MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine's long-awaited autobiography, "Mustaine: A Heavy Metal Memoir" (formerly "Hello Me... Meet The Real Me"), will be released in the U.S. on August 3 via HarperCollins's It Books imprint (focusing on pop culture, sports, style and content derived from the Internet). The U.K. edition, "Mustaine: A Life In Metal", will hit bookstores in the U.K. on September 30.

Mustaine is the first to admit that he has bottomed out a few times in his dark and twisted speed-metal version of a Dickensonian life. In "Mustaine", he reveals the many highs and lows of this life, including:

* The formation of METALLICA and the key contributions he made for which he was never given full credit.

* The formation and rise of MEGADETH, and his history with David Ellefson, Marty Friedman and Nick Menza.

* The story of his departure from MEGADETH in 2002 and his eventual return.

* His multiple battles with alcohol and drugs, and how Alice Cooper played a role in one of his recoveries.

* The injury that nearly ended his career.

* After years of rejecting religion, how embracing Christianity helped repair his relationship with his family and maintain his sobriety.

* His tumultuous childhood which included several moves from city to city, all in an attempt to avoid his alcoholic father.

METALLICA frontman James Hetfield once observed that Mustaine must have been born with a horseshoe up his ass. That's how lucky he has been and how fortunate he is to be pulling breath after so many close calls. In "Mustaine", he tells a story that will inspire, stun and terrify.

"Mustaine: A Heavy Metal Memoir" was co-written by New York Times journalist Joe Layden who also authored "The Last Great Fight" about what is considered by many to be the biggest upset in the history of boxing: James "Buster" Douglas' tenth-round knockout win over Mike Tyson in 1990.

Mustaine was recently asked by Metal Hammer magazine whether his conversion to Christianity has turned his autobiography into a somewhat tame account of his life, with the scowling, venomous rage of the past replaced with placatory serenity and good will to all men. "It's still a little bit edgy," he replied. "You've got to take into consideration that we live in a very litigious time now and people will try you and they sue because they spill coffee on their crotch, you know? So the publisher took a look at the book and took out everything they thought would be controversial to the point where I'd get sued over it, but it still definitely has teeth. It's a funny book. It's got great moments and there's still a lot of sadness in it, too. It's all factual. It's a story of my life and my life isn't about name-calling and mud-slinging."

Mustaine told AOL's Noisecreep about his upcoming autobiography, "It's easy to hate somebody that you don't like. But you know what? People don't know who I am. Who they think I am is not really who I am, because they guy that they've continued to vilify in the press, that guy's been gone a long time. And I think anyone who reads this book will see that."

"Mustaine: A Heavy Metal Memoir" is not simply a tell-all story of decadence and debauchery.

"That stuff is mundane," Mustaine told Noisecreep. "We come to expect that from rock stars, so why would I talk about it? Everybody knows it happened. I want to talk about things that are way more important. There's stuff in there about how the band was formed, why I chose to sing, how the different band members came and went, how different songs were written, stuff that happened through the addictions and rehabs. And when I got done reading it for the first time, when I closed the last page I actually had tears in my eyes because somebody had finally gotten who I am as a person in print."

According to Mustaine, part of the book reveals how he practiced black magic as a teenager, and how the experience — which inspired the 1986 song "The Conjuring" — affected his life for years after.

"I put two hexes on people, and they both worked and the result was just what I was asking for," he explained. "Now, it took forever to get that Satanic depression off of me because it's just like playing with a Ouija board. You open the doorway to the dark side, and spirits come through. It took almost 20 years to get rid of that Satanic depression. I did it when I was 15, and I don't think I got free of it until I was in my mid-30s.You ask yourself, 'How is it possible that this is happening to me?' Well, because you flirted with the devil and you put a hex on somebody and you put another hex on somebody, and, well, you owe him. And that's why I have a problem playing 'The Conjuring' today."

Dave Mustaine will sign copies of "Mustaine: A Heavy Metal Memoir" on Monday, August 23 between 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. at Unity Temple on The Plaza, Sanctuary, 707 W 47th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64112. Mustaine will meet fans and he will autograph copies of his books purchased from Rainy Day Books on the Rainy Day web site and/or at the event that are accompanied by a stamped ticket.

Each person must have a Rainy Day Books ticket to be admitted to this book-signing event.

Mustaine will only sign copies of his books purchased from Rainy Day Books for this event. Photos, memorabilia and other items are prohibited in the book-signing line.

Dennis Dunaway, the original bass player of the Alice Cooper group, announced during an interview on WJCU's "Metal On Metal" radio program with host Bill Peters that he and fellow original Alice Cooper group member Neal Smith (drums) are going to be working with Alice on material for the legendary rocker's new studio album, the sequel to "Welcome To My Nightmare".

During the June 19 press conference at the Hellfest in Clisson, France, Cooper stated about his plans for the upcoming record, "I'm very happy with working with [producer] Bob [Ezrin] again. It's 'Welcome 2 My Nightmare', and it's the next nightmare. Thirty years later, he has another nightmare, and this one is even worse than the last one.

"I [hadn't] worked with Bob in a long time. After the 35th anniversary of 'Nightmare', I said, 'Why don't we start writing something else?' And he said, 'Why don't we just do part two?' We'd never done part two, so I went, 'That's a great idea. Let's get me and you together, I think we can still get Steven Hunter and Dick Wagner. We'll put some of the original people on it and add some new people."

When asked what the next album will sound like and if the goal to simply "revisit the past," Cooper said, "I didn't think that we could recreate the sound, but the first three things we did are identical to that era. In fact, we purposely added a few '70s things to it to give it that '70s sound. Without even trying, it sounded just like 'Nightmare'. If we can keep that going, it will really be something. It captures an era."

TENACIOUS D — the metal-inspired comic rock collaboration featuring actor Jack Black and Kyle Gass — paid tribute to legendary heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio (DIO, HEAVEN & HELL, BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW) — during an appearance at this year's Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, which was held June 10-13 in Manchester, Tennessee. Fan-filmed video footage of the performance can be viewed below.

In May, Jack Black released the following statement regarding the passing of Ronnie James Dio (via Time magazine):

"Dio has always been my favorite heavy-metal vocalist. Not just for his musical chops but also for the passion he poured into every performance. His use of beautifully haunting melodies leading to volcanic eruptions of raw rock power led to some of the great anthems of the genre.

"When Dio, who died May 16 at 67, performed live, he would stalk the stage like a dragon slayer. His commitment and theatricality were spellbinding. As a teenager I was profoundly moved by the life-affirming fire of his songs. They were filled with glory. They made me want to climb mountains and battle demons.

"To listen to Dio is to be transported to an ancient time of mystery and joy. His songs were an escape for millions of kids looking for release from the usual bull found on the FM dial.

"I had a chance to work with him, and he was about as cool a person as you could hope to meet. He was generous and soft-spoken, humble and serene, and had a tremendous sense of humor.

"Thank you, Dio.

TENACIOUS D was featured in DIO's video for the song "Push". In addition, Ronnie appeared in Black and Gass' rock comedy "Tenacious D: The Pick of Destiny".

In the film, Dio plays an apparition of himself — a kind of heavy metal Yoda — who counsels the 10-year-old Black on how to make good his dreams of rock grandeur. "The kid's sitting on the bed and he starts to sing to a huge poster of me — he's asking me what to do, saying all he really wants to do is rock 'n' roll," Dio said in a 2006 interview. "Then I come alive from the poster and tell him: Go to Hollywood where you'll meet your partner and rock 'n' roll forever."

ANGELFIRE, the new project featuring DEEP PURPLE guitarist Steve Morse and female singer Sarah Spencer, will release its debut album on August 11 via Radiant Records.

Morse's career has encompassed everything from bluegrass, to jazz fusion, to hard rock. Whether writing and performing with the DIXIE DREGS, KANSAS or DEEP PURPLE, Steve's unique approach to guitar has earned him a place among the instrument's most respect artists. Meanwhile, a young prodigy has been honing her skills as a singer and songwriter, waiting for her moment. A chance meeting between the two begins a musical partnership between master and apprentice, yet artists of different domains. Steve's dynamic, virtuoso style melds with Sarah's passionate singing and pop sensibility. At first recalling Sarah McLachlan meets John McLaughlin, or Alison Krauss & Robert Plant; ANGELFIRE soars beyond compare and into the hearts of audiences hungry for unique new music. The album also features STEVE MORSE band members Van Romaine on drums and Dave La Rue on bass.

Commented Morse: "It's kind of acoustic stuff that I wrote with this girl singer [Sarah Spencer] that is so good. I knew her parents and they said, 'You've got to hear my daughter.' I heard her, and she was really pretty good. So I listened to more stuff, and I said bring her over and let's see if we can write something together. We did, and that first take, just nailed it."

Reunited '80s/'90s metallers HADES have inked a deal with Cyclone Empire Records to re-release the band's first three CDs in Europe with multiple bonus tracks. "Resisting Success", "If At First You Don't Succeed" and "Live On Location" will be remastered and reissued later this year. Included in the CDs will be written memories from each of the performers — Alan Tecchio, Dan Lorenzo, Tom Coombs, Scott LePage, Ed Fuhrman and Jimmy Schulman.

"These CDs have some really cool bonus tracks," stated guitarist Dan Lorenzo. "Not HADES-related bands, but actual HADES recordings most of which had never been released before. This includes some remixes of 'The Leaders' and 'Nightstalker' from our first album plus a bunch of demos from before we went in to record each CD."

One of the bonus tracks on "Resisting Success" is of the old HADES instrumental "Sledgehammer Press", but with a new twist. All the guitars were recorded by Scott LePage and his 17-year-old son Scottie LePage from the death metal band PALISADES.

In March, KING'S X guitarist Ty Tabor released his sixth full-length solo CD, "Something's Coming". Packed with guests such as Jimi Hazel and Rick Skatore of 24-7 SPYZ, Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal of GUNS N' ROSES, John "Clawhammer" Tabor, Wes Tabor, Wally Farkas, Randy St. John, and Frank Falbo, this LP gives Ty Tabor fans what they've been waiting for. "Something's Coming" delivers everything from heavy riffage to somber moods that hint toward KING'S X. Heralded as Ty's best album in years, "Something's Coming" is destined to become a favorite among Ty Tabor/KING'S X fans.

TRIP MAGNET is a different side of Ty Tabor. "The EP" was released just three months after "Something's Coming". This brand new offering contains five new Ty Tabor songs. TRIP MAGNET explores areas not usually found in Ty Tabor CDs. This project flirts with XENUPHOBE-ish sounds but wraps them in well thought-out songs. At times you could be convinced you are hearing keyboards but all sounds besides vocals, bass, and drums were created with guitar. For those who like to hear Ty play guitar, this is one of his most unique offerings so far.

Both "Something's Coming" and "Trip Magnet - The EP" are available at www.molkenmusic.com.

Stockholm death metallers CRUCIFYRE, who recently joined the Pulverised Records roster, have unveiled the cover artwork for their upcoming debut full-length entitled "Infernal Earthly Divine". Conceptualized by the band and brought to life by graphic artist Stefan Hansson, the dramatic illustration complements what the band describes as "nine tracks of pure old-school hell!"

"Infernal Earthly Divine" track listing:

01. Born Again Satanist
02. Kiss The Goat
03. Hellish Sacrifice
04. Majestical/Sadistical
05. Witch Hammer
06. Thessalonian Death Cult
07. A.W.W.S/ ..Of Hell
08. Hail Satan
09. The Fetching

Norwegian black metal veterans MAYHEM have had their "Live In Leipzig" album released on heavyweight black vinyl, limited to 1,000 numbered copies. This classic MAYHEM reissue includes a performance from the now-legendary Leipzig show in 1990, featuring the seminal MAYHEM lineup of Hellhammer, Necrobutcher, Euronymous and Dead. This is one of very few releases to feature this lineup — vocalist Dead committed suicide the year after the show, and guitarist Euronymous was murdered in 1993. It contains live renditions of tracks from the "Deathcrush" release (1987) such as "Necrolust" and the title track, and 1994's iconic "De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas", with songs like "Funeral Fog" and the ultimate black metal classic "The Freezing Moon".

This vinyl edition of the album is limited to 1,000 numbered copies and is issued on 180-gram heavyweight vinyl with printed inner bag and a heavyweight PVC sleeve.

Side 1:

01. Deathcrush
02. Necrolust
03. Funeral Fog
04. The Freezing Moon
05. Carnage

Side 2:

01. Buried By Time And Dust
02. Pagan Fears
03. Chainsaw Gutsfuck
04. Pure Fucking Armageddon

Eddie Van Halen (VAN HALEN), Brian May (QUEEN), Steve Vai, Steve Morse (DEEP PURPLE), Angus and Malcolm Young (AC/DC), Yngwie Malmsteen and Warren DeMartini (RATT) are among the musicians who have recorded guest appearances on "What The Hell Was I Thinking?", the long-awaited new project from guitarist Dweezil Zappa.

In a recent interview with The Huffington Post, Zappa stated about the forthcoming CD, "It's a record that I started a while ago, and I just haven't had a chance to really put it all together. I know I'm probably going to add some changes based on my own technical improvements to my playing. I guess the best way to describe the project is it's an audio movie. I recorded a bunch of different music that all segues together, so it's constantly morphing and turning. Each little segment has its own little audio environment, and then you have these cameo appearances by all these different guitar players who sort of start falling out of the speakers. So, it's got about thirty different people on there so far. . . And the thing is, all these different people, they all have a very recognizable sound, and in the world of guitar playing, that's a real challenge — to create your own sound to where when you hear just a couple of notes you actually know who it is. The fun of it is that you're actually hearing a lot of these people out of context, they're playing on things they wouldn't normally be playing over, and that was part of the fun of making this project happen. So, either people are playing on exactly what you would expect them to play over, or something you would never expect them to play over. The Van Halen thing is pretty funny because I put this section together where I asked Edward to play sort of a 'greatest-hits' from all his different guitar licks. We just took different licks from different solos from different records and made him play them all and string them together in one guitar solo. That was pretty fun because it was like having your own toy Eddie Van Halen — like, 'I'll make my Eddie Van Halen play this.'"

When asked if there is a plan to release the project anytime soon, Zappa said, "Now I'm thinking about it in a lot of different forms. When I was first thinking about making it, I didn't ever consider that it could be performed live. But now with the band that I have, I'm almost thinking, 'Maybe, if I put this thing together in the right way, it actually could be performed live.' I don't know if I could get all the guests to play all at once, but the piece of music, in the end, is a continuous piece of music that's seventy-five minutes long with no break. So, it might make for an interesting presentation if it could be put together in a live situation. But, you know, I have to finish the record first (laughs)."

German extreme metal outfit NEAERA have finished recording their fifth album, "Forging The Eclipse", for an October 22 release via Metal Blade Records. The band has been filming studio and concert footage over the course of the last few weeks, and this material will be made into what will be one of many NEAERA webisodes documenting the making of the new CD. The drum tracks for the album were laid down at Stage One Studio with Andy Classen, while the rest of the recording process was overseen by Alexander Dietz. The mixing/mastering will be handled by Tue Madsen (HEAVEN SHALL BURN, DARK TRANQUILLITY, MOONSPELL).

Singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and political activist Serj Tankian will release a new solo album, titled "Imperfect Harmonies", on Serjical Strike/Reprise Records on September 7, 2010. The CD is the second solo release from the SYSTEM OF A DOWN frontman, following up his critically acclaimed 2007 solo debut "Elect the Dead". As with "Elect the Dead", Tankian produced "Imperfect Harmonies" himself at his home studio in Los Angeles. The CD's first single, "Left Of Center", is now available via iTunes and can be streamed in the YouTube clip below.

"Where 'Elect the Dead' was essentially a rock record with progressive melodic elements," Tankian says, "'Imperfect Harmonies' could be classified as rock because it is punchy with many peaks throughout, but the instrumentation is somewhat different. Though there are live drums, bass, and some guitars, the driving aspects are electronic and orchestral. It's quite unique in its sound palette. This is, in essence, music that has sat in the vat and matured to a ripe sensation and is now ready to serve."

"Imperfect Harmonies" is as powerful and musically eclectic as its predecessor. "I have been calling the music 'electro-orchestral-jazz-rock' because it has all of those aspects in prominence within the songs," Tankian says. "A few are more stripped down, but the majority of the songs have this huge wall of sound presented in a way I've never heard before. It's not common to have a song that is both electronic and orchestral since one is synthetic and the other organic, but I found a way of meshing a lot of these colors together."

The album has been influenced by Tankian's experience making "Elect the Dead Symphony", a symphonic interpretation of his debut that had its inaugural performance in New Zealand with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra in March 2009. The performance has been captured on the CD/DVD "Elect the Dead Symphony".

Norwegian singer ISSA (full name: Isabell Oversveen) will release her debut album, "Sign Of Angels", on September 14 in Europe and October 10 in the USA via Frontiers Records.

Helped by producer Ronny Milianowicz (SAINT DEAMON) and killer musicians such as Peter Huss on guitar, Uli Kusch (ex-MASTERPLAN, HELLOWEEN) on drums, Nobby Noberg on bass and Tim Larsson (NICK LACHEY) on keyboards, Issa has managed to create a superb album which offers soaring and instantly likeable hooklines, solid guitar riffs and a crisp sound. Described in a press release as "BROTHER FIRETRIBE meets TREAT with tons of melodies, class and attitude," "Sign of Angels" features songwriting contributions from Joacim Cans (HAMMERFALL), Thomas Vikström (CANDLEMASS, THERION), Daniel Flores (THE MURDER OF MY SWEET), Soren Kronkvist (CRASH THE SYSTEM) and many more.

A video clip for the song "I'm Alive" was shot by Thomas Tjader (PRETTY MAIDS, IN FLAMES) and will be included with the album.

Issa is a 26 years old girl from Oslo. At 17 she started to work her way into the music business as a demo singer for different labels in studios all around Norway. At 19 she won a competition with almost 150,000 votes singing the song "Fade Away" written by Stian Aarstad, who was previously a member of DIMMU BORGIR. The track was released on a record in co-operation with the TV channel Fox Kids.

Issa has performed on many metal and rock records, including albums by GAIA EPICUS and ILLUSION SUITE.

"Sign Of Angels" track listing:

01. Angels Crying
02. I'm Alive
03. Give Me A Sign
04. River Of Love
05. What Can I Do
06. Closer
07. Unbelievable
08. How Will I Know
09. As I Live and Breathe
10. Flying High
11. It's Not Me
12. Fallen Angel
13. I'm Alive (bonus video clip)

Fan-filmed video footage of former SKID ROW frontman Sebastian Bach singing "Happy Birthday" to Ronnie James Dio on what would have been Dio's 68th birthday on July 10, 2010 at the Norway Rock Festival in Kvinesdal, Norway can be viewed below. Also available is performance footage of the song "Here I Am".

Sebastian Bach is currently working on material for a new solo album which will likely be released through Sony Music in Japan.

Bach's current solo band includes guitarists Nick Sterling and Johnny Chromatic, drummer Bobby Jarzombek and bassist Rob DeLuca.

Sebastian last year collaborated with HATEBREED frontman Jamey Jasta on several tracks for Bach's new solo album, with Nick and Charlie Bellmore of the Connecticut band PHANTOMS assisting during the pre-production process. The singer has also written material with John 5 (ROB ZOMBIE, MARILYN MANSON).

Bach supported GUNS N' ROSES on the band's recently completed South American and Canadian tours.

Bach is best known for selling 20 million albums as the former lead singer of SKID ROW. He has gone on to star on Broadway and television, including five seasons on CW's "Gilmore Girls", as well as hit shows on VH1, MTV and CMT. Bach's most recent studio project was "Angel Down", his first solo album since 1999. The record features 14 songs with a guest appearance by GUNS N' ROSES front man Axl Rose on three cuts, including a blistering version of AEROSMITH's "Back In The Saddle".

Danish modern metal combo RAUNCHY will release its new album, "A Discord Electric", through Lifeforce Records on September 20 in Denmark; October 8 in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland; October 11 in the rest of Europe; and on October 12 in the U.S.

"A Discord Electric" track listing:

01. Dim the Lights and Run
02. Rumors of Worship
03. Blueprints For Lost Sounds
04. NGHT PRTY
05. Street Emperor
06. Shake Your Grave
07. Tiger Crown
08. Big Truth
09. The Great Depression
10. The Yeah Thing
11. Ire Vampire
12. Gunslingers and Tombstones

A live EP featuring six songs that were recorded during Ozzy Osbourne's July 3, 2010 performance at the iTunes festival at London, England's Roundhouse has been released exclusively via Apple's iTunes Store.

The track listing for the effort is as follows:

* Let Me Hear You Scream (live)
* Mr. Crowley (live)
* I Don't Know (live)
* Suicide Solution (live)
* I Don't Want To Change The World (live)
* War Pigs (live)

Swedish progressive/experimental metallers THERION have confirmed that their split with vocalist Snowy Shaw (real name: Tommie Helgesson; DREAM EVIL, KING DIAMOND, MERCYFUL FATE, MEMENTO MORI, NOTRE DAME) was caused by his decision to join "another big band" — rumored to be the Norwegian symphonic black metal act DIMMU BORGIR (as first reported by BLABBERMOUTH.NET on July 8) — as a bass player.

"We are sad to confirm that Snowy Shaw has suddenly decided to not do any of the upcoming shows with THERION," THERION said in a statement. "This decision took us by surprise, because, up to now, we have had a great collaboration. The reason is simply that he has been working on an album with another big band (as a bass player — that came as a surprise, too!), who have now offered him a deal he felt he could not refuse. We don't think this is a good decision, but accept the situation and wish him good luck.

"We realize many will miss Snowy, who did a great job during the more theatrical direction THERION took during the 'Gothic Kabbalah' era (as well as on the coming album, 'Sitra Ahra'). Like all the other close guest collaborators in the history of the band (Mats Levén, Andy 'the bald guy' Engberg, Karin Fjellander, Sara Jezebel Deva, Martina Hornbacher, Dan Swanö...) he contributed with something unique and put his mark on the ongoing THERION development. And just like the choice of Mats Levén was questioned in the beginning, (for being too rock n roll for THERION) and later became a beloved part of the bands identity at the time, Snowy also made the journey from being regarded as a somewhat odd choice to becoming a popular character in the THERION show. This vacancy, however, gives us an opportunity to yet again take a different direction.

"We are right now in the process of creating the new production that will be used for the 'Sitra Ahra' world tour, and we have some thrilling options to choose from.

"As always, THERION will deliver something unique and challenging that will turn the water of the sceptics into the wine of a classic setup. Stay tuned!"

Shaw announced his departure from THERION on July 7 after four years, two studio albums, live DVDs and numerous tours around the world.

"I've had a terrific and great time touring and working with THERION and I do wish them nothing but the best in the future, but I've felt for some time that it's time for me to move on," Snowy told BLABBERMOUTH.NET in a statement. "I also wanna take the opportunity to show my gratitude and thank all the loyal fans for their support, love and understanding."

SHAMAN (formerly SHAAMAN) — the Brazilian melodic metal band featuring drummer Ricardo Confessori alongside guitarist Léo Mancini, vocalist Thiago Bianchi and bassist Fernando Quesada — released a new studio album, "Origins", in June via AFM Records.

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Origins (The Day I Died)
02. Lethal Awakening
03. Inferno Veil
04. Ego Pt. 1
05. Ego Pt. 2
06. Finally Home
07. Rising Up To Life
08. No Mind
09. Blind Messiah
10. S.S.D. (Signed, Sealed & Delivered)

Professionally filmed video footage of FAITH NO MORE's performance at the Optimus Alive! 10 festival — which took place July 8-9, 2010 at Passeio Marítimo de Algés in Oeiras, Portugal — can be viewed at this location (the footage originally aired on the Portuguese cable television channel SIC Radical). A couple of the clips are available below.

FAITH NO MORE frontman Mike Patton recently spoke with ArtistDirect.com about reuniting with the band after 12 years and what their music means to him now. Patton said, "To be honest, I never thought that I would ever revisit that stuff again. After some reflection and speaking with the guys, I realized, 'Well, wait a minute. I'm not embarrassed about it (laughs). It's still good music! Is there a way that we can still pull it off and do it justice?' So we rehearsed! When we rehearsed, I realized this is good and I feel great about it."

Patton added that the public's interest in seeing the band again after more than a decade was "staggering" to him, explaining, "Basically, there's more interest in us now than when we were an active band, which is really strange, kind of haunting and maybe a bit morbid, but it also inspired us."

FAITH NO MORE officially reunited last year and played several European shows and festivals.

The band played at the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival on April 17 in Indio, California.

TORTURE DIVISION, the Swedish death metal project featuring guitarist Lord K. Philipson (THE PROJECT HATE, ex-GOD AMONG INSECTS, LEUKEMIA), bassist/vocalist Jörgen Sandström (VICIOUS ART, THE PROJECT HATE, ex-ENTOMBED, GRAVE) and drummer Tobias "Tobben" Gustafsson (VOMITORY, THE PROJECT HATE), has completed work on the third part of the band's second demo trilogy, "Evighetens Dårar".

The track listing for the effort is as follows:

01. The Axe Murderer
02. Under Fire Command
03. Ravishing Rampage Sluts
04. Evighetens Dårar

For more information, go to this location.

TORTURE DIVISION's first demo trilogy — which is available at their site for free (as all of the band's material is) — was released in CD format through Abyss Records in 2009. Entitled "With Endless Wrath We Bring Upon Thee Our Infernal Torture", the effort contains the band's "Suffer The Shitmass" seven-inch EP as bonus tracks.

Video footage of ANTHRAX and SLAYER drummer Dave Lombardo taking part in a backstage jam on a cover version of the AC/DC classic "Whole Lotta Rosie" — featuring MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine's guitar tech, Willie G, on vocals — can be viewed below.

1991's original American "Clash of the Titans" lineup — SLAYER, MEGADETH and ANTHRAX — will hit the road together once again on leg two of the "American Carnage" tour. This trek kicks off September 24 at Verizon Wireless Theatre in Dallas, Texas and will play 20 dates, including New York's Nassau Coliseum, concluding at Gibson Amphitheatre in Los Angeles on October 21.

On leg two of "American Carnage", MEGADETH will continue to roar through its landmark 1990 album "Rust in Peace" from front to back, while SLAYER will rip the roof off by performing its much-lauded "Seasons in the Abyss" album, which was also released in 1990. ANTHRAX recently welcomed back singer Joey Belladonna, who defined the band during its heyday, and now permanently back in the band, will be front-and-center.

SLAYER, MEGADETH and ANTHRAX will kick off the second leg of the "American Carnage" tour on the heels of the historic "Big Four" Sonisphere festival concerts they played with METALLICA in seven European cities this summer. The dates marked the first time that these four bands — acknowledged as the most influential bands of the thrash genre — had shared a concert bill.

The original "Clash of the Titans" tour united the three forces of thrash metal for the entire summer of 1991, with then-little known ALICE IN CHAINS serving as the opener. This tour, which falls under the "American Carnage" banner, isn't rewriting history, it's writing a whole new chapter of head-banging history that is sure to delight fans new and old.

AMARANTHE (formerly AVALANCHE) — the new project featuring Olof Mörck (NIGHTRAGE, DRAGONLAND), Jake E (ex-DREAM EVIL, DREAMLAND), Andy Solveström (WITHIN Y, EVILDOER, CIPHER SYSTEM), Morten Lowe Sorensen (THE ARCANE ORDER, SUBMISSION) and Johan Andreassen (ex-ENGEL) — has inked a deal with Spinefarm Records for the release of its debut album, tentatively due in early 2011.

Commented guitarist Olof Mörck: "After talking to several of the highest-profile labels, Spinefarm completely outdid them all, most importantly through the understanding they've shown towards what we are trying to achieve as a band, musically and visually. The deal we have struck will enable us to take the band to levels we have yet only dreamt of, and beyond! You can expect a HUGE release that is bound some send tremors throughout the metal world early 2011!"

Commented Hannu Lehtonen of Spinefarm: "We are very happy and proud to have a chance to work with this very talented and fresh-sounding Swedish group! AMARANTHE has definitely found their own, unique sound and they are ready to start working with their debut album to be released during early 2011 through Spinefarm Records."

AMARANTHE vocalist Elize Ryd was selected to fill the female singer spot on KAMELOT's last European tour.

Yasmin, featured guest vocalist on the new ATROCITY album, After The Storm, recently offered the following comments on the new record:

"I am very happy about the atmosphere & authenticity of the album, which for me as a vocalist and storyteller is of great importance! The sensitive and skilful mixing and mastering keep the vocals alive, let them breathe and gel beautifully with the music. On the other hand, I love that only live recorded instruments are used in our album and my handcrafted flutes are having the space to voice and paint moods within the overall mix. I truly appreciate that the intention fully works, to have every song as a completed story with its own colours and shades and the tracks were treated accordingly in the mixing process… yet the very different pieces are flowing from one to another, conveying a harmonious and unique atmosphere as a whole in After The Storm.

Another contribution to this is the order of the songs/instrumentals, which works for me for many reasons, some of which are very personal."

Release dates for After The Storm are as follows:

Spain - September 1st
Germany / Austria / Switzerland / Benelux / Sweden - September 4th
Europe / Rest of World - September 6th
North America - September 14th

Surviving HEAVEN & HELL members Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Vinny Appice will play a very special tribute to their fallen bandmate, Ronnie James Dio, at this year's High Voltage festival on July 24 at Victoria Park in London, England. The musicians will be joined by legendary former DEEP PURPLE and BLACK SABBATH man Glenn Hughes and Norwegian vocalist Jorn Lande, who sings for power metallers MASTERPLAN and has just released his own tribute to Ronnie.

Proceeds from this performance will go to the Ronnie James Dio "Stand Up And Shout" Cancer Fund.

Speaking to U.K.'s Classic Rock magazine, Butler said, "It's gonna be very emotional doing this set with different singers, and it will very strange being on stage without Ronnie. But Wendy Dio told us that, if he could, then Ronnie would certainly have given this his blessing."

As the band prepares to go into rehearsals for this special set, Butler added, "What we'll do is a typical HEAVEN & HELL set as we've been touring with it recently. But it's the only time we'll do this. It won't happen again."

MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson has issued his most recent blog, from Russian during the band's 2010 European summer tour. Check out the video below:

Megadeth drummer Shawn Drover earlier issued the following update from Russia:

"Just got back to my hotel room after going to The Red Square with my tech, Big Nick and our monitor tech Scott, to which we had a good time and saw some great sites.

This is my first trip to Russia and I do have to say that I really dig it here. Of course, having Starbucks around the corner is certainly a good thing for us, so I can Joe up and just enjoy this nice sunny day here in Moscow.

We have two shows here before we head over to Estonia and then back stateside to reconnect with our families. To those of you who will attend these last three shows on this Euro tour leg, I do hope you enjoy it."