PAPA ROACH has parted ways with Interscope Records and has inked a deal with Eleven Seven Music, the independent record label founded by Allen Kovac, who is the CEO of 10th Street Entertainment (MÖTLEY CRÜE, BUCKCHERRY, DROWNING POOL). The band's new album, "Time For Annihilation", will feature 11 live tracks and five brand new songs, including a cut named "Kick In The Teeth" which the group has been performing at its most recent shows. A tentative August release is expected.

Swedish power metallers NOCTURNAL RITES have recruited 23-year-old Christopher Rörland (TME) from Skellefteå, Sweden as their new lead guitarist.

Commented rhythm guitarist Fredrik Mannberg: "It feels great to have Chris in the band. He's a really, really nice guy. We're very happy to have found this guy very close to our hometown. We are very excited to start working on new material and play some live shows with him, so it's great."

ENEMY OF THE SUN, the group from producer and guitarist Waldemar Sorychta (GRIP INC., DESPAIR), is back with their second album, entitled Ceadium, which will be released in North America on June 22nd via The End Records. The new song 'Paradigm' is now available for streaming at this location.

Massacre Records has set May 28th as the European release date for Caedium. The new song 'Another End Of The Rainbow' is currently streaming online here.

German pagan/folk veterans EQUILIBRIUM just posted another brand new track called 'Verbrannte Erde' off their upcoming album Rekreatur to the bands official MySpace page.

Commented mainman, guitarist and songwriter René Berthiaume: “We decided to release 'Verbrannte Erde' to show you guys how diverse Rekreatur turned out to be! Each song on the album has its own story and sounds totally different. 'Verbrannte Erde' is about the deployment of an army before the first wave of attack, about the unbroken will to win and determination to be victorious despite several previous setbacks. It’s one of my current favourite Equilibrium songs!”

Israeli progressive folk metal masters ORPHANED LAND are currently touring all over Europe in support of their fourth album, "The Never Ending Way Of ORwarriOR". Last week they stopped by the European Century Media headquarters in Germany and played a very unconventional and natural unplugged session at the company's warehouse. Sticks and drums were replaced by spoons, garbage cans and cereal boxes, and with no amplification you can witness ORPHANED LAND as pure and improvised as possible in front of shelves filled with thousands of CD boxes, resulting in a very special atmosphere.

"The Never Ending Way Of ORwarriOR" sold around 600 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at No. 80 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.

"The Never Ending Way Of ORwarriOR" was released in Europe on January 25. Mixed by Steven Wilson (PORCUPINE TREE, OPETH), who is also responsible for several keyboard parts on the new CD, the effort — which was made available in the U.S. on February 9 via Century Media Records — is a sophisticated concept album which takes ORPHANED LAND's unique brand of exotic, heavy music to soaring new heights in terms of complexity and catchiness.

Germany's NIGHT IN GALES has entered Studio 141 with producer Roger Grüninger to begin recording its fifth full-length album for a tentative late 2010 release. According to guitarist Jens Basten, "Adriano [Ricci] finished already the complete drum takes during three days between May 7 and May 9. The forthcoming recording steps (guitars, bass and vocals) will be finished [before the end of] August at different studios."

NIGHT IN GALES' new CD will be mixed and mastered by Dan Swäno at Unisound Studios in Örebro, Sweden. According to Basten, the album "won't disappoint anyone who's still into the early NIGHT IN GALES shit and supports melodic death metal the old vein."

NIGHT IN GALES' most recent full-length album, "Necrodynamic", was released in 2001 via Massacre Records. Prior to signing with Massacre, the band released three albums through Nuclear Blast Records (1997's "Toward the Twilight", 1998's "Thunderbeast", and 2000's "Nailwork").

Earlier this week, Tim's TV conducted an interview with KORN guitarist James "Munky" Shaffer. During the chat, Munky spoke about the passing of legendary heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio (DIO, HEAVEN & HELL, BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW) on May 16 after a six-month battle with stomach cancer.

Commented Munky: "Jonathan [Davis, KORN singer] and I were so bummed. He came to me in the bus the other day, and he was almost in tears. And I'm like, 'Dude, what's wrong?' And he was like, 'I've gotta tell you something. Ronnie James Dio died.' And I was like, 'What? Are you fucking kidding me? Wow.'

"What a tragic loss for the metal world.

"I think that he was actually my second concert that I [ever] saw in Bakersfield.

"We wouldn't have this [flashing devil's horns] without him.

"But the music that he left the world with, he'll always be alive in those recordings.

"I actually did have a chance to meet him once — [he was] a really humble, sweet guy."

U.K. modern thrashers SYLOSIS have parted ways with vocalist Jamie Graham. The band states, "We've felt we've been growing apart and pulling in different directions for a while now. It was a tough conclusion to come to but we felt it was best. Being so close to releasing our second album and moving in a slightly new direction, we felt it would be best to make a fresh start before we go full steam ahead into touring. The band is both thankful and proud of the success shared during Jamie's time in the band and it won't be forgotten. We wish him the best of luck with his all future endeavors and his label Siege Of Amida."

SYLOSIS's "After Lifeless Years" video can be viewed below. The song comes off the band's 2008 debut, "Conclusion Of An Age", which was released via Nuclear Blast Records.

SYLOSIS entered the studio on November 13, 2009 to begin recording its second album for an early 2010 release via Nuclear Blast . The CD is being produced by Scott Atkins, who previously worked with the band on their debut.

The iTunes version of "Conclusion Of An Age" included the exclusive bonus track "The Fate Of Vultures".

An e-card for the for "Conclusion Of An Age" is available at this location.

SYLOSIS' musical style was described in a previous press release as "brutal, technical and deceptively melodic modern metal that favours invention over cliché and never shies away from nimble shifts in style, tempo or mood. The quintet manage to bring an epic, technical and melodic feel to the old-school thrash sound, combining incredible guitar solos and bloodlust vocals. The outcome, a sound that is both devastatingly feral and blisteringly precise."

German melodic death/thrash metallers BURDEN OF GRIEF will release their new album, "Follow The Flames", on July 2 in Europe via Massacre Records. The follow-up to 2007's "Death End Road" will contain 10 new songs. The limited-edition version of the CD will include a bonus disc featuring cover versions of eight metal classics. The album was mixed and mastered by Swedish producer/multi-instrumentalist Dan Swanö (EDGE OF SANITY, OPETH, DISSECTION, BLOODBATH). The cover artwork was created by Gustavo Sazes (ARCH ENEMY, SONIC SYNDICATE, GOD FORBID).

"Follow The Flames" track listing:

01. Ignition (intro)
02. Follow The Flames
03. Born In Fire
04. The Arms Of Death
05. Disruption Of A Confused Mind
06. Doomed To Fail
07. No Way Out
08. Mirror Of Truth
09. Burning Red Eyes
10. Fallen
11. Rise Like A Phoenix

Bonus CD:

01. Aces High (IRON MAIDEN)
02. The Four Horsemen (METALLICA)
03. Break On Through (THE DOORS) (feat. Dan Swanö)
04. Mouth For War (PANTERA)
05. Fool For Your Loving (WHITESNAKE)
06. Refuse/ Resist (SEPULTURA) (feat. Sabina Classen)
07. Hell Ain't A Bad Place To Be (AC/DC)
08. Valhalla (BLIND GUARDIAN) (feat. Gerre)

In July 2009, BURDEN OF GRIEF's debut album, "Haunting Requiems", was re-released by the Polish label Metal Mind Productions. This remastered re-release comes in a limited, hand-numbered digipack with a new 16-page booklet and four previously unreleased bonus tracks from the band's 1996 demo tape, "My Blood".

BURDEN OF GRIEF released its fourth full-length album, "Death End Road", in March 2007 via Remedy Records. The follow-up to 2004's "Fields of Salvation" was recorded at Krachgarten Tonstudio in Kassel, Germany and was mixed at Jailhouse Studios in Denmark with producer Tommy Hansen (HELLOWEEN, PRETTY MAIDS, HATESPHERE).

DEEP PURPLE vocalist Ian Gillan has released the following statement regarding the passing of legendary heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio (DIO, HEAVEN & HELL, BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW):

"My dear friend Ronnie,

"Departed but not gone. Resting peacefully (for a while) but never forgotten.

"I've had a sackful of mail since your passing; a sharing of grief and sorrow.

"We all remember your huge voice, of course — my ears are still ringing: Your wicked humour and sense of decency: The utter professionalism and personality that inspired so much respect from your friends in music.

"The list goes on but the quality that stands out above all others is your enduring generosity. The one thing that we all treasure, the gift you gave us was your kindness.

"We all agree you were the kindest man we ever knew.

"Catch up later, mate."

Ronnie James Dio was one of the featured guests on Gillan's all-star retrospective disc, "Gillan's Inn", which came out in 2006. The CD saw Gillan revisiting a number of songs from throughout his career, which included his long tenure in DEEP PURPLE, his solo work, and a short-lived membership in BLACK SABBATH.

Vocalist Chuck Billy of San Francisco Bay Area thrashers TESTAMENT has released the following statement regarding the passing of legendary heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio (DIO, HEAVEN & HELL, BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW):

"Got word [Sunday] night coming off stage [in Holland] that Ronnie Dio passed and it's a great loss to the world.

"I love Ronnie a lot.

"From day one when I met Ronnie, he was so genuine; humble and the sweetest person in the world. Since day one until two weeks ago when I saw him. Genuine Ronnie first and foremost: 'How's the children? How's the family? How's the health?'

"That's one thing about Ronnie — it's never about the music, never about the business, just being a person, a human being. Just truly concerned with how the family was and our health.

"I am truly going to miss you, Ronnie. I love you.

"Rest in peace."

According to Amazon.com, a new RUSH single, "Caravan", will be made available for digital download on June 1. Also listed on the site is the b-side cut entitled "BU2B". The songs can be purchased together (with a digital PDF booklet included) or separately. It's not clear if/when a CD single version will be released for purchase, although a CD version will be included with the RUSH VIP pre-sale ticket packages being sold for the band's upcoming "Time Machine" tour, reports the RUSH fan site RushIsABand.com.

RUSH is currently working on its 20th studio album with producer Nick Raskulinecz (co-producer of RUSH's 2007 CD, "Snakes & Arrows") in Nashville.

RUSH has announced the details of the "Time Machine Tour", which will kick off on June 29 in Albuquerque, New Mexico and finish on October 2 in West Palm Beach, Florida, hitting a total of 37 cities. The centerpiece of the trek will be the band's first-ever performance of its classic 1981 album "Moving Pictures" in its entirety. The group will also play other beloved tracks from its catalog as well as new songs that the band has been working on.

This will be RUSH's first road trip since touring extensively behind its 2007 studio album, "Snakes & Arrows".

"Moving Pictures", RUSH's eighth studio album, is their most successful release, with four million copies sold in the U.S. It features the hits "Tom Sawyer" and "Limelight", as well as live favorites like "YYZ" and "Red Barchetta".

Danish black metallers HORNED ALMIGHTY have finished recording their fourth album, "Necro Spirituals", for a late 2010 release via Candlelight Records. The effort will once again be mixed and mastered by Jacob Bredahl (LAST MILE, ex-HATESPHERE), who previously worked with the band on last year's "Contaminating The Divine" CD.

Songtitles set to appear on the new album include:

* Fountain Of A Thousand Plagues
* Necro Spirituals
* Blasphemous Burden
* Blessing The World With Pestilence
* Sworn Divine Vengeance

"Contaminating The Divine" was released last year via Obscure Abhorrence Productions and Art of Propaganda. The CD was recorded with Bredahl at Smart'n'Hard Studios.

Check out audio samples on the band's MySpace page.

QUEEN guitarist Brian May has posted the following message on his web site regarding the passing of legendary heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio (DIO, HEAVEN & HELL, BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW):

"It's a shock to hear that Ronnie has gone. Even though we had all known he was battling with cancer for some time, he was such a wiry fighter, and of such an amazingly optimistic nature, I think I assumed he would go on forever.

"Well, he fought to the very end... was gearing up to go back out on tour.

"I know this will be a very hard blow for my friend Tony Iommi.

"When I last saw Ronnie in Los Angeles, he was as full of life and positivity as anybody I've ever known .. and sang up a storm with HEAVEN & HELL in the Universal Amphitheatre.

"In my opinion, Ronnie was one of the creators of the genre of heavy metal. I'm not an expert on his work — there are many people much more knowledgeable than me... but our paths crossed many times over the years, and I had clear glimpses of his unique spirit and personality. He was in many ways the antithesis of the current mould of TV-bred singers. He had no apparent desire for fame, in the sense that so many 'X-Factor' contestants seem to. He was not a TV face, a 'celebrity.' He just loved doing what he did. So, to his millions of fans, there was an unquestionable feeling of reality to his persona, his songwriting, and his performances. His lyric-writing was very distinctive, and set a style in heavy metal which has influenced many bands over the years. To me, it was as if his mind operated in layers — on the surface, a hard-working honest singer, with a great humanity and strong sense of humour — and underneath, in the world of his songs, his subconscious seemed to be populated by hobgoblins of all kinds, and palpable evil forever on the march. His lyrics, dark and mysterious, in tune with the metal ethos, always represented the sword of goodness in triumph over evil.

"I don't know if he invented the devil-horn salute, but he was certainly the man who, more than ever, made it a universal symbol, a worldwide salute of metal.

"He was universally loved in the community of rock music, and will be sorely missed."

Guitarist Steve Vai has issued the following statement regarding the passing of legendary heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio (DIO, HEAVEN & HELL, BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW):

"Dio was a shining light of rock/metal authenticity. He was a completely dedicated artist with massive talent. It's likely that his vital contributions will continue to inspire well into the future. He is now legend. But more than all this, Ronnie was a really cool guy. I mean reeeally cool.

"God bless you, brutha."

"Breeding Violence", a brand new song from Knoxville, Tennessee death metallers WHITECHAPEL, is available for streaming using the audio player below (courtesy of AOL's Noisecreep). The track comes off the group's third album, "A New Era Of Corruption", due on June 8 via Metal Blade Records. The CD was recorded at Audiohammer studios in Sanford, Florida with acclaimed producer Jason Suecof (TRIVIUM, ALL THAT REMAINS, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, CHIMAIRA, DEVILDRIVER).

ISIS, the innovative Los Angeles-by-way-of-Boston-based band, has released the following statement:

"ISIS has reached an end. It's hard to try to say it in any delicate way, and it is a truth that is best spoken plainly.

"This end isn't something that occurred overnight and it hasn't been brought about by a single cataclysmic fracture in the band. Simply put, ISIS has done everything we wanted to do, said everything we wanted to say.

"In the interest of preserving the love we have of this band, for each other, for the music made and for all the people who have continually supported us, it is time to bring it to a close. We've seen too many bands push past the point of a dignified death and we all promised one another early on in the life of the band that we would do our best to ensure ISIS would never fall victim to that syndrome.

"We've had a much longer run than we ever expected we would and accomplished a great deal more than we ever imagined possible.

"We never set any specific goals when the band was founded other than to make the music we wanted to hear and to play (and to stay true to that ideal), so everything else that has come along the long and winding path has been an absolute gift.

"As with any momentous life-changing decision (which this certainly is for the five of us), we feel a very dynamic range of emotions about this and cannot express all of it within the space of a few sentences, and perhaps it's best to do what we've always done in and let our music speak for us. It is and has been the truest expression of who we are as a collective and in some ways who we are as individuals for the 13 years in which we've been together.

"The last, and perhaps most important, thing we might say in relation to all this is how grateful we are for the people that have supported us over the years. It is a lengthy list that would include those who put out our records, those that played on them and put them to tape, the many bands with whom we shared the stage, all of our family, friends and companions who supported us in our individual lives and thus made it possible for us to continue on in the band, and most importantly those who truly listened to our music whether in recorded form or by coming to out to our shows (or both).

"It is quite true that we would never have done what we have without those people, that is many of you who are reading this. Our words can never fully express what we feel, but we hope that our music and the efforts made to bring it into being can serve as a more proper expression of gratitude for this life and for everyone in it. Thank you.

"In more immediate and practical terms, the tour we are about to embark upon is indeed our last. We are hoping that these final live rituals can help us bring a close to the life of this band in a celebratory and reverent way, and also provide us with a chance to say goodbye to many of those that have supported us over the years.

"While there is a measure of sadness that comes with the passing of this band, we hope that the final days can be joyous ones during which any and all that wish to come and join us will do so.

"It seems fitting that the last show of the tour and of our active existence will take place in Montreal, the site of the very first ISIS show in 1997 (though that was an unintentional move when booking the show initially).

"After the tour we also plan to follow through with other projects set in motion some time ago — pursuing the completion of a final EP, compiling live audio and visual material for future releases, and generally doing whatever we can to make our music available for as long as there are people who wish to hear it.

"Thanks again to any and all."

Ozzy Osbourne told QMI Agency in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on Wednesday before an afternoon news conference to promote his new solo album, "Scream", that Ronnie James Dio's ultimately fatal battle with stomach cancer hit close to home.

"As soon as I heard I heard he had been diagnosed with cancer, I sent him some encouragement," Osbourne said. "Having been through that situation myself with (my wife) Sharon when we were doing (the reality TV show) 'The Osbournes', it's always somebody over there. When it lands at your doorstep you're like, 'What do you do? How do you get round this?' When Sharon got (colon) cancer, I'd never known anyone who survived. I thought it was bullshit when they told you, 'They can survive.' I just thought they were trying to smooth me over. And she got over it."

Osbourne added that he ran into BLACK SABBATH/HEAVEN & HELL drummer Vinny Appice at the Revolver Golden Gods Awards show in early April and inquired about Dio's health.

"I didn't get a chance to see him but I was talking to the drummer Vinny, and I said, 'Did he get my message?' 'I don't know,' he said.' And I said, 'Well, tell him to keep up the fight.' Then on the weekend, we heard he had passed away, which is sad. He had a great voice. People thought that me and him were at war. At first, I suppose a bit of theatrics would be involved, but I mean it's been 30 years."

German guitarist Axel Rudi Pell has released the following statement regarding the passing of legendary heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio (DIO, HEAVEN & HELL, BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW, ELF):

"Ronnie was and ever will be one of my heroes. I remember when he said, 'Axel, my son, let me hug you,' at the beginning of last year's HEAVEN & HELL German tour, where we'd been the special guests.

"It was such a great honor for us to open for them and we really enjoyed the tour.

"I met Ronnie a couple of times during the last ten years and he always was very friendly and nice to me, my wife and my band...

"Ronnie... thank you so much for all your music, lyrics, inspirations and friendship. You will live on forever in my heart and in my music.

"Someday we will meet in Heaven or Hell..."

Drummer Simon Wright (DIO, AC/DC, RHINO BUCKET) has released the following statement regarding the passing of legendary heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio (DIO, HEAVEN & HELL, BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW):

"[On Sunday] I lost my best friend. He was like a father to me.

"I tried so hard to help him win his battle; I was right there with him.

"He said to me one day, 'We're a team and we're gonna beat this.'

"I know he loved you all and was helped by your cards and prayers.

"I am having a very tough time writing this, and I want you all to know I feel lucky and blessed to have known him.

"Now, he has no more pain.

"I miss him so much."

Guitarist Dino Cazares of Los Angeles cyber metallers FEAR FACTORY has issued the following update:

"We were on our way to Boise, Idaho for a day off when [Tuesday] morning [May 18] about 8:45 our bus driver fell asleep at the wheel. He swerved to the opposite side of the road. Most of us woke up when we felt the bus on the rumble strips then the dirt. He woke up in time to swerve back onto our side of the road and pull over . Thank god there was no oncoming cars or 18-wheelers on the road. Everyone is fine, just a little nervous."

FEAR FACTORY kicked off the second leg of its American "Fear Campaign" tour on May 14 at The Rialto Theater in Tucson, Arizona. The trek, also featuring PRONG, THY WILL BE DONE and SILENT CIVILIAN, will visit twenty cities before it concludes at The Trocadero Theater in Philadelphia.

After two years of silence, Dutch death metal force PROSTITUTE DISFIGUREMENT is back with a new lineup. Vocalist Niels van Wijk has rejoined the band for the first time since departing right after the recording of the "Deeds of Derangement" album while the lead-guitar slot has been filled by Danny Tunker (DETONATION, THE SATURNINE).

PROSTITUTE DISFIGUREMENT 2010 is:

Niels Adams - Vocals
Danny Tunker - Guitar
Niels van Wijk - Guitar
Patrick Oosterveen - Bass
Michiel van der Plicht - Drums

The new PROSTITUTE DISFIGUREMENT lineup will make its live debut at the Death Feast Open Air festival, set to take place June 10-12, 2010 in Hünxe, Germany. New material is also being written.

Pomona, California’s BONDED BY BLOOD have released a new track from their forthcoming album, Exiled To Earth entitled 'Blood Spilled Offerings'. According to an official press release the song "is a charging juggernaut of a song that gives a look at the inner workings of the Crong. They are the alien race that have taken control of future Earth in the band's original sci-fi tale. 'Blood Spilled Offerings' is another taste of what Exiled to Earth has to offer. Nothing but heavy ear shattering music."

'Blood Spilled Offerings' and another new track, 'Prototype: Death Machine', are available for streaming at this location.

Former DEEP PURPLE keyboardist Jon Lord has released the following statement regarding the passing of legendary heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio (DIO, HEAVEN & HELL, BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW):

"I would like, along with my wife and daughters, to express my sadness at the passing of Ronnie Dio.

"[Ronnie was] a friend of many years standing and a truly delightful man. His voice was an instrument of power and of beauty, and was a seminal influence in rock music. His loss is even more devastating when considering how much more he would have had to offer us.

"My heart goes out to dear Wendy [Ronnie's wife/manager], and my thoughts are also with Roger [Glover, DEEP PURPLE bassist] and Ritchie [Blackmore, ex-DEEP PURPLE/RAINBOW guitarist], who were so close to him for so long.

"I will always cherish the memories of those remarkable nights at The Royal Albert Hall in September 1999 when, sitting on the stage with all the massed musicians of DEEP PURPLE, the London Symphony Orchestra et al, Ronnie sang Roger's lovely song 'Sitting in a Dream' and brought us smiles and tears, and goosebumps as big as they come.

"I shall forever connect that song with that moment and with Ronnie.

"Rest in peace, my friend."