MUSICA DIABLO — the São Paulo, Brazil-based thrash metal project featuring SEPULTURA singer Derrick Green, guitarist André L.A. (NITROMINDS), bassist Ricardo Brigas, guitarist André Germani Curci (KORZUS, THREAT) and drummer Edu Nicollini (NITROMINDS) — will release its self-titled debut album on May 28 via SAOL / H'Art / Zebralution. The CD's cover artwork was created by Gustavo Sazes, who has previously worked with ARCH ENEMY, GOD FORBID and OLD MAN'S CHILD.

A song from the album, "Live To Buy", is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page.

Commented guitarist André L.A.: "This is one of our first songs. We love it because it's fast, grooves and has one of the most interesting vocal lines I've ever heard!

"When we showed the song to Rafael Ramos (the producer), he loved it because it is, in a way, old-school thrash with that death/grind touch that we love so much!"

There is a new supergroup on the scene and it features ex-DEEP PURPLE bassist/singer Glenn Hughes, LED ZEPPELIN reunion drummer Jason Bonham, DREAM THEATER's former keyboardist Derek Sherinian, and guitarist Joe Bonamassa. The band was known as BLACK COUNTRY but learned that name was taken and has since been forced to come up with something else.

Bonamassa spoke to VH1 Radio Networks' Dave Basner about what is going on with the group.

"The band has a name and I won't say it until it's trademarked and on a CD," he said. "The record is done and it'll come out in September. And after that, whatever comes of it is great.

He continued, "People are going, 'Is it gonna tour? Is it gonna tour?' I don't even want to address that because at the end of the day, nobody wants to see a band that made a bad record. So my concentration in the short term is always make the record as good as it can be because there's a lot of expectation."

Joe elaborated on what expectations he felt were out there for the band.

"They expect the sum of its parts and then some," he said. "It's gotta be 'Led Zeppelin I' and DEEP PURPLE 'Burn' and DREAM THEATER 'Pull Me Under' plus whatever bits I've put into it. So for me, I'm really proud of it. It's an unabashed rock record in the truest sense."

The new supergroup featuring Bonamassa, Hughes, Sherinian and Bonham made a surprise debut appearance during the encore at Bonamassa's March 17 concert at the Riverside Municipal Auditorium in Riverside, California. The band performed two songs — "One Last Soul" and a cover of the DEEP PURPLE classic "Mistreated".

Israeli heavy metal band AMASEFFER has set "When The Lions Leave Their Den" as the title of the second part of its Biblical trilogy. The group states, "We think that this title is best describing the events of our new album which will mainly deal with the actual Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt.

"The trigger to use this title was actually that it's a part of the lyrics for the opening track, 'Pillar Of Fire', written by our dear friend Yotam Avni. Yotam is writing all the lyrics for the new album and so far we think he's 'cooking' a divine creation!

As stated before, Mats Levén (THERION, KRUX), our lead singer, has already recorded vocal lines for a few songs and we expect him to finish the album by the end of May.

"Now to the real fire: Basically all orchestrations are composed, arranged and recorded, now we just have to add them to the rest of the mix (once we'll finish it) and find the right balance for them so it will blend smoothly in the song structures.

"We set a recording date for the 60-piece choir and the drums. Both will be recorded at Gal-Kol studios in Israel and we expect the recording sessions to stretch on a four-day period in beginning of June. Guitars are mostly written and will be recorded at AMASEFFER's studio in Jerusalem right after we finish recording the choir and drums. It will take a few days of guitar recordings and right after that, we will start mixing the album, also at AMASEFFER's studio, then we will send it to Germany for final mastering process. If everything works out as we plan, we expect to have a finished album by July or early August at the latest.

"The concept for the album artwork is also in final stages of development and we are very very happy with it. It is confirmed that Maya Avraham will sing on our new album as well. In our debut album, 'Slaves For Life', Maya sang on one track ('Zipporah') and we were truly amazed by her vocal abilities, so for the new album we have decided to give her bigger and more significant vocal parts.

"We will record Maya at AMASEFFER's studio at the beginning of June.

"Two more very special guests will be revealed right before the album release date, so stay tuned!"

Veteran power metallers KALEDON have issued a brief update, revealing that they have finished mixing their forthcoming new album, Legend Of The Fogotten Reign: Chapter VI - The Last Night On The Battlefield.

Kaledon recently inked a deal with Scarlet Records for the release of Legend Of The Forgotten Reign: Chapter VI - The Last Night On The Battlefield, the sixth installment of the saga started in 2002.

The new album has been described as a return to the band's power metal roots: powerful, melodic and extremely captivating.

The beautiful atwork (click image at left to enlarge) has been made by renowned artist JP Fournier (EDGUY, AVANTASIA, IMMORTAL) and it perfectly depicts the band's epic music as never before.

Giuseppe Orlando (NOVEMBRE) produced the album, which is expected to be released in July.

Legend Of The Forgotten Reign: Chapter VI - The Last Night On The Battlefield tracklisting:

'The Way To Home'
'Last Days'
'Power In Me'
'Coming Back To Our Land'
'Sorumoth' (featuring OPERATION GENOCIDE's Maeror on screams and growls)
'Surprise Impact'
'Black Clouds'
'Demons Away'
'May The Dragon Be With You'

The End Records will release DIR EN GREY's Uroboros - With The Proof In The Name Of Living... At Nippon Budokan in a deluxe digipak CD/DVD edition on May 25th in North America (May 24th in the UK via Okami Records).

The artwork for the release has been revealed (click image at left to enlarge).

On January 9th and 10th of this year, Dir En Grey took flight into the Nippon Budokan and played to thousands of fans from all over the world. Capturing every angle from this sold out, two day event, Uroboros, which will be released as a deluxe digipak in the US on May 25th, lets us into the kaleidoscopic world of Dir En Grey. Highly-charged visuals packed back to back brought Dir En Grey shows to a new height, making this experience the band's most legendary performance to date.

Fans are in for a special treat as they are able to witness these legendary performances. Marking the end of the Uroboros album cycle, which saw the band playing ninety-nine shows worldwide, this DVD will allow you to immerse yourself in the world of Dir En Grey.

Additionally, the video for 'Hageshisa To, Kono Mune No Naka De Karamitsuita Shakunetsu No Yami' debuted at #1 on iTunes in Japan and is currently available for purchase on iTunes here. The live track entitled 'Dozing Green' is also available for free on The End Records Amazon sampler which can be downloaded here.

CD tracklListing:

'Sa Bir
'Gaika, Chinmoku Ga Nemuru Koro'
'Toguro'
'Inward Scream'
'Hydra -666-'
'Inconvenient Ideal'
'Conceived Sorrow'
'Rasetsukoku'
'Ware, Yami Tote...'
'Obscure Doukoku'
'To Sarinu'
'Dozing Green'
'Hageshisa To, Kono Mune No Naka De Karamitsuita Shakunetsu No Yami'
'Vinushka'

DVD Track Listing:
'Ware, Yami Tote...'
'Deity'
'Obscure'
'Red Soil'
'Stuck Man'
'Doukoku To Sarinu'
'Shokubeni'
'Toguro'
'Glass Skin'
'The Pledge'
'Dozing Green'
'Dead Tree'
'Bugaboo'
'Reiketsu Nariseba'
'Gaika, Chinmoku Ga Nemuru Koro'
'Hydra -666-'
'Agitated Screams Of Maggots'
'Saku'
'Zan'
'Hageshisa To, Kono Mune No Naka De Karamitsuita Shakunetsu No Yami'
'The Final'
'Inconvenient Ideal'
'Vinushka'
'Sa Bir'

According to Metalzone.gr, Greek extreme metallers SEPTICFLESH are hard at work on material for their new album, tentatively due before the end of the year. The recording process is scheduled to begin mid-summer at the band's own newly built Devasoundz studios in Athens. Once again the orchestral parts will be recorded in Prague under the guidance of Chris Antoniou (CHAOSTAR). This time, the band's effort "is bound to expand its dark and dreamy soundscapes and will be enhanced" by the mixing job of producer PAIN/HYPOCRISY mainman Peter Tägtgren (AMON AMARTH, MARDUK, THERION, CHILDREN OF BODOM, CELTIC FROST, IMMORTAL).

Breaking News: Tour Interuptus...Russian dates this coming week postponed due to a VOLCANO! New rescheduled dates will be announced soon. Voivod are truly bummed out by this and were looking forward to the tour and meeting new fans in Moscow and beautiful St. Petersburg. A strange coincidence to this story being the last song on the new record is called...Volcano.

VOIVOD wins the award for Metal Group of The Year at the 2010 Indie Awards

Jed Gottlieb of BostonHerald.com recently conducted an interview with AEROSMITH guitarist Joe Perry. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

On making amends with Steven Tyler:

Perry: "A month ago we had a sitdown and Steven said, 'I'm ready to front the band again and let's book some gigs.' He looked really strong and healthy and happy and ready to rock. I had one sentence to say to him and he had one sentence to say to me and that finished it. (Those sentences) are just between me and him. I knew the band was going to get back together, I just didn't know if it was going to take a week or a month or a year. Steven and I have been together for 40 years and no bumps in the road are going to change that.

On finally recording that long-delayed new AEROSMITH album:

Perry: "We definitely want to make another record. The way the industry is, there's not a record company screaming at us to make an album, but we feel like we still have a really good record inside us. Not just one, who knows how many. Obviously we can't plot things out the way we could when we were 25, but it's happening. It's just a matter of figuring out when we're going to be on the beach and when we're going to be in the studio."

On trying to write songs with Tyler for the first time in a decade:

Perry: "Obviously, I'd like to write with him. We really haven't talked much about that since we've decided to play gigs again. I know the subject will come up and we'll see what feels comfortable. Like I said, we're not the same guys we were when we were 25. But in a few ways we're similar and I'd like to get back to the way we used to write. I really feel this vibe of the 40th anniversary of the band. To me that means making an album for us and the fans, not one that will just satisfy the label or some A&R man."

"I Walk Forever", the new video from TAROT — the Finnish group led by NIGHTWISH/ex-SINERGY bassist Marco Hietala — can be viewed below. The clip was shot in Cairo, Egypt. The song comes off the band's ninth studio album, "Gravity Of Light", which entered the official chart in TAROT's home country at position No. 2. This is the highest-ever chart position for the group in Finland.

"Gravity Of Light" will be released outside Finland on April 23 via Nuclear Blast Records.

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Satan Is Dead
02. Hell Knows
03. Rise!
04. The Pilot Of All Dreams
05. Magic And Technology
06. Calling Down The Rain
07. Caught In The Deadlights
08. I Walk Forever
09. Sleep In The Dark
10. Gone

MIG Music in Germany releases the MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP live DVD, Rockpalast: Hardrock Legends Vol.2, today (April 16th). It features a January 24th, 1981 MSG concert filmed at the Markthalle in Hamburg for Germany's popular live concert program, Rockpalast, a staple of the WDR television network. The tracklist, taken from the first MSG record with a couple UFO tunes closing the show, is as follows:



'Armed And Ready'
'Cry For The Nations'
'Victim Of Illusions'
'Natural Thing'
'Feels Like A Good Thing'
'Into The Arena'
'Rock Bottom'
'Lookin' Out From Nowhere'
'Lost Horizons'
'Doctor Doctor'
'Lights Out'

Pennsylvania-based Christian metalcore quintet AUGUST BURNS RED will film its June 4 concert at Warehouse 54 in Manheim, Pennsylvania for a forthcoming CD/DVD, to be released later this year through longtime label home Solid State Records.

Commented guitarist JB Brubaker: "We're stoked to have an opportunity to release a live album and DVD, and it only makes it better that we'll be able to do so in our hometown in front of the people that have been behind us since the beginning."

"Even though this is a hometown show for us," continued Brubaker, "we encourage anyone who wants to travel to come, see how we get down at home, and be a part of this DVD!"

Berlin, Germany's PitCam Production conducted an interview with AUGUST BURNS RED when the group played in Berlin on March 2, 2010. Watch the chat below.

"Constellations", the third full-length album from AUGUST BURNS RED, debuted at an impressive No. 24 on The Billboard 200. Released on July 14, 2009, the LP also landed at No. 8 on Current Rock Albums, No. 2 on Top Hard Music Albums (less than 300 units behind NICKLEBACK!) and No. 2 on the Christian Market chart.

With sales of 20,000 copies in its first week, "Constellations" more than doubled the first-week numbers of its predecessor, 2007's "Messengers", which debuted in The Billboard 200 at No. 81 and went on to sell well over 80,000 copies. "Constellations" also hit the No. 1 New Music Release spot iTunes the day it was released, and entered the Top 100 at No. 6, nestled between a MICHAEL JACKSON best-of album and the movie soundtrack for a certain wizard named Harry. "We thought we set the bar pretty high for this release, but we never envisioned 'Constellations' coming out of the gates the way it has," said guitarist JB Brubaker. "It's so awesome to have such supportive and enthusiastic listeners!"

Vocalist Antony Hämäläinen of multi-national thrashers NIGHTRAGE has released the following statement regarding the passing of TYPE O NEGATIVE frontman Peter Steele:

"Peter Steele and TYPE O NEGATIVE have always been a huge influence on me. Not really musically as more as they were emotionally.

"I remember buying 'Bloody Kisses' on a vacation in America in 1992. It was like a new world opened up to me. I realized then that music was to show no limits. No compromise and no trends exist. Only what you really feel inside. I think Peter Steele was one of the only musicians I ever heard truly do this.

"To the rest of the band: We all feel for you. And we drink to all of you and the Wolf Moon.

"R.I.P. Peter."

BROKEN TEETH's video for the song "Viva La Rock, Fantastico" can be viewed below. The track is the title cut of the band's new album, "Viva La Rock, Fantastico", which was released on January 26 via Perris Records. The clip was shot throughout the streets of the band's hometown of Austin during this year's Texas Rockfest and features a cameo by Canadian rocker Danko Jones who also performed live with BROKEN TEETH during last month's SXSW (South By Southwest) music conference. The footage from the street gives the video a raw, punk rock feel and captures the pure rock and roll energy of both the song and album.

Author and musician Joel Gausten (THE UNDEAD, PIGFACE, ELECTRIC FRANKENSTEIN) has issued the following statement regarding the passing of TYPE O NEGATIVE frontman Peter Steele:

"I met Peter Steele back in 1995, when Jerry and Doyle from the MISFITS brought me along to a show in New York, where they joined TYPE O onstage during an encore. This was the first time those guys has appeared onstage in MISFITS gear in 12 years.

"Backstage, Jerry introduced me to Peter, who looked up at me, handed me a bottle of whiskey and said in his classic deep voice, 'Drink!' Being an 18-year-old wiseass at the time, I immediately started chugging it like it was ice tea! 'WHOA!!' shouted Peter as he snatched the booze away from me. He then pointed to the stack of unspeakably disgusting porno mags piled up beside him. 'Um, might I interest you in some fine pornographic material?'

"Quite a nice host, if you ask me.

"A few years ago, I was approached by a member of CARNIVORE about doing a book on the band. I passed. Unfortunately, I kinda knew the tale was already coming to a close by that point. As Ozzy once sang: 'The race is run/The book is read/The end begins to show.'

"What a shame.

"Farewell to a deeply talented — and deeply troubled — man."

C.J. Grimmark (guitar, keyboards) of Swedish epic/melodic metallers NARNIA has issued the following update:

"Some of you may have heard rumors, and some of you may be surprised by what you're about to read.

"We confirm today that we're facing the end of the journey of this band.

"We want to thank all our fans, friends and our families who stood behind us all the time. Thank you for believing.

"The decision was made around New Year '09/'10.

"It's time to move on. Music business is tough, and it's getting tougher every day. But it's also the greatest business to be in thanks to the crowds and the people we've met along this long road.

"Thank you for sharing your stories and for letting our music and message be a part of your lives.

"Last summer, after a concert, a guy around the age of 20-25 walked up to me, thanked me for the show and said, 'I listened a lot to you guys when I was a kid'. (...and I thought WE were still kids...hey, wake up.) :)

"To celebrate this long journey, we will do ONE more concert that will serve as the grand finale of NARNIA. The event has been chosen with great care and we hope to announce this... soon ;)

"Stay tuned, God bless... over and out."

Norwegian black metallers IMMORTAL have issued the following update from Håkon Grav - Photograve Management:

"To all Immortal fans in Russia:

Due to the volcanic eruption in Iceland, all flights out of Norway have been canceled, and we have no other option but to postpone the Moscow concert.

This has already been cleared this with our promoter, and I can confirm that Immortal are coming back to Moscow on October 30th.

Already purchased tickets will keep their validity, and the venue will be the same, DK Gorbunova.

See you all then!"

SLIPKNOT drummer Joey Jordison and vocalist Wednesday 13 have completed work on long-awaited sophomore album from their horror-punk side-project MURDERDOLLS, entitled "Women And Children Last", at a studio in Hollywood Hills, California with producer Chris "Zeuss" Harris (HATEBREED, SHADOWS FALL, 3 INCHES OF BLOOD).

Commented the band: "After a month pretty much, here up in the Hollywood Hills, the new MURDERDOLLS album, the first in eight fucking years, 'Women And Children Last', is finished. We are so stoked with the outcome, and can't wait for you all to hear it; you guys have no idea what's coming your way."

Full Metal Jackie, who hosts a nationally syndicated radio show, has posted a short video clip of her April 6, 2010 visit to the Hollywood Hills, California studio where MURDERDOLLS recorded the new CD. Watch the footage below.

MUSICA DIABLO — the São Paulo, Brazil-based thrash metal project featuring SEPULTURA singer Derrick Green, guitarist André L.A. (NITROMINDS), bassist Ricardo Brigas, guitarist André Germani Curci (KORZUS, THREAT) and drummer Edu Nicollini (NITROMINDS) — will release its self-titled debut album on May 28 via SAOL / H'Art / Zebralution. The CD's cover artwork was created by Gustavo Sazes, who has previously worked with ARCH ENEMY, GOD FORBID and OLD MAN'S CHILD.

Mille Petrozza, vocalist/guitarist of German thrash metal veterans KREATOR, has released the following statement regarding the passing of TYPE O NEGATIVE frontman Peter Steele:

"Peter Steele was one of my all-time favourite musicians ever!

"I've only met him once briefly and he was just the nicest guy!

"CARNIVORE's 'Retalliation' and all TYPE O NEGATIVE albums have been a huge influence on my creativity.

"This is a black day for music!

"Rest in peace, Peter."

Singer Cristina Scabbia of the Italian rock/metal band LACUNA COIL has released the following statement regarding the passing of TYPE O NEGATIVE frontman Peter Steele:

"I haven't heard such bad news in a long time.

"I am apalled, speechless.

"Silence is more respectful in these circumstances, I know. But everyone who knows me knows that Peter and TYPE O were (and are) an IMMENSE influence in my musical taste and beside that Pete was a charismatic, intense, funny, fantastic person.

"I treasure the moments we spent together on this road and I know he's rockin' out both heaven and hell right now.

"My deepest condolences to Johnny, Kenny, Josh and Peter's family.

"I will miss you, brother, my influence and adorable giant.

"We'll meet again somewhere, someday."

TYPE O NEGATIVE manager Mike Renault has confirmed to CBS News that the band's frontman, Peter Steele, has died.

In an email, Renault said, "Peter passed away last night. As of now it appears to have been heart failure. That's all the details we have right now."

According to unconfirmed reports, Steele had been ill for days leading up to his death.

TYPE O NEGATIVE's web site left a message to their fans this morning around 5:15 a.m. It read, "The forums have been re-opened. Please play nice and expect statements from the band and family later today. Thank you for your understanding and support."

Steele was born Petrus T. Ratajczyk on January 4, 1962 in Brooklyn, New York. He stood 6' 7" (201 cm) tall, and had a low, bass-heavy voice, which was one of the most recognizable features in TYPE O NEGATIVE's music.

Before forming TYPE O NEGATIVE, Steele played for the metal group FALLOUT and the thrash band CARNIVORE.

Bassist Jason Myers of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based melodic metallers ICARUS WITCH has released the following statement:

"Peter Steele, a true icon, enigma, musical genius and hell of a nice man who I had the pleasure of talking with on several occasions dating back to the early '90s, has reportedly died of heart failure at the age of 48.

"As of 5 a.m., the news is still unconfirmed, but despite a similar rumor in 2005, it appears the reports of his passing are true.

"His work with TYPE O NEGATIVE was groundbreaking and a large influence on myself and other members of ICARUS WITCH.

"As the song goes, 'Everything Dies' but know that the music lives on..."

Guitarist/vocalist Michiel Dekker of Dutch extreme metallers THE MONOLITH DEATHCULT has released the following statement:

"Peter Steele passed away and I felt very sad about it.

"[TYPE O NEGATIVE's albums] 'Bloody Kisses' [and] 'October Rust' [were] the soundtrack of my teenage years and laid the foundation for my songwriting.

"When we started THE MONOLITH DEATHCULT back in 2003, almost more important than the music was the image of irony, sarcasm and black humor which was the trademark of Peter Steele. Later, when we deepened our sound TYPE O NEGATIVE became more and more a big influence on THE MONOLITH DEATHCULT. We honoured Peter and TYPE O NEGATIVE already with 'The White Crematorium' title track.

"Peter Steele and TYPE O NEGATIVE were unique and his death is a great loss."

THE MONOLITH DEATHCULT's reworked version of the band's 2005 album "The White Crematorium", dubbed "The White Crematorium 2.0 - The Revenge of the Failed", was released in Europe on February 19, 2010 through Twilight-Vertrieb and in the United States shortly thereafter via Epitomite Productions.

Australian melodic power metal band BLACK MAJESTY will release its new album, "In Your Honour", in Europe on May 14 via Limb Music. The CD was produced by Roland Grapow (MASTERPLAN, ex-HELLOWEEN) at his Grapow Studios in Slovakia. Dirk Illing (SCORPIONS, WIZARD) once again handled the album's artwork, which continues the theme of the band's past works.

"In Your Honour" track listing:

01. Far Beyond
02. God Of War
03. Millenium
04. Break These Chains
05. Further Than Insane
06. End Of Time
07. Wish You Well
08. Follow
09. Witching Hour

Bonus tracks (European digipack):

10. Two Hearts
11. Silent Company (acoustic version)

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

Singer Andrea Ferro of the Italian rock/metal band LACUNA COIL has released the following statement regarding the passing of TYPE O NEGATIVE frontman Peter Steele:

"These are a few words from a comic book that I'd like to use to remember Pete Steele.

"Thanks a lot for the great journey I had (and will always have) with your music. Thanks a lot for the inspiration and friendship, R.I.P.

"He saw the true face of the 20th century and chose to become a reflection, a parody of it. No one else saw the joke, that's why he was lonely. Heard joke once: Man goes to doctor. Says he's depressed. Says life seems harsh and cruel. Says he feels all alone in a threatening world where what lies ahead is vague and uncertain. Doctor says, 'Treatment is simple. Great clown Pagliacci is in town tonight. Go and see him. That should pick you up.' Man bursts into tears. Says 'But, doctor...I am Pagliacci.' Good joke. Everybody laugh. Roll on snare drum. Curtains Fade to black. (Rorschach)"

Vocalist Dez Fafara of Santa Barbara, California metallers DEVIDRIVER has released the following statement:

"We have all lost a legend — Peter Steele.

"Peter Steele was one of the nicest guys in music. He was always kind to me through the years.

"I toured many times with TYPE O and was always taken care of! Big guy with a huge heart.

"My heart goes out to his band, his family, and his many friends around the world...

"We have all lost a legend, a voice that will never be duplicated!"