Finnish metallers ADASTRA are putting the finishing touches on their sophomore album, "Death Or Domination", for a December 2008 release via Violent Journey Records. The CD is scheduled to be mastered on October 9 at Chartmakers in Helsinki, Finland by Svante Forsbäck.

"Death Or Domination" track listing:

01. Locked On To You
02. One Chance
03. Death Or Domination
04. Man Mk. II
05. Helsinki 1939
06. Who Threw The First Stone
07. Devil Knows You're Dead
08. Lost
09. Wasted Life
10. The Longing

ADASTRA has been confirmed for the Jalometalli festival, set to take place August 15-16 at Club Teatria in Oulu, Finland. Also scheduled to appear are OVERKILL, BLITZKRIEG, SATYRICON, MAYHEM, SOTAJUMALA and MORTAL SIN, among others.

According to the band's official bio, ADASTRA is "a modern heavy metal band that derives its influences from a wide range of class acts. IRON MAIDEN, JUDAS PRIEST, METALLICA, IN FLAMES, BLACK SABBATH, DIO, MEGADETH, among others, have had their fair share of influences in ADASTRA's work. Old-school-style clean-vocals of Ville Siikamäki, combined with the rapid leads and heavy riffs of Olli Anttila and Jari Hartman and the steady pulse of Santeri Vauramo's bass, controlled by the precise drumming of Jussi Ruokolainen, create the music of ADASTRA."

The reunited South Florida death/thrash metal band SOLSTICE has issued the following update:

"We're scheduled to start tracking for a new release on September 18th. We have 11 songs including a cover from our old buddies CYNIC, circa 1988. We also have a lineup change; Alex Marquez [drums] is no longer with us. Joining us for this album is drummer Brian Harris. Brian is a true asskicker and a consummate pro and we know he will bring an amazing dimension to our music."

SOLSTICE was formed in 1990 by guitarist Dennis Munoz and drummer Alex Marquez with vocalist/guitarist Rob Barrett (CANNIBAL CORPSE, ex-MALEVOLENT CREATION, HATEPLOW) and bassist Dave Smith. In 1991 they recorded a demo produced by legendary producer Jim Morris. In 1992, their debut album "The Sentencing" was recorded but due to internal problems the band broke up the following year. Barrett and Marquez would go on to join MALEVOLENT CREATION. In 1994 Munoz and Marquez played with a hardcore band called ANGER and in 1995 SOLSTICE was reformed with a new lineup. A second album titled "Pray" was released but they soon disbanded once again.

Current SOLSTICE lineup:

Christian Rudes: Guitars, vocals
Dennis Munoz: Guitars
Brian Harris: Drums
Garrett Scott: Bass

Torbjørn Sandvik of Norway's GLITTERTIND has issued the following update:

"We have done a lot of recordings and the progress of the work with the new album has been great. There are some bad news concerning my personal life however. My girlfriend was diagnosed with blood cancer (leukaemia) a few days ago. We are prepared and motivated to take the fight, but her chemotherapy will be though and the treatment will take time.

"I will continue to work with the new album in these times because for me, music is a source of inspiration, energy and strength. Unexpected things might happen along the way and to avoid a stressy deadline — I have decided to carry a lighter backpack. Therefore the release is postponed another three months. No release date is official however. The album might be finished before this, but things can also turn out differently.

"I ask for understanding and patience for this decision. The new album material is outstanding and the best piece of music I have ever done. So I think it will be worth the wait."

GLITTERTIND in February signed a long-term agreement with Napalm Records. The contract covers the new album as well as the re-release of "Til Dovre Faller", which has been unavaileble for a long time.

A seven-minute trailer for "The Year Of The Voyager", the long-awaited DVD from Seattle metallers NEVERMORE, can be viewed below.

"The Year Of The Voyager" will be released in Europe on October 20, 2008 via Century Media. The set covers the "This Godless Endeavor" touring cycle, starting with amazing live footage from the U.S. Gigantour 2005, the Metal Mania festival 2006 in Poland, the Wacken Open Air festival in 2006 in Germany and the main DVD show recorded at the Zeche in Bochum, Germany on October 11, 2006. Bonus material includes two songs from Century Media USA 10th Anniversary Party 2001, all promo videos and an interview with singer Warrel Dane which was recorded at the Roax Film Studios in Berlin in the spring of 2008.

"The Year Of The Voyager" will be released as a limited-edition 2DVD+2CD, standard 2DVD, standard 2CD and limited 3LP (the latter two containing the audio from the main show in Bochum only).

As the main show of this DVD was filmed in the German town Bochum, a world premiere of the DVD will be held at the Metropolis Cinema in Bochum on September 15, 2008, which will include a personal introduction and exclusive signing session with NEVERMORE vocalist Warrel Dane and guitarist Jeff Loomis. A release party, including screening of the DVD and special giveaways, will take place on October 11, 2008 at the Rockcafe Halford in Berlin. The entrance is free.

"The Year Of The Voyager" track listing:

DVD1:

Main Show - Live at the Zeche Bochum, Germany, October 11, 2006:

01. Intro
02. Final Product
03. My Acid Words
04. What Tomorrow Knows/Garden Of Grey
05. Next In Line
06. Enemies Of Reality
07. I, Voyager
08. The Politics Of Ecstasy
09. The River Dragon Has Come
10. I Am The Dog
11. Dreaming Neon Black
12. Matricide
13. Dead Heart In A Dead World
14. Noumenon (from tape)
15. Inside Four Walls
16. The Learning
17. Sentient
18. Narcosynthesis
19. The Heart Collector
20. Born
21. This Godless Endeavor

Audio sound: 2.0 and 5.1 mixed by Andy Sneap

DVD2:

* Gigantour – Live at the Bell Centre, Montreal, Canada, September 2, 2005:

01. Born
02. Enemies Of Reality

* Metal Mania Festival – Live at the Spodek, Katowice, Poland, March 4, 2006:

01. Final Product
02. The Heart Collector
03. Enemies Of Reality
04. The Seven Tongues Of God

* Wacken – Live at the Wacken Open Air, Germany, August 4, 2006:

01. Final Product
02. Narcosynthesis
03. Engines Of Hate
04. Born

Bonus Material:

* Century Media USA 10th Anniversary Party - Live at The Roxy, Los Angeles, September 28, 2001:

01. Engines Of Hate
02. Beyond Within

* Promo videos:

01. What Tomorrow Knows
02. Next In Line
03. Believe In Nothing
04. I, Voyager
05. Enemies Of Reality
06. Final Product
07. Born
08. Narcosynthesis (live promo video)

* Interview with Warrel Dane

* Trailers:

NEVERMORE - "The Year Of The Yoyager" trailer
PARADISE LOST - "Over The Madness" trailer
STRAPPING YOUNG LAD - "1994 - 2006 Chaos Years" trailer

Audio samples of three new MUDVAYNE tracks — "Fish Out Of Water", "A New Game" and "Do What You Do" — are available for streaming on the band's MySpace page. All three cuts are taken from MUDVAYNE's new album, "The New Game", which is scheduled for release on November 18 via Epic. The CD's first single, "Do What You Do", is expected to go for radio adds today (September 23).

The band recently wrapped up the disc with producer Dave Fortman (SLIPKNOT, EVANESCENCE). Fortman told Headbanger's Blogabout the album, "It's heavy and has great hooks, but it also has some moments that are a little more rock 'n' roll that are really cool. It's not anything drastic, but every now and then you'll catch a little hint of old-school rock. Also, the tones are a little more earthy sounding and a little warmer than [2005's] 'Lost and Found'."

"The New Game" track listing:

01. Fish Out Of Water
02. Have It Your Way
03. A New Game
04. Dull Boy
05. Do What You Do
06. The Hate In Me
07. Scarlet Letters
08. Same Ol?
09. Never Enough
10. A Cinderella Story
11. We The People

MUDVAYNE plans on releasing another full-length collection of new material next summer. The band is said to have most of the music for the second album written, but still needs vocal melodies on four songs. "We may go for even more of a metal approach on some of the songs to break it up a little bit," Fortman told Headbanger's Blog. "But who knows what they’ll come up with."

Former MEGADETH guitarist Glen Drover has issued the following update:

"I am slllllloooooowwwwwwwly getting acclimated to my new Mac ProTools setup in my studio... But man has it made a difference. It is so powerful and fast, it is just unreal. Needless to say here, I am pretty excited about it. I am also about to announce my next guitar clinic, so keep your eyes peeled here when I get the exact date and location, etc. I am pretty comfortable doing clinics now, so this should be a lot of fun for me... Hopefully it will be for you as well.

Video footage of Glen Drover playing the MEGADETH tracks "Tornado of Souls" and "Dawn Patrol" and talking about his Dean guitar on February 13, 2008 at the Metal Works Institute in Ontario, Canada can be viewed below (courtesy of "An3sh").

Glen Drover left MEGADETH at the end of last year and was replaced by Chris Broderick, who has previously played with NEVERMORE and JAG PANZER.

Florida death metallers SIX FEET UNDER will release their new album, "Death Rituals", on November 11 via Metal Blade Records. According to a press release, the CD "features 12 tracks of pure American death metal delivering a bludgeoning slab of metal that will leave fans hungering for more. Legendary death metal vocalist Chris Barnes, along with guitarist Steve Swanson, bass legend Terry Butler, and drummer Greg Gall, continue to follow the dark and demented path that merges what Outburn magazine calls 'tried-and-true death groove' with stomach-turning lyrics and themes. 'Death Rituals' saw the band returning to Morrisound Studios in Tampa, Florida with Chris Carroll at the helm with mixing duties being handled by Toby Wright and the return of SIX FEET UNDER's old friend Bill Metoyer, who recorded the band's CD 'Warpath', helping out with recording of the drums."

01. Death By Machete
02. Involuntary Movement Of Dead Flesh
03. None Will Escape
04. Eulogy For The Undead
05. Seed Of Filth
06. Bastard
07. Into The Crematorium
08. Shot In The Head
09. Killed In Your Sleep
10. Crossroads To Armageddon
11. Ten Deadly Plagues
12. Crossing The River Styx (guitar outro)
13. Murder Addiction

Larry Paterson, the drummer of former IRON MAIDEN/WOLFSBANE vocalist Blaze Bayley — whose wife/manager Debbie collapsed at the couple's home in Tamworth, UK on July 6 — has released the following statement:

"Sadly, I have to let you all know that Blaze's wife Debbie has passed away in hospital this morning. I know that Blaze has always appreciated the massive amount of supportive emails and letters for Debbie and he, and many were passed on to Debbie in hospital.

"Blaze is understandably not here to write anything so if you don't mind, I would like to write something here about Debbie. I didn't meet Debbie until I auditioned for the band in September 2007. She was always a very genuine person who laughed easily and enjoyed life and she and Blaze were obviously a very strong couple that loved each other totally. I know she was also extremely proud of Blaze, and should have been very proud of herself for helping Blaze 'come back' from what was a dark period for him.

"When I learned that Debbie — the singer's wife — was the band manager, with no previous experience, I had to admit that I was sceptical. I have seen 'Spinal Tap'... and been in enough bands to know that often a situation like that doesn't work! But I was so very impressed with her. She grabbed the job and ran with it... surpassing everybody's expectations (apart from Blaze's, who knew what she was capable of) with her abilities, proving to be both tough and strong in all aspects of the job and life. She shared the same ups and downs, slept on the same airport floors, spent hours and hours in negotiations and ALWAYS cared about the welfare of 'her boys' before everything else. She was bloody brilliant and I am just glad that we all told her that on several occassions. Debbie was also a very supportive friend whatever personal circumstances were happening, and she was always there when you needed her.

"On July 5th, we all went to the IRON MAIDEN show at Twickenham and were fortunate enough to be at the aftershow party. Debbie was like a proud mum as Nico [Bermudez, guitar], Dave [Bermudez, bass] and I were buzzing to be in the company of some of our heroes. She looked so happy that my girlfriend took this photo [see below] on her phone and immediately sent it to her. The album was two days away from release and everything going so well. She had been instrumental in turning around the band's fortunes since 2007. The next day she fell ill.

"Blaze has lost his wife, her family have lost a daughter and sister, the band has lost its manager and we have all lost a very good friend. The world is a poorer place for it."

Bayley and Debbie got married on February 14, 2007 on the island of Gran Canaria.

In a May 2008 interview with HeavyMetal.no, Bayley stated, "I had a lot of problems with alcohol, severe depression, almost had a breakdown at the end of [the] 'Tenth Dimension' [album cycle], fucked about by the record company, totally broke, I'd spent all my money of trying to keep the band together. I was absolutely fucked. I was just about keeping going, and then I met my wife. And she'd known me... We've known each other for 18 years. 20 years. We were apart for years, because I follow this passion for music, and Debbie was following her passion, she was a dancer, and then she got her own hair business, and then we met again, when I was at my lowest. My wife found me, and really made me believe again, that it wasn't all my fault, it wasn't the fact that people didn't like what I was doing, it was the fact that they didn't actually know that I was doing anything at all. So that was a big difference. So that's it. She supported it, then I had incredible support from my family, my friends, and the fans who stuck by me was just incredible. With that kind of support, and with my wife behind me, helping me sort myself out, [I got] through my drinking problems, depression and all of that."

30-second audio samples of all the tracks that appear on CRADLE OF FILTH's new album, "Godspeed On The Devil's Thunder", are available on Amazon.de.

In addition to the standard version of "Godspeed On The Devil's Thunder" (due out on October 28 via Roadrunner Records), there will also be a special edition and vinyl released. See below for the complete track listing.

Special Edition (two-disc set featuring 10 unreleased/rare bonus tracks and expanded artwork):

Disc 1:

01. In Grandeur And Frankincense Devilment Stirs
02. Shat Out Of Hell
03. The Death Of Love
04. The 13th Caesar
05. Tiffauges
06. Tragic Kingdom
07. Sweetest Maleficia
08. Honey And Sulphur
09. Midnight Shadows Crawl To Darken Counsel With Life
10. Darkness Incarnate
11. Ten Leagues Beneath Contempt
12. Godspeed On The Devil's Thunder
13. Corpseflower

Disc 2:

01. Balsamic and Anathema
02. A Thousand Hands On The Maid Of Ruin
03. Into The Crypt Of Rays
04. Devil To The Metal
05. Courting Baphomet
06. The Love Of Death (Remix)
07. The Death Of Love (Demo)
08. The 13th Caesar (Demo)
09. Dirge Inferno (Live)
10. Dusk And Her Embrace (Live)

Vinyl (double vinyl includes two tracks not available on the standard album and a code to download the entire album in MP3 format):

01. In Grandeur And Frankincense Devilment Stirs
02. Shat Out Of Hell
03. The Death Of Love
04. The 13th Caesar
05. Tiffauges
06. Tragic Kingdom
07. Sweetest Maleficia
08. Honey And Sulphur
09. Midnight Shadows Crawl To Darken Counsel With Life
10. Darkness Incarnate
11. A Thousand Hands On The Maid Of Ruin
12. Ten Leagues Beneath Contempt
13. Balsamic and Anathema
14. Godspeed On The Devil's Thunder
15. Corpseflower

Michael Kiske will sing on two songs from the new album by TRICK OR TREAT, a former Italian tribute band to Michael's old band Helloween.

The new album is scheduled for October 31th by Frontiers Records and is titled Tin Soldiers.


TRICK OR TREAT was formed by Alessandro Conti (Vocals), Luca Cabri (Guitar), Guido Benedetti (Guitar), Leone Villani Conti (Bass) and Mirko Virdis (Drums). The new album will have another guest, Michele Luppi (ex-Vision Divine), who will sing on "Take Your Chance".


Michael Kiske will sing on "Hello Moon" and "Tears Against Your Smile".

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. A Night In The Toyshop - Intro
02. Paper Dragon
03. Take Your Chance
04. Freedom
05. Hello Moon
06. Elevator To The Sky
07. Loser Song
08. Tears Against Your Smile
09. Final Destination
10. Tin Soldiers Pt.1 (Instrumental)
11. Tin Soldiers Pt.2

Michael Kiske: "I did sing parts in one song, and another one in whole.

What I really liked about them is, that they seem to enjoy what they are doing. In German we call it: "Spielfreude"; that's always very uplifting and fresh. No matter how naive the lyrics sometimes may be, as long as a band really is excited about their music, I get a kick out of it. And they seem to be in in with all their heart."


The band began making live performances in Italy, playing classic songs from Helloween ("Keeper" era). After two years, they decided to record a 4 song demo "Like Donald Duck" which got a good reaction from the audience. After that, the band got signed by Valery Records and on 2006 they released their first album "Evil Needs Candy Too" (Buy it!) which was presented live on more than 60 shows around Italy.

"My Escape", the new video from the Swedish modern metal band SONIC SYNDICATE, can be viewed below. The song comes off the group's third album, "Love and Other Disasters", the third album from the Swedish modern metal band SONIC SYNDICATE, which is due in North America on October 14 via Nuclear Blast Records (September 19 in Europe). The effort will be released as a regular CD as well as a digipack featuring two bonus tracks and a DVD. Check out an e-card for the CD at this location.

"Love and Other Disasters" track listing:

01. Encaged
02. Hellgate: Worcester
03. Jack of Diamonds
04. My Escape
05. Fallout
06. Power Shift
07. Contradiction
08. Damage Control
09. Red Eyed Friend
10. Affliction

Bonus Tracks:

11. Ruin
12. Dead Planet

If you thought boundaries couldn't be crossed between the metal and the disco world, then be prepared.

TRAGEDY is a metal discothèque from the shiny glamorous streets of New York. The band has covered the classic tracks of THE BEE GEES in true fashion but has given them an infectious groove with a metal sound that has riffs catchy enough to pop your socks off. The eight-piece group is fronted by the three-man nucleus of Barry Glibb (vocals, guitars, piano), Mo'royce Peterson (vocals, guitars) and Robin Gibbens (vocals, cowbell, tambourine and gong).

TRAGEDY will be on tour in December supporting THE WILDHEARTS on their UK tour. They will also support ELECTRIC SIX at Shepherds Bush Empire.

The group's setlist consists of the following numbers:

* Stayin' Alive
* Jive Talkin
* How Deep Is Your Love
* You Should Be Dancing
* Our Love (Don't Throw It All Away)
* More Than A Woman
* Night Fever
* Shadow Dancing
* Too Much Heaven
* Tragedy

TRAGEDY's album "We Rock Sweet Balls And Can Do No Wrong" will be released on October 20 on Round Records.

Italian power metallers KALEDON will be joined by their original singer Anthony Drago during their 10th-anniversary concert on October 30 at Stazione Birra in Morena, Italy. Drago will sing four songs with the group at the event.

KALEDON's cover version of the QUEEN classic "We Will Rock You" is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page. The song comes off the Japanese edition of the Italian power metallers' new album, "Legend Of The Forgotten Reign Chapter 5: A New Era Begins".

The complete track listing for the Japanese version of "Legend Of The Forgotten Reign Chapter 5: A New Era Begins" is as follows:

01. A New Man
02. A Wounded Friend
03. Mozul
04. Undeads Again
05. The End Of The Green Power
06. A Flash In The Sky
07. Great Mighty Light (instrumental)
08. The Greatest Heart
09. The God Beyond The Man
10. Return To Kaledon

Bonus tracks:

11. Neon Knights (BLACK SABBATH cover)
12. We Will Rock You (QUEEN cover) (speed version)

Bonus DVD:

* "The God Beyond The Man" video clip
* Chapter 5 Making Of: Documentary
* Picture Gallery
* "Clash Of The Titans" live bootleg with Marco Palazzi
* "A Wounded Friend" and "Return To Kaledon" video karaoke version

Frontman Hoest of the Norwegian black metal outfit TAAKE has completed work on the band's new, self-titled album for his label Svartekunst Produksjoner. The CD version is licenced to Dark Essence Records and is due to be released in Europe before the end of 2008. The LP version will be released early 2009 exclusively through Svartekunst Produksjoner. This double vinyl features a cover version of the BURZUM classic "A Lost Forgotten Sad Spirit" as bonus track as well as different cover and poster.

"Taake" track listing:

01. Atternatt
02. Umenneske
03. Lukt Til Helvete
04. Doedsjarl
05. Motpol
06. September Omsider
07. Velg Bort Livet

Check out the cover artwork below. A video for the song "Umenneske" is also available.

Guitarist/vocalist Tony Freed of the reactivated Swedish death metallers GODHATE (formerly THRONEAEON) has issued the following update:

"We're done in the studio [recording the new GODHATE CD]. This is surely a great and special album that will come out. The vocal session was very intensive but felt good. The days we recorded was almost 10 hours in a row with some small breaks for food. I tried some new stuff as usual and it turned out very unique."

The new GODHATE album was engineered by Dino Medanhodzic (CARNAL FORGE guitarist) at Elastic studio.

Tony Freed previously stated about the group's new songs, "The material that we will deliver with this new full-length album is so strong that I without any hesitation can say that the time has come for GODHATE to make a fuckin' stand!! And Hell be damned if not! For the recording you will find Mike Geerberg (drums), Björn Eriksson (bass), Thomas Eldnatt (guitars), our old drummer Roger Sundkvist and of course myself, Tony Freed (vocals and guitars).

"Last but not least, our label (Metal Fortress) told us we need bigger labels that are ambitious enough to support us all the way through. And a label that are at the same level as the band. Metal Fortress will take the position as the band's management until further on. This means we are in a phase to evolve from our label to a greater base. We encourage serious labels to get in touch!"

GODHATE in 2005 issued its debut four-song EP, entitled "Anguish". The CD was recorded at Fast Forward Studio with Johan Green and the Kuusisto brothers from CARNAL FORGE at the helm.

DIMMU BORGIR frontman Stian Tomt Thoresen's (a.k.a. Shagrath) wedding to actor Nicolas Cage's 41-year-old ex-girlfriend Christina Fulton, which was scheduled to take place this Saturday (September 20) in a private sunset ceremony at the world-renowned Prekestolen in Norway, has been postponed indefinitely.

"We both have very hectic schedules, with Christina's upcoming reality show and [DIMMU BORGIR's] new DVD, which is coming out this fall. There was simply too much going on at the same time," Thoresen, 31, tells the Norwegian newspaper VG.

A new date for the wedding has not yet been set, but Thoresen insists that the couple is still planning a big ceremony. They will be married in both the U.S. and Norway, and plans are still afoot for a spectacular wedding at Prekestolen.

"We will probably have a small wedding in the United States, but we will still get married at Prekestolen, with close friends and family members present," the singer tells VG. "And then the the party will take place at another location."

According to Thoresen, his two bands — DIMMU BORGIR and CHROME DIVISION (in which he plays guitar) — will both perform at the party, which will be attended by several hundred guests.

When asked if the weather conditions at Prekestolen will affect their wedding plans, particularly as the temperatures continue to drop throughout the fall and the winter, Thoresen replies, "We might have a winter wedding. But in any case, the weather won't stop us. We are not your typical, normal people, Christina and I," laughs Thoresen.

Thoresen and Fulton met six months ago through one of the singer's associates. According to the couple, it was love at first sight.

"Fate brought the two together. It's absolute romance in its purest form, a fairy tale of a king and queen," said Fulton's son, Weston Coppola Cage, who was supposed to be giving away the bride. Cage's father, actor Nicolas Cage, was expected to attend the ceremony, along with celebrity participants Rob Zombie, Jim Carrey, Patricia Arquette, and Marla Maples.

A new TESLA track entitled "So What" is available for streaming at this location. The song comes off the California rockers' seventh studio album, "Forever More" which is scheduled for release on on October 7 on Tesla Electric Company Recordings. The European version of the CD, which will be made available on November 7 via Frontiers Records, will contain two bonus tracks not found on the American version.

"Forever More" track listing:

01. Forever More
02. I Wanna Live
03. One Day At a Time
04. So What
05. Just in Case
06. Fallin' Apart
07. Breakin' Free
08. All Of Me
09. The First Time
10. Pvt. Ledbetter
11. In A Hole Again
12. The Game
13. My Way *
14. What a Shame (live) *

* Bonus tracks for Europe

For "Forever More", TESLA reunited with producer Terry Thomas, who was behind the boards for the band's 1994 gold-certified "Bust A Nut" album, and engineered by Michael Rosen who worked with TESLA on "Into The Now".

The band's world tour will kick off October 1 in Salt Lake City.

The band's DVD, "Comin' Atcha Live! 2008" was released July 15. It's the band's first DVD in 17 years (since 1991's "Five Man Video Band") and is filled with over two hours of live music, special behind-the-scenes footage, their fans, backstage, on stage and loose on the streets of Seattle.

In addition, TESLA's first double-disc collection of 32 of their best tracks and collectibles, "Gold", was made available on August 26 on Geffen/Universal Music Enterprises.

According to Digital Spy, METALLICA has maintained its hold over the UK album chart, posting a second week at No. 1 with "Death Magnetic".

R&B singer NE-YO achieves his highest position yet on the chart, debuting at No. 2 with "Year Of The Gentleman", while "The Cosmos Rocks", a collaboration between QUEEN and former FREE singer Paul Rodgers, enters at No. 5.

"Death Magnetic" debuted at No. 1 in a number of other countries all over the world, including Argentina, Belgium, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Holland, Norway, Poland, Sweden and the USA.

CHRIST INVERSION, the project featuring Philip Anselmo (DOWN, PANTERA, SUPERJOINT RITUAL) on guitar/backing vocals, Wayne Fabra (GRAVEYARD RODEO, NECROPHAGIA) on vocals, Jay Gracianette (SINKHOLE) on bass, Ross Karpelman (DOWN, THE MYSTICK KREWE OF CLEARLIGHT, DRIP, SOUTHERN ISOLATION) on keyboards, and Gary Herbert (GRAVEYARD RODEO) on drums, will release its self-titled debut album on October 28 via Housecore Records. The band's second demo, 1995's "13th Century Luciferian Rites", will also be made available at some point in the not-too-distant future.

Formed in 1994, CHRIST INVERSION was a short lived black/death metal project formed by Anton Crowley (a.k.a. Philip Anselmo). Most of their lyrics were based on horror films and Satanism. The band recorded two demos and then disbanded without ever recording a full-length album. The first demo, "Obey The Will Of Hell", was re-released in 2004 by Funeral in Hell Records. On MySpace the band describes its sound as "the venomous vomit of Satan!" and cites its influences as VENOM, CELTIC FROST and Satan.

Finnish gothic metallers CHARON have issued the following update:

"Our beloved friends of CHARON industry... We are not dead yet. We are somewhere between dormant and vivid. Last weekend at a secret location in Northern Finland we gathered to worship the Finnish God of beer, Karhu (Bear), and to write more new songs for our next album. We had hell of a good time with some hell of a good results. Please bear with us. Hiljaa hyvää tulee (freely translated: Gently!), as the common saying, by our old and wise friend Joki-Matti, goes."

German melodic metallers EDGUY will release their new album, "Tinnitus Sanctus", on November 14 via Nuclear Blast Records. . The CD was recorded at Gate Studios in Wolfsburg, Germany with producer Sascha Paeth.

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?

EDGUY recently shot a video for the song "Ministry Of Saints" in Belgrade, Serbia.

Finnish "dark metal" band BEFORE THE DAWN will release its fifth album, "Soundscape of Silence", in Scandinavia on October 29 via Stay Heavy Records (two days later in the rest of Europe). The recording and mixing process for the CD was completed in early July.

The track listing for the album is as follows:

01. Dying Sun
02. Exile
03. Silence
04. Dead Reflection
05. Hide Me
06. Fabrication
07. Saviour
08. Monsters
09. Cold
10. Last Song

"Appetite for Destruction", the classic 1987 debut album by Los Angeles-based hard rock band GUNS N' ROSES, was certified on September 23, 2008 by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) for U.S. sales in excess of 18 million copies. The LP has reportedly accumulated worldwide sales in excess of 28 million.

The album's original cover, based on the Robert Williams painting "Appetite for Destruction", depicted a robot rapist about to be punished by a metal avenger. After several music retailers refused to stock the album, they compromised and put the controversial cover art inside, replacing it with a cover depicting a cross and skulls of the five band members (designed by Billy White Jr., originally as a tattoo), each skull representing one member of the band: Izzy Stradlin, top skull; Steven Adler, left skull; Axl Rose, center skull; Duff McKagan, right skull; and Slash, bottom skull. The photographs used for the back of the album and liner notes were taken by Robert John.

In other news, GUNS N' ROSES' "Greatest Hits" collection, which was originally released in March of 2004, sold more than 4,500 copies in the United States last week alone (week ending September 21), bringing the total number of copies sold since its release to 4.26 million, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

"Plague of Butterflies", the new EP from Finnish doom metallers SWALLOW THE SUN, has entered the single chart in the band's home country at position No. 1.

An e-card for "Plague of Butterflies" can be accessed at this location. The CD was released on September 17 in Finland, September 22 in the UK and September 23 in the U.S. via Spinefarm Records.

Commented the band: "'Plague of Butterflies' is a story about an old hermit, deep woods, loneliness and the plague. It's one song in three parts and holds about 35 minutes of crushing gloom, beauty and despair. Music was originally ordered from us for a really interesting and big project, but the project was sadly abandoned. Because of this we are planning to use the music in different context — namely in a short movie — and we are in search for suitable partners to make this happen. We'll give more info on this later as things move on and wheels start to roll."

"Plague of Butterflies" track listing:

01. Losing the Sunsets
02. Plague of Butterflies
03. Evael 10:00

German melodic death metal hopefuls DEADLOCK will release their new album, "Manifesto", on November 17 and in the U.S. on January 6 via Lifeforce Records. The follow-up to 2007's "Wolves" was mixed by Jacob Hansen (MERCENARY, VOLBEAT, RAUNCHY) and will be released in several different formats:

Regular CD:

01. The Moribund Choir vs. The Trumpets Of Armageddon
02. Martyr To Science
03. Slaughter’s Palace
04. The Brave / Agony Applause
05. Deathrace
06. Fire At Will
07. Seal Slayer
08. Manifesto
09. Dying Breed
10. Altruism
11. Temple Of Love

Limited Digipack Edition:

01. The Moribund Choir vs. The Trumpets Of Armageddon
02. Martyr To Science
03. Slaughter’s Palace
04. The Brave / Agony Applause
05. Deathrace
06. Fire At Will
07. Seal Slayer
08. Manifesto
09. Dying Breed
10. Altruism
11. Temple Of Love
12. The Brave / Agony Applause (Acoustic Live Version)

Limited Box Edition:

01. The Moribund Choir vs. The Trumpets Of Armageddon
02. Martyr To Science
03. Slaughter’s Palace
04. The Brave / Agony Applause
05. Deathrace
06. Fire At Will
07. Seal Slayer
08. Manifesto
09. Dying Breed
10. Altruism
11. Temple Of Love
12. The Brave / Agony Applause (Acoustic Live Version)
13. Martyr To Spam - Planetakis vs. Deadlock DJ Morgoth Remixxx

The box edition is limited to 1,000 copies worldwide and will be available through selected mailorder services only, such as EMP, Nuclear Blast, Imperial and, of course, through the Lifeforce webstore. It contains the album in a six-panel digipack, an embroidered exclusive wristband and autographed portrait cards of all bandmembers packed in a nice digibox.

The artwork and design for "Manifesto" was handled by Adam Wentworth at www.the663.com, who has previously worked with BEYONCÉ, COHEED AND CAMBRIA and A LIFE ONCE LOST.

German power metallers PARAGON will release their new album, "Screenslaves", on November 14 via Massacre Records. The CD was produced by Uwe Lullis (ex-GRAVE DIGGER, REBELLION) at Black Solaris Studio in Frankfurt.

"Screenslaves" track listing:

01. Hellgore
02. Disconnected
03. Entombed
04. Screenslaves
05. Bloodfeast
06. The Blade In The Dark
07. Death Next Door
08. The Killing Hand
09. Waxworks
10. Larger Than Life (BACKSTREET BOYS cover)
11. L' Eredita ("Legacy" Italian version)
12. Screenslaves video clip (digipack bonus only)

PARAGON's latest album, "Forgotten Prophecies", was released last June 2007 via Remedy Records.

Resurrected late '80s/early '90s death metal outfit PESTILENCE will enter Hansen Studios in Ribe, Denmark mid-October to begin recording its new album, "Resurrection Macabre", for a 2009 release via Holland's Mascot Records. The band will record a total of 14 songs during the session — 11 new tracks and three classic PESTILENCE cuts as chosen by the fans.

To vote for your favorite PESTILENCE song for the band to re-record, visit www.pestilence.nl. The three tracks that receive the most votes will be re-recorded in the studio. Voting ends October 10, 2008.

Joining guitarist/vocalist Patrick Mameli in PESTILENCE's current recording lineup are Tony Choy (ATHEIST, CYNIC) on bass and Peter Wildoer (DARKANE, NON-HUMAN LEVEL) on drums. Patrick has previously described the band's new material as a modern fusion of "Testimony of the Ancients" (1991) and "Spheres" (1993), but even more technical and brutal.

U.D.O., the German band led by former ACCEPT frontman Udo Dirkschneider, celebrated its 20th anniversary by playing two special shows in Germany on April 30 in Solingen at Cobra and May 3 in Tuttlingen at Stadthalle. The three-hour Tuttlingen concert was filmed for a DVD and live CD, entitled "Mastercutor Alive" (see artwork below), to be released on September 26 on ZXY Music in three different formats:

* Double DVD including bonus material and double CD
* Single DVD without bonus material in digipack
* Double CD

Three songs from the CD — "Mastercutor", "Vendetta" and "Burning" — are available for streaming on the band's web site.

Check out pictures of the Tuttlingen show: Part 1, Part 2.

The track listing is as follows:

Disc 1:

01. Mastercutor
02. 24/7
03. They Want War
04. The Bullet And The Bomb
05. Midnight Mover
06. Vendetta
07. Mission No. X
08. Midnight Highway
09. The Wrong Side Of Midnight
10. Breaker
11. Guitar Solo
12. Princess Of The Dawn
13. One Lone Voice
14. Winterdreams

Disc 2:

01. Living For Tonite
02. Thunderball
03. Drum Solo
04. Man And Machine
05. Animal House
06. Metal Heart
07. Holy
08. Balls To The Wall
09. Fast As A Shark
10. Burning
11. Outro
12. I'm A Rebel

Bonus material:

* Road movie Russia tour (15 minutes)
* Road movie South America tour (15 minutes)
* Concert Belarus (30 minutes)

The DVDs will feature 5.1 Surround Sound.

U.D.O. released a "best-of" album, "Metallized - 20 Years of Metal", on November 30 via AFM Records. The CD booklet is filled with photos from the last 20 years and and includes liner notes written by Metal Hammer journalist Andreas Schöwe. The first 12 songs on the collection were chosen by fans via the official U.D.O. web site, while tracks 13 to 16 consist of two unreleased songs, an acoustic version of the ACCEPT classic "Balls to the Wall", and a live version of "The Bullet and the Bomb".

Commented the band: "After 10 years, we finally made it to Russia — Moscow and St. Petersburg. We had a great time and met a lot of great fans! The Moscow concert was maybe one of the top five club shows in our history, an unbelievably loud and exciting audience and a wonderful moment of metal! Thanks to everybody who helped to make this trip happen — M&S Promotion, Flaming Arts, Irond Records and most of all our fans! Keep the faith — the next shows in Russia will happen soon and we don't let you wait that long again! Promised!"