Finnish/Swedish symphonic metallers NIGHTWISH were forced to cut last night's (Monday, November 10) concert in Belo Horizone, Brazil short after the group's lead singer, Anette Olzon, suddenly started crying at the end of the song "The Poet And The Pendulum" (about six tracks into the group's set) and walked off stage, leaving the rest of the band to finish the song with bassist/vocalist Marco Hietala attempting to handle some of the lead-vocal parts. The group reportedly played two more cover songs and ended the show, explaining that Anette is going through a difficult phase in her life, and that she was really sad.

Fan-filmed video footage of Olzon walking off can be viewed below (from two different angles).

NIGHTWISH cancelled the last four shows of its North American tour — September 23 in Knoxville, Tennessee; September 24 in Charlotte, North Carolina; September 26 in Baltimore, Maryland; and September 27 in New York City — due to Anette Olzon's "sudden severe illness," according to a posting on the band's web site. "This was one of the best tour legs we have ever done, and it's a pity it has to end this way, but there's no competing with the forces of nature," the group said. "There is nothing anybody can do about these things. We want to thank all the fans for all the sympathy, you guys have been so understanding, it's heartwarming. Thank you!"

NIGHTWISH released a digital-only collection of demos and B-sides titled "The Sound of Nightwish Reborn", on September 2. This release, which clocks in at nearly 70 minutes of music, retains "must-have" status for all NIGHTWISH diehards, since it includes a bevy of exclusive material, such as demo versions of songs from the "Dark Passion Play" sessions that were recorded prior to singer Anette Olzon joining the band and that feature Marco Tapani Hietala handling the vocals, as well as B-sides.

MUDVAYNE's video for the song "Do What You Do" has premiered on MTV2.com and can be viewed below. The clip is one of three new MUDVAYNE videos helmed by director Frankie Nasso (ALL THAT REMAINS, HATEBREED, EMMURE and BRIAN "HEAD" WELCH). "Do What You Do", "A New Game" and "Fish Out Of Water" come off the group's first studio album in three years, "The New Game", due out November 18 via Epic Records.

Finnish goth-metallers ENTWINE have completed work on their sixth album with producer Hiili Hiilesmaa (HIM, APOCALYPTICA, SENTENCED). More information on the CD, including the track listing, title and release date, will be made available soon.

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.

ENTWINE's fifth studio album, "Fatal Design", was released in September 2006 in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Benelux via Century Media Records through a licensing deal with Spinefarm Records. The CD was recorded at Petrax and Groveland studios by ENTWINE drummer Aksu Hanttu and producer Janne Joutsenniemi (STONE, SUBURBAN TRIBE). The album was mixed at Finnvox by Mikko Karmila (NIGHTWISH, CHILDREN OF BODOM).

Watch ENTWINE's video for the song "Surrender" (taken from "Fatal Design") here.

Samsung Mobile has teamed up with Ozzy Osbourne to promote the Samsung Propel, a fun and trendy messaging phone with a full QWERTY keyboard available in multiple color options. In the 30-second commercial, which can be viewed here, Ozzy gets around the marbles in his mouth by texting, according to USA Today. When Osbourne tries to order coffee, hail a cab or talk to his shrink, he's often misunderstood, until he texts with the new Samsung Propel phone.

"The guy does mumble," says Samsung chief marketer Bill Ogle, adding he still has wide appeal. "Older folks like him because of his BLACK SABBATH days, but kids like him even more."

Bassist Frank Bindig has left the Austrian female-fronted symphonic metal band EDENBRIDGE in order to focus on his other projects. The group is currently seeking a replacement. Applicants must possess "passion, personality, live experience and, of course, playing technique," according to a posting on the band's web site. "If you think you can bring all this, you should not hesitate to apply for the vacant bass player position in EDENBRIDGE!"

All submissions should be sent to info@edenbridge.org.

A 13-minute audio interview with EDENBRIDGE guitarist/founder Lanvall and vocalist Sabine Edelsbacher conducted by Norway's Metal Express Radio has been posted online at this location.

EDENBRIDGE's sixth studio album, "MyEarthDream", was released in Europe in April 2008 via Napalm Records. The cover art was created by Anthony Clarkson, who has previously worked with BLIND GUARDIAN, among other artists. The mixing sessions for the CD were completed at Thin Ice Studios in England with Karl Groom (THRESHOLD). The mastering took place at the Finnvox Studios in Helsinki, Finland with Mika Jussila.

Actress Evan Rachel Wood has released a statement to People magazine slamming media reports that she split up with shock rocker Marilyn Manson in a bitter fight over Wood's brother Ira, who was said to have been living with the pair.

"Manson and I both decided to take some time apart so we could concentrate on work. Someone used that opportunity to kick us while we were down and sell a completely false story," the actress, 21, told People.

She added, "Manson owns the house he lives in. My brother has never stayed there and the person that said such horrible things about Manson being 'controlling' and 'emotionally abusive' is certainly no source 'close' to me. Manson has been by my side and taken care of me through the best and worst times. I love him as a person and as an artist. I will always be proud to have been a part of that.

"If any more attacks are made on us, it is the act of a desperate, selfish person, who is angry to no longer be a part of my life. No further comment will be made and we request our privacy at this time."

Manson and Wood began dating in December 2006, following his split from then-wife, burlesque dancer Dita Von Teese.

Danish thrashers HATESPHERE have postponed their previously announced November 15 concert in Næstved, Denmark due to the fact that the group's guitarist Peter "Pepe" Lyse Hansen is currently awaiting the birth of his first child.

In other news, HATESPHERE has completed work on its new album with producer Tue Madsen at the Antfarm Studio in Aarhus, Denmark. More information will be made available soon.

HATESPHERE was honored in the "Hard Rock" category at the annual Danish Music Awards (the Danish Grammy Awards equivalent). The 40th Danish Music Awards show was held on February 23 at Tivoli in Copenhagen, Denmark and was broadcast live on MySpace.

Fan-filmed video footage of HATESPHERE performing live at the TMF2008 (Total Metal Festival) on September 20, 2008 at New Demodè in Bari, Italy can be viewed below.

German death metallers DISBELIEF will enter MX studio in Buchen, Germany in January 2009 with producer Michael Mainx to begin recording their new album, "Protected Hell" for an April 17, 2009 release via Massacre Records. The LP will be available as a limited-edition digipack and regular jewel case CD. Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Nemesis Rising", "The Hell Goes On", "Room 309", "A Place To Hide" and "The Dark Soundscapes".

On February 6, DISBELIEF will debut new material at the Headbangers Ballroom in Hamburg, Germany. The official "Protected Hell" release party will be held on April 24 at Frankenlandhalle in Buchen (BW), Germany.

DISBELIEF's seventh album, "Navigator", was released in February 2007 via Massacre Records.

DISBELIEF re-signed with Massacre Records after issuing their previous CD, "66Sick" (2005), through Nuclear Blast Records.

"Sanctified", a new song from the Boston metalcore band DIECAST, is available for streaming at this location. The track is expected to appear on the group's fifth album, tentatively due in 2009.

DIECAST wrapped up the "Internal Revolution" touring campaign last fall with their first headlining U.S. tour in over three years. The two-month trek included EKOTREN and MOWER in the support slots.

DIECAST greatly expanded its already diehard fan base after two massive North American tours alongside SEVENDUST, in addition to breaking through to Active Rock radio with the "Fade Away" and "Nothing I Could Say" singles.

DIECAST's "Fade Away" video.

GORGOROTH frontman Gaahl (real name: Kristian Espedal) has spoken to Norway's NRK about his decision to publicly acknowledge that he is gay.

In an interview that was published in the latest issue of Germany's Rock Hard magazine, Gaahl, 33, spoke for the first time about his sexual orientation, stating, "It doesn't feel to me as if I've outed myself because up until now the whole thing was a non-issue for me. All this evolved very naturally. I feel how I feel and I've never made any secret about it."

When asked what prompted him to open up about his sexuality in a magazine interview, Gaahl told NRK, "I know that people have been looking into my background. People have seen me at festivals with men and there are many others who have known about this, but who have not seen at it as any issue. But Rock Hard was the first [magazine] to dare to ask me about it."

After the Rock Hard interview was published and the English-language translation of the article first appeared on BLABBERMOUTH.NET, Gaahl's former boyfriend, 20-year-old Norwegian modeling agent Dan DeVero, told the Norwegian media that he had received death threats from the black metal community by phone and e-mail.

Gaahl claims that he has not received any negative feedback since he spoke out about his sexuality and he doesn't believe that it will affect GORGOROTH.

"I am not worried about any potential loss of income [as a result of people being aware of Gaahl's sexual orientation]," he said. "Some may have a difficult time swallowing it, but it can also attract other people. All in all, I do not think this will make a huge difference."

Bassist Randy Butman of PATHS OF POSSESSION — the Florida-based band fronted by CANNIBAL CORPSE vocalist George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher — has issued the following update:

"The new PATHS recording (originally scheduled for September) has been delayed until sometime around summer. CANNIBAL CORPSE will be touring relentlessly after their upcoming release, so we have to get in when we can. We have nine songs written and are working on a few more. I'm really into the new tunes and am looking forward to recording them.

PATHS OF POSSESSION's third album, "The End of the Hour", was released in October 2007 via Metal Blade Records.

Multi-national thrashers NIGHTRAGE have issued the following update:

"As you know, we are currently writing songs for our forthcoming album. It has now been confirmed that these songs will be recorded, produced, and mixed by our old friend Fredrik Nordström (DIMMU BORGIR, ARCH ENEMY, IN FLAMES) at Studio Fredman.

"We are more than happy to work with Fredrik again, the man that helped us so much on the first two albums, 'Sweet Vengeance' and 'Descent Into Chaos'. We feel that his help will be the return to form we've been searching for. We are coming back to the guy with the magical sound, and we can't wait to start recording and later share this music with you our fans.

"The studio has moved once again very close to the downtown in Gothenburg. We will enter the studio in February 23 and we won't leave until March 13! That's a lot of time for Antony [Hämäläinen, vocals] to eat a lot of Turkish Pizza!!!!! Marios [Iliopoulos, guitar] will cook his nice Greek dishes, Olof [Mörck, guitar] will do his laundry, Anders [Hammer, bass] and Jo [Johan Nunez, drums] will fight for who is recording first!

"Also we can let you know that another brother of ours, Gus G. [FIREWIND, ex-NIGHTRAGE] will be making a guest appearance on the new album as well. So expect some crazy three way soloing from the NIGHTRAGE guitar team! Lots of crazy riffs and ethereal melodies done the NIGHTRAGE way."

NIGHTRAGE's new album, "Wearing a Martyr's Crown", will be released in June 2009 via Lifeforce Records. Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "The Failure of All Human Emotions", "Among Wolves", "Opposite in Black", "Abandon", "Shed the Blood", "Wearing a Martyr's Crown" and "Mocking Modesty".

NIGHTRAGE's third album, "A New Disease Is Born", was released in April 2007. The CD was recorded at Hansen studios in Ribe, Denmark with producer Jacob Hansen (RAUNCHY, MERCENARY, FEAR MY THOUGHTS, HEAVEN SHALL BURN).

NIGHTRAGE last year recruited singer Antony Hämäläinen (also in BURN YOUR HALO) to replace Jimmie Strimell.

NIGHTRAGE is:

Antony Hämäläinen - Vocals
Marios Iliopoulos - Guitar
Olof Mörck - Guitar
Anders Hammer - Bass
Johan Nunez - Drums

Brazilian thrashers SEPULTURA will release their new album, "A-Lex" (which stands for "no law" or "without law"), on January 26, 2009 via SPV Records. The CD, which is based on the Anthony Burgess novel "A Clockwork Orange" (later turned into the classic film by Stanley Kubrick), was recorded at in São Paulo, Brazil at Trama Studios and was mixed at Mega Studios. According to SEPULTURA, the follow-up to 2006's "Dante XXI" features 18 songs with a total playing time of 60 minutes and was completed in record time because it is basically a recording of the band's studio jams captured over a three-month period.

SEPULTURA's forthcoming CD will be the group's first to feature drummer Jean Dolabella, who replaced founding member Igor Cavalera in 2006. Igor has since reunited with his brother and former SEPULTURA frontman Max Cavalera in CAVALERA CONSPIRACY.

"A-Lex" track listing:

01. A-Lex I
02. Moloko Mesto
03. Filthy Rot
04. We've Lost You
05. What I do!
06. A-Lex II
07. The Treatment
08. Metamorphosis
09. Sadistic Values
10. Forceful Behavior
11. Conform
12. A-Lex III
13. The Experiment
14. Strike
15. Enough Said
16. Ludwig Van
17. A-Lex IV
18. Paradox

Tampa, Florida-based death metal veterans CANNIBAL CORPSE have set "Evisceration Plague" as the title of their new album due 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

Swedish industrial goth metal band DEATHSTARS will release its third album, "Night Electric Night", on January 30, 2009 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was mixed at Toytown studios in Stockholm, Sweden with Stefan Glaumann.

Commented guitarist, songwriter and producer Emil "Nightmare Industries" Nödtveidt: "This album is the very mirror of our last years and our struggle through this time up until now. It deals with a whole spectrum of emotions, but without losing that straightforward nerve of raw dark feverish rock music a la DEATHSTARS. Even though the songs vary more now, from the ripping 'Night Electric Night' to the seriousness in 'Via the End', which I wrote the very night I found out about my brother's suicide [Emil's brother was DISSECTION frontman Jon Nödtveidt — Ed.], it holds an honest consequence right through the album."

According to a press release, "Night Electric Night" is about DEATHSTARS' "lives and their experiences, their personal issues and the action/horror drama which represents the manic environment that the band exists within. It deals a lot with reflections of situations right then and there."

"Night Electric Night" track listing:

01. Chertograd
02. Night Electric Night
03. Death Dies Hard
04. The Mark Of The Gun
05. Via The End
06. Blood Stains Blondes
07. Babylon
08. The Fuel Ignites
09. Arclight
10. Venus In Arms
11. Opium

Norway's TRAIL OF TEARS has issued the following update:

"The studio session for our new album has officially started in Sound Suite Studio in Marseille, France! We will spend six weeks in the company of producer Terje Refsnes recording this, our sixth album and we are really stoked about the material at hand. The plan is to record 16-17 songs in which we will pick 11 or 12 to be featured on the final product. There will also be a limited edition of the album which will include bonus tracks as well as different packaging. Mastering duties will, as usual, be handled by Mika Jussila at Finnvox Studios in Finland and the album will see a worldwide release next year through Napalm Records."

Fan-filmed video footage of TRAIL OF TEARS' performance at the Metal Female Voices Fest, which was held on October 18-19, 2008 in Wieze, Belgium, can be viewed below.

TRAIL OF TEARS' fifth album, "Existentia", was issued in January 2007 via Napalm Records. The CD was recorded at Soundsuite Studio in Marseille, France with producer Terje Refsnes and includes contributions from French female singer Emmanuelle Zoldan and Norwegian keyboard master Bernt Moen.

"Ministry Of Saints", the new video from the German melodic metal band EDGUY, can be viewed below. The clip was shot in Belgrade, Serbia. The song comes off the group's new album, "Tinnitus Sanctus", which is scheduled for release in Europe on November 14 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD, which will be issued in North America in early 2009, was recorded at Gate Studios in Wolfsburg, Germany with producer Sascha Paeth.

Check out an e-card for "Tinnitus Sanctus" at this location.

The track listing for the effort is as follows:

01. Ministry Of Saints
02. Sex Fire Religion
03. The Pride Of Creation
04. Nine Lives
05. Wake Up Dreaming Black
06. Dragonfly
07. Thorn Without A Rose
08. 929
09. Speedhoven
10. Dead Or Rock
11. Aren't You A Little Pervert Too?

In a recent interview, EDGUY frontman Tobias Sammet stated about the group's new material, "We don't go back to the roots. We never denied who we are and where we come from, so I don't see a reason to go back to wherever. I go straight forward and follow my heart as I've always done, 'Tinnitus Sanctus' is exactly the music we wanna play, we are happy and I don't give a fuck if it's gonna be our biggest-selling album or not. It's so great, even if my career would go down the drain and this would be the last album, I'd be more than happy to be remembered as the guy who recorded 'Tinnitus Sanctus'. I'd rather ruin my carreer with a creative killer album like that than trying to play safe with a boring stereotype power metal stinker constructed on a drawing table. We have a couple of song titles such as 'Dragonfly', 'Dead Or Rock', 'Wake Up Dreaming Black' or 'Sex Fire Religion'. And we'll shoot a video for a very heavy midtempo anthem by the name of 'Ministry Of Saints'. And there'll be a bonus track called 'Aren't You A Little Pervert Too?' which is quite nasty."

DEFTONES frontman Chino Moreno has posted the following message on the band's studio blog:

"It deeply saddens me to inform you all that our brother Chi Cheng [DEFTONES bassist] was involved in a terrible car accident [Monday] night. He is currently in a Northern California hospital in serious, but stable condition. I am on my way up north right now to be by his side, along with the rest of our bandmates and family. Chi is one of the strongest people I know, and I'm praying that his strength will get him through this. Please say a prayer for him as well."

The Sacramento Bee reported yesterday that Cheng was in a coma in a San Jose hospital following the accident, which happened in Santa Clara.

Cheng, 38, was born in Stockton and also is an accomplished poet. In 2000, he released a CD of his poetry, "The Bamboo Parachute".

The brand new video for TODAY IS THE DAY's defiant anthem "IED" can be viewed below (courtesy of MTV.com). The song is the lead-off track on TODAY IS THE DAY's latest album, "Axis Of Eden". The clip was directed by Montreal director David Hall, whose credits include a video and short film for Relapse Records grinders FUCK THE FACTS.

TODAY IS THE DAY frontman Steve Austin describes the "IED" video as "a schizophrenic, psychedelic slap at reality... The song is a statement of honesty and truth, willing to die for what's right and live to see justice. I feel like a lot of times I am an IED, an Improvised Explosive Device, and when I go off it is in a creative and hateful way you will never forget."

The "IED" video is part of "Axis Of Eden: The Feature Film", a feature film directed by David Hall that contains a number of the songs from TODAY IS THE DAY's "Axis Of Eden" album, set to dizzying imagery and a horrific plot line. On TODAY IS THE DAY's upcoming U.S. tour (its fourth tour in support of the "Axis Of Eden" album), the band will be projecting "Axis Of Eden: The Feature Film" onstage in its entirety and playing live along to it, a bold spectacle of sight and sound that Austin compares to PINK FLOYD's live presentation of "The Wall".

In support of the Finnish cellists APOCALYPTICA's forthcoming headline tour in December, Spinefarm Records UK will be giving an official UK release to two classic titles from the band's ever-expanding catalogue: 2006's "Amplified" collection and 2005's "Apocalyptica" — the studio album that saw the band inviting other artists into their domain to truly dazzling effect.

"Amplified: A Decade Of Reinventing The Cello" was originally issued to commemorate APOCALYPTICA's 10th anniversary; this enhanced two-CD version features 23 tracks, including some of the Helsinki troupe's most celebrated covers (METALLICA's "Enter Sandman", SLAYER's "Angel Of Death", etc.), plus a whole host of guest vocalists, ranging from Matt Tuck (BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE) and Max Cavalera (SOULFLY, SEPULTURA) right through to avant-garde German singer Nina Hagen.

Says APOCALYPTICA's Eicca Toppinen: "This collection represents a massive journey for us, from cello ensemble to bona fide rock band. A lot of our singles were released in some countries but not in others, so we wanted to round everything up in one place. Plus, we also tried to include those tracks from our albums that are important to the live set, but might not have been given single status."

As for "Apocalyptica", the fifth studio album originally issued a year earlier, this saw the cellists seriously bringing on board the talents of fellow artists (the likes of Lauri Ylönen from THE RASMUS, Ville Valo from HIM and Dave Lomardo of SLAYER fame) as a way of pushing musical and conceptual boundaries to a greater degree.

"It was time to bring other artists and fans into our world," says Eicca.

Previously, vocals had been added to the music after it had been conceived and recorded, the icing on the cake, but with "Apocalyptica" the idea was to make these vocals a part of the cake itself — perhaps the finest example of this shift in emphasis being "Bittersweet" (one of 14 tracks featured on this expanded version), wherein both Valo and Ylönen join forces for a truly memorable song and accompanying video.

APOCALYPTICA will tour the UK from December 2 to December 12. Main support on all shows will come from Finnish death doom maestros SWALLOW THE SUN, whose new album "Plague Of Butterflies" is available now via Spinefarm Records UK.

"Hollywood Whore", the new video from PAPA ROACH, can be viewed below.

"Hollywood Whore" is the first single off PAPA ROACH's fifth major label album, "Metamorphosis", which is scheduled for release in March 2009. The CD was tentatively slated to come out either in September or October, although a firm release date had never been established. Frontman Jacoby Shaddix admitted he was a little disappointed about the delay but told The Pulse of Radio it would be worth the wait. "It's kind of a bummer it can't come out this year, you know, but it's like, we want to set it up right, you know, and this record's just a monster," he said. "When we got done with it, we sat back and listened to all the cuts and we were just baffled that we wrote this record, you know. And I think what makes it great to us is that it was a challenge."

"Metamorphosis" will follow up 2006's "The Paramour Sessions". The disc will mark the recording debut with PAPA ROACH of ex-UNWRITTEN LAW drummer Tony Palermo, who replaced founding drummer Dave Buckner last year after Buckner went down with personal issues.

One track, called "Lifeline", was co-written with James Michael of SIXX: A.M.

PAPA ROACH recently finished touring with SIXX: A.M., MÖTLEY CRÜE, BUCKCHERRY and others as part of Crüe Fest, and began a new trek with STAIND and SEETHER on October 4 in Columbia, Maryland.

"Hollywood Whore" video:

IN FLAMES' European record label, Nuclear Blast Records, has issued the following press release:

"If you want to finish a European headline tour in style, do it like this: Play two sold-out shows in Stockholm followed by another two sold-out shows in your hometown of Gothenburg (total of 13,000 people over the four shows), get nothing by rave reviews and prove that you are one of the biggest Swedish bands around at the moment, all genres! THAT is what IN FLAMES just did! These four Sweden shows were the end of what has proved to be the biggest IN FLAMES European headline tour to date! A total of 60,000 people have seen a spectacular show over the past 5-6 weeks!!!

"2008 has so far been an amazing year for IN FLAMES. It all started with the release of the new critically acclaimed album 'A Sense Of Purpose', which has to date sold 220,000 copies worldwide. Playing two sold-out shows in Russia, killing the Gigantour in North America supporting MEGADETH, breaking the attendance record at Gröna Lund (Stockholm on May 28), one of Sweden's oldest and most famous theme parks/venues. NO other artist this summer came close to attracting as many people and this again proves the status of the band in Sweden. In Fact, Gröna Lund has not had that many people since Bob Marley played there in 1980. Later in the summer, IN FLAMES played in front of 300,000 people spread across over 17 festivals all around Europe.

"Right now, after the crusade through Europe, IN FLAMES are heading over to North America for a five-week headline tour together with ALL THAT REMAINS, GOJIRA and 36 CRAZYFISTS."

MUDVAYNE has tapped director Frankie Nasso (ALL THAT REMAINS, HATEBREED, EMMURE and BRIAN "HEAD" WELCH) to helm videos for the band's three new songs: "Do What You Do", "A New Game" and "Fish Out Of Water". All three tracks from off the group's first studio album in three years, "The New Game", due out November 18 via Epic Records.

MUDVAYNE will guest on the nationally syndicated radio show "Rockline" with host Bob Coburn on Monday, November 10 at 8:30 p.m. PT / 11:30 p.m. ET. Fans are encouraged to speak with the group by calling 1-800-344-ROCK (7625).

As MUDVAYNE prepares to release "The New Game", the band is working even harder to get the best possible deal directly to their fans in light of the tough economy by opening up ticket sales of their upcoming tour to all outlets and partnering with Best Buy to add a free live web cast of their concert to fan club members who pre-order the album at bestbuy.com/mudvayne. "We want fans that cannot afford to see us live or that live outside our tour markets to still get the benefits of our 'The Album Is The Ticket' program," said singer Chad Gray, "and by adding the live webcast and releasing ticket sales to the general public, we are now able to offer fans even more value and options for their money in this rough financial time."

The concert webcast will be from one of the tour stops on the first leg of "The New Game Tour 2008". All current "The Album Is The Ticket" members are entitled to a free meet-and-greet at their selected show.

"The New Game Tour 2008" kicks off on October 28 in El Paso, Texas and will wrap up on December 20 in Orlando, Florida. 10 YEARS and SNOT will be along as support.

According to a posting on Megadeth.com, MEGADETH's Dave Mustaine was seen earlier today (Wednesday, November 5) visiting the Marshall factory in Bletchley, Milton Keynes, UK and was later out to dinner with the Marshall family.

Mustaine will be joined by bassist Marco Mendoza (THIN LIZZY, WHITESNAKE, TED NUGENT) and MEGADETH drummer Shawn Drover for a performance at this year's Guitarfest at Music Live (the UK's favorite music-making bash) on Friday, November 7. Mustaine is allowing punters to create his setlist for the show by voting for their favorite MEGADETH songs. According to a posting on the MEGADETH web site, the jam session "will be a laid-back improv and not an actual concert performance."

Voters should email dave.mustaine@musiclive.co.uk with the title of their desired 'DETH track in the subject box of the e-mail (i.e., not in the body).

Music Live takes place at Birmingham's NEC November 7-9, and Mustaine will be in attendance throughout the show for signing sessions on the Marshall amplification stand.

Joint tickets for Guitarfest and Music Live are priced at £20 and available from www.musiclive.co.uk.

Phoenix New Times reports: For the past eight years, Alice Cooper has given us yuletide rockings with his annual Christmas Pudding show. Phoenix’s resident shock rocker hosts the annual fete to raise money for his charity, the Solid Rock Foundation, a non-profit Christian corporation that provides a recreation center (The Rock Teen Center) for teenagers. To that end, Cooper's "Proof is in the Pudding" talent competition — which nets the winning contestant a gig at the Christmas Pudding show — now includes a Teen Competition.