"Playing God And Other Short Stories", the seventh full-length album from Israeli extreme metallers SALEM, will be released on April 26 in Europe and May 25 in North America via Pulverised Records. The CD was recorded at Harold Studios in Israel and was mastered by UE Nastasi at Sterling Sound in New York City.

"Playing God And Other Short Stories" features a guest appearance by AT THE GATES frontman Tomas Lindberg, who shares vocal duties on "The Mark Of The Beast Part 1" and sings exclusively on "The Mark Of The Beast Part 2". The album also includes SALEM's unique cover version of one of Bob Marley's most recognizable songs — "Exodus".

"Playing God And Other Short Stories" track listing:

01. Drums Of The Dead Part 1
02. Drums Of The Dead Part 2
03. The Privileged Dead
04. Exodus (BOB MARLEY cover)
05. Downfall Of Paris Part 1
06. Downfall Of Paris Part 2
07. The Mark Of The Beast Part 1 (feat. Tomas Lindberg)
08. Beast Lullaby
09. The Mark Of The Beast Part 2 (feat. Tomas Lindberg)
10. The Mark Of The Beast Part 3
11. I Hate Pigs!
12. Playing God

Regarding the album

HARADWAITH, the German black metal band featuring former ENDSTILLE frontman Iblis, has posted a rough-mix version of a new song, "Reconstruction Of Chaos", on its MySpace page. The track comes off the group's upcoming debut album, "Creating Hell", which is scheduled for release in early 2010 via Abhore Records. The CD was recorded at Jak's Hell studio in Germany, where all the ENDSTILLE albums were tracked.

Guitarist/vocalist Mikael Åkerfeldt of Swedish progressive metallers OPETH has issued the following update:

"Swollen feet!

"If you guys been on a plane for 15 hours+, you might have experienced it. Fucking disgusting! Maybe it's something that comes with age.

"Anyhooo... I went to the pharmacy and got special flying socks, and problem is gone!

"Some words of advice, right? Beware of them jell-o feet!

"Lamest beginning of any of my 'blogs,' right...thank you very much...

"Got back home last night from the six shows we did celebrating 20 years as a band. Let's see, Stockholm (went OK), Essen (great), Paris (great), Holland (off show...horrible!), London (AMAZING!), NYC (good), L.A. (OK).

"Overall it was a fantastic little trip for all of us, we had a blast. Played three-hour shows, started with the whole 'Blackwater Park' album from start to finish, then a little 10-minute break, and a second set consisting of: 'Forest of October', 'Advent', 'April Ethereal', 'The Moor', 'Wreath', 'Hope Leaves', 'Harlequin Forest' and 'The Lotus Eater'.

"Crowd was great on all shows, apart from Holland (I mean, some peeps seemed to like us and cheers to them, but we're really ignored AND some TWAT threw a beer in my chest. Same TWAT later posted in the guestbook that he's actually a fan, and 'couldn't believe I could throw 40 yards, sorry, love you guys' Haha! What a TWAT!!!

"The 'OK' and 'good' comments above are based on our personal overall feel on stage, some of these shows were plagued with bad stage sound which always makes it a lot more difficult. And we're also quite picky, I guess.

"Either way, crowds for all the six anniversary shows we're amazing; these were all sold-out shows, which was a plus.

"Playing the Royal Albert Hall in London is the biggest feather in my rock hat so far. Wow! Just wow! We took pictures just like DEEP PURPLE did on the 1969 'Concerto' album. Geeks!

"Met a bunch of lovely people, thank you for making this trip so memorable for us. We'd meant to have one night in some pub here in Stockholm, downing a few pints, but it 'escalated' into some of the biggest shows we've ever done.

"Now I'm back home....lotsa stuff in the pipeline, some cool things cooking. Next OPETH album being one thing.

"BUT, firstly I have to service my two cars (yeah, two!!!)...haha they're only Volvos, one a MINT 240 from 1988. Looks like a senior citizen's car actually. They need summer tires by Thursday too. I sweeped the driveway today, changed a few lightbulbs, threw out a lot of garbage and picked up the kids early. Good to be back. But soon I'll be itching to go out again I guess.

"Everyone's good, and I guess they say hello, although I didn't call 'em up and ask 'em if they did. Hehe!

"I might cancel this MySpace soon actually. I like writing these blogs I guess but it's a little bit too much for me to handle. I want to get down into writing mode and need less things hovering above me. But I'll let you know."

Guitarist Martin Haglund has left Swedish metallers ASTRAL DOORS. He explains in a statement, "This decision has not been easy to make, but its needed. I have reached a point where I feel I have to focus more on my kids and support them in their hobbies and interests, [and] by doing that I'm not able to give ASTRAL DOORS 100%. I don't want to be the one that's holding the band back so I let go. I will continue playing, writing and record music but on a more suitable level. I'll keep the metal flowing that's for sure.
"Being a member of ASTRAL DOORS has given me experiences and memories that I'll bring to the grave. I am truly proud of my time in ASTRAL DOORS and what we have accomplished and brought to the hard-rock scene.

"Thanks and hugs to all of you!! Now ASTRAL DOORS will reload and hit you harder then ever!!"

Adds ASTRAL DOORS singer Nils Patrik Johansson: "Martin is a great guy and we wish him all the best. He did a great job with the mixing of our previous album, that's for sure. Hope the job he did with that album will open a lot of doors for him as a producer.

"ASTRAL DOORS will not bring in a new guitar player in the band to replace Martin: Joachim Nordlund (the founder of ASTRAL DOORS, together with Johan Lindstedt and Nils Patrik Johansson) will from now on handle all guitars himself."

ASTRAL DOORS released its fifth album, "Requiem Of Time" in Europe on January 29 and in North America on February 16 through Metalville, the band and label pool launched by the Cologne, Germany-based company Flying Dolphin Entertainment Group UG.

According to the band, "'Requiem Of Time' is a mixture of classic hard rock, like on the debut, 'Of The Son And The Father', and more modern metal like on the previous disc, 'New Revelation'. Call it what you want; it contains the best songs the band has ever written."

ASTRAL DOORS last year parted ways with bassist Mika Itaranta and replaced him with Ulf Lagerström (LUNATIC PARADE, BARFLY)

"Great Are The Eyed", the first official video from AGAINST THE PLAGUES, the multinational extreme-metal act featuring members of LOST HORIZON, LUCIFERION, MALEVOLENT CREATION and VEX, can be viewed below. The clip was filmed in February in Miami with directors Eduardo and Gregg Alvarez from Elephas Productions. The song comes off AGAINST THE PLAGUES' new album, "Decoding the Mainframe", which was released in Europe on March 31 via Vic Records.

Commented the band: "We chose the song 'Great Are The Eyed' [for our first video] because we feel that it best represents the essence of our music (extreme, melodic, speedy, powerful riffs, etc.). During the filming, we chose three different locations and spent a few days to create this video; this included a great deal of involvement coming from Elephas Production directors Eduardo and Gregg and their their awesome crew. Our goal was to give the listeners a bit more than what they have been used to as far as AGAINST THE PLAGUES goes. The video presents the band with our strongest lineup. But overall, we thought it would be fun to create simple and solid metal video that would acompany our album, 'Decoding The Mainframe'."

AGAINST THE PLAGUES recently parted ways with guitarist Adrian Adamus (FOREST OF IMPALED, CORPHAGY). According to the band, Adrian left AGAINST THE PLAGUES "in order to focus on his personal/family life."

Going forward, second-guitar duties in AGAINST THE PLAGUES will be handled by Marco Martell (MALEVOLENT CREATION, DIVINE EMPIRE, KULT OF AZAZEL), who previously played bass for the group. The band says, "Marco is an accomplished guitarist with the versatility, speed, and skill that the 'AGAINST THE PLAGUES style' demands."

"Decoding The Mainframe" contains re-recorded versions of all eight songs from AGAINST THE PLAGUES' self-released CD, "Architecture of Oppression". The tracks were remastered and mixed by Dan Swanö (EDGE OF SANITY, AEON, DISSECTION, KATATONIA, MARDUK).

Commented AGAINST THE PLAGUES co-founder Varyen Chylinsky: "We decided to improve the sound with slightly modified arrangements of the songs, along with mixing and mastering… For now, I would say — this is our first 'official ' product that sounds as a high-quality world class album should sound! Of course we've added several new things to make this release a bit more special. We've improved album cover and the whole CD layout; plus we have added more new pictures of the band along with a few other new bonuses…"

Originally released in 2007, "Architecture of Oppression" was recorded at Studio One with Chris Djuricic (NOVEMBERS DOOM, NACHTMYSTIUM, GORGASM, FOREST OF IMPALED) and was mastered by Daniel Fossum at Sounds Elevator Studio in Gothenburg, Sweden.

AGAINST THE PLAGUES features in its ranks Wojtek Lisicki (LOST HORIZON, LUCIFERION) on guitar, Varyen Chylinski (DAMNATION, FOREST OF IMPALED) on drums, Orlando "Logan" Perez (VEX) on vocals and Marco Martell (MALEVOLENT CREATION, DIVINE EMPIRE, KULT OF AZAZEL) on guitar.

Florida-based black metallers KULT OV AZAZEL have issued the following update:

"In August we will be releasing a 'best-of' compilation titled 'Desecrations: A Decade Of Defiling the Cross' through Arctic Music.

"Instead of picking the songs ourselves for this release, we are running a contest that will allow you guys, the fans, to choose what songs will be included on the CD by submitting a 15-song tracklisting to us.

"After all submissions have been received, we will choose and award that fan two signed copies of the CD.

"If you wish to be a part of this, send a 15-song tracklisting with the subject line 'Desecration Tracks' to k6u6l6t@kultovazazel.com. Submissions will run until May 5th. We will announce the winner by May 10th, 2010."

Vocalist Ville Viljanen of the Finnish melodic death metal band MORS PRINCIPIUM EST has issued the following update:

"Yeah, yeah, it's been a while since last time updated, but there hasn't been anything to update.

"Anyways. We are writing new material. Have been writing for a long time already, but it's not so easy to get something ready. Couple of songs are kinda ready music-wise, but no vocal parts yet.

"And this is especially for those people who are asking 'are we still alive or not' and 'when is our next album coming out.' Well, I don't want to sound rude, but if a band still has gigs to play, doesn't that mean that the band is alive???

"And about the album. I will not promise anything, because I can't. I really don't know when do we have enough songs ready and also once we have about 4-5 songs ready, then we will start to negotiate with various record labels and that also may take a while. Sooo, IF we are really lucky, we could have a new album out at the end of the year 2010, but I personally think, that 2011 sounds more realistic. But like I said, I can not promise anything. We'll just have to wait and see how things go."

MORS PRINCIPIUM EST is:

Ville Viljanen - Vocals
Mikko Sipola - Drums
Teemu Heinola - Bass
Tomy Laisto - Guitar
Kalle Aaltonen - Guitar

Scottie LePage, the 17-year-old son of HADES guitarist Scott LePage, has formed his own band called PALISADES (MySpace page). The members, all under the age of twenty, are based in the Dallas area.

"It feels great to see my son Scott in a metal project", said the elder Scott LePage. "He has been writing and recording riffs mostly on his own for about a year now. He's also coming along nicely as a player.

"When he hooked up with these guys, the riffs he had and the riffs the other guitar player Tim had, included with the insane drummage by Brandon, and Shelby's screaming all merged nicely into cool modern metal sound, but still real heavy.

"It almost feels like it's time to pass the torch. Yes, I said almost! I'm not through yet. I currently have my own original metal project, THE FREEZE TAG ASSASSINS."

Scott LePage senior will be performing reunion shows with HADES on Wednesday, April 21 at Dingbatz in Clifton, New Jersey and Saturday, April 24 at the Keep It True festival in Lauda-Königshofen, Germany.

DEFTONES' video for the song "Diamond Eyes" can be viewed below. The clip was directed by Roboshobo (a.k.a. Robert Schober; METALLICA, MASTODON).

"Diamond Eyes" is the title track of DEFTONES's new album, which is scheduled for release on May 4 via Warner.

"Diamond Eyes" track listing:

01. Diamond Eyes
02. Royal
03. CMND/CTRL
04. You've Seen the Butcher
05. Beauty School
06. Prince
07. Rocket Skates
08. Sextape
09. Risk
10. 976-EVIL
11. This Place Is Death

The official KISS bar soap, perfect for the shower, bath or sink, is now available from KissMuseum.net. This jumbo size is two and a half times larger than your regular bar soap, measuring in at five inches wide and weighing 11.5 ounces! The KISS logo is boldly and deeply etched into the surface and best of all, is lightly scented with the official KISS HIM fragrance.

KissMuseum.net is offering the KISS bar soap individually as well as in discounted sets of three and six because they know you want to have one to use, one to display and one to give to grandma.

Each bar of soap is new and sealed in a clear cellophane wrapper.

Dimensions: 5" x 2.5" x 1.5".

One bar - $5.95
Three bars - $16.50
Six bars - $29.95

Moments before he was to take the stage last night (Sunday, April 11) in San Antonio, doctors at Sea World urged POISON frontman Bret Michaels to go to the hospital as the singer had been suffering all day from severe stomach pains and what was assumed to be a severe case of the flu. After further examination by doctors in San Antonio, it was determined that Michaels was suffering from an acute appendicitis. He was rushed into emergency surgery at 1:00 a.m. According to doctors, Bret, who remains in the hospital, is doing well and beginning the recovery process.

Michaels, who has been known to perform under extreme conditions that would make most performers cancel, will unfortunately have no choice but to reschedule some of his April tour dates. A listing of all dates being rescheduled will be posted to his web site in the coming days.

Berlin, Germany-based thrashers FATAL EMBRACE will release their new album, "The Empires Of Inhumanity", on June 8 (one day earlier internationally) via Metal Blade Records. The CD was recorded at Music Lab Studio in Berlin with producer Mathias Wendt. According to a press release, "the band's strongest album so far deals with the most extreme and horrible fears and pains of mankind, the deepest depths of the human soul, the eternal struggle between good and evil, the life consuming beast. 'The Empires Of Inhumanity' will take every metalhead on a trip to the battlefield of the armies of the undead and the darkness. The war between heaven and hell has finally begun."

"The Empires Of Inhumanity" track listing:

01. The Last Prayer (intro)
02. Wake The Dead
03. Nothing To Regret
04. Haunting Metal
05. Another Rotten Life
06. Empires Of Inhumanity
07. Into Your Face
08. Rapture For Disaster
09. The Prophecy
10. Way To Immortality
11. Ravenous
12. Killers (IRON MAIDEN cover; bonus track)

Formed in 1993, FATAL EMBRACE is not a band you would accuse of jumping on a bandwagen because thrash metal seems hip again. In fact, these young men started out in the early Nineties as a hard-hitting metal band to praise the glorious days of the '80s when bands like SLAYER, EXODUS, METALLICA, VENOM, SODOM and KREATOR ruled the musical extremes.

FATAL EMBRACE never compromised and over the years they released three albums on different labels — "The Ultimate Aggression" (1999), "Legions Of Armageddon" (2002) and "Dark Pounding Steel" (2006).

FATAL EMBRACE is:

Heiländer - Vocals
Moloch - Guitar
Spezi - Guitar
Ronald - Bass
Pulverizatör - Drums

According to BBC News, former RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS guitarist John Frusciante has been voted the best guitarist of the past 30 years.

Frusciante, who left the group in 2008, beat GUNS N' ROSES star Slash, MUSE's Matt Bellamy and Johnny Marr of THE SMITHS to the top spot.

Some 30,000 people took part in BBC 6 Music's "Axe Factor" online poll.

6 Music breakfast host Shaun Keaveny said of Frusciante: "His range, from minimalist melody lines, through choppy Hendrixian chord voicings all the way up to 11 with wailing metal tinged blues, gives him the edge over many in the list. For that I salute him."

Slash, who came second, is releasing his debut solo album, featuring contributions from Ozzy Osbourne, Iggy Pop, Dave Grohl, Kid Rock and Fergie from BLACK EYED PEAS.

"All the guys who I consider guitar legends are the pioneers of electric guitar, rock 'n' roll guitar and blues guitar as well," he said recently. "So I'm still struggling to keep up. I definitely don't put myself in the legend category."

"Axe Factor" Top 10:

01. John Frusciante (RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS)
02. Slash (GUNS N' ROSES)
03. Matt Bellamy (MUSE)
04. Johnny Marr (THE SMITHS)
05. Tom Morello (RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE)
06. Kirk Hammett (METALLICA)
07. Jonny Greenwood (RADIOHEAD)
08. Prince
09. Jack White (WHITE STRIPES)
10. Peter Buck (REM)

A four-minute video clip containing audio samples of all 10 tracks that will appear on "The Obsidian Conspiracy", the long-awaited new album from Seattle metallers NEVERMORE, is available below. The CD will be released in Europe on May 31 and in North America on June 8 via Century Media Records.

"The Obsidian Conspiracy" track listing:

01. The Termination Proclamation
02. Your Poison Throne
03. Moonrise (Through Mirrors Of Death)
04. And The Maiden Spoke
05. Emptiness Unobstructed
06. The Blue Marble And The New Soul
07. Without Morals
08. The Day You Built The Wall
09. She Comes In Colors
10. The Obsidian Conspiracy

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 inked a deal with Metal Blade Records. The band's new album, "Astron Black And The Thirty Tyrants", will be released later in the year.

Commented Karadimas: "NIGHTFALL are pleased and beyond excited to announce their signing of a recording contract with Metal Blade Records, one of the world's premier heavy metal record labels! It will be a pleasure to join the ranks alongside such fine and talented groups as SIX FEET UNDER, AMON AMARTH, GOD DETHRONED and classics such as SLAYER, MERCYFUL FATE, SACRED REICH, FATES WARNING, and LIZZY BORDEN, to name just a few. Although the ink on the deal is still fresh, it is safe to say that with Metal Blade behind them, NIGHTFALL will be charging ahead into the new decade at full speed!"

A two-minute preview of the new LIMP BIZKIT song "Shark Attack" is available for streaming in the video clip below. The track will appear on the band's new album, "Gold Cobra", which is scheduled for release this summer.

"Gold Cobra" tentative track listing:

01. Introbra
02. Douchebag
03. Why Try
04. 90 To 10
05. Rock Ship
06. Brand New Meaning
07. Shark Attack
08. Darkside Of The Moon
09. GFY
10. Venomous (LBGC)
11. Walking Away
12. Loser
13. Dance Floor
14. Back Porch
15. Angels
16. Middle Finger
17. Thank You
18. Outrobra

Swedish female-fronted heavy rock band SISTER SIN entered the studio in February to begin recording its sophomore album, "True Sound Of The Underground", for a summer release. The CD was produced by Henrik Edenhed (DEAD BY APRIL, ROBYN, LAMBRETTA, TEDDYBEARS, CHRISTIAN WALTZ, THE SOUNDS) in Stockholm at Studio 301 and Cosmos Studios.

"True Sound Of The Underground" track listing:

01. Sound Of The Underground
02. Nailbiter
03. The Devil I Know
04. 24/7
05. Built To Last
06. Heading For Hell
07. Outrage
08. I Stand Alone
09. Better Than Them
10. Times Aren't A-Changing
11. Beat 'Em Down

Germany's Massacre Records has set an August 27 European release date for "Invidious Dominion", the new album from Florida death metal veterans MALEVOLENT CREATION. The effort will made available as a regular CD; digipack with bonus material; and vinyl LP.

MALEVOLENT CREATION's new album is being recorded at Mana Recording Studios (CANNIBAL CORPSE, VITAL REMAINS, GOATWHORE) in St. Petersburg, Florida with producer Erik Rutan (MORBID ANGEL, HATE ETERNAL, CANNIBAL CORPSE). The band has also just signed a management deal with Extreme Management Group (SUFFOCATION, ORIGIN).