Reformed Dutch death metal outfit ASPHYX — Martin van Drunen (vocals), Wannes Gubbels (bass/vocals), Paul Baayens (guitar) and Bob Bagchus (drums) — has issued the following update:

"Great news at the beginning of 2009! In August 2008, ASPHYX was recording six songs some kind of instrumental pre-production/demo just to try things out. It turned out that great that we have decided to use the recorded tracks for the new album. ASPHYX added meanwhile four newer songs. All guitars, bass and drums are already 'on tape'. Martin van Drunen will put his Voice of Hell on the (t)rack this month. The tracks are raw, no-nonsense brutal, doomy and intense as you can expect from ASPHYX. As a bonus, the new album will include a live DVD of the Party.San show [from] 2007, the first reunion show of the band. Bass player Wannes and Lowlifemedia are ready with editing DVD recordings. Tracklist and artwork will be postponed soon. There's no release date yet."

IN FLAMES was honored with the "Best Hard Rock" award at the Swedish "Grammis" gala, which was last night (Wednesday, January 7) at Hovet in Stockholm. The band also performed the song "Alias" during the ceremony, which was broadcast live on Swedish national channel TV4.

The artists were nominated for their most recent releases, all of which came out during 2008.

The nominees in the "Best Hard Rock" category were as follows:

* IN FLAMES - "A Sense Of Purpose"
* MESHUGGAH - "obZen"
* MILLENCOLIN - "Machine 15"
* OPETH – "Watershed"
* SABATON - "The Art Of War"

Commented OPETH frontman Mikael Åkerfeldt:

"OPETH = losers!

"Haha, no I'm not that bitter!

"We didn't win the Grammy award this year either and I admit I got a little disappointed although it doesn't really mean anything. Since I'm there at the show I wanna fucking win! But IN FLAMES got it. They're mates of ours so I'm happy for them.

"I wanna thank all of you who voted for us. Cheers people!

"The show was boring as usual, all the same people, same winners, same 'surprise' band constellations. Some artists there really have high thoughts of themselves. It's quite embarrassing to see how stuck up some of them are. I mean they don't even have a international career most of them and still they act they're the fucking 'deal.'

"I got completely obliterated on wine and champagne...and beer. My wife too, she got all fucked up. But we had a pretty good time during dinner, chatting and drinking away. The after-party was at a classic place called Berns and it was packed. We didn't stay for long though.

"OK, just letting you know we fucking LOST!"

Guitarist Jonas Khalil has left the German death metal band DISBELIEF. He explained in a statement, "We decided to part ways due to problems regarding our schedules. As a professional (classical) musician, I cannot allow myself to focus only on one project but instead have to be able to do any projects, like orchestral jobs, solo recitals, etc., that I am being offered at any time. I also would like to underline there's no personal differences and whenever the guys should need me to fill in on stage, they can count on me.

"I would like to wish my buddies Jagger, Joe, Kai and Witali all the best for the recordings and promotion to their next album, 'Protected Hell', out this April 17!

"My own website, www.jonaskhalil.com, as well as a new music MySpace profile will be online soon! Moreover, I'm ready to enter stages with SACRED STEEL this year in order to celebrate our new record, 'Carnage Victory' (no release date set yet)!! So I'll see ya all very soon!"

Danish extreme metallers ILLDISPOSED have finished making a pre-production recording of the first five songs for their next album, which is tentatively scheduled for release on August 29 via Massacre Records. The band will enter the studio in early April to begin recording the LP, which will be available as jewel case CD, limited digipack with bonus material and strictly limited box set with exclusive t-shirt. The group says, "We guarantee you won't be disappointed!"

Los Angeles-based metal quartet STATIC-X has finalized the track listing for its new album, "Cult of Static", due on March 17 via Reprise Records. The CD's first single, "Stingwray", hits airwaves February 14. The track was inspired by Wayne Static's wife, former adult film star Tera Wray, and the Corvette Stingray she drives. The song's powerful beats and heavy guitar riffs make this song a commanding force on the record. Elsehwere on the album, the cybernetic stomp of "Hypure" and "You Am I" bludgeon, bruise and break with precise grooves, while the staccato riffs on "Terminal" crush through an unmistakable guitar tone. Guitarist Koichi Fukuda blazes through incendiary solos, while Tony Campos bolts down demonic bass lines and Nick Oshiro pounds out deadly rhythms. Frontman Wayne Static riffs pure violence and screams out his soul.

"Over the years my voice has been destroyed from excessive touring... and I love it," exclaims Static. "The vocals on the new record are raw and brutal."

A song you may already be familiar with is "Lunatic" as it was included on the "Punisher: War Zone" movie soundtrack. Although "Lunatic" is relentless and raw, brandishing a ripping groove and an impenetrable barrier of guitars, the album cut was re-recorded to feature a solo by legendary MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine.

"I've been a huge MEGADETH fan for years," explains Static. "We've toured with them twice. Mustaine and I really hit it off on the road. His lead style is one of the most distinctive styles out there. There's something amazing about it. When you hear him solo, you know it's him."

"Cult of Static" track listing:

01. Lunatic (feat. Dave Mustaine)
02. Z28
03. Terminal
04. Hypure
05. Tera-Fied
06. Stingwray
07. You Am I
08. Isolaytore
09. Nocturnally
10. Skinned
11. Grind 2 Halt

"Love Dump", the new video from STATIC-X, can be viewed below. The clip comes off group's new DVD and CD, "Cannibal Killers Live", which was released on October 14, 2008 via Reprise Records. The DVD was shot during a show in Spokane, Washington on June 2, 2007, shortly after the release of the band's latest studio album, "Cannibal". The 17-song set compiled from the tour includes material from STATIC-X's entire 14-year career, showcasing old favorites like "Push It" and "Bled For Days", along with newer songs from "Cannibal", like the album single "Destroyer" and everything in between. A complete video history is also included in the special package, with every video STATIC-X has ever made, along with an audio CD of the concert (track listing below). In addition, a limited-edition package was released that includes a bonus DVD featuring the band's 1997 concert at Hollywood's famous Whiskey A Go-Go club, which was recorded two years prior to the release of STATIC-X's platinum-selling debut "Wisconsin Death Trip".

Dutch female-fronted metallers AUTUMN have posted a complete new song, "Skydancer", on their MySpace page. The track comes off the group's fourth studio album, "Altitude", which will be released on February 13 (Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy) and February 27 (rest of Europe) via Metal Blade Records. The limited first edition will be made available as a digipak including an exclusive bonus track.

The artwork for "Altitude" can be viewed below. The CD was recorded at Arno Krabman's Graveland Studio and was mixed and mastered
by Jochem Jacobs (TEXTURES) at Split Second Sound.

Commented the band: "The cover more or less depicts the peak of our civilization. These are the works of man, who has performed so many technological and scientific miracles in such a small amount of time. But confusion lurks. The balance is obviously shifting for the worse. It takes courage to step back and pursue happiness and prosperity through means less hazardous to our environment. Yet the man in his flying contraption does just that. He is vulnerable... and flying at high altitudes was never without peril."

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Paradise Nox
02. Liquid Under Film Noir
03. Skydancer
04. Synchro-Minds
05. The Heart Demands
06. A Minor Dance
07. Cascade (For A Day)
08. Horizon Line
09. Sulphur Rodents
10. Answers Never Questioned
11. Altitude

Bonus track:

12. Closure

Commented bassist Jerome Vrielink: "This was the first time we did a lot of the recording (most of the vocals and the DI tracks for guitars and bass) at home so the precious studio time could be spent to lift everything to an even higher level in terms of sound and production. It was hard work, but definitely worth it! Needless to say, we are very proud of the end result!"

U.K. melodic power metal band POWER QUEST has issued the following update:

"Unfortunately, we have to begin 2009 with some sad news. Bassist Steve Scott has decided to make his move to New Zealand a permanent one and as a result has decided it is time for him to leave POWER QUEST. We are all very sorry to see him go but wish him all the best in his new life in New Zealand."

Steve Scott commented: "Well, it's been almost 10 years with DRAGON HEART (now DRAGONFORCE) and then POWER QUEST playing alongside keyboard legend Steve Williams. Looking back over those years, it has been a fabulous time both recording and touring. Too many funny stories, as usual, from the tours to go into, but maybe I'll write a book or bring out a DVD with it all. I would like to thank the guys in the band and management for the great times we have had and I wish them all the best with the future tours and recordings. Life is so sweet here Down Under that it just makes damn good sense to me and to the band to pass the 'torch' of power metal bass playing over to someone else... someone who lives a bit closer than the other side of the world... so the quest goes on."

POWER QUEST keyboardist Steve Williams added: "Well, it is the end of an era, for sure. Having formed the band with Steve back in 2001, and having played together since 1999, it will certainly be strange not having him alongside us. As you can tell, Steve seems totally happy with his life in New Zealand and that's a cool thing. Thanks for everything over the years, dude; we're gonna miss ya!"

POWER QUEST will begin the search for a new bass player immediately. Ideally the band is looking for someone based in the U.K.

Interested parties can contact SteveW@power-quest.co.uk or send a package to:

Power Quest
115 Vine Road
Southampton
Hampshire
SO16 5TD
UK

POWER QUEST has a busy year ahead, including recording, live shows and a trip to the USA.

Santa Barbara, California's DEVILDRIVER, the group fronted by former COAL CHAMBER singer Dez Fafara, has re-signed with Roadrunner Records after previously issuing three full-length albums through the label. In addition, the band has secured a new management company in the shape of Davis Entertainment Group.

DEVILDRIVER has commenced work on the follow-up to 2007's "The Last Kind Words", which has sold 70,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. That CD shifted a little more than 14,000 copies during its first week of release to debut at No. 48 on The Billboard 200 chart. This figure represented around a 40 percent increase over the opening-week number of 2005's "The Fury of Our Maker's Hand", which premiered at No. 177 with sales of 10,400.

German melodic metallers EDGUY will release their long-awaited new DVD, "Fucking With Fire - Live", in April via Nuclear Blast. The footage was shot on November 3, 2006 at the Credicard Hall in São Paulo, Brazil and "presents a mind-blowing performance of Tobias Sammet [vocals] and his team," according to a press release. "More than 100 minutes including all hymns, as well as lots of bonus material featuring all video clips, road movies and interviews. Besides the DVD, there will be also a double live CD, separate, as well as part of a noble package along with the DVD."

"Tinnitus Sanctus", the new album from EDGUY, has registered the following first-week chart positions:

Germany: #19
Austria: #50

King Diamond (real name: Kim Bendix Petersen; KING DIAMOND, MERCYFUL FATE) has released a statement in response to an article that was published late last month on the Danish web site BT.dk which focused primarily on King's relationship with his 24-year-old Hungarian wife Livia Zita.

King, who is 52 years old, says: "I'm writing this in order to set the facts straight with regards to the interview I did for a Danish newspaper just before Christmas.

"When I read the article it became obvious that this particular journalist had an agenda of his own. At least half the article was false, twisting the facts to suit his 'agenda.'

"First of all, Livia and I have no plans for having kids in the near future. We certainly love kids but it doesn't fit in our working schedule at this point. I don't know where the journalist got this thing from, but we do appreciate all the nice words you had regarding this subject even though it's not true. Also, Livia and I do not look forward to Christmas like little kids every year. It's a cozy time, sure, but again the journalist's choice of words are completely twisted.

"Just for your info, the Christmas tree in the picture [see below] is THE ONLY Christmas decoration inside or outside our house and it stays up year round cause I don't want to bother taking it down and it looks pretty cool. Check the goat skull right next to the tree. I can see that if I open the door to my private life just a tiny bit, things quickly get twisted out of context, and that's why in the past I have always kept my private life and business very separate.

"The second rumour that's floating around, which is that MERCYFUL FATE has started writing new material, I really have no idea where it originated from.

"The present status of MERCYFUL FATE remains unchanged, meaning that we have not started writing new material. For that to happen, MERCYFUL FATE's recording contracts have to be renegotiated first. We certainly would love for this to happen so that we can finally make our long-overdue 'masterpiece.' Both Hank [Shermann, MERCYFUL FATE guitarist] and I are ready to go if that scenario presents itself, and who knows, that might happen this year.

"So... for this year, you will see a double DVD of old private KING DIAMOND video recordings and a double DVD of old private MERCYFUL FATE video recordings which I am working on as we speak. Andy [La Rocque, KING DIAMOND guitarist] has finished remastering 'The Graveyard', 'Spider's Lullabye', 'Voodoo', and 'House of God', all of which should also be available this year. And then there is 'the big surprise' (not little King babies with horns on their foreheads or MERCYFUL FATE writing new songs, at least not as we speak) but something that could lead to renegotiations of the MERCYFUL FATE recording deals. We'll see. Be patient.....

"On a personal note, I do feel reasonably confident that the MERCYFUL FATE masterpiece will see the light of day."

TESTAMENT singer Chuck Billy has commented on his appearance at the "Christmas Metal Symphony" show, which was held December 28, 2008 at 013, Tilburg, Holland.

The concert included appearances by such renowned hard rock and heavy metal artists as Doro Pesch, Chuck Billy, Russell Allen (SYMPHONY X), Mats Levén (THERION, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN), Johan Edlund (TIAMAT), Ian Parry (CONSORTIUM PROJECT, ELEGY), Marcela Bovio (STREAM OF PASSION, AYREON), Floor Jansen (AFTER FOREVER) and George Oosthoek (ORPHANAGE). They were backed by a six-piece band and a 30-piece classical orchestra as they performed the finest metal songs of all time. This unique show contained songs from all metal genres — from prog-metal to rock, from death to speed and from industrial to symphonic.

The backing band consisted of the following musicians:

Koen Herfst (EPICA) - Drums
Marcel Coenen (SUN CAGED) - Guitar
Johan Van Stratum (STREAM OF PASSION) - Bass
Frank Schiphorst (CONTROL HUMAN DELETE) - Guitar
Jeffrey Revet (STREAM OF PASSION) - Keyboards
Joost van den Broek (AFTER FOREVER) – Keyboards

Billy commented on the performance: "It was a challenge I've wanted to pursue for a long time, since I've never had the opportunity to sing with an orchestra. The songs took a new life with them. The arrangements they came up with were really spooky and eerie. When I did the first rehearsal, I wanted to pay attention to the music ahead of the performance. It was so cool sounding, I was blown away. It's definitely something I would like to try more with TESTAMENT."

Reactivated Christian hard rockers STRYPER have released more audio samples from their forthcoming album, "Murder By Pride". Check them out below. (Note: YouTube clip "Part 3" contains the three most recent audio samples.)

"Murder By Pride" track listing:

01. Eclipse Of The Son (4:04)
02. 4 Leaf Clover (3:42)
03. Peace Of Mind (3:58)
04. Alive (3:36)
05. The Plan (3:10)
06. Murder By Pride ((3:18)
07. I Believe (3:43)
08. Run In You (4:15)
09. Love Is Why (4:07)
10. Mercy Over Blame (4:07)
11. Everything (4:26)
12. My Love (3:14)

Commented singer Michael Sweet: "After years of speaking to fans and hearing comments like 'more guitars,' 'more solos' and 'more screams,' I decided to keep those comments in mind as I wrote each song. It was important to me to try to get back to that early sound of STRYPER yet at the same time, to remain relevant today. It's certainly not an easy thing to do but as I listen to 'Murder By Pride', I think that was accomplished.

"I got the idea of the title 'Murder By Pride' from seeing pride consume dreams, goals and many times, lives. We all deal with pride and it can be crippling, so I wanted to write a lyric and a theme that would be a constant reminder of that. This record has been in the works for a long, long time and I can only hope that it was worth the wait!"

STRYPER - "Murder By Pride" audio samples:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

DUFF MCKAGAN'S LOADED, the band formed by current VELVET REVOLVER bassist Duff McKagan (on guitar and vocals) after he left GUNS N' ROSES, has set "Sick" as the title of its new full-length album, due in late March via Century Media Records. The CD was produced by Martin Feveyear (PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, KINGS OF LEON) and will include such tracks as "Roll Away", "Forgive Me", "Sick", "No More", "Southern Girl", "No Shame" and "Translucent".

DUFF MCKAGAN'S LOADED's latest five-song EP, "Wasted Heart", was released on September 22 via Century Media Records.

"These are purely my songs," McKagan told Billboard.com. "It's probably more derivative of my earlier years of punk rock. It's a good rock 'n' roll band. It's fun, is what it is. There's no real business and no real drama. I'm really into no drama right now," he adds, noting Scott Weiland's recent rancorous departure from VELVET REVOLVER.

In addition to McKagan, LOADED features drummer Geoff Reading (GREEN APPLE QUICK STEP), bassist Jeff Rouse (VENDETTA RED, ALIEN CRIME SYNDICATE) and guitarist Mike Squires (ALIEN CRIME SYNDICATE).

The title track of CANNIBAL CORPSE's forthcoming album, "Evisceration Plague", is available for streaming at this location.

"Evisceration Plague" is scheduled for release on February 3, 2009 via Metal Blade Records. The follow-up to 2006's "Kill" was produced by Erik Rutan (HATE ETERNAL, MORBID ANGEL) at his Mana Recording Studios in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Commented bassist Alex Webster: "In CANNIBAL CORPSE, our goal has always been to try and make each new album we record our heaviest. That goal was a bit more challenging this time since we were extremely satisfied with our last album 'Kill', but we knew that by working with producer Erik Rutan at Mana Recording Studios again, we would be able to start at that same level of heaviness and take it even further. Now that we can hear the finished product, I would say we've been able to achieve this goal, and I think our fans will agree. 'Evisceration Plague' has the best guitar sound we've ever recorded, and the entire band has never played with more precision and power. We can't wait until you all get a chance to hear the album in early 2009, because we think you'll be as happy with it as we are."

"Evisceration Plague" track listing:

01. Priests of Sodom
02. Scalding Hail
03. To Decompose
04. A Cauldron of Hate
05. Beheading and Burning
06. Evidence in the Furnace
07. Carnivorous Swarm
08. Evisceration Plague
09. Shatter Their Bones
10. Carrion Sculpted Entity
11. Unnatural
12. Skewered From Ear to Eye

"Evisceration Plague" will be available as a limited-edition digipack including a bonus track and bonus DVD, jewelcase CD and on limited splatter vinyl.

Polish extreme metallers DECAPITATED — whose drummer, Witold "Vitek" Kieltyka, died on November 2, 2007 in a Russian hospital from injuries sustained in a road collision — have issued the following update:

"As most everyone knows, it has been just over a year since the tragic bus accident that ultimately took the life of Vitek, drummer of DECAPITATED, and seriously injured their singer, Covan [real name: Adrian Kowanek]. The families of Vitek and Covan wish to express deep gratitude to everyone for their thoughts, prayers, funny stories, and donations sent to them during this last very difficult year.

"However, Covan is still going through a long and difficult recovery, and the family would once again ask for you to look into your heart and possibly send donations. It is INCREDIBLY expensive for all the round-the-clock medical care, the doctors, the nurses, the therapy, the medicine, etc. Most of you could also understand that, since he is also in Poland, it is even more expensive than it would be in the U.S. or most other parts of Europe. His care and recovery is ongoing and he is slowly showing some progress, but it will be quite a bit of time before he is completely better. Some people may think that, although they would like to help, that they have nothing to give… but in truth, if every one person out there that thought this could donate even just $1, that amount will significantly multiply and make a huge difference!"

Swedish melodic death metallers DARK TRANQUILLITY have issued the following update:

"2008 was truly one of the most active years in DARK TRANQUILLITY history, with close to 100 shows being played in most corners of the world. Apart from seeing a lot of familar faces on the regular U.S. tour and European/Scandinavian headline trips, we also had the pleasure of visiting more remote territory such as Japan, Taiwan, China, Russia, Ukraine, Estonia, Turkey, Mexico, Colombia, Chile and Argentina. In addition, the first proper headline tours of the U.K. and Finland were made, which, of course, were long overdue.

"This year will probably be a bit more calm on the live front, as we'll first and foremost focus on the songwriting for the new album, but there are already a couple of shows and festivals confirmed and more are in the pipeline.

"As most of you know, we'll release our second DVD later this year, recorded at the Rolling Stone in Milan, Italy. The preview footage we've seen looks absolutely killer, and the material is currently being edited by the good folks of Vasara films in Finland. More info on this will follow in the near future."

The release date of "Painstained", the sixth album from Finnish goth-metallers ENTWINE, has been pushed back two weeks to January 28 (via Spinefarm Records). The CD was recorded with producer Hiili Hiilesmaa (HIM, APOCALYPTICA, SENTENCED).

"Painstained" track listing:

01. Soul Sacrifice
02. Strife
03. Dying Moan
04. Beautifully Confined
05. Lost In My Denial
06. Greed of Mankind
07. Dead By Silence
08. Hollow
09. Caught By Desire
10. Say Goodbye

Another evolutionary leap from the more commercial Americanism and electro leanings of 2004's "DiEversity" and heaviness of 2006's "Fatal Design", ENTWINE's latest step, "Painstained", presents an even more melody-oriented ENTWINE than any of its predecessors. The band has headed into yet another new direction. Layering Mika Tauriainen's melodic vocals over detuned and heavy guitars and the strong backbone of the Hanttu/Miettinen rhythm section, with "Painstained", ENTWINE has truly come into its own.

ENTWINE will release a "best-of" collection through the UK branch of Spinefarm Records sometime in 2009. The exact track listing for the CD has not yet been confirmed.

FALLOUT MOON, the new band led by former ALTARIA mastermind Marko Pukkila, is writing material for its debut album which is tentatively due to be recorded later this year. The group, which also includes Antti Railio (CELESTY) on vocals and Simo Pirttimaa on guitar, is still looking for the right drummer and a second guitar player or keyboard player.

Marko Pukkila quit ALTARIA in December 2006 after the band parted ways with its record company. He released four albums with ALTARIA: "Invitation" (2003), "Divinity" (2004), "The Fallen Empire" (2006) and "Divine Invitation" (2007). The group also toured Europe with DORO and SONATA ARCTICA and played various festivals in Germany, Belgium and Finland.

Pukkila has been busy taking part in recording sessions for different multimedia adventures, movies and all-star tribute albums. He has recorded and/or played with musicians like Vinny Appice (BLACK SABBATH, DIO, HEAVEN AND HELL), Kee Marcello (EUROPE), Frankie Banali (W.A.S.P., QUIET RIOT), Johnny Dee (DORO, BRITNY FOX), Rowan Robertson (DIO, DC4), Ryan Roxie (ALICE COOPER, SLASH'S SNAKEPIT), Erik Turner (WARRANT), Phil Lewis (L.A. GUNS) and Troy Patrick Farrell (WHITE LION).

FALLOUT MOON is currently seeking a label home.

A demo version of the CRADLE OF FILTH track "Honey & Sulphur" under its working title "Dark" is available for streaming below.

If you want to hear another rare demo track from CRADLE OF FILTH, join The Order of the Dragon fan club. That demo of "Shat Out of Hell" is available only to members.

Quality fan-filmed video footage of CRADLE OF FILTH's December 7, 2008 concert Bologna, Italy can be viewed below (clip uploaded by "ginmetal").

CRADLE OF FILTH's new album, "Godspeed On The Devil's Thunder", entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 37. The CD also sold a little over 11,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 48 on The Billboard 200 chart.

The European release date of "April Rain", the second album from DELAIN — the Dutch gothic rock/metal project founded by ex-WITHIN TEMPTATION keyboardist Martijn Westerholt (brother of WITHIN TEMPTATION's Robert Westerholt) — has been pushed back to March 27 (except in Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg where the CD will be made available on March 20).

As a result of the date change, the band's previously announced CD-release shows have been moved as well. DELAIN will present the first single and play new material off "April Rain" at a "sneak preview" show on Friday, March 6 in the group's hometown of Zwolle. The official international release party in Amsterdam will now take place on Thursday, March 19 at De Melkweg.

As previously reported, DELAIN will hit the road in Europe in March/April with KAMELOT and SERENITY. The band has also lined up a string of headlining dates in Germany, Austria and Switzerland in April.

Despite published reports to the contrary Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and Jason Bonham have no plans to record and tour together.

Earlier today (Wednesday, January 7), MusicRadar spoke exclusively with Peter Mensch, Jimmy Page's manager, who stated categorically, "LED ZEPPELIN are over! If you didn't see them in 2007 [when they played a one-off reunion at London's O2 Arena; see video below], you missed them. It's done. I can't be any clearer than that."

Reports of ZEPPELIN guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist John Paul Jones and drummer Jason Bonham jamming with other vocalists first surfaced a few months back, after Robert Plant made it clear he was not interested in doing a LED ZEPPELIN tour anytime soon.

"They tried out a few singers, but no one worked out," Mensch confirmed to MusicRadar. "That was it. The whole thing is completely over now. There are absolutely no plans for them to continue. Zero. Frankly, I wish everybody would stop talking about it."

IN FLAMES was honored with the "Best Hard Rock" award at the Swedish "Grammis" gala, which was held earlier tonight (Wednesday, January 7) at Hovet in Stockholm. The band also performed the song "Alias" during the ceremony, which was broadcast live on Swedish national channel TV4.

IN FLAMES was presented with the award by Joey Tempest, singer for the reactivated Swedish hard rock band EUROPE.

Video footage of the acceptance speech and the performance can be viewed below.

The artists were nominated for their most recent releases, all of which came out during 2008.

The nominees in the "Best Hard Rock" category were as follows:

* IN FLAMES - "A Sense Of Purpose"
* MESHUGGAH - "obZen"
* MILLENCOLIN - "Machine 15"
* OPETH – "Watershed"
* SABATON - "The Art Of War"

IN FLAMES was also up for the "Best Live" award.

Last year's Grammis award in the "Best Hard Rock" category was won by MUSTASCH for the band's "Latest Version Of The Truth" CD. MOTÖRHEAD drummer Mikkey Dee presented the award to MUSTASCH, who beat out such veterans acts as CANDLEMASS, ENTOMBED and CLAWFINGER for the honor.

According to Skiddle, late QUEEN singer Freddie Mercury, who sold 300 million records before he died in November 1991 of bronchopneumonia induced by HIV, has been voted the ultimate "rock god."

Ozzy Osbourne came sixth in the survey of 4,000 rock fans by Internet market research web site OnePoll.

A spokesman for OnePoll said: "Everybody loved Freddie Mercury. His theatrical performances onstage were incredible and set him apart from other rock stars. He combined his ear for music with an ability to deliver to stadium audiences across the world, and as such millions of fans were devastated when HIV finally killed him in 1991.

"The list of top 20 'rock gods' is a diverse mix of front men, guitarists and performers. There are some legendary acts in the list, but it's also good to see that modern day artists such as Dave Grohl earn respect from rock fans."

Top 20 "Rock Gods", according to OnePoll:

01. Freddie Mercury (QUEEN)
02. Elvis Presley
03. Jon Bon Jovi (BON JOVI)
04. David Bowie
05. Jimi Hendrix (THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE)
06. Ozzy Osbourne (BLACK SABBATH)
07. Kurt Cobain (NIRVANA)
08. Slash (GUNS N' ROSES)
09. Bono (U2)
10. Mick Jagger (THE ROLLING STONES)
11. Axl Rose (GUNS N' ROSES)
12. Dave Grohl (FOO FIGHTERS)
13. Jim Morrison (THE DOORS)
14. Paul McCartney (THE BEATLES)
15. Steven Tyler (AEROSMITH)
16. Robert Plant (LED ZEPPelin)
17. Brian May (QUEEN)
18. James Hetfield (METALLICA)
19. Jimmy Page (LED ZEPPELIN)
20. Bruce Dickinson (IRON MAIDEN)

According to Xfm, Peter Mensch, LED ZEPPELIN guitarist Jimmy Page's manager, has said that Page, John Paul Jones and Jason Bonham are likely to record and tour with a new singer.

Mensch told the BBC 6 Music, "People don't really understand it. Jimmy Page has been playing guitar professionally since he was 16 years old. Jimmy Page likes being a musician. That's what he does! He doesn't want to be a race car driver or a solicitor.

"They decided that if they could find a singer that they thought would fit their bill — whatever their bill was at this stage in their career — that they'd make a record and go on tour… That's what Jimmy Page does."

Peter Mensch, whose QPrime stable also includes RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS and METALLICA, declined to speculate on a possible replacement for singer Robert Plant.

"I can't comment on any rumors right now," said the manager, "It's gonna be a long and difficult process. And we're not soliciting people! So don't call me about it!"

Drummer Joey Kramer of legendary Boston hard rockers AEROSMITH has issued the following update:

"Today is the first day Tom [Hamilton; bass] and I are getting back together. We just rehearsed for two hours and it feels so good! We can't wait to get back into the studio and get back out on the road to do what we do best. We'll check in from time to time and give you progress on how things are going."

AEROSMITH is currently working on material for its 15th studio album — the band's first new collection of original material since 2001's "Just Push Play". The group will play its first-ever show in Caracas, Venezuela on February 1 as part of the three-day Solid Fest. Also scheduled to appear are 50 CENT and SIMPLE PLAN, among others.

Former KISS guitarist Ace Frehley has set "Anomaly" as the title of his new solo album, tentatively due this spring. Check out the cover artwork below.

In an early 2008 interview with Billboard, Frehley stated about his forthcoming solo CD, "Basically, I'm trying to get back into the mindset I was in when I did my first solo record [1978's 'Ace Frehley']. That record seemed to have all the elements everybody liked — a real cool instrumental, a hit single, some real heavy rockers, a nice variety of different genres of music."

Among his favorite new tracks are "A Little Below the Angels", hard-rocking "Pain in the Neck" and an instrumental called "Fractured Quantum", which is a follow-up to his previous instrumentals "Fractured Mirror" and "Fractured Too". Another favorite is "groove song" titled "Genghis Khan", which he likens in tone to LED ZEPPELIN's "Kashmir".

HoundsTV.com, which features the latest in celebrity autograph news and video, has compiled a list of the best and the worst musicians for autographs and meeting fans in Canada in 2008. The best were AC/DC, COLDPLAY and THE GUESS WHO, while the worst were LED ZEPPELIN, BON JOVI and THE EAGLES.

Regarding AC/DC, HoundsTV.com writes: "Perhaps of all tours to hit Canada this year, none was more anticipated by fans and autograph collectors than AC/DC. It had been more than five years since the last time they breezed through Toronto and everybody remembers how fan friendly they were back then. It was good to see things had not changed with AC/DC and they were still the same great guys in 2008. From the time they checked into their downtown Toronto hotel until boarding the bus to play the sold-out stadium gig, to after lunch on Bloor St. the next day, Angus Young, Malcolm Young, Cliff Williams, and Brian Johnson (and yeah, and even the usually tough drummer, Phil Rudd) were signing champs and all round great guys greeting fans and collectors at every turn. AC/DC — the signing champs of 2008. And with a good new album and buzzed about world tour — probably the biggest rock band in the world right now."

On Robert Plant and Jimmy Page (LED ZEPPELIN): "While they were not touring together, founding LED ZEPPELIN members Robert Plant and Jimmy Page arrived in Toronto within weeks of each other during 2008. Plant, on tour with Alison Krauss played a summer show, and Page came to the Toronto Film Festival weeks later to support a film. Page announced on arrival at TIFF regarding autograph requests, 'I'm kinda finished with that,' and stuck to his word. Robert Plant was equally dismissive the few times approached by collectors over the course of the couple of days he was in Toronto. By mutual agreement among many, Page and Plant were the worst rock-god signers to come though during the year. Autograph collectors went home with their LED ZEPPELIN memorabilia unsigned during 2008."

Swedish melodic death metallers SCAR SYMMETRY have issued the following update:

"So another year has come to an end. Our fifth as a band! A lot of cool things happened in 2008. And one very uncool thing. But everything turned out great, luckily.

"The year of 2008 started while we were halfway through recording 'Holographic Universe'. Our quickest recording session to date (merely two months!). Some months later the album was released, and we debuted on The Billboard 200 chart! Very cool indeed. Out of all the reviews we've read, it seems most people found themselves somewhere between enthusiastic and ecstatic about the album. A few reviewers didn't understand it, and we feel sorry for them... Haha!

"Fast forward another few months and we found ourselves having announced to the world that we had parted ways with our lead vocalist [Christian Älvestam]. Crazy move, some people thought. Well, needless to say, it wouldn't have happened unless we had some pretty good reasons. Shortly thereafter, we presented the new lineup — featuring two vocalists instead of one! Most people seemed to agree that this was an exciting direction for us to take. After taking the new lineup for a test drive all over not-so-sunny Spain, we felt confident that the two-singer approach was a wise decision.

"2009. What are our hopes and expectations? We're hoping and expecting lots and lots of touring, shows and festivals! Also, we have a few new songs written... We're eager to record some new stuff with Rob [Roberth Karlsson] and Lars [Palmqvist] sooner rather than later, though it's too early to tell when it will happen.

"Our first confirmed show for 2009 is the Chaulnes Metal Fest [in April 2009 in France]. We'll be sharing the stage with the amazing TEXTURES and super-shredders ADAGIO... Awesome lineup!!!"

The brand new studio album from the the Polish female-fronted heavy metal squad CRYSTAL VIPER, titled "Metal Nation", will be released on February 1 through Karthago Records (CD version) and High Roller Records (limited vinyl version). The CD was recorded at the brand new MP Studio in Poland with engineer Mariusz Pietka and producer Bart Gabriel.

"Metal Nation" was mixed at the Sonic Train Studios (HAMMERFALL, KING DIAMOND, EVERGREY, FALCONER etc.) in Varberg, Sweden by the Grammy-nominated KING DIAMOND guitarist Andy La Rocque. The CD features three very special guests: Manni Schmidt of GRAVE DIGGER, Frank Knight of X-WILD and Lars Ramcke of STORMWARRIOR. According to a press release, fans can expect to hear "a true heavy metal masterpiece with outstanding vocals (the album includes cover version of the AGENT STEEL classic 'Agents Of Steel', recorded faster, heavier and... higher!), and great cover artwork, painted by the world-famous artist Chris Moyen (TRIVIUM, BEHERIT, BLASPHEMY, INCANTATION etc.).

"Metal Nation" track listing:

01. Breaking The Curse
02. Metal Nation
03. Bringer Of The Light
04. 1428 *
05. The Anvil Of Hate
06. Zombie Lust (Flesh Eaters)
07. Her Crimson Tears **
08. Legions Of Truth ***
09. Gladiator, Die By The Blade
10. Agents Of Steel (AGENT STEEL cover song)

* feat. Manni Schmidt of GRAVE DIGGER
** feat. Frank Knight of X-WILD
*** feat. Lars Ramcke of STORMWARRIOR

"Metal Nation", "Her Crimson Tears", "Legions Of Truth" and "Gladiator, Die By The Blade" are available for streaming on the band's MySpace page.