A brand new METALLICA track entitled "My Apocalypse" is available for streaming in its entirety at the group's official web site: Windows Media, Real Media, Quicktime.

You can also listen to the song below.

"My Apocalypse" Lyrics:

Claustrophobic, Crawl out of this skin
High explosive, Reach and pull that pin
Fear thy name: Extermination
Desecrating hail of fire

So we cross that line
Into the crypt; Total eclipse
Suffer unto my apocalypse

Deadly vision, Prophecy reveal
Death magnetic, Pulling closer still
Fear thy name: Annihilation
Desolating hail of fire

So we cross that line
into the crypt; total eclypse
Suffer unto my apocalypse

My Apocalypse

Crushing metal ripping skin
Tossing body manequins
Spilling blood bleeding gas

Mangled flesh snapping spines
Dripping bloody valentine
shattered face spitting glass

Split apart
Split apart
Split apart
Split

Spit it out

What makes me drift a little bit closer
Dead man takes the steering wheel
What makes me know what time to cross over
Want to repeat until i feel

See thru the skin the bones they are rattled
Future and past that disagree
Flesh falls away the bones they all shatter
Pass time to see the end in me

See the end in me

Claustrophobic, climb out of this skin
High explosive, Reach and pull that pin

Violate; annihilate
lose into my eyes
Obliterate; exterminate
If not accept; deny

Fear thy name as hell awakens
Destiny in hail of fire

So we cross that line
Into the crypt; total eclypse
Suffer unto my apocalypse

Tyrants awaken my apocalypse
Demon awaken my apocalypse
Heaven awaken my apocalypse
Suffer forever my apocalypse

"My Apocalypse" comes off METALLICA's much-anticipated new album, "Death Magnetic", which is scheduled for release worldwide on Friday, September 12. The CD will be available to download for Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock on the same day the album arrives in stores.

The band is offering the record for sale in numerous configurations, ranging from a digital-only release to a deluxe "coffin box" that will come with a bonus CD, a DVD, a T-shirt, guitar picks and other goodies.

"Death Magnetic" official track listing:

01. That Was Just Your Life
02. The End Of The Line
03. Broken, Beat & Scarred
04. The Day That Never Comes
05. All Nightmare Long
06. Cyanide
07. The Unforgiven III
08. The Judas Kiss
09. Suicide & Redemption
10. My Apocalypse

METALLICA will play two budget-priced shows in London and Berlin to launch "Death Magnetic", including the opening show on September 12 at the new 17,000-capacity O2 World arena in Berlin. METALLICA also plays London O2 arena on September 15, with tickets priced at £5 ($9), according to Billboard.com. Proceeds from both shows go to local charities.

"Licht", the new album from Germany's DIE APOKALYPTISCHEN REITER, is available for streaming in its entirety on the band's MySpace page (stream available until Friday, August 29 only). Due on August 29 via Nuclear Blast Records, the CD is the group's first to feature new guitar player Lady Cat-Man, who replaced Pitrone in February 2008.

DIE APOKALYPTISCHEN REITER previously stated about the upcoming album and new lineup, "Don't expect anything less than an absolute killer record! The sound is damn heavy, melodic and chock-full of surprises. Lady Cat-Man may look like an angel, but she's playing like the devil! Treat our metal sister real nice, she is part of the family now."

"Es Wird Schlimmer", the new video from DIE APOKALYPTISCHEN REITER, can be viewed here.

DIE APOKALYPTISCHEN REITER's sixth album, "Riders on the Storm", was released in August 2006 via Nuclear Blast.

DefSTAR Records/Sony Music Japan has just released "Jigoku-Retsuden", a new KISS greatest-hits CD (cover) featuring all-new recordings of 15 KISS classics. The tracks were recently recorded and feature Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Eric Singer and Tommy Thayer. A limited-edition version of the CD includes a bonus "Kissology Special" DVD with live footage from KISS' legendary 1977 performance at Budokan.

"Jigoku-Retsuden" (new recordings CD):

01. Deuce
02. Detroit Rock City
03. Shout It Out Loud
04. Hotter Than Hell
05. Calling Dr. Love
06. Love Gun
07. I Was Made For Lovin' You
08. Heaven's On Fire
09. Lick It Up
10. I Love It Loud
11. Forever
12. Christine Sixteen
13. Do You Love Me
14. Black Diamond
15. Rock And Roll All Nite

"Kissology Special" DVD (limited edition only):

Live At Budokan Tokyo, Japan '77

01. Detroit Rock City
02. Let Me Go, Rock 'n' Roll
03. Ladies Room
04. Firehouse
05. I Want You
06. Cold Gin
07. Nothin' To Lose
08. God Of Thunder
09. Rock And Roll All Nite
10. Shout It Out Loud
11. Black Diamond

Check out audio samples at this location.

Finnish melodic black metallers CATAMENIA will release their new album, "VIII - The Time Unchained", on October 24 via Massacre Records. The cover artwork, which was created by Anthony Clarkson, can be viewed here.

CATAMENIA recenty parted ways with singer Olli-Jukka Mustonen. The lead vocals in the band are now being handled by guitarist Ari Nissilä.

CATAMENIA's last CD, "Location: COLD", was released in August 2006 via Massacre Records. The CD was recorded, mixed and mastered at Mastervox Studios by Kakke Vähäkuopus and Immu Ilmarinen. The cover artwork was created by Anthony Clarkson.

AVA INFERI, the Portugal-based band whose lineup includes guitarist Rune Eriksen (a.k.a. ex-MAYHEM guitarist/songwriter Blasphemer), will enter the studio in November to begin recording its third album, "Blood Of Bacchus", for a 2009 release. Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Fireflies", "A Witch She Was, The Witch I Am", "Lights", "Last Sign of Summer" and "All the Colours of the Dark".

Commented Eriksen: "The studio has now been chosen and the majority of the votes landed on Top Room Studio (ULVER, ARCTURUS, MAYHEM) in Norway (again). We have been wandering those territories at earlier stages of our career but it's with renewed passion we enter the woods once more. Chief technician [Børge] Finstad + 1 will be supervising and doing the magick this album deserves.

"We will head into the studio (armed to the teeth with red wine) on Monday the 24th of November and finish off the ritual at Winter Solstice. I believe this is just enough time to capture what we have in store this time around.

"I'd say that as far the material goes, we are more than 80% done with the music, or perhaps closer to 85%, actually. All basic fundaments, tons of layers, rhythmics and vocal lines have been crafted and we are so very curious of the final outcome of this album. Emanating Bacchus in the bliss of winter...

"Some special guests will also appear this time, but all will be revealed when the time is right.

"In the meantime, watch out for our five-date Scandinavian tour kicking off in Tampere (Finland) the 8th of October!"

VREID, the Norwegian band formed by former WINDIR members Hváll (bass), Steingrim (drums) and Sture (vocals, guitar), has issued the following update:

"The recordings of the new album are more or less finished. We will continue the mixing during August/September, and we are currently trying out different mastering studios for the album. Things are going really well, and we can't wait to unleash the album in early 2009. Black, heavy and atmospheric are the keywords.

"The title of the album has been ready for a while; so we might as well reveal it. The new album will be entitled 'Milorg'. So those of you that know your WW2 history will understand that we continue to pay tribute to the Norwegian resistance during this period. 'Milorg' is the title of one of the songs on the album, while 'Alarm & Blücher' is among the others."

The cover artwork for "Godspeed on the Devil's Thunder", the new album from British extreme metallers CRADLE OF FILTH, can be viewed below.

"Godspeed on the Devil's Thunder" will be released on October 28 via Roadrunner Records. The 72-minute effort, which will have a special edition with an extra disc and bonus material, arrives just in time for Halloween, a holiday that fits CRADLE OF FILTH's blackened, ghostly aesthetic.

"Godspeed on the Devil's Thunder" is conceptual and is based on the well-documented, true-life fall from grace of a shadowy historical figure named Gilles de Rais, a wealthy French nobleman who was one of Joan of Arc's brothers-in-arms. He was best known, however, as a prolific serial killer who mixed prayers with his nightly murders as well as an aspiring alchemist. He was accused of a panoply of crimes, among them heresy, demonology and kidnapping. There's even an extreme fringe sect of historians who question de Rais' true status, with some convinced he was framed.

Regardless of viewpoint, leave it to CRADLE OF FILTH to dissect de Rais' biography, exploring subversive, inflammatory historical subject matter in its lyrics, taking an unjaundiced look at a controversial figure in European history, set to epic black metal music. The band profiled Hungarian countess Elizabeth Bathory, who attempted to preserve her youth by bathing in the blood of virgins, in the past and now moves forward by framing their latest album around the story of de Rais.

CRADLE OF FILTH's vocalist Dani Filth elaborated on the album's concept, saying, "By far this is our most extreme, dramatic and deeply disturbing album to date. The legend of Gilles de Rais has been given fresh, vampyrical life in this conceptual meisterwerk, swathed in pitch-black magic and a viciousness unsurpassed in the annals of CRADLE history. Screw what our detractors say, everyone who has heard this album has bruised their jaws on the pentagram-bejewelled floor."

"Godspeed On The Devil's Thunder" track listing:

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

German axe hero AXEL RUDI PELL will release his new his eighteenth offering, "Tales Of The Crown", via SPV Records on the following dates:

October 24: Germany
October 27: Rest of Europe
October 28: U.S./Canada

An audio sample of the cut "Ain't Gonna Win" is available for download at this location.

Commented Axel, "This song has an untypical ARP rhythm in some parts and sounds more modern than anything we did before. Of course you'll recognize that it's us...with a great catchy hookline. Enjoy!"

According to a press release, "Tales Of The Crown" is a "haunting" studio album featuring ten brand-new compositions. "Our fans will get just the kind of songs they have come to know and expect from me and my band," says Pell, adding, "plus a few little innovations." Axel Rudi Pell is referring to the contemporary touch which some of his latest tracks feature, mainly in terms of rhythm. "But don't worry, these modern approaches are only gradual and don’t affect the typical flair of my songs."

"Tales Of The Crown" was recorded at Gelsenkirchen's Redhouse Studios by the tried-and-tested lineup consisting of Axel Rudi Pell, American vocalist Johnny Gioeli, keyboardist Ferdy Doernberg, bassist Volker Krawczak and drummer Mike Terrana. The album was produced by Axel Rudi Pell and sound engineer Charlie Bauerfeind, who also mixed the CD. Like its highly successful predecessor, the new LP's cover artwork was created by Colombian artist Felipe Machado Franco.

"Tales Of The Crown" track listing:

01. Higher
02. Ain't Gonna Win
03. Angel Eyes
04. Crossfire
05. Touching My Soul
06. Emotional Echoes
07. Riding On An Arrow
08. Tales Of The Crown
09. Buried Alive
10. Northern Lights

Swedish black metal horde LORD BELIAL will release its new album, "The Black Curse", in September via Regain Records. The CD was recorded at Deadline Studios with producer Valle Adzic. "Sworn", a track from the album, is available for streaming at this location.

01. Pazuzu - Lord of Fevers and Plague
02. Trumpets of Doom
03. Sworn
04. Inexorable Retribution
05. Antichrist Reborn
06. Primordial Incantation
07. Devilish Enlightenment
08. Ascension of Lilith
09. Unorthodox Catharsis
10. Soul Gate

Norwegian masters of doom FUNERAL will release their new album, "As The Light Does The Shadow", on September 22 via Indie Recordings. One of the tracks, "In The Fathoms Of Wit And Reason", features a guest appearance by Robert Lowe (CANDLEMASS, SOLITUDE AETURNUS) on vocals.

"As The Light Does The Shadow" track listing:

01. The Will To Die
02. Those Fated To Fall
03. The Strength To End It
04. The Elusive Light
05. In The Fathoms Of Wit And Reason
06. Towards The End
07. Let Us Die Alone
08. The Absence Of Heaven
09. Hunger
10. Fallen One

Polish extreme metallers BEHEMOTH will release their first live album, "At the Arena ov Aion – Live Apostasy", in October 2008 via Regain Records. The CD will be available as digibook (15 tracks) and metalbox (including a patch, a guitar pic and bonus songs).

"At the Arena ov Aion – Live Apostasy" (see cover artwork below) track listing:

01. Rome 64 e.v
02. Slaying The Prophets Ov Isa
03. Antichristian Phenomenon
04. Demigod
05. From The Pagan Vastlands
06. Conquer All
07. Prometherion
08. Drum Solo
09. Slaves Shall Serve
10. As Above So Low
11. At The Left Hand Ov God
12. Summoning Ov The Ancient Ones
13. Christgrinding Avenue
14. Christians To The Lions
15. Sculpting The Throne Ov Death
16. Decade Of Therion
17. Chant For Ezkaton 2000 e.v
18. I Got Erection
19. Pure Evil & Hate

Century Media Records has has released the details for "The Ark of the Covenant - The Complete Century Media Years", a limited-edition collector's box from Swedish metallers TIAMAT. Limited to 3,000 copies worldwide, this noble box set also includes two exclusive audio CDs, a numbered authenticity certificate, as well as a comprehensive 74-pages booklet with all lyrics, terrific artwork, rare photos and extensive liner notes by Anders Iwers.

"The Ark of the Covenant - The Complete Century Media Years" includes:

* The Astral Sleep CD
* Clouds CD
* Live In Israel CD
* Wildhoney CD
* Wildlife CD
* Gaia CD
* A Deeper Kind Of Slumber CD
* Skeleton Skeletron CD
* Judas Christ CD
* Prey CD
* The Church Of Tiamat CD +
* Panopticon CD ++
* The Church Of Tiamat DVD

+ never-before-released audio CD for the first time and exclusively available in this box.

++ a collection of b-sides and rarities, exclusively available in this box."

European release dates for the box set are as follows:

Aug. 15 - Germany, Austria, Switzerland, BeNeLux
Aug. 20 - Sweden, Finland, Hungary
Aug. 25 - France
Aug. 26 - Spain, Portugal
Sep. 01 - Greece
Sep. 05 - Italy
Aug. 18 - UK, Denmark, Norway, Rest of Europe

TIAMAT guitarist Thomas Wyreson has announced his decision to leave the long-running Swedish metal group. He explained, "I've made a tough decision to quit the band. My last show with the guys [was] the Zeytinli Rock Fest in Turkey the 16th of August."

He added, "Just for the record, there are absolutely no personal problems or anything like that influencing my decision. It's just kinda hard to make everything work with the family etc."

Polish death metal veterans VADER have teamed up with Hertz Polska for the production and promotion a new energy drink called "Vader". The band's anniversary gig in Warsaw on August 30 will be the first opportunity for the fans to enjoy the unique taste of this new drink.

Hertz Polska is going to extend its co-operation with VADER to promote this energy drink on the Polish market. More details will follow soon.

Legendary vocalist Jeff Scott Soto (TALISMAN, JOURNEY, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN) will release his new solo album, "Beautiful Mess", on September 16 via Sewtoe Music through iTunes. Check out the cover artwork below (by Richard Mace).

"Beautiful Mess" track listing:

01. 21st Century
02. Cry Me A River
03. Gin And Tonic Sky
04. Hey
05. Broken Man
06. Mountain
07. Our Song
08. Eye
09. Bring It Home
10. Testify
11. Wherever U Wanna Go
12. Kick It

German power metallers PRIMAL FEAR have issued the following update:

"Well, the time has come to start officially with the writing sessions for our new album! We will be in Sweden at Magnus' [Karlsson, PRIMAL FEAR guitarist] studio in September to write a bunch of new tracks and do some pre-production. We've collected already some ideas and it sounds very promising. We will try to keep the great vibe of the live shows in the band... Of course, we will try to surprise all of you again with a new direction.

PRIMAL FEAR has set "16.6" as the working title of the follow-up to last year's "New Religion" album. The CD will be recorded in November/December 2008 for a tentative early 2009 release via Frontiers Records.

MEGADETH's official web site has posted an update on the group's forthcoming "Anthology: Set The World Afire" career-spanning 2-CD and digital collection, which is scheduled to be released September 30 by Capitol/EMI. There has been a change to the track listing which did not appear on a press release that was issued on Monday (August 18): specifically, "Foreclosure Of A Dream" has replaced "Sleepwalker" as track 16 on Disc 2. MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine commented: "As I have always said, 'it ain't official until you read it [on MEGADETH's official web site]!'"

"Anthology: Set The World Afire" features MEGADETH's top hits and fan favorites, a previously unreleased demo and two rare concert recordings. It is loaded with 35 electrifying tracks, among them MEGADETH's top hits, including "Trust", "A Tout Le Monde", "Insomnia" and "Train of Consequences". Also included are rare 1992 concert recordings of "Peace Sells" and "Symphony of Destruction", previously available only in limited release, the latter having never been released in the U.S. "High Speed Dirt" is a demo version, previously unreleased.

"Anthology: Set The World Afire" track listing:

Disc 1:

01. Mechanix
02. Rattlehead
03. Peace Sells
04. Wake Up Dead
05. Devils Island
06. Anarchy in the U.K.
07. Set The World Afire
08. Into The Lungs Of Hell
09. In My Darkest Hour
10. Holy Wars ... The Punishment Due
11. Tornado of Souls
12. Hangar 18
13. Take No Prisoners
14. Go To Hell
15. Sweating Bullets
16. Crown of Worms
17. High Speed Dirt [Demo]*

Disc 2:

01. Skin O' My Teeth
02. Ashes In Your Mouth
03. Breakpoint
04. Angry Again
05. Train of Consequences
06. Reckoning Day
07. A Tout Le Monde
08. The Killing Road
09. New World Order
10. Trust
11. She-Wolf
12. Insomnia
13. Prince of Darkness
14. Kill The King
15. Dread And The FugitiveMind
16. Foreclosure Of A Dream
17. Symphony of Destruction (live, Cow Palace, 1992) **
18. Peace Sells (live, Cow Palace, 1992)

* Previously unreleased
** Previously unreleased in the U.S.

According to The Boston Globe, legendary rockers AEROSMITH are heading back to the studio in October and will hit the road next spring. In the meantime, drummer Joey Kramer is staying busy with bluesman James Montgomery, playing dates as the KRAMER/MONTGOMERY BAND. "James has been around as long as we have, and we've always talked about playing together," Kramer told The Boston Globe. "He had a few dates and wondered if I'd be into it. I said, 'Sure.'" The gigs are September 12 at the Roxy and September 13 at the Academy of Music in Northampton.

ENGEL — the Gothenburg, Sweden-based quintet featuring guitarists Marcus Sunesson (ex-THE CROWN) and Niclas Engelin (PASSENGER, ex-GARDENIAN, IN FLAMES), drummer Mojjo (RELEVANT FEW, DRACENA) and vocalist Mangan Klavborn — is preparing to enter the studio with Danish producer Tue Madsen (THE HAUNTED, HIMSA, SICK OF IT ALL) to begin recording its sophomore album for an early 2009 release via SPV Records. More information will be made available soon.

Italian avant-garde metal band EPHEL DUATH has completed work on its new studio album, "Through My Dog's Eyes". The recording took place at Rome's Outer Sound Studio with producer Giuseppe Orlando (NOVEMBRE, KLIMT 1918). The guitars were laid down by Davide Tiso, the voice by Luciano Lorusso George and the drums by Marco Minnemann. The CD will be mastered today by Mika Jussila (H.I.M., NIGHTWISH) at Finnvox Studios in Helsinki, Finland. The artwork for the album is being created by Seldon Hunt (NEUROSIS, ISIS, SUNNO)))).

On his experience with the band, Minnemann comments: "EPHEL DUATH's new work is fuckin' awesome....it's the best example for intense, precise and focused songwriting. A very power and forceful statement of the band. I'm very happy and proud to being part of this album!"

As previously reported, Ben Weinman, founding member and guitarist of THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, makes a guest appearance on "Through My Dog's Eyes". Weinman composed the electronic parts of the song "Bark Loud".

Weinman commented on his experience working with EPHEL DUATH: "EPHEL DUATH is one of those bands that truly understand the essence of what experimental and fusion music should be about. Touring with them was an amazing experience and it is great to finally be collaborating in this way!"

Due to be released this October by Earache Records, "Through My Dog's Eyes" will feature the following track listing:

01. Gift
02. Promenade
03. Breed
04. Silent Door
05. Bella Morte
06. Nina
07. Guardian
08. Spider Shaped Leaves
09. Bark Loud

Swedish metallers REVENGIA have issued the following update:

"Andreas Tomasson has decided to stop singing with REVENGIA. Andreas came in when we were begun to work on 'Eraser' [the most recent REVENGIA album] and under the condition that it would be a project. Now he stayed longer than expected when we decided to work with REVENGIA as fully functional group. The time has come when he felt it was time to move on and concentrate on other projects. REVENGIA would like to thank Andreas for the time and effort he put into the band and wish him good look in the future.

"We are at the same time proud to announce our new singer Tobias Gustafsson. He has previous played bass and sang in bands like EUCHARIST, THE END, ARMAGEDDON and ETERNAL LIES. With Tobias we get a little bit darker sound, loads of energy and great lyrics (something he already contributed with on 'Eraser'). We are in full rehearsals for the first gig that we will play in our hometown Varberg, the first official REVENGIA gig here in many years. It will be the 30th of August with support act 647. After that we will dig in with the work of the new songs we written."

"Blood Of Knives", the new video from former MANOWAR guitarist ROSS THE BOSS, can be viewed below. The song comes off ROSS' new album, "New Metal Leader", which is scheduled for release on August 22 via AFM Records. According to a press release, Ross "continues his legacy with a true metal album that doesn't deny his past and displays his charismatic style of creating great music. Imagine a basket of first-class, stomping, ground shaking epic heavy metal in the style of 'Battle Hymns', 'Into Glory Ride', 'Hail To England' and 'Sign Of The Hammer' — this is exactly what you get here. . . Tracks like 'Blood Of Knives', 'God Of Dying' and 'I Got The Right' would have been highlights even on MANOWAR's glorious releases from 1982-1988. The battle shouts of 'We Will Kill' haunt you to the day you die, the thrilling up-tempo smasher 'Death & Glory' and a goodtime-rocker like 'May The Gods Be With You' then round off the whole spectrum of ROSS THE BOSS. Add to this the majestic epic tracks 'God Of Dying' and 'Immortal Son' (both in the tradition of eternal hymns like 'Bridge Of Death' and 'Guyana (Cult Of The Damned)', every fan of the early MANOWAR must be crying out in joy!"

"New Metal Leader" will be available in the following formats: standard CD, limited digipack CD and limited two-LP gatefold vinyl. The limited digipack and the gatefold vinyl will contain two bonus tracks.

"New Metal Leader" track listing:

01. I. L. H. (0:49)
02. Blood of Knives (3:23)
03. I Got the Right (5:44)
04. Death & Glory (3:54)
05. Plague of Lies (4:30)
06. God of Dying (5:28)
07. May the Gods Be with You (4:11)
08. Constantines Sword (4:41)
09. We Will Kill (4:34)
10. Matador (4:48)
11. Immortal Son (6:16)

Professionally filmed video footage of METALLICA performing its new single, "The Day That Never Comes", for the first time last night (Friday, August 22) during the band's headlining set on the main stage at the UK's Leeds Festival can be viewed below (courtesy of Metallica.com).

The band played a hit-packed set, which included "…And Justice For All" and "Master Of Puppets", and also previewed another brand new track, "Cyanide", from the forthcoming CD.

The group's setlist was as follows:

01. Creeping Death
02. Fuel
03. Ride The Lightning
04. Harvester of Sorrow
05. Welcome Home (Sanitarium)
06. Cyanide
07. ...And Justice For All
08. No Remorse
09. The Day That Never Comes
10. Master Of Puppets
11. Motorbreath
12. Nothing Else Matters
13. Sad But True
14. One
15. Enter Sandman
- - - - -
16. Last Caress
17. So What
18. Seek And Destroy

On METALLICA's new album, "Death Magnetic":

Lars Ulrich (drums): "I can honestly say that this album is the best album we could possibly have made. Can I guarantee that people will like it as much as they like our older albums? No, I can't; I can't offer any guarantees. But I promise you that we could not have made a better album."

Kirk Hammett (guitar): "This album is some of the best music we've made in the past 15 years. A lot of the albums we made post-'Black' album were us trying to get away from a perceived METALLICA sound. That was the right thing for us at the time, but we don't feel we haveto do that anymore. And to be truthful, it's fun to play fast, to be heavy. We're now all on the same page with regards to that. I'd even go so far as to say that we even missed playing that way."

James Hetfield: "This album has a hunger and a youthfulness about it. We had a new producer, a new bass player… and we worked really hard to get it right. So when you ask me if it is good, if it's really good, I can honestly say, 'Yes, it is!'"

Kirk Hammett: "I think we're all aware of the danger of becoming a band that exists in the past. I think any band that's been around as long as we have has to face that. But ['Death Magnetic'] is going to prove to people that we never lost our ability to make an album like this. We just chose not to. And I'll stand by those words."

Remaining STRATOVARIUS members Timo Kotipelto (vocals), Jens Johansson (keyboards), Lauri Porra (bass) and Jörg Michael (drums) have officially recruited Finnish guitarist Matias Kupiainen to replace the group's founding member and main songwriter Timo Tolkki. The news of Kupiainen's addition to the band was broken exclusively by Petri Silas of Finland's Soundi magazine, who spoke to both Kotipelto and Kupiainen for the publication's August 2008 issue (available on newsstands as of August 20).

Matias Kupiainen (MySpace page) is a 25-year-old native of Helsinki who has studied music theory and music technology in places such as the esteemed Sibelius Academy. He is heavily involved in making music for the upcoming album and used to be a big STRATOVARIUS and power metal fan around 10 years ago. Kupiainen co-owns a recording studio and is currently finalizing two solo projects: FIST IN FETUS and SHRED CIRCUS.

Kupiainen was bassist Lauri Porra's "find." When Lauri played bass as a member of the house band at the release party for the "Guitar Heroes" album last November in Helsinki, he took notice of the then-unknown Kupiainen.

Kotipelto tells Soundi magazine that Matias is probably the best guitarist he has ever seen and a fine addition to the ranks. He also confirms the rumor that Tuomas Wäinölä from his solo band KOTIPELTO was considered for the spot. However, the idea was soon rejected as this would in effect mean the merger of the two bands (Lauri plays bass in both groups and Jens Johansson has subbed for KOTIPELTO's Janne Wirman every once in a while).

Kotipelto goes on to correct some rumors that have generated from and around Tolkki:

1) Contrary to what Tolkki has said, there will not be a new album release from STRATOVARIUS this fall featuring the band's early lineup.

2) The band's deal with Sanctuary was not worth the three million Tolkki claimed it was upon its signing.

3) Kotipelto's reluctance to do a "STRATOVARIUS farewell world tour" didn't stem from any resentment towards Tolkki, but from the fact that without consulting anyone, Tolkki allegedly decided by himself that the farewell jaunt should be done with Jari Kainulainen, not Lauri Porra, on bass.

However, Kotipelto's attitude towards Tolkki in the Soundi interview is generally very respectful. He goes on record as saying that Tolkki has made a number of excellent power metal songs and was the leader of STRATOVARIUS for many years because of his prowess as a producer and a songwriter.

Both Kupiainen and Kotipelto describe the new material to Soundi as more aggressive and progressive than the last albums made with Tolkki at the helm. They are looking forward to presenting the stuff to Jörg Michael in September as the fivesome will begin rehearsing and maybe recording for the next release.

Writing on the band's official web site, Jens Johansson said, "Earlier this summer, Timo K, Jens and Lauri got together with a guitar player in a forest cottage in west Finland and wrote and arranged some songs. It went extremely well, and we are very happy with the material, the direction, and the general vibe in the band.

"We now have over 15 songs written and demoed already, but probably not all of these will make it to the actual album.

"We are happy to confirm that our new guitar player is Matias Kupiainen. He was the only guy we even considered seriously. This interesting fellow was born May 11th, 1983 and is a native of Helsinki, Finland.

"Next week, Jörg and Jens will come to Finland as we have booked three weeks of rehearsals and recordings in another cottage. We will then work more intensely on the songs in a real band rehearsal type of situation."


So far, the name issue is yet to be decided, i.e. the situation is the same as it was a couple of months ago — the guys have not yet decided whether to continue using the name STRATOVARIUS for their new band. Some of the members want to, some of them don't, some would opt for the short version STRATO, and for some of them it doesn't make a difference one way or the other.

Massacre Records has set an August 29, 2008 European release date for "Lost Commandments", the new DVD from long-running Florida-based extreme metallers MALEVOLENT CREATION. The one-hour, 45-minute disc features two complete shows from the band — Party.San Open Air festival (August 9-11, 2007 in Bad Berka, Germany) and Paris, France (2004).

The track listing is as follows:

01. Eve Of The Apocalypse
02. Multiple Stab Wounds
03. Coronation Of Our Domain
04. Monster
05. Slaughter Of Innocence
06. Manic Demise
07. Infernal Desire
08. Living In Fear
09. Blood Brothers
10. The Will To Kill
11. Malevolent Creation
12. Behind-The-Scenes Footage
13. Death March
14. Preemptive Strike
15. The Will To Kill
16. Captured
17. Blood Brothers
18. Kill Zone
19. Monster
20. To Die Is At Hand
21. Multiple Stab Wounds
22. Infernal Desire
23. Living In Fear

Swedish "viking metallers" THYRFING have set "Hels Vite" as the title of thier new album. Due in Europe on October 22 via Regain Records, the CD was co-produced (with the band) by Jörgen Svensson of Tyroon Production and the cover artwork (see below) was created by the Swedish artist Mikael Schelén. The layout and the photos were handled by Jens Rydén.

The track listing is as follows:

01. En Sista Litania
02. Från Stormens Öga
03. Isolation
04. Hels Vite
05. Griftefrid
06. Becoming The Eye
07. Tre Vintrar – Två Solar

A video teaser for the CD can be viewed below.

THYRFING last year announced the addition of Jens Rydén as the band's new vocalist. Jens is best known as founding member and ex-vocalist of NAGLFAR and for his one-man army PROFUNDI.

THYRFING's fifth album, "Farsotstider" (in English: "Times of Plague"), was released in November 2005 via Regain Records. The follow-up to 2002's "Vansinnesvisor" (Hammerheart Records) was recorded at EMI Studio in Stockholm with producer Henrik Edenhed (LAMBRETTA, THE SOUNDS).

THYRFING's current lineup:

Jens Rydén - Vocals
Patrik Lindgren - Guitar
Joakim "Jocke" Kristensson - Drums
Kimmy Sjolund - Bass
Peter Lof - Synthesizers

A 30-second preview of the new AC/DC single, "Rock 'N Roll Train", has been posted on the band's official MySpace page.

"Black Ice" features 15 new tracks from brothers Angus and Malcolm Young, Brian Johnson, Cliff Williams, and Phil Rudd. The album was recorded in Vancouver in just eight weeks with producer Brendan O'Brien, who has previously worked with PEARL JAM, BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN and VELVET REVOLVER, among others.

"Black Ice" will be sold in the U.S. exclusively at Wal-Mart and Sam's Club retail locations at the special price of $11.88. Online, the CD will be available with free shipping and handling via the band's web site, www.acdc.com. It will also be sold at Walmart.com and Samsclub.com.

As one of America's largest music retailers, Wal-Mart will join with Columbia Records to launch multiple activities for fans in celebration of the new CD album, including new product features and promotions to come this fall that will bring fans closer to one of history's greatest rock bands.

"No Bull: The Director's Cut", a newly edited, comprehensive DVD and of the band's famed July 1996 Plaza De Toros De Las Ventas concert in Madrid, Spain, will be released on DVD and Blu-ray September 9, 2008.

"Black Ice" is AC/DC's first new studio effort since 2000's "Stiff Upper Lip".

The legendary rockers are slated to begin an 18-month world tour in October, with the trek reportedly kicking off on around Halloween in Chicago.

"Black Ice" track listing:

01. Rock 'N Roll Train
02. Skies On Fire
03. Big Jack
04. Anything Goes
05. War Machine
06. Smash 'N Grab
07. Spoilin' For A Fight
08. Wheels
09. Decibel
10. Stormy May Day
11. She Likes Rock 'N Roll
12. Money Made
13. Rock 'N Roll Dream
14. Rocking All The Way
15. Black Ice