SMASHING PUMPKINS welcome a new member to the band: bassist Nicole Fiorentino.

The Los Angeles musician has been in such bands as VERUCA SALT, SPINERETTE, RADIO VAGO, TWILIGHT SLEEP and LIGHT FM. The latter group appeared at a Los Angeles benefit concert last November headlined by the Billy Corgan-led band BACKWARDS CLOCK SOCIETY (proceeds from that show went to Laura Masura, the former head of the SMASHING PUMPKINS fan club who was injured in a motorcycle crash).

Fiorentino will perform with the PUMPKINS on their world tour later this year, a trek that will include headline performances at two Summer Sonic festivals in Japan: August 7 in Tokyo (Marine Stadium) and August 8 in Osaka (Maishima).

Recently, the PUMPKINS released — online, for free — the swirling, psychedelicized "Astral Planes", the final song to be issued for the EP "Teargarden By Kaleidyscope Vol.1: Songs For A Sailor"; it is the first of an eventual 11 EPs to be sold in record stores. "Teargarden By Kaleidyscope Vol. 1: Songs For A Sailor" is set for official release on May 25 through Martha’s Music/Rocket Science Ventures. This very limited-edition collector's EP will be packaged in a beautiful silk-screened wooden box. Each box will contain a 4-song CD, a vinyl 7" and a hand-carved obelisk from the shadows of the Incan ruins in Machu Picchu.

Christian hard rockers STRYPER have set "The Covering" as the title of their new album of covers, to be released in the fall. The CD will feature the band's original lineup of Michael Sweet on vocals, Robert Sweet on drums, Oz Fox on guitar and Timothy Gaines on bass.

"The Covering" will include STRYPER's renditions of the following classics:

• JUDAS PRIEST - "Breaking The Law"
• IRON MAIDEN - "The Trooper"
• SCORPIONS - "Blackout"
• OZZY OSBOURNE - "Over The Mountain"
• SWEET - "Set Me Free"
• VAN HALEN - "On Fire"
• DEEP PURPLE - "Highway Star"
• BLACK SABBATH - "Heaven And Hell"
• UFO - "Lights Out"
• KANSAS - "Carry On Wayward Son"
• KISS - "Shout It Out Loud"

LIVING LOUD project, which features legendary bassist Bob Daisley — of OZZY OSBOURNE, URIAH HEEP, GARY MOORE, BLACK SABBATH and RAINBOW fame — alongside Australian superstar Jimmy Barnes, the DEEP PURPLE duo of guitarist Steve Morse and keyboard player Don Airey plus URIAH HEEP drummer Lee Kerslake, is planning to complete the songwriting process for its long-awaited second album.

Morse, who just played Australia with DEEP PURPLE, writes on his web site, "I touched base with LIVING LOUD bassist Bob Daisley, and we made plans to finish the tunes we started."

LIVING LOUD's self-titled 2004 debut created a stir as it included re-worked versions of the Daisley/Kerslake co-composed OZZY OSBOURNE "Blizzard of Ozz" staples "Mr. Crowley", "I Don't Know" and "Crazy Train", originally from the "Blizzard Of Ozz" album and "Over The Mountain", "Flying High Again" and "Tonight" from the 1981 album "Diary Of A Madman".

Reunited '80s Dutch metal band PICTURE has parted ways with guitarist Rob van Enkhuizen and has replaced him with Gert Nijboer (HIGHWAY CHILE, HEADS DOWN).

Commented the band: "This decision has been made on friendly terms and because of the long history that Rob has with PICTURE, we will play one more gig with Rob in our lineup at June 5th in Winkel, Netherlands. On that day, we will say goodbye then to Rob officially, but for now we also want to wish him already all the very best for everything he will do in the future.

"In the short period we are working together, Gert has showed a tremendous dedication, next to amazing guitar skills. We are happy that all went so smooth and you can all see Gert already this weekend live for the first time with PICTURE in Lübeck and Kerkrade!"

Death metal psychopaths ABORTED have issued the following update:

"We have started writing some new material and will be focusing on writing for the rest of the year. Recordings are set for the full-length early next year. More details to follow shortly. Expect it to continue where [the recently released EP] 'Coronary Reconstruction' started!

"Those of you who still want to catch the band live this year: we will be playing Kaltenbach Open Air in Austria and Summer Carnage in Tel Aviv, Israel this summer, as well as a very short bunch of dates that will be announced soon as well. Beyond that, it's writing time as we want this album to be as face-melting as possible and there will not be any further touring until 2011!"

OZZY OSBOURNE will release "Scream" — his first album in almost three years and 10th studio album overall — on June 11 in mainland Europe, June 14 in the U.K. and June 15 in North America via Epic Records. The album will be made available in Japan on June 23 in Japan with the exclusive bonus track "Jump The Moon".

Produced by Ozzy and Kevin Churko, both of whom did the same honors for Ozzy's 2007 worldwide million-seller "Black Rain", "Scream" will feature the first single "Let Me Hear You Scream".

The fist-pumping anthemic song had its world premiere, during a prison riot scene, on "CSI: NY" on April 14 on the CBS television network and can now be streamed below (courtesy of AOL's Noisecreep).

"Scream" track listing:

01. Let It Die
02. Let Me Hear You Scream
03. Soul Sucker
04. Life Won't Wait
05. Diggin' Me Down
06. Crucify
07. Fearless
08. Time
09. I Want It More
10. Latimer's Mercy
11. I Love You All
12. Jump The Moon (Japan-edition bonus track)

NEVERMORE frontman Warrel Dane has announced that his late '80s cult metal outfit SANCTUARY will reunite to record a new studio album. "[I've] been talking with Lenny [Rutledge, former SANCTUARY guitarist]," Dane explains. "We are really good friends again and it feels good." He adds, "I missed my relationship with him for many years.

Regarding how the SANCTUARY reunion will affect NEVERMORE, which has a new studio album ("The Obsidian Conspiracy") coming out next month, Dane says, "NEVEMORE is never going away, so don't start any more rumors!"

With rumors swirling since ANTHRAX drummer Charlie Benante and bassist Frank Bello were seen together with former ANTHRAX vocalist Joey Belladonna late last month in New York, the band — Benante, Bello, and guitarists Scott Ian and Rob Caggiano — is elated to announce that Belladonna has officially rejoined the band. In his once and current capacity, Belladonna will make his first appearance with ANTHRAX this summer when the band joins METALLICA, SLAYER, and MEGADETH — the "Big Four" founding bands of the thrash genre — to co-headline a series of Sonisphere Festivals in ten European cities, as well as playing a handful of ANTHRAX-headlined shows (itinerary is below).

"I am super-excited about this," said Scott Ian. "Joey and the rest of the band came to see me play at a club in New York, I hadn't seen Joey for years, since the end of the reunion tour. Joey taps me on the shoulder, instant big hug, it felt like no time had gone by. The band dynamic is an interesting one — in ANTHRAX, Joey and I spent so many years of our lives together, we grew up together, we know each other so well, so it was like no time was lost."

Belladonna, an essential part of ANTHRAX's lineup from 1985 to 1992, sang on some of the band's most popular albums including "Spreading the Disease", "Among the Living" and "Persistence of Time". He had reunited with original members of ANTHRAX for the 2005-2007 "Among the Living Tour", but this situation is different. Explained Belladonna, "I had been in touch with Charlie and Frank, then I got a call from their manager who said that everyone wanted me back in the band. I thought, 'are you guys for real? You want me up there, fronting the band like it was before?' I was thrilled. We've already started to reconnect with the old ways of having conversations. Everything is easy going and feels really good."

"We're going to do these summer shows and gel as a band," explained Charlie Benante, "get comfortable playing with each other again, and the energy from that should go right into making new music."

Immediately following the final Sonisphere festival in early August, the band will fly back to the U.S. and begin writing and rehearsing for a new album that's expected to be out in early 2011.

"We've got an unusual luxury of hindsight," added Ian. "We finished an album a year ago, we've lived with those 12 songs since then, and we can look back on them and see what we really love and what we can make even better, especially with Joey back in the fold."

Added Benante, "There are five or six songs from a year ago that we don't want to change, we love them the way they are, other than having Joey making them his own with his vocals. Then there's another five or six that we may want to rework, and then there are a bunch of other tunes that are still in the early stages, that we want to finish.

"The band has been on an emotional roller coaster since last summer," Benante continued, "but I think everything that we've had to deal with during that time was pushing us toward this, to Joey being back in ANTHRAX, and the timing couldn't be more perfect or appropriate. To have Joey with us playing these shows with METALLICA, SLAYER and MEGADETH is the way it should be — as ANTHRAX's vocalist from '85 to '92, he was part of the 'Big Four.'"

"John was a real stand-up guy about the situation," said Ian, about John Bush, ANTHRAX's vocalist from 1992 to 2005 and for some of ANTHRAX's most recent live shows. "He knew we wanted to move forward at full speed, that we needed a total commitment to ANTHRAX, and he knew that wasn't what he wanted. We certainly wish John well. We've had so many great times with him, and we appreciate his stepping in last summer at the last minute, and performing with us since then. He will always be an integral part of the ANTHRAX family."

With worldwide sales in excess of 10-million, ANTHRAX is about to celebrate its 29th year as a band. Over its career, ANTHRAX has received multiple gold and platinum albums, multiple Grammy nominations, and a host of other accolades from the press, industry and fans.

ANTHRAX has scheduled the following dates:

Jun. 16 - Warsaw, Poland @ Sonisphere
Jun. 18 - Wil, Switzerland @ Sonisphere
Jun. 19 - Mimon, Czech Republic @ Sonisphere
Jun. 20 - Vienna, Austria @ Arena Wien
Jun. 22 - Sofia, Bulgaria @ Sonisphere
Jun. 24 - Athens, Greece @ Sonisphere
Jun. 26 - Bucharest, Romania @ Sonisphere
Jun. 27 - Istanbul, Turkey @ Sonisphere
Jul. 31 - Knebworth, UK @ Sonisphere
Aug. 01 - Lokerse, Belgium @ Lokerse FeeSten Festival
Aug. 03 - Hengelo, Netherlands @ Metropool
Aug. 05 - Moscow, Russia @ B1
Aug. 07 - Stockholm, Sweden @ Sonisphere
Aug. 08 - Pori, Finland @ Sonisphere

Florida-based extreme metallers WYKKED WYTCH are currently holding auditions for a permanent lead guitarist and drummer for the band's new album and future tours.

Commented the group: "We are looking for individuals who can make a long-term commitment to the band. Not looking for temporary or session musicians.

"If interested in auditioning, send a bio, photos, and links to examples of your playing (audio and video clips)."

Die deutschen Death Metaller ihr neues, bereits viertes Album "Lynch And Dissect" am 21. Mai 2010 via astardized Recordings in den Handel bringen.

Nach "Praise The Light" gibt es mit dem Titelstück nun einen weiteren Vorgeschmack auf der MySpace Site der Band

"Lynch And Dissect" Track List:

01. Stillborn Paradise
02. Lynch And Dissect
03. Beyond Recognition
04. Damned To Vengeance
05. Praise The Light
06. Unasked Heirs
07. Decimate
08. Forced To Consume
09. The Debate From Within

GUN BARREL haben ihr neues Live Album "Live at the Kubana" hier für € 11,99 online gestellt

GUN BARREL veröffentlichen das Album ohne Plattenfirma, um die Musik direkt aus erster Hand an den Fan liefern zu können.

"Live at the Kubana" Trackliste:
1. Invasion Warning (Intro) 01:40
2. Bombard Your Soul 03:24
3. Front Killers 03:58
4. Roll Of The Dice 03:49
5. Dear Mr. Devil 03:43
6. Gate Of God 05:27
7. Brother To Brother 05:04
8. Back To Suicide 03:33
9. The Raven 04:20
10. Power-Dive 03:55
11. Straight Down To Hell 03:49
12. Outlaw Invasion 04:48
13. On The Road Again 06:05
14. Rebel Gathering (Intro) 01:38
15. Battle-Tested 03:57
16. Take Me To The Highway 03:34
17. My Last Ale 05:36

Reformed Greek metallers NIGHTFALL — featuring frontman and lyricist Efthimis Karadimas alongside Evan Hensley on guitar, Stathis Kassios on keyboards and Jörg Uken on drums — have entered the studio to begin tracking their new album, "Astron Black And The Thirty Tyrants", for a late 2010 release via Metal Blade Records. The CD is being recorded at various places, including Soundlodge in Germany, where the bulk of the sessions are taking place. It is being produced by Karadimas and Uken (who has previously worked with GOD DETHRONED, DEW-SCENTED and SINISTER). According to a press release, Jörg's "experience behind the recording desk and his soul in recording both as the new drummer of the band is a great plus for the whole production and for everybody truly into metal drumming the… old classic metal way!"

"Astron Black And The Thirty Tyrants" will contain 12 tracks for a running time of 43 minutes.

Regarding the new CD title, the group previously stated, "Tyrants represent the punishment accrued from our own actions, the allegoric way. But what about the first part of the title, Astron Black?

"The Astron refers to the bearer of light, the sun, life itself and phos that allows no secret to remain hidden for ever, the hope, the hunter, the ray slashing the monotony of nothing, the effort to breathe to cry to understand to communicate and ultimately to create, the god, the gods, the man!

"The Black refers to the endless, the eternal warm nest either within us or far above, the mystery, the epitome of arcane that asks to be conquered and the challenge that cannot be regretted, the deep, the soul attractor and fears the force’s being made of, the vessel of creation, the goddess, the womb, the woman!

"Astron Black is a fiction persona in human like body shape. Moving throughout centuries, being inspired and eventually driven by its needs and wills, this beast-cum-beauty and vice versa creature moves violently in harmonious circles known as Time. That Aenaon creature symbolises the opposite natures in universe, the duality that characterises every form of life and action whose motion generates aural waves, inking the pages of collective subconscious chronicles."

Bassist Janusz Soloma of Polish metallers STOS died on stage while performing with the band on May 8, 2010 in Myslowice, Poland after suffering a heart attack. He was 48 years old.

Janusz joined the reactivated STOS in 2000 and was part of all of the band's live shows and recorded output since then.

Commented Bart Gabriel of Hard Rocker Management (STOS' manager between 2000 and 2004 who currently represents CRYSTAL VIPER): "Sometimes words can't express the real feelings, and we still can't believe in what happened...

"We are sharing the sadness and tears with the friends and family of Janusz, and, of course, with his band mates from STOS... This is simply unreal...".

Formed in the early '80s, STOS was often called the "Polish WARLOCK" because of the presence of a female vocalist in the group's lineup. They shared the stage with such acts as RUNNING WILD, HELLOWEEN and OVERKILL and the band's debut album (after a live split LP with OPEN FIRE, entitled "Metalmania '87") sold more than 30,000 copies in Poland alone.

STOS guitarist Jan Kardas died in December 2006 after being diagnosed with cancer earlier that year.

Die Schwedischen Symphonic Power Metaller DRAGONLAND haben heute den neuen Trailer zu ihrem hoffentlich bald erscheinenden, noch unbetitelten Album online gestellt! Darin wird deutlich, dass sie die sehr komplexen und symphonischen Elemente, die auf den letzten Alben vorherrschten, wieder bei Seite schieben und sich auf kraftvollen und melodischen Power Metal konzentrieren! Außerdem gibt es auf ihrer Myspace-Seite immer noch den neuen Song "The Shadow of the Mithril Mountains" zu hören!

"For Crying Out Loud", a brand new song from FIREBIRD — the British power trio led by CARCASS/ex-NAPALM DEATH guitarist Bill Steer — is available for streaming using the audio player below. The track comes off the band's new album, "Double Diamond", which will be released in July via Trooper Entertainment. The CD features ten songs recorded at Graveland studios in 's-Graveland, Holland during January. According to the band, "this recording heralds a new chapter for the band, seeing [guitarist/vocalist Bill] Steer and [drummer Ludwig] Witt draw inspiration from some of their earliest metal favourites such as BUDGIE, FIST and TANK."

"Double Diamond" track listing:

01. Soul Saviour
02. Ruined
03. Bright Lights
04. For Crying Out Loud
05. Farewell
06. A Wing & A Prayer
07. Pound Of Flesh
08. Arabesque
09. Lose Your Delusions
10. Pantomime

Deals for Europe and the USA have yet to be confirmed. The band welcome any interested parties.

FIREBIRD last fall parted ways with bassist Smok Smoczkiewicz "due to personal reasons." Following his departure, Australia's Tom Sutton was drafted in to play bass with the group for a landmark appearance at Loud Park festival in Tokyo. A week later FIREBIRD performed on the main stage at Damnation Festival in Leeds, this time with Terry Waker handling bass duties. The year was rounded off with a Swedish tour, featuring initially Tom Sutton on bass and then Greyum May, formerly of THE BLACK HAND.

FIREBIRD's fifth album, "Grand Union", was released in the U.S. on June 23, 2009 via Rise Above Records' new North American distribution deal with Metal Blade. The CD, which came out in Europe on April 20, 2009, was recorded and mixed over a two-week period in May 2008 at Berno studios in Malmö, Sweden where FIREBIRD's second album, 2001's "Deluxe", was conceived.

With SLIPKNOT's 'Duality' topping our worldwide Roadrunner staff-voted Ten Greatest Music Videos in Roadrunner History, the band's percussionist and visual artist Clown (M. Shawn Crahan) extends his gratitude on the honor:

"I knew it was going to be a once in a lifetime ride when our request was answered far beyond any expectations we had. We invited our Maggots to be in the video. If you showed up, you were in and people ended up coming in from all over the world just to be in it. I knew it was going to be a turning point for the band. 'Duality' is our culture."

According to Times Online, veteran rock band QUEEN has quit the beleaguered music label EMI for its rival Universal.

QUEEN, which been with the heavily indebted British label for almost 40 years, is believed to have been lured to Universal with a new contract worth tens of millions of pounds.

People familiar with the situation said yesterday that QUEEN had moved to Universal primarily for the money. "EMI just decided they couldn't compete. It was too much to pay and they want to spend that money on developing new talent," one music industry insider said.

Another person close to the deal said that QUEEN, whose "Greatest Hits" has sold 5.4 million copies, making it the U.K.'s highest-selling album, would not move to Universal immediately. The band, whose former lead singer Freddie Mercury died in 1991, is expected to see out their contract, which expires at the end of this year

The Pulse of Radio reports that QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE will reissue their second album, 2000's "Rated R", this summer, according to NME.com. The re-release, which will probably arrive in July, will include B-sides and live recordings. Frontman Josh Homme said, "Am I surprised QUEENS have survived to the point where we have reissues? Yes! And that all the people (other players) on 'Rated R' are alive too."

"Rated R" was a critical and fan success, although it wasn't until 2002's "Songs For The Deaf" that QUEENS achieved mainstream success and radio airplay.

QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE's last album was 2007's "Era Vulgaris", and the band has not performed since summer 2008.

The group is set to return to play the U.K.'s Reading and Leeds Festivals this August, along with some German dates.

Homme has been playing in THEM CROOKED VULTURES with Dave Grohl and John Paul Jones, but has said work will begin on a new QUEENS record this fall.

STONE SOUR has set "Audio Secrecy" as the title of its third album, due late summer via Roadrunner Records. The band and producer Nick Raskulinecz (FOO FIGHTERS, ALICE IN CHAINS, RUSH) are currently holed away at Blackbird Studios in Nashville, Tennessee, where they're putting finishing touches on the much-buzzed-about record.

"'Audio Secrecy' is the summation of everything we want, everything we crave and everything we fight for," says lead singer Corey Taylor. "The dimensions go further than anything we've ever tried before. It's metal, rock, slow, soft, hard, fast, bitter, beautiful and most importantly, it's REAL. You can't get an album like this out of a band that doesn't exist. We're throwing caution out the damn window."

Relapse Records has announced a partnership with Perseverance Holdings Ltd. and the Schuldiner family to reissue the legendary catalog of heavy metal luminary Chuck Schuldiner and his bands DEATH, CONTROL DENIED and MANTAS.

Chuck Schuldiner's DEATH, one of the most important and influential metal bands of all-time, will see the first official digital releases of its legendary albums "Scream Bloody Gore", "Leprosy", "Spiritual Healing", "Human", "Individual Thought Patterns" and "The Sound Of Perseverance" tomorrow, May 11 at this location. These digital releases will come two days before Chuck Schuldiner would have celebrated his 43rd birthday.

Chuck Schuldiner passed away on December 13, 2001 at age 34 after a battle with pontine glioma, a rare type of brain tumor.

Relapse will also reissue an expanded version of the classic debut album, "The Fragile Art Of Existence", from Schuldiner's progressive heavy metal band CONTROL DENIED in late 2010 as well as the first-ever collection by his pre-DEATH project MANTAS. The expanded version of "The Fragile Art Of Existence" will include bonus tracks, extra band photography, expanded art and packaging and more. Details on both releases are forthcoming.

Long-range plans include the completion and official release of the final CONTROL DENIED album "When Man and Machine Collide". Recorded over 10 years ago at Morrisound Studios with producer Jim Morris, "When Man and Machine Collide" was tracked by Schuldiner but left incomplete upon Chuck's passing. A range of officially licensed DEATH, CONTROL DENIED, and MANTAS merchandise has also been issued here. Many classic album art designs will follow in the coming months, making some highly sought-after designs available officially for the first time in years.

Stay tuned to EmptyWords.org, the official DEATH / CONTROL DENIED / Chuck Schuldiner web site, and Relapse.com for more information.

Guitar World has released its second TAB book, featuring the music of DEATH.

"Death: The Deluxe Guitar and Bass Tablature Collection" is the first song transcription book based on the DEATH catalog. Created with the endorsement of Chuck Schuldiner's family, it features full transcriptions — including guitar, bass and lyrics — of eight classic DEATH songs, such as "Pull the Plug", "Zombie Ritual", "Flesh and the Power It Holds" and many others! Plus, "Death: The Deluxe Guitar and Bass Tablature Collection" includes a life- and career-spanning biography on Chuck Schuldiner, death metal's pioneer and spiritual guide.

Transcriptions include:

* Pull the Plug", as heard on "Leprosy"
* The Philosopher", as heard on "Individual Thought Patterns"
* Crystal Mountain", as heard on "Symbolic"
* Flesh and the Power It Holds", as heard on "The Sound of Perseverance"
* Scavenger of Human Sorrow", as heard on "The Sound of Perseverance"
* Zombie Ritual", as heard on "Scream Bloody Gore"
* Spiritual Healing", as heard on "Spiritual Healing"
* Together as One", as heard on "Human"

Video footage of WE ARE THE FALLEN, the group formed by EVANESCENCE co-founder Ben Moody (guitar) and other former members — John LeCompt (guitar) and Rocky Gray (drums) — along with "American Idol" powerhouse vocalist Carly Smithson and bassist Marty O'Brien (DISTURBED, KELLY CLARKSON, STATIC-X, METHODS OF MAYHEM,TOMMY LEE), performing a cover version of MADONNA's "Like A Prayer" on May 8, 2010 at The Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza in New York City can be viewed below.

WE ARE THE FALLEN recorded a studio version "Like A Prayer" during the sessions for the band's debut album, "Tear The World Down", but opted to leave it off the record. According to Moody, the group is saving it for "something special."

"Tear The World Down" will be released on May 11 via Universal Republic Records.

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Bury Me Alive
02. Burn
03. Paradigm
04. Don't Leave Me Behind
05. Sleep Well, My Angel
06. Through Hell
07. I Will Stay
08. Without You
09. St. John
10. I Am Only One
11. Tear The World Down