"Next Closed Door", the new video from 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), vocalist Mangan Klavborn, and bassist Michael Håkansson (ex-EVERGREY) — can be viewed below. The clip was filmed in Belgrade, Serbia with Rock The Nation. The track comes off ENGEL's debut album, "Absolute Design", which received its long-awaited U.S. release on May 20 via SPV/Steamhammer.

An audio interview with ENGEL guitarist Niclas Engelin conducted by Karma E. Omowale of the FourteenG metalzine on April 26, 2008 can be heard at this location.

ENGEL will support SYSTEM OF A DOWN frontman Serj Tankian on June 11 at Train in Aarhus, Denmark.

IN FLAMES frontman Anders Fridén helped his old friend Niclas (both played together in PASSENGER) record demos and assisted in the production of the "Absolute Design" CD at Dug-Out Studios in Uppsala with Daniel Bergstrand (producer of IN FLAMES, MESHUGGAH).

Swedish powerhouse GRAND MAGUS, which features in its ranks current SPIRITUAL BEGGARS frontman Janne Christoffersson, will release its fourth full-length album, "Iron Will", in Europe on June 9 via Rise Above Records and in the U.S. on July 8 via Candlelight Records. The CD was once again recorded in Stockholm with Oneman acting as engineer and co-producer.

"Iron Will" track listing:

01. Like the Oar Strikes the Water
02. Fear Is the Key
03. Höuding
04. Iron Will
05. Silver Into Steel
06. The Shadow Knows
07. Self Deceiver
08. Beyond Good and Evil
09. I Am The North

As previously erported, GRAND MAGUS has been confirmed for this year's Bloodstock Open Air festival, set to take place August 15-17, 2008 at Catton Hall in Derbyshire, England.

GRAND MAGUS in 2006 announced the addition of drummer Sebastian to the group's ranks. Sebastian joined the band as the replacement for Fredrik "Trisse" Liefvendahl, who left the group in March 2006.

GRAND MAGUS' third album, "Wolf's Return", came out in 2005.

Watch GRAND MAGUS' video for the song "Kingslayer" (taken from "Wolf's Return"):

Finnish doom metallers SWALLOW THE SUN will release their new EP, "Plague of Butterflies", on September 15 via Spinefarm Records.

Check out the EP artwork below.

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

The album also includes the rare "Out of This Gloomy Light" demo. There were only three demos sent out, so this is really rare stuff and holds some of the darkest and coldest moments ever recorded by SWALLOW THE SUN.

"Out of This Gloomy Light" demo track listing:

01. Through Her Silvery Body
02. Out of This Gloomy Light
03. Under the Waves
04. Swallow (Horror Pt. 1)

Russia's The MetalList has posted fan-filmed video footage of SWALLOW THE SUN's performance at the Doom Festival III, which took place April 19, 2008 at club Tochka in Moscow. Watch one of the clips below.

Photos from the concert can be viewed at The MetalList.

"Hope", the third album by SWALLOW THE SUN, entered the Finnish national chart at position No. 3 back in February 2007. The follow-up to 2005's "Ghosts of Loss" was recorded at Seawolf Studios in Helsinki and was mastered at Finnvox studios with Minerva Pappi. The LP features a vocal appearance by Jonas Renkse of KATATONIA on the song "The Justice of Suffering".

Former STRATOVARIUS and current REVOLUTION RENASISSANCE mainman/guitarist Timo Tolkki has issued the following update:

"Just thought you might want to hear this and end the speculations.

"Today I made an interview with a biggest heavy metal magazine Rock Hard in Germany with a longtime journalist friend of the band, Mr. Frank Albrecht.

"I was wondering when he was talking about all the time 'now that STRATO won't continue without you'. I told him that as far as I know they are and he said that no, because Jörg Michael [former STRATOVARIUS drummer] sent him a statement a week ago that will be in the next issue of Rock Hard.

"Jörg says, among other things, 'We thought about continuing with the name STRATO, but we came into a conclusion that it is Tolkki's band and therefore we are not going to do it'.

"I believe this sets the record straight and is also the right decision. How you view this in the light of the recent statements of Jörg & co, is entirely up to you. I just thought that you would like to know how things are and the Germans can read it from the next issue of Rock Hard.

"They will probably issue some kind of statement together with that.

"Now let's get back to music!"

According to The Pulse of Radio, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS drummer Chad Smith has joined the new "supergroup" started by former VAN HALEN frontman Sammy Hagar. The band, tentatively called CHICKENFOOT, also features ex-VAN HALEN bassist Michael Anthony and guitar virtuoso Joe Satriani and will enter the studio to begin recording its debut album this summer. Smith told The Pulse of Radio he got involved in the project by owning a home near Hagar's place in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. "If you're in Cabo, of course you know Sammy 'cause he's, you know, he rules the joint," he said. "And he's a really nice man, he's a great guy actually. Somehow he's taken a liking to me, and we played in Vegas, and we played some cover songs — we're a good cover band now. He got pretty excited about it and it actually sounded really good. Him and Joe got together up at his place and they wrote like five things together, and we'll see."

Hagar himself spoke about the project in a recent interview, explaining, "We've written eight, nine songs...When people hear the music, it's LED ZEPPELIN. It's as good as that. I know that's a mighty bold statement...We could rival ZEP."

Hagar sang with VAN HALEN from 1986 to 1996, and again on a 2004 reunion tour, but left both times after feuding with guitarist Eddie Van Halen. Hagar said recently about his relationship with the troubled guitar hero, "I love Eddie, but we don't love each other. I heard that he got cleaned up again. Hopefully he stays that way and doesn't die, because before we both die we have to be friends again."

Chad Smith has been playing with former DEEP PURPLE bassist/singer Glenn Hughes as well as his own jazz combo since the CHILI PEPPERS came off the road last year after touring in support of 2006's "Stadium Arcadium" CD.

Finnish metallers OMNIUM GATHERUM recently finished recording their fourth album, "The Redshift", at Sound Supreme Studios in Hämeenlinna, Finland with Janne Saksa and SouthEastSounds studio in Karhula with Teemu Aalto. The CD was mixed at Unisound Studio in Örebro, Sweden by Dan Swanö (EDGE OF SANITY, HAIL OF BULLETS, NOVEMBERS DOOM).

"The Redshift" track listing:

01. Nail
02. A Shadowkey
03. Chameleon Skin
04. No Breaking Point
05. The Return
06. Shapes And Shades
07. The Redshifter
08. Greeneyes
09. The Second Flame
10. Song For December
11. Distant Light Highway

Commented Swanö: "I hate bands like OMNIUM GATHERUM; they are so good, it pisses me off!!! Their fine blend of melody and aggression is so good I actually thought about stealing the record and release it as my own. :) You won't find a better album in years."

OMNIUM GATHERUM last year parted ways with bassist Janne Markkanen and replaced him with Eerik Purdon (CRYSTAL BLAZE, AMORAL).

The band's latest CD, "Stuck Here on Snakes Way", entered the Finnish chart at position No. 31. The album, which was released on April 2, 2007 via Candlelight Records (one day later in North America), was recorded during November-December 2006 at Southeast Studios in Karhula, Finland with producer Teemu Aalto.

"Stuck Here on Snakes Way" marked the band's first release with vocalist Jukka Pelkonen, who joined the group in May 2006.

Legendary hard rock band MOTÖRHEAD has set "Motorizer" as the title of its new album, due before the end of the year via SPV Records. The follow-up to 2006's "Kiss of Death" is being recorded at FOO FIGHTERS frontman/ex-NIRVANA drummer Dave Grohl's Studio 606 in Northridge, California.

"Kiss of Death" entered the national album charts in the following countries: Germany: #4, Norway: #9, Sweden: #13, Austria: #20, Switzerland: #26, U.K.: #45, Denmark: #53. The CD was recorded at the Paramount studios in Los Angeles with Cameron Webb, who also worked with the group on 2004's "Inferno". The album includes guest appearances by POISON guitarist C.C. Deville and ALICE IN CHAINS bassist Mike Inez.

As previously reported, the life and career of MOTÖRHEAD frontman Lemmy Kilmister is being celebrated in a new documentary, tentatively titled "Lemmy" and slated for release in 2009.

The film promises fans more access than ever before to Kilmister's life, and includes interviews with past and present bandmates and such peers/admirers as Slash, Dave Grohl, THE CLASH's Mick Jones, Alice Cooper, Steve Vai and wrestling superstar Triple H.

Directors/producers Greg Olliver and Wes Orshoski (both of whom have contributed to Billboard) are shooting the film on a combination of HD video and super 16 mm film. Other giants from the world of metal and hard rock will appear in the film as well, with details to be announced. "We haven't heard the word 'no' yet after any interview request," Olliver says.

Read more at Billboard.com.

Watch a "teaser" for the movie below.

Veteran Welsh death metallers DESECRATION have inked a three-album deal with Metal Age Productions. The group is currently in the studio working on its sixth studio album, tentatively due later this year.

Commented the band: "Both us and Metal Age are very excited about the deal and they have promised to push us in all the right ways in order to spread the DESECRATION name as far and wide as possible.

"The first release is to be the latest and sixth original album. Recording is nearly finished and all the preparation work that goes alongside a new album is well under way, with a hopeful late summer release.''

DESECRATION's most recent album, "Process Of Decay", came out in 2005.

For more information, visit www.myspace.com/desecrationuk.

Norwegian black metallers GORGOROTH will release a new live album, entitled "Live in Grieghallen", in June via Regain Records. According to a press release, the CD was recorded live at Grieghallen in Bergen, Norway by Eirik "Pytten" Hundvin and features Infernus on bass and guitar, Gaahl on vocals, and Garghuf on drums.

"Live in Grieghallen" was mixed and mastered by Nico Elgstrand (ENTOMBED) and features all the GORGOROTH "essential songs" from the band's back catalog performed live.

"Live in Grieghallen" track listing:

01. Bergtrollets Hevn
02. Destroyer
03. The Rite of Infernal Invocation
04. Forces of Satan Storms
05. Possessed (by Satan)
06. Unchain My Heart!!!
07. Profetens Åpenbaring
08. Revelation of Doom

Recording lineup:

Infernus - Guitar, bass
Gaahl - Vocals
Teloch - Session guitar
Garghuf - Session drums

Album info:

All music and lyrics by Infernus, except track 1 (lyrics by Hat), track 2 (music by Tormentor) and track 4 (music by King). Recorded live in studio in 2007/2008. Engineered by Pytten at Grieghallen Studios in Bergen and Nico Elgstrand at Threeman Recordings in Stockholm. All bass re-recorded by Infernus at Threeman Recordings. Mixed by Nico Elgstrand. Mastered at Cutting Room in Stockholm by Infernus and Mats Lindfors. Cover design by Magnus Wolfhart.

Video footage of GORGOROTH's infamous February 1, 2004 concert in Krakow, Poland will finally will see the light of day. Metal Mind Productions will release the first-ever GORGOROTH DVD, entitled "Black Mass Krakow 2004", featuring the legendary Polish concert, on June 9 in Europe and June 10 in the U.S.

Check out photos from the gig at this location.

GORGOROTH guitarist Infernus recently announced plans to "commence legal proceedings" against GORGOROTH singer Gaahl and bassist King ov Hell over the rights to the group's name. "If everything goes as planned, the case could go before the courts in June this year," according to a posting on the guitarist's web site. "Infernus is considering not only taking the band name conflict before the courts, but also the matter of certain allegations and untruths propagated about him."

Long-running Israeli extreme metallers SALEM have set a June 6 release date for their new DVD, entitled "Salem Underground". The band will play live that night in Tel Aviv with legendary Florida death metallers OBITUARY and the new DVD will be available for the first time at the concert. According to the band, the disc "is a collection of performances from four different shows. The concept for this DVD was to mix the recorded audio (in stereo) but to leave it unedited to maintain the rawest live experience possible."

"Salem Underground" includes the following:

Concert DVD (region free PAL, stereo)

01. Foreplay (drums solo)
02. Strife
03. The Fading
04. Blood
05. Old Wounds
06. The Edge of the Void
07. Resentment (rehearsal)
08. Slave
09. Eyes to Match a Soul
10. Freezing Moon (with MAYHEM vocalist Attila Csihar)
11. Deathcrush (with MAYHEM vocalist Attila Csihar)
12. Amona
13. Flames
14. Blood (rehearsal)

Bonus material:

* Black and Blue and White - The History of Salem 1985-2003 (32-minute documentary)

Subtitles: English

Audio CD:

01. Strife
02. Blood
03. Slave (quartet intro)
04. Edge of the Void
05. The Fading
06. Slave 2007
07. Amona
08. Eyes to Match a Soul
09. Old Wounds
10. Flames
11. Foreplay (drums solo)
12. Strife (single version)
13. Resentment (rehearsal session for Ynet)
14. Deathcrush (with MAYHEM vocalist Attila Csihar)

"Salem Underground" will include a 12-page booklet with exclusive band pictures, credits and liner notes.

The DVD's artwork was designed by SALEM guitarist Nir Gutraiman.

SALEM released its latest album, "Necessary Evil", in June 2007 via Season of Mist. The follow-up to 2005's "Strings Attached" includes a 27-minute piece entitled "Once Upon a Lifetime Parts I - V".

A two-minute trailer for "Fallen Sanctuary", the new album from the Austrian symphonic melodic metal band SERENITY, can be viewed below.

SERENITY will release "Fallen Sanctuary" via Napalm Records on the following dates:

August 27 - Finland
August 29 - Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxemburg
September 1 - Rest of Europe
September 9 – USA/Canada

The CD was mixed by Jacob Hansen (RAUNCHY, INVOCATOR), who "has provided a state-of-the-art sound for SERENITY's brilliant new offerings," according to a press release.

"Fallen Sanctuary" track listing:

01. All Lights Reversed
02. Rust Of Coming Ages
03. Coldness Kills
04. To Stone She Turned
05. Fairytales
06. The Heartblood Symphony
07. Velatum
08. Derelict
09. Sheltered (By The Obscure)
10. Oceans Of Ruby
11. Journey's End (limited-edition bonus track)

SERENITY's debut album, entitled "Words Untold & Dreams Unlived", came out in April 2007.

For more information, visit www.myspace.com/serenitybandtyrol.

According to a posting on the ALICE COOPER fan site SickThingsUK, Cooper will release his new album, "Along Came A Spider", in North America on July 29. The CD was co-produced by Greg Hampton and Danny Saber in Los Angeles.

Alice recently told Billboard.biz that his forthcoming LP is "a real 'Alice' album. Conceptually, it's going to be pretty interesting."

Cooper wouldn't reveal too many details, but said the album is based on a fictional serial killer named Spider, who wraps his victims in a silk web. "Every song is sort of a letter to the police," he explains. "They think they're investigating it from the outside, but he's actually woven them into the whole thing."

"Along Came A Spider" track listing (in alphabetical order):

01. Catch Me
02. Hungry
03. I Am The Spider
04. I Know Where You Live
05. (In Touch With) Your Feminine Side
06. Killed By Love
07. Salvation
08. The One That Got Away
09. Vengeance Is Mine
10. Wake The Dead
11. Wrapped In Silk

Kreator will enter the Titonus studios in Berlin on July 20th to record the highly anticipated follow up to their 2005 release" Enemy of God".

For the yet untitled album the band will be working with German top producer Moses Schneider.

"The pre production in our rehearsal studios went really smooth" says bandleader Mille Petrozza " Moses´s way of working with bands takes place more on an emotional then on a technical level, wich means the album will sound very raw and direct. We´re trying to capture Kreator´s live energy and will be using nice vintage analog equipment for the recordings this time. Expect a massacre!"

The release date for the album, which will be mixed by Colin Richardson ( Machine Head, Slipknot etc) in London, will be January 2009, followed by an extensive world tour. Stay tuned for more details, a complete re-launch of the "Terrorzone" and studio reports soon!

Reactivated cult German progressive metallers SIEGES EVEN will release their first-ever live album, "Playgrounds", in July via InsideOut Music. The CD will contain ten songs from the "A Sense Of Change", "The Art Of Navigating By The Stars" and "Paramount" albums recorded during the first leg of the band's "Paramount" tour 2007-2008.

"Playgrounds" release dates:

Germany, Austria, Switzerland: July 25
Rest of Europe: July 28
North America: July 29

"Playgrounds" track listing:

01. When Alpha And Omega Collide
02. Tidal
03. Unbreakable
04. The Waking Hours
05. Iconic
06. These Empty Places
07. Duende
08. Paramount
09. The Lonely Views Of Condors
10. The Weight

SIEGES EVEN's latest CD, entitled "Paramount", last year entered the Greek album chart at position No. 46. Released in North America on October 10, 2007 via Inside Out Music, the CD's cover artwork can be seen at this location. The photo was taken by British artist David J. Nightingale, while Thomas Ewerhard was responsible for the actual cover design.

SIEGES EVEN's current lineup consists of Arno Menses (vocals), Oliver Holzwarth (bass), Markus Steffen (guitars) and Alex Holzwarth (drums, RHAPSODY).

Florida-based death metallers OBITUARY have issued the following update:

"We have been doing a lot of travelling to make these [European] shows, but we are having a blast. It was great to finally get to Serbia for the fist time and have a awesome show. DESTRUCTION and TESTAMENT, who are both good friends, were also playing so it was good to see and hang out with them. It has been a while since we played in Greece, so it was also good to get back here. Last night in Athens was a sick show and we thank all of you for coming out. Today we have our second show in Greece and we are here and ready to go!!!"

Check out photos at this location.

OBITUARY's latest album, "Xecutioner's Return", was released last summer via Candlelight Records. The CD was mixed at Redroom Recorders and was mastered in June at Morrisound Studios in Tampa. The band once again worked with artist Andreas Marschall, who has previously created the art for "The End Complete" and the group's last record, "Frozen in Time".

Heavy metal musician and journalist Chris "Professor" Black, perhaps best known as the frontman of SUPERCHRIST and as a longtime contributor to Metal Maniacs, has confirmed the first two releases for his new label, appropriately named Planet Metal.

"Real life kicked me out long ago, and now I couldn't get back in even if I wanted to," he explains. "Making music is my life, and releasing records is a natural way of keeping busy between gigs. The future may bring some literary publishing into the mix, but for now, the focus is on bringing killer metal recordings to the worldwide underground. Planet Metal releases won't be available from iTunes or at Best Buy. You'll need to rely on your local shops and underground distros instead!"

One of Planet Metal's first releases will be a 7" featuring SENTENCED's "Glow of 1000 Suns" and "Amok Run", two scorching demo tracks which date to 1993 and have remained unknown outside of the tape-trading circuit.

Also scheduled is the debut album from WASTELANDER, entitled Wardrive". WASTELANDER hails from Infernal City, Michigan and plays post-apocalyptic black metal, a guaranteed new favorite for fans of VENOM, AMEBIX, ABIGAIL and NIFELHEIM.

Both the SENTENCED 7" and WASTELANDER CD will be available in June. For more information, visit www.myspace.com/planetmetal.

On June 5, EDGUY singer Tobias Sammet's solo project AVANTASIA will kick off its summer tour in Huttwill, Switzerland. Two days later, AVANTASIA will be one of the main acts at Sweden Rock Festival before it makes its way to Russia, Japan, Mexico, Argentina, Chile and Brazil. Sammet, who is currently rehearsing with the rest of the group, answered the following questions via his official web site about the upcoming tour.

Q: Tell us a good reason to see AVANTASIA live this summer!

Sammet: "Well, if you wanna see the mother of all so-called metal operas on stage, this is your one and only chance in your life to hear songs like 'Reach Out For The Light' sung by a legion of the best vocalists in the world, played by killer musicians. Wherever we play, we bring the whole production. We have never played live before and this will never happen again, it will be huge and majestic. All those other bands around have played for years and they'll surely come back again, if you miss out on AVANTASIA, you'll regret it even after ten years, 'cause we won't come back!"

Q: So there will be old and new material in the setlist?

Sammet: "Of course! We have released three albums, all of them define AVANTASIA. I don't love everything I have done eight years ago, but the 'Metal Opera' albums are an important part of me. I am looking forward to play many old songs. That's what people wanna hear and honestly: Those songs sound amazingly powerful in the rehearsing room. Wait until you'll hear the choirs and the orchestration live."

Q: You only play 14 shows around the world, a lot of people want to see the project and you could easily play a 100 shows world tour. Why don't you play more shows?

Sammet: "I would love to, but we have a giant show with a giant crew and many musicians involved. You just cannot play everywhere, because we didn't wanna downsize the show. I've been asked for AVANTASIA shows since the first album was released eight years ago. People expect a magical show, and I won't make compromises. AVANTASIA is an epic project, so has to be the show."

Q: You had many musicians on the album, was it difficult to organize the different people and their schedules for the live-mission?

Sammet: "Jesus, yes it was. Not everybody could make a commitment immediately, although everybody would have loved to be involved for the whole tour, because it's not only something special for the audience, but for us musicians as well. It's an exciting constellation and a chance to have an impact on the whole scene. We'll write metal history, haha! It is very important that we have a diversified selection of vocalists to be able to do all the old songs and the new ones as well. That's why there are so many different vocalists in the game: Andre Matos, Jorn Lande, Bob Catley, Amanda Somerville, Olli Hartmann, me, and for a few shows Kai Hansen Popansen. We'll try to include some surprise guests for some shows as well. I don't wanna say too much, let's see."

Q: You will travel around the world to play Moscow, Tokyo, Mexico, Buenos Aires, Santiago de Chile and Sao Paulo within two weeks. Has any band done and survived that before?

Sammet: "Not a 15-people heavy metal all-star ensemble, I guess, haha. Seriously, we are professional and we don't wanna waste time on hotel rooms. We wanna go out and play, and the shorter the time frame, the better for the musicians involved. We rather take the time for long rehearsals in advance, 'cause when AVANTASIA comes to Chile we'll better be amazing. There is no second chance, cause we'll never come to Chile again! It's one chance and we'll take it and blow you away!"

Q: Any last words for your fans?

Sammet: "Be there!!! If you don't come and see us you will regret it. If I wouldn't have to be on that stage as well, I'd surely be in the audience! I am looking forward to seeing you all!"

According to a posting on SMASHING PUMPKINS' official web site, the band will release a new single sometime in September 2008. More details will be made available soon.

SMASHING PUMPKINS frontman Billy Corgan recently hinted that the band, who released 2007's "Zeitgeist" after a seven-year hiatus, will most likely put songs out in different configurations than the standard CD.

The group is also said to be working on a DVD filmed during their two-week residency last summer at the Fillmore Theatre in San Francisco, the second of two residencies the band did to mark their reunion.

The PUMPKINS also have plans to issue both older demo recordings and some new material later this year.

The group is suing its former label, Virgin Records, alleging that Virgin used their name and music in a promotional campaign without their permission.

The SMASHING PUMPKINS will commemorate their 20th anniversary with a series of special concerts, according to a post at the band's official web site. The post read, "To celebrate the band's 20th anniversary, SMASHING PUMPKINS will be playing select U.S. cities in August and September of 2008. No dates or cities have been announced but expect the band to revisit a few specific places that were missed during the last U.S. tour."

Pitchfork Media reported that the PUMPKINS will play in Chicago, New York and Los Angeles, and that special guests may turn up at each show.

Canada's technical death metal warlords NEURAXIS have posted a new track, "Darkness Prevails", on their MySpace page. The song comes off the group's forthcoming Prosthetic Records debut, "The Thin Line Between", which is scheduled for release on July 22. The album was recorded by Jeff Fortin (ANONYMUS) and the band in February and March of this year and features guest vocals from Luc Lemay (GORGUTS). The CD artwork was created by Dennis Sibejin (CHIMAIRA, JOB FOR A COWBOY).

"The Thin Line Between" track listing:

01. Darkness Prevails
02. Wicked
03. Versus
04. Deviation Occurs
05. The Thin Line Between
06. Dreaming The End
07. Standing Despite...
08. Oracle
09. Phoenix
10. The All And The Nothing

"The Thin Line Between" is the first studio release to feature new vocalist Alex Leblanc and guitarist William Seghers, who previously appeared on the "Live Progression" CD (Galy Records).

Reactivated San Francisco Bay Area metallers LAAZ ROCKIT have inked a deal with Germany's Massacre Records. The group's new album, "Left for Dead", will be released on July 25. Two songs from the CD — "Brain Wash" and "Liar" — are available for streaming on the band's MySpace page.

"Left for Dead" was reportedly produced by Scott Sargeant by Juan Urteaga.

LAAZ ROCKIT's 1984 album "City's Gonna Burn" was reissued in May 2007 through Old School Metal Records. All songs were remastered by Colin Davis at Imperial Mastering.

"Nothin' But A Nosebleed", a new track from the UK's THE ROTTED (formerly GOREROTTED), is availabe for download at this location. The song comes off the group's forthcoming album, "Get Dead Or Die Trying". A trailer for the CD can be viewed below.

"Get Dead Or Die Trying" was produced by Russ Russell (THE WILDHEARTS, DIMMU BORGIR, THE EXPLOITED, SPACE RITUAL, NAPALM DEATH), with assistance from James Dunkley (BLAZE BAILEY, CRASS, FIELDS OF THE NEPHILIM). The CD will be released in Europe on June 30 (June 27 in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy) via Metal Blade Records.

"Get Dead Or Die Trying" track listing:

01. Nothin' But A Nosebleed
02. The Howling
03. A Return To Insolence
04. Kissing You With My Fists
05. Angel Of Meth
06. A Brief Moment Of Regret
07. The Body Tree
08. Get Dead Or Die Trying
09. It's Like There's A Party In My Mouth (And Everyone's Being Sick)
10. Fear And Loathing In Old London Town
11. 28 Days Later

Swedish epic/melodic metallers NARNIA — who recently parted ways with singer Christian Liljegren — have issued the following update:

"Wooow! What can we say? We didn't know what to expect, but we've been in touch with so many great singers out there, all with great voices in different ways. Thank you all for your interest. I hope you all got a reply in one way or another!

"For now, we need to slow down, sit back and listen, and consider what step to take next. If more singers are interested, please feel free to contact us, but we want to be very honest and say that over some time ahead, we can not PROMISE you a reply for time reasons (even though we promise to read everything).

"Again thank you all very much for taking time sending us encouraging messages and big thanks to all singers that have contacted us!"

NARNIA recently began recording its sixth studio album with producer Fredrik Nordström (Studio Fredman).

Finnish melodic death/power metal band NAILDOWN has issued the following update:

"So we'll be taking some time off when it comes to playing gigs. After we have played these summer shows already booked, we're going to fully concentrate all our efforts into composing new stuff for all you metalheads around there. It's time to start molding our forthcoming third release. Actually it's no big deal, since calming things down sometimes does good for the writing process and to a band's creative mood in general. So check out these shows in Helsinki and Tampere!"

Taking a break from writing the band's follow-up to 2007's "The Atrocity Exhibition: Exhibit A" in his home in northern California, guitarist/songwriter Gary Holt shares the latest slab of good news from the EXODUS camp:

"Hey all, just kicking back at home for a bit before we head over to Europe late July, but I am pleased to announce that EXODUS have re-signed to Nuclear Blast! We have been working on this since last October and I am happy to say that we'll continue our relationship with the greatest label in metal for some time to come! It's good to be with a label that we can call home after so many different stops along our career and we are psyched to move even further into the future. There is no telling how heavy things can get!"

"The Atrocity Exhibition: Exhibit B" is due out later this year. Meanwhile, look for the EXODUS brand in the latest episode of the animated Cartoon Network "Adult Swim" program "Metalocalypse".

EXODUS' video for the song "Riot Act" was directed by Jon Schnepp of "Metalocalypse" (on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim) for Schneppzone Inc. The clip, which made its TV debut in December on MTV2's "Headbanger's Ball", can be viewed below.

"Riot Act" comes off "The Atrocity Exhibition: Exhibit A", which sold 3,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release back in October 2007, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The CD was recorded at Sharkbite Studios in Oakland, California with producer Andy Sneap (MEGADETH, MACHINE HEAD, NEVERMORE, ARCH ENEMY).

"Kolossus", the new album from Norwegian metallers KEEP OF KALESSIN, is available for streaming in its entirety at the band's MySpace page. Due in Europe on June 6 and in North America on June 10, the CD will feature the following track listing:

01. Origin
02. A New Empire's Birth
03. Against The Gods
04. The Rising Sign
05. Warmonger
06. Escape The Union
07. The Mark Of Power
08. Kolossus
09. Ascendant

KEEP OF KALESSIN recently shot a video for the song "Ascendant" in Gothenburg, Sweden with director Patrick Ullaeus, who has previously worked with such bands as DIMMU BORGIR, WITHIN TEMPTATION and IN FLAMES. According to the group, "It will be a performance video shot on white screen / green screen and judging from the raw material it will be one of the 'baddest' metal videos of 2008!"

METALLICA kicked off the European leg of its current tour earlier tonight (Wednesday, May 28) at Slaski Stadium in Chorzow, Poland.

The group's setlist was as follows:

01. Creeping Death
02. For Whom The Bell Tolls
03. Ride The Lightning
04. Harvester Of Sorrow
05. The Unforgiven
06. ...And Justice For All
07. Devil's Dance
08. Disposable Heroes
09. Welcome Home (Sanitarium)
10. Master Of Puppets
11. Whiplash
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12. Nothing Else Matters
13. Sad But True
14. One
15. Enter Sandman
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16. Last Caress
17. So What
18. Seek & Destroy

Reactivated California death metal pioneers POSSESSED will film their June 22, 2008 concert at Europa in Brooklyn, New York for future DVD release. Also scheduled to appear are AT WAR, MORTICIAN, RUMPLESTILTSKIN GRINDER, BLOOD FEAST, SADISTIC INTENT, MIDNIGHT, MALKUTH and SACRIFICIAL BLOOD.

As has been the case with all of POSSESSED's recent appearances, the group's lineup for the Brookyln show will consist of sole original member Jeff Becerra (vocals) backed by members of California's SADISTIC INTENT.