San Diego metallers CAGE have issued the following update:

"We are deep in the writing and recording process of the next CD. Eight songs are nearly done, but we are crushing much more into the process.

"To follow up [2009's 'Science Of Annihilation'] is quite a task so we are making sure the songs are up to the task.

"We have been playing the new song 'War Of The Undead' [see video below] out live and it has been a blast seeing the fans' reaction to it.

"Anyone who has not seen the new CAGE lineup live has to make a point to get out and witness the rampaging metal assault between the sound and sights; it is killing it!"

Brazilian/American thrashers SEPULTURA have inked a deal with Nuclear Blast Records.

Commented SEPULTURA guitarist Andreas Kisser: "We are happy to be at Nuclear Blast, especially in the year we are celebrating 25 years of history, and it is a great honor for us to join forces with the most metal label in the world. I am sure this will be a great journey for both of us and we are already working on new material while on the road.

"Let's go for another 25 years!"

Added Nuclear Blast A&R manager Jaap Wagemaker: "Yes, you got that right! Another great thrash band has joined the Nuclear family!

"We have been following the band around Andreas and Derrick [Green, vocals] for quite some time now and every time when we saw them play live, we were equally impressed by the sheer energy that they create on stage!

"After inviting the band to come to Donzdorf [Germany; Nuclear Blast's worldwide headquarters] and having some talks with them, we soon found out that we are all on the same page regarding what would be best for the future of SEPULTURA!

"After 25 years of forging high-class thrash metal, the band is more alive than ever and we at Nuclear Blast are very happy that together with SEPULTURA we will work on another successful chapter in that history! A new album will be out in 2011 and judging from what we heard from the band, the best is yet to come!"

Dutch singer Anneke Van Giersbergen (AGUA DE ANNIQUE, ex-THE GATHERING) will embark on a tour of her home country in October/November in support of her upcoming live album.

The dates are as follows:

Oct. 15 - Spot - Middelburg, Netherlands
Oct. 22 - Tivoli de Helling - Utrecht, Netherlands
Oct. 23 - Groene Engel - Oss, Netherlands
Oct. 29 - De Peppel - Zeist, Netherlands
Nov. 05 - Simplon - Groningen, Netherlands
Nov. 06 - Burgerweeshuis - Deventer, Netherlands
Nov. 12 - Nieuwe Nor - Heerlen, Netherlands
Nov. 18 - Vorstin - Hilversum, Netherlands
Nov. 19 - LVC - Leiden, Netherlands
Nov. 20 - Melkweg - Amsterdam, Netherlands

British melodic rock band TEN is putting the finishing touches on a new studio album, "Stormwarning", tentatively due in early 2011 via Frontiers Records. Mark Zonder (FATES WARNING) laid down the drum tracks on the effort, which will be mixed by Dennis Ward (PINK CREAM 69, SUNSTORM, PLACE VENDÔME). The cover art will once again be created (as it was for 1999's "Spellbound" and 2000's "Babylon") by the Spanish artist Luis Royo. Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Stormwarning", "Centre of My Universe", "Kingdom Come", "Endless Symphony", "Love Song" and "The Wave".

Commented vocalist Gary Hughes: "The album is coming on nicely. The songs are incredibly strong this time out, the strongest, I feel, since the first two albums. This album has very commercial overtones, as did the first two, but when it kicks, it does exactly that, with some songs being more in the 'Spellbound'-era style, too."

"Blood War" (formerly "Non Existence"), the new video from Swedish thrashers CARNAL FORGE, can be viewed below. The clip was was filmed in October 2009 and was edited by vocalist Peter Tuthill.

"Blood War" was written, recorded and produced by CARNAL FORGE in the band's own studio in Sala, Sweden. The track was mixed by guitarist Dino Medanhodzic. The song will appear on the band's next album, which is tentatively due to be recorded this winter for an early 2011 release.

CARNAL FORGE will perform at this year's edition of the Rockweekend festival, set to take place July 8-10 in Kilafors (two hours north of Stockholm), Sweden.

CARNAL FORGE in January parted ways with drummer Stefan Westerberg and replaced him with Chris Barkensjö (CONSTRUCDEAD, ex-GRAVE).

CARNAL FORGE is:

Peter Tuthill - Vocals
Dino Medanhodzic - Lead Guitar
Petri Kuusisto - Lead Guitar
Lars Lindén - Bass
Chris Barkensjö - Drums

German goth metallers XANDRIA are continuing their singer search after performing several concerts this past spring with their former frontwoman, Lisa Middelhauve, filling in.

Commented the band's webmaster: "As announced, the concerts that already have been planned now have been played with Lisa as stand-in on the microphone. At this time it cannot be said if there will be more shows with her. A regular tour is earmarked only for the time with a new singer and a new album.

"The next XANDRIA album is as said before almost completely written, but it can be recorded not until the new singer is found. Therefore it is unfortunately not possible to announce a release date for it.

"The new singer is still not found, although the band has received many applications since February. Auditions have been done with some candidates and are going on.

"So to every singer that has not applied so far: Please do so, because the search is being continued and there is still no deadline at this time! The search is over only at the time when a new singer is found.

"Infos and contact for applications can be found on www.xandria.de!

"To the singers who have applied so far: If you have still heard nothing from the band, we are sorry to tell you that you are, unfortunately, not among the candidates for the auditions. Nevertheless, XANDRIA want to thank all of you for your demos and your commitment to provide your talent to the band!

"Directly from the band we would like to tell all the fans that they hope to supply you with good news as soon as possible! Although they just can wait for the right candidate, they will do everything so that it can go on with the band and you can expect the next album in a not-too-distant future!"

XANDRIA in February parted ways with its singer of one year, Kerstin Bischof. The group stated at the time, "Due to occupational and private reasons, [Kerstin] wants to concentrate on her non-musical career in the future and cannot support XANDRIA the way it would be necessary."

Bischof joined XANDRIA in February 2009 as the replacement for Middelhauve, who left the band in May 2008 for "personal reasons." Lisa stated at the time, "My exit has nothing to do with dispute or controversy within the band. It was just time to split."

The debut album from EUMERIA — the brainchild of former OUTWORLD keyboardist Bobby Williamson — will be mixed in August at Hansen Studios in Ribe, Denmark with producer Jacob Hansen (VOLBEAT, RAUNCHY, NIGHTRAGE, MERCENARY, HEAVEN SHALL BURN). The band states, "We feel he is the perfect fit for our style of music."

EUMERIA's CD was recorded at Origin Sound in Spring, Texas with producer Craig Douglas (HELSTAR, NECROFAITH, LYCOPHILE).

EUMERIA is:

Jonny Tatum - Vocals
Reece Fullwood - Guitar
Bobby Williamson (ex-OUTWORLD) - Keyboards
Adam Sagan (ex-INTO ETERNITY) - Drums
Shawn Kascak (ex-OUTWORLD) - Bass

Frontiers Records has announced the signing of U.S. metallers BENEDICTUM for the release of a brand new studio album in early 2011. The band is currently recording the effort with with producer Ryan Greene (MEGADETH, LITA FORD, NOFX) at his Area 52 studio in Scottsdale, Arizona. The CD will feature guest appearances by Rudy Sarzo (DIO, QUIET RIOT, OZZY OSBOURNE) and Craig Goldy (DIO, BUDGIE). BENEDICTUM singer Veronica Freeman also worked with renowned producer and bassist Jeff Pilson (DOKKEN, DIO, FOREIGNER) to produce some acoustic bonus tracks for the album.

Denver, Colorado-based technical death/grind metallers CEPHALIC CARNAGE have announced the addition of guitarist Brian Hopp to the group's ranks. The band states, "He's got a really sweet bow and arrow, and his guitar playing is almost as good as his archery.

"We are extremely pleased with his work on the new record, and we think you will be, too."

CEPHALIC CARNAGE has set "Misled By Certainty" as the title of its new album, due on August 31 via Relapse Records. The follow-up to 2007's "Xenosapien" was recorded at the band's own studio with longtime engineer/producer Dave Otero. The CD is described in a press release as a "50-plus-minute journey into metal's most extreme realms" which "see[s] these veterans takes it to edge before pulling it back with 'Repangea', perhaps their most sprawling and epic work to date."

AC/DC Italia has uploaded video footage of AC/DC performing the song "Let There Be Rock" on June 26, 2010 at the Estadio Olimpico De La Cartuja in Seville, Spain. Watch it in two parts below.

AC/DC's Angus and Malcolm Young were honored in the "Songwriter Of The Year" category at the 2010 APRA Music Awards, which were held June 21 at a red-carpet gala event at the Sydney Convention Centre in Sydney, Australia. The Young brothers also took home the accolade for "Most Played Australian Work Overseas" for the AC/DC single "Rock 'N Roll Train".

Hosted by Jonathon Biggins and Julia Zemiro, the APRA Music Awards celebrate composers and songwriters across 12 categories who have achieved excellence in their craft over the last year.

AC/DC's 2008 album release, "Black Ice", peaked at No. 1 across 27 countries and sold more than 1,700,000 units in its first week, and was accompanied by a worldwide, sold-out stadium tour.

Swedish metallers SCARPOINT have announced the addition of guitarist Ola Englund to the group's ranks. The band states, "He fits awesome and are a hell of a guitar player."

Guitarist Pablo Magallanes left SCARPOINT in May 2009 in order to commit 100% to his new musical project.

SCARPOINT recently posted teaser clips of two new songs — "Only Truth" and "The Extinct" — on the band's MySpace page. Both cuts will appear on the group's second album, "The Mask Of Sanity", which will be released later in the year. The CD was recorded at Fear and Loathing — the Stockholm studio owned by members of MESHUGGAH and CLAWFINGER — with producer Jocke Skog of CLAWFINGER.

SCARPOINT's full-length debut, "The Silence We Deserve", was released in October 2007 via Blind Prophecy Records. The CD was recorded at the Dug-Out Productions with renowned producer Daniel Bergstrand (MESHUGGAH, IN FLAMES).

Swedish melodic death metallers LOCH VOSTOK have entered the studio to begin recording their fourth album, "Dystopium". A late 2010 release is expected.

LOCH VOSTOK will support Swedish progressive/experimental metallers THERION on a European tour in October/November. Also appearing on the bill is Norway's LEPROUS.

LOCH VOSTOK's third full-length album, "Reveal No Secrets", was released in 2009 via Nightmare and Silverwolf Records. The CD was produced, recorded, mixed and edited by the bandmembers themselves and was mastered by Lawrence Mackrory at Great Scot! Audio. The album featured guest appearances by Per Nilsson (SCAR SYMMETRY), Erik EZ Blomkvist (PLATITUDE) and Tina Gunnarsson (ex-MELLOW POETRY).

LOCH VOSTOK is:

Teddy Möller - Vocals, Guitars
Mano Lewys - Guitars
Tomas "Tym" Jonsson - Bass
Fredrik Klingwall - Keyboards
Lawrence Dinamarca - Drums

SAHG, the Norwegian heavy rockers who feature in their ranks current/former members of GORGOROTH, MANNGARD and AUDREY HORNE, will release their third album, "Sahg III", on August 30 through Indie Recordings.

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. In Through The Eye
02. Baptism Of Fire
03. Mortify
04. Hollow Mountain
05. Mother's Revenge
06. Downward Spiral
07. Shadow Monument
08. Burden
09. Denier
10. Spiritual Void

Check out the cover artwork here.

An Indie Recordings press release states: "Not many heavy metal bands can boast of chart positions and two-page bulletins in all the national newspapers for a debut album. SAHG can. With their gloomy chords, ten-ton rhythms and a taste for the heavy rock pioneers of the Seventies, the Bergen-based quartet had the audience and critics toss their hats in the air with excitement. 'Sahg I' (2006) filled a void in the Norwegian metal fauna, and was an indisputable success in Norway, as well as abroad. The album got 10 out of 10 points in German Rock Hard magazine, and 8 out of 10 in the U.K. edition of Metal Hammer. The success debut album brought the band on tour Stateside, as opening act for extreme metal pioneers CELTIC FROST, and made SAHG 'the one to watch' at a string of metal festivals.

"Two years later, SAHG confirmed their status as Norway's undisputable doom lords. Many considered 'Sahg II' as a more refined album than the debut, and featuring spearhead tracks like 'Ascent to Decadence' and 'Pyromancer', the album became another door-opener for the quartet. In the wake of the second album release, the band toured Europe as support act to legendary headliners TROUBLE, played arenas across India, and performed at prestigious festivals like Wacken Open Air, Inferno, and Metalcamp."

SAHG previously stated about its new material, "There are a lot more of the fast songs, but on the other hand, the groovy ones are heavier than ever."

The band last year announced the addition of drummer Thomas Lönnheim to the group's ranks.

SAHG is:

Olav Iversen - Vocals/Guitar
King - Bass
Thomas Tofthagen - Guitar
Thomas Lönnheim - Drums

SAHG's sophomore album, "Sahg II", was released on March 18, 2008 via Regain Records.

Singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and political activist Serj Tankian brought his "Elect The Dead Symphony" show to Milan, Italy's Teatro Degli Arcimboldi on Sunday, July 4. Accompanied by the Orchestra Filarmonica Italiana and by two members of his FCC touring band, the Armenian/American singer played symphonic versions of songs from his debut solo album, "Elect The Dead", and presented two new tracks from the upcoming sophomore CD, "Imperfect Harmonies", due out on September 7.

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

Photos of the concert are available on the Italian news blog Musica Metal.

Tankian's setlist was as follows:

01. Feed Us
02. Sky Is Over
03. Lie Lie Lie
04. Money
05. Baby
06. Blue
07. Gate 21
08. Peace Be Revenged (new song)
09. The Charade
10. Honking Antelope
11. Saving Us
12. Disowned Inc. (new song)
13. Elect the Dead
14. Falling Stars
15. Beethoven's Cunt
----------------------
16. Empty Walls

"Imperfect Harmonies" will be released 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", goes to radio on July 12.

"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".

"The making of 'Elect the Dead Symphony' gave me the confidence and tools to create ensemble pieces for orchestra more confidently and effectively than before," Tankian says. "And that became one of the primary colors for this record along with electronic, jazz, and live instrumentation."

Fan-filmed video footage of San Francisco Bay Area metal veterans DEATH ANGEL performing a new song, "River Of Rapture", on April 6, 2010 at Rio's in Leeds, England can be viewed below (courtesy of Dave Ingham a.k.a. YouTube user "triptykon").

The band's setlist was as follows:

01. Lord of Hate
02. Evil Priest
03. Buried Alive
04. Voracious Souls
05. Dethroned
06. Kill as One
07. Seemingly Endless Time
08. Stop
09. Mistress of Pain
10. Falling Asleep
11. Mistress of Pain
12. Thrown to the Wolves
13. The Ultra Violence
14. Carnival Justice
15. 3rd Floor
16. River of Rapture

"River Of Rapture" will appear on DEATH ANGEL's new album "Relentless Retribution", which will be released on September 3 in Europe and September 14 in the U.S. via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was recorded at Audiohammer Studios in Sanford, Florida with producer Jason Suecof (TRIVIUM, AUGUST BURNS RED, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, ALL THAT REMAINS, WHITECHAPEL, DEVILDRIVER). The cover artwork was created by Brent Elliot White (JOB FOR A COWBOY, CARNIFEX, WHITECHAPEL) and can be viewed below.

Commented DEATH ANGEL vocalist Mark Osegueda: "I haven't been as excited about the cover artwork on any other DEATH ANGEL album as I am for this one! It fits the whole theme of the album! Angry and aggressive! I think what excites me most is that Brent did the artwork based on our lyrics! It wasn't an already finished product.

"When we first saw Brent's work, we were floored by the mixture of fantasy meets reality and we knew we wanted him to do the artwork for this album! In the end he surpassed our expectations with the fiercest DEATH ANGEL album cover to date!"

Added Brent Elliot White: "Originally the theme of this album was betrayal by those close to you and revenge against the deceitful. After a pretty spirited conversation with Rob [Cavestany, guitar] and e-mails back and forth, the saying 'wolf in sheep's clothing' kept coming up. Basically, we danced around that metaphor 'till it became pretty clear that a direct interpretation was the way to go.

"Illustrating betrayal and revenge in a single piece proved to be a challenge, but as I received the lyrics to the songs, things quickly fell into place."

Osegueda previously stated about the band's decision to work with Suecof, "The new material is the most aggressive and technical music we have written in years. So we needed a producer that was capable of unleashing the tones that match and complement the overall vibe of the songs. With Jason's experience in producing some of the most brutal contemporary metal artists and albums of today, I know we made the right choice! I think the collaboration between the two of us will prove to be venomous and infectious!"

DEATH ANGEL debuted two brand new songs — "River Of Rapture" and "Into The Arms Of Righteous Anger" — during its appearance at last year's Speedfest, which was held November 28, 2009 in Eindhoven, The Netherlands. The concert marked the group's first appearance with bassist Damien Sisson (SCARECROW, POTENTIAL THREAT) following the departure of Sammy Diosdado (THE SICK, ALL TIME HIGHS).

DEATH ANGEL's longtime drummer and original member Andrew Galeon left the band in April 2009 and has since been replaced by Will Carroll, formerly of SCARECROW, OLD GRANDAD and VICIOUS RUMORS.

DEATH ANGEL will team up with Godfathers of Swedish modern metal SOILWORK, Quebec's tech-death masters AUGURY, Roadrunner Records recording artists MUTINY WITHIN, and pirate-themed thrashers SWASHBUCKLE for a North American tour in July/August.

Brazilian metallers ANGRA will release their new album, entitled Aqua, on September 29th via SPV/Steamhammer.

Aqua (artwork at left, click image to enlarge) will feature the following tracklisting:

'Viderunt Te Aquae'
'Arising Thunder'
'Awake From Darkness'
'Lease Of Life'
'The Rage Of The Waters'
'Spirit Of The Air'
'Hollow'
'A Monster In Her Eyes'
'Weakness Of A Man'
'Ashes'

Bonus track:
'Lease Of Life (Remix)

Fan-filmed video footage of IRON MAIDEN's June 30, 2010 performance at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada can be viewed at this location. A couple of the clips are available below.

The band's setlist was reportedly as follows:

01. The Wicker Man
02. The Ghost Of The Navigator
03. Wrathchild
04. El Dorado
05. Dance Of Death
06. The Reincarnation Of Benjamin Breeg
07. These Colours Don't Run
08. Blood Brothers
09. Wildest Dreams
10. No More Lies
11. Brave New World
12. Fear Of The Dark
13. Iron Maiden

Encore

14. The Number Of The Beast
15. Hallowed Be Thy Name
16. Running Free

Longstanding Danish metal band MANTICORA will release its seventh full-length album, "Safe", in the U.S. and Europe on September 21 via U.S.-based label Nightmare Records. The CD, which will be made available in Japan through Stay Gold/Art Union Records, was completed at Jailhouse Studios in Horsens, Denmark, once again produced and mixed by Tommy Hansen (JORN LANDE, HELLOWEEN, PRETTY MAIDS).

Following the successful two-part "Black Circus" albums (released in 2006 and 2007 on Locomotive Music), "Safe" will see the band exploring a darker and heavier side of its songwriting than in recent years, and contrary to the simplicity of the album cover (a black/white cover only showcasing the band-symbol) "Safe" is filled with high-octane technical power-thrash, including the 14-minute-long title track (MANTICORA's longest song to date).

"Safe" track listing:

01. In The Abyss Of Desperation
02. Silence The Freedom
03. Complete
04. From The Pain Of Loss (I Learned About The Truth)
05. A Lake That Drained
06. Carrion Eaters
07. Safe
08. Embryonic Man (bonus track for Japan)

"Goodnight Insomnia", the new video from Germany gothic rockers END OF GREEN, can be viewed below. The clip was filmed with Gregor Wiebe from Munich's Huckleberryking Media. The track comes off the group's seventh album, "High Hopes in Low Places", which is scheduled for an August 20 release in Germany, Austria and Switzerland via Silverdust Records. The CD was recorded at Munich's Weltraumstudios with producer Corni Bartels.

The track listing for the effort is as follows:

01. Blackened Eyes
02. Goodnight Insomnia
03. Carpathian Gravedancer
04. Under The Sway
05. Tie Me A Rope… While You're Calling My Name
06. High Hopes In Low Places
07. An Awful Day
08. Saviour
09. Slaves
10. Starlight

DEMIURG — the Sweden-based band featuring Rogga Johansson (RIBSPREADER, PAGANIZER) on vocals and guitars, Johan Berglund (THIS HAVEN) on bass, Ed Warby (GOREFEST, AYREON, HAIL OF BULLETS) on drums and Dan Swanö (EDGE OF SANITY, NIGHTINGALE, BLOODBATH) on lead guitar and keyboards — will release its third album, "Slakthus Gamleby", on July 30 via Cyclone Empire Records.

Regarding the musical direction of the new CD, Warby tells BLABBERMOUTH.NET, "Marjan Welman from AUTUMN guests on a couple of tracks and the musical style has broadened quite a bit from the last record [2008's 'The Hate Chamber']; the heavy stuff is even heavier and the atmosphere is still black as pitch but we've also incorporated some more melodic and even prog elements." He adds, "We all feel it's the best DEMIURG album yet..."

"Slakthus Gamleby" (cover) track listing:

01. Life Is A Coma
02. Death Grasp Oblivion
03. Travellers Of The Vortex
04. The Cold Hand Of Death
05. Cold Skin
06. From Laughter To Retching
07. Slakthus Gamleby
08. World Burial

The song "Life Is A Coma" is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page.

DEMIURG's sophomore album, "The Hate Chamber", was released in April 2008 via Holland's Mascot Records.

UsMagazine.com recently got metal legend OZZY OSBOURNE to open about himself. Following is a list of 25 things fans may not have known about the mighty Oz:

1. I hate being late.

2. I'm not much of a cook, but I make the best french fries.

3. I can't stand getting into arguments or being around people who argue all the time.

4. I like to shower at least twice a day.

5. I detest anchovies.

6. I love the music of Johnny Cash.

7. I'm a bit of a hypochondriac.

8. My favorite movie is Monty Python's Life of Brian.

9. I've never ever watched myself on The Osbournes.

10. Boats are my least favorite form of transportation.

11. My guilty pleasure is flying by private plane.

12. I do not enjoy shopping with Sharon.

13. I resisted getting an iPod for years, but now I don't know what I'd do without one.

14. Sometimes I wish I could have alcohol, but I know that's no longer an option for me.

15. I cannot stand organized religion.

16. I love black licorice.

17. I'm addicted to exercise since I hate feeling overweight.

18. I have more women friends than men friends.

19. I recorded my last two albums in my home studio.

20. I'm fascinated by conspiracy theories.

21. I spend most of my free time painting.

22. I love my dogs more than I like most people.

23. My favorite city is Portofino, Italy.

24. My son, Jack, has been filming a documentary about me for the last two years.

25. Most people find it hard to believe, but I suffer from terrible stage fright.