. 155.

According to Forbes.com, AC/DC is the #2 Top Earning Musician Of 2010 following U2 with $114 million after finishing up a tour that grossed $2.3 million a night.

According to the report, nearly half of the artists that make up this year's list of the top-earning music acts have been around long enough that they could have appeared on the soundtrack to Back To The Future (1985).

That U2, AC/DC, BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN and MADONNA could collectively make an estimated $372 million between June 2009 and June 2010 - a little more than half of the $700 million that the top 10 acts in music brought in - highlights the way that the music business has changed over the last decade. Apple's iTunes aside, few young consumers have shown that they are willing to pay for music that they can easily get for free. Album sales have plummeted by more than half since 2000, taking away a lucrative earnings stream for musicians and one of the ways that artists have traditionally broken through into the mainstream.

Fan-filmed video footage of JON OLIVA'S PAIN performing a cover version of the DIO classic "Rainbow In The Dark" as a tribute to legendary heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio (DIO, HEAVEN & HELL, BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW) on July 17, 2010 at this year's edition of Zwarte Cross (Black Cross) festival in Lichtenvoorde, Holland can be viewed below (courtesy of "ErhanLiveMetal").

JON OLIVA'S PAIN's fourth album, "Festival", was released in North America on April 12. The CD, which was issued in Europe on February 19 via AFM Records, entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 87.

JON OLIVA'S PAIN will take part in a live-DVD concert filming at the 013 in Tilburg, Holland on October 15. Tentatively due in early 2011, the disc will be the first official live DVD release with Jon Oliva handling all the vocal duties. It promises to be a once-in-a-lifetime show featuring an assault of SAVATAGE classics and the four JON OLIVA'S PAIN CDs.

HALFORD, the band fronted by JUDAS PRIEST singer Rob Halford, played its first show in more than seven years last night (Saturday, July 17) at the Regency Ballroom in San Francisco, California.

The group's setlist was as follows:

01. Silent Screams
02. Made Of Metal
03. Resurrection
04. Made In Hell
05. Never Again
06. Drop Out
07. Golgotha
08. Heart Of A Lion
09. Never Satisfied
10. I Am Alive
11. Saviour

Encore:

12. Crystal
13. Rock The World Forever

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

Prior to the San Francisco show, HALFORD's last gig took place on June 6, 2003 in Anaheim, California.

HALFORD released a new single, "The Mower", on June 25 via HalfordMusic.com. The track is the first single from HALFORD's new album, "Halford IV - Made Of Metal", which will be released in October.

HALFORD's last album, "Halford III - Winter Songs", sold 1,400 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 26 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.

"Halford III - Winter Songs" was Rob's first solo release in more than seven years, and it included a collection of new Halford-penned tracks plus traditional holiday favorites presented with original arrangements by HALFORD (Rob Halford on vocals, Roy Z. on guitar, Metal Mike Chlasciak on guitar, Mike Davis on bass and Bobby Jarzombek on drums).

Metal God Records and Rob Halford recently announced plans to release "Halford - Live In Anaheim Original 2CD Soundtrack", "Halford Crucible - Remixed & Remastered" and "Halford - Live In Anaheim" DVD, a 5.1, 23-song, two-plus-hour film documenting Rob Halford's 2002-2003 solo release ("Crucible") and tour.

Armed with metal's most diverse band of the decade, "Halford - Live In Anaheim" is an intimate, in-your-face, solo performance featuring HALFORD, FIGHT and JUDAS PRIEST classics: "Golgotha", "The Heretic", "Sun", "Into The Pit", "Light Comes Out Of Black", "Painkiller", "Rapid Fire", "Never Satisfied", and more. Also featured are bonus live tracks from HALFORD's Tokyo, Japan performances February 2003.

On July 19, Candlelight Records will release a box set from the now-defunct Norwegian extreme metal act ZYKLON, entitled "The Storm Manifesto", featuring all three of the group's full-length albums plus bonus material.

Founded in 1998, it was evident from the start that ZYKLON was to be more than just a "side project" for the then-EMPEROR guitarist and drummer. Teaming with Destructhor (also of MYRKSKOG), the trio's rehearsals ignited a spark that would put them on the fast track. Enter England's Candlelight Records. Already home to EMPEROR, Candlelight was the best and obvious first choice for the band and its recording future.

"The Storm Manifesto" track listing:

Disc 1 - "World ov Worms":

01. Hammer Revelation
02. Deduced To Overkill
03. Chaos Deathcult
04. Storm Detonation
05. Zycloned
06. Terrordome
07. Worm World
08. Transcendental War - The Battle Between Gods
09. Dominate (bonus)
10. Worm World (video)
11. Transcendal War - Battle Between Gods (video)

Disc 2 - "Aeon":

01. Psyklon Aeon
02. Core Solution
03. Two Thousand Years
04. No Names Above The Names
05. The Prophetic Method
06. Specimen Eruption
07. Electric Current
08. An Eclectic Manner
09. Pull the Plug (bonus)
10. Core Solution (video)
11. Psyklon Aeon (video)

Disc 3 - "Disintegrate":

01. In Hindsight
02. Disintegrate
03. Ways of the World
04. Subversive Faith
05. A Cold Grave
06. Vile Ritual
07. Underdog
08. Wrenched
09. Vulture
10. Skinned and Endangered
11. Wrenched (video)
12. Underdog (video)