Short audio samples of all 13 tracks that are set to appear on MÖTLEY CRÜE's forthcoming album, "Saints of Los Angeles", are available on Amazon.com.

MÖTLEY CRÜE headed back into the studio earlier in the month to record another song for "Saints of Los Angeles". As a result, the disc's release date had to be pushed back from June 17 to June 24. Bassist Nikki Sixx said in a statement that the idea for the new song, entitled "Goin'Out Swingin'", came about before the group's recent press conference, in which it announced this summer's "Crüe Fest" tour with PAPA ROACH, BUCKCHERRY, TRAPT and SIXX: A.M. Sixx explained, "Before our performance at the press conference, we were firing on all cylinders at sound check just jamming out, and that's when the new idea came. We quickly laid it down and went to the studio to record it, and liked it so much we pushed back the release one week so that we could get it onto the album — it now has 13 tracks. It's the ultimate song to end the record with and begin the new chapter of our career."

According to Amazon.com, "Saints of Los Angeles" will feature the following track listing:

01. L.A.M.F.
02. Face Down In The Dirt
03. What's It Gonna Take
04. Down At The Whisky
05. Saints Of Los Angeles
06. Mutherfucker Of The Year
07. The Animal In Me
08. Welcome To The Machine
09. Just Another Psycho
10. Chicks = Trouble
11. This Ain't A Love Song
12. White Trash Circus
13. Goin' Out Swingin'

The album is loosely based on the band's memoir, "The Dirt", which was published in 2001. The CD will be the first to feature all four original members of the CRÜE since 1997's "Generation Swine".

"Crüe Fest" will kick off on July 1 in West Palm Beach, Florida, hitting 40 cities before wrapping up in late August.

Watch the official video for "Saints of Los Angeles" (the song) below.

Dutch black metallers SAURON have issued the following statement:

"After 11 years of kaos we decided to end SAURON. We feel we did what we wanted and continue the madness trough several other acts (BUNKUR, FUNERAL GOAT, FLESH MADE SIN, AVBYSMAL DARKENING, ZELFHAAT, NEMESIS INDUSTRIES and maybe more).

"We will do our one of our final shows, this Sunday, May 25, 2008 at W2, Den Bosch, The Netherlands. This will be with ENDSTILLE. So check it out if you want to catch us live one more time.

"There will be one last show in Tilburg, somewhere in September, with DARKENED NOCTURN SLAUGHTERCULT. This will be the final one."

SAURON's third full-length album, "The Channeling Void", was released in February 2007 via the Swedish label Carnal Records (CRAFT, ARCKANUM, SHAARIMOTH). The CD was recorded at Double Noise studio and was mastered at the Necromorbus facility in Sweden. Cover art was handled by Manuel Tinnemans.

The band's video for the song "Anima Mundi" can be viewed below.

SAURON's second full-length album, "For A Dead Race", was released in 2004 via Neurotic Records. The follow-up to 2003's "Universe of Filth" was recorded at Double Noise studio and was described as "more mature, more diverse and most of all more angry" than its predecessor.

Italian folk metallers ELVENKING have issued the following update:

"Since we have announced the idea of the acoustic album you haven’t heard from us so much. Now we are happy to announce that we are ready to hit the studio very soon and start the recordings. On June 1st, Zender will start hitting the drums!

"In this period we have worked like hell on the songs. Everything is in place talking about the basic structures of the tracks. We are especially working on the drums since it’s the first thing to be recorded.

"Zender is going deep into the songs... another couple of rehearsals and we will be there!! There is still a lot of work to do concerning the arrangements, the harmonies etc. but we are really working hard also on that side.

"Recordings will take place once again at Sherpa Studios while we will move to Germany on the first days of August to mix the album at Gernhart Studios with Martin Buchwalter (who already worked on 'Wyrd' and 'The Scythe' albums). You can expect a good number of guest musicians playing different and unusual instruments.. and probably more suprises to come!!"

ELVENKING's latest album, "The Scythe", was released in Europe in September 2007 via AFM Records.

The band has released the video for its song "The Divided Heart". The clip was shot with director Mirco Andreis (ELDRITCH, MACBETH, DISARMONIA MUNDI) and can be viewed below.

"The Scythe" was mixed at Sonic Pump Studios in Helsinki, Finland. The mastering took place on April 10 at Finnvox Studios with Mika Jussila and Nino Laurenne.

"The Scythe" features a guest appearance on two tracks by Swedish guitarist Mike Wead (KING DIAMOND, MERCYFUL FATE, MEMENTO MORI, FIREGOD, ABSTRAKT ALGEBRA, CANDLEMASS).

Massachusetts metallers ALL THAT REMAINS have been holed up in a studio for the past month recording their fourth release. The new album, entitled "Overcome", is being produced by Jason Suecof (TRIVIUM, CHIMAIRA, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER) and is set for a late summer release.

Commented frontman Phil Labonte: "I'm really excited about this disc. It's a pretty different sound than our last one. It's shaping up to have a more biting tone. It's got tons of double bass, like twenty guitar solos and more hooks. It's a much darker record than 'The Fall of Ideals' and it's gonna reshape what people think when they think of ALL THAT REMAINS."

Immediately following the completion of the album, ALL THAT REMAINS will join the Warped Tour in progress for a three-week North American run.

ALL THAT REMAINS most recently completed a winter headlining tour across North America with support from CHIMAIRA, BLACK TIDE, DIVINE HERESY and LIGHT THIS CITY. Due up next is a nearly month-long stint on the main stage of Warped Tour 2008.

ALL THAT REMAINS' latest effort, "The Fall of Ideals", saw a July 2006 release through Prosthetic Records. Also recently released were a reissue of the band's previously out-of-print debut "Behind Silence and Solitude" as well as the band's first-ever DVD, "Live".

Author Joel McIver has placed a third and final excerpt from his forthcoming book, "The Bloody Reign of Slayer", online at www.joelmciver.co.uk. The excerpt, which features the band and associated personnel discussing the ferocious opening tracks of the classic 1986 album "Reign in Blood", has been released three weeks before publication of the book, which will be released globally by the industry leader Omnibus Press on June 9. Its foreword was collectively written by all four members of MUNICIPAL WASTE.

McIver, the author of the best-selling 2004 biography "Justice for All: The Truth about Metallica" and the recent BLACK SABBATH book "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" (hailed by the Telegraph as "excellent" and the Sun as "brilliant") previously stated about his new book, "An all-encompassing biography of SLAYER is long overdue. With their profile at an all-time high thanks to their recent Grammy wins and a run of critically-acclaimed DVDs and albums, there's never been a better time to tell their shocking story in full detail."

During research for "The Bloody Reign of Slayer", McIver interviewed a huge number of metal musicians, including the following:

Proscriptor McGovern (ABSU)
Jason Mendonça (AKERCOCKE)
David Gray (AKERCOCKE)
Dave Hunt (ANAAL NATHRAKH)
Frank Bello (ANTHRAX)
Scott Ian (ANTHRAX)
Tony Dolan (ATOMKRAFT)
Chris Reifert (AUTOPSY)
Luke Kenny (THE BERZERKER)
Sam Bean (THE BERZERKER)
Zakk Wylde (BLACK LABEL SOCIETY)
Bård ‘Faust’ Eithun (BLOOD TSUNAMI)
Alex Webster (CANNIBAL CORPSE)
"Dimebag" Darrell Abbott (DAMAGEPLAN, PANTERA)
Nocturno Culto (DARKTHRONE)
Fenriz (DARKTHRONE)
Dennis Pepa (DEATH ANGEL)
Glen Benton (DEICIDE)
Steve Asheim (DEICIDE)
Schmier (DESTRUCTION)
Silenoz (DIMMU BORGIR)
Ihsahn (EMPEROR)
Samoth (EMPEROR)
Trym (EMPEROR)
Billy Gould (FAITH NO MORE)
Dan Lorenzo (HADES, THE CURSED)
Katon DePena (HIRAX)
Peter Tägtgren (HYPOCRISY)
Ice-T
Rob Halford (JUDAS PRIEST)
Jonas Renkse (KATATONIA)
Mille Petrozza (KREATOR)
Jeremy Wagner (LUPARA, BROKEN HOPE)
Robb Flynn (MACHINE HEAD)
Phil Demmel (MACHINE HEAD)
Adam Duce (MACHINE HEAD)
Dave McClain (MACHINE HEAD)
Attila Csihar (MAYHEM)
Dave Mustaine (MEGADETH)
Robert Trujillo (METALLICA)
Lars Ulrich (METALLICA)
Roger Beaujard (MORTICIAN)
Lemmy (MOTÖRHEAD)
Killjoy (NECROPHAGIA)
Mikael Åkerfeldt (OPETH)
Jeff Becerra (POSSESSED)
Sakis Tolis (ROTTING CHRIST)
Mirai Kawashima (SIGH)
Max Cavalera (SOULFLY)
Mike McKeegan (THERAPY?)
Neil Cooper (THERAPY?)
Justin Wolfe (THINE EYES BLEED)
Matt Heafy (TRIVIUM)
Corey Beaulieu (TRIVIUM)
Johnny Hedlund (UNLEASHED)
Conrad "Cronos" Lant (VENOM)
Jeff "Mantas" Dunn (VENOM)

"The Bloody Reign of Slayer" will be published in hardback and softback with an extensive picture section, which includes rarely seen images shot by renowned Los Angeles photographer Kevin Estrada and other eyewitnesses of the band in their earliest days and in the studio. The book is now available for pre-order at Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk and will be stocked in bookstores in all territories.

Finnish metal group TERÄSBETONI — which represented Finland in this year's Eurovision song contest — placed 22nd (out of a total of 25 contestants) in the event's finals, which was held last night (Saturday, May 24) in Belgrade, Serbia.

Watch video footage of the band's performance on last night's broadcast below.

Dima Bilan, one of Russia's biggest pop stars, won the 53rd Eurovision song contest with his song "Believe".

"Myrskyntuoja", the third and latest album from TERÄSBETONI, was recently certified gold in the band's home country for sales in excess of 15,000 copies. The CD was produced by Hiili Hiilesmaa (HIM, APOCALYPTICA, THE 69 EYES), who previously worked with TERÄSBETONI on the group's last LP, the gold-certified (in Finland) "Vaadimme metallia", which came out in 2006.

For more information, visit www.terasbetoni.com.

Hardcore/metal heroes HATEBREED have set "Live Dominance" as the title of their first-ever live DVD, due in September via KOCH Records. The main DVD concert shoot took place at Harpo's in Detroit on Saturday, March 29, 2008 in front of a sold-out crowd. Directed by Kevin Custer, the DVD will also feature a collection of recent live shows from various tour stops in Germany, Philadelphia, New York City and New Haven, CT. It will also include the "Never Let It Die" video, which was filmed last fall during the European leg of HATEBREED's Supremacy World Tour.

HATEBREED has tapped legendary drummer Vinnie Paul (PANTERA, HELLYEAH, DAMAGEPLAN) to produce, document and record the band's May 27, 2008 concert in Dallas, Texas at the Palladium Ballroom. The resultant recording will be released as HATEBREED's live album, due before the end of the year.

Italian goth-metal icons LACUNA COIL have started work on a DVD project which is tentatively scheduled to be released later this year. The DVD will be a retrospective of all things from the band's "Karmacode" album cycle. It will include promotional videos, spectacularly remixed professionally shot festival appearances, behind-the-scenes travel documentaries and home videos — and a few other fan-friendly surprises!

This will be the first "official" LACUNA COIL DVD release.

LACUNA COIL is currently working on its highly anticipated new album, the follow-up to 2006's "Karmacode", but will take a short break in June to play some headlining shows in Australia.

Reactivated Norwegian black metallers RAGNAROK have unveiled their new lineup consisting of the following musicians:

HansFyrste (vocals)
Brigge (guitar)
Decepticon (bass and backing vocals)
Jontho (drums)

Jontho states: "We will play at the Storm of Destruction festival in [Ingolstadt] Germany this weekend [May 23] and we are planning touring in Europe and the United States later this year. We also do plan our next album these days that will be released in early 2009 via Regain Records at the same time as we will celebrate 15 years of spreading mental terror to the masses."

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

Regain Records will re-release the early demos from the Swedish black metal horde LORD BELIAL in June on a CD called "Ancient Demons". According to a press release, "Ancient Demons" is "awesome" to listen to on its own "as something to crank up and revel in the old-school vibe, as well as a document of a watershed era in the history of extreme music, one that has yet to be topped for sheer creativity and boundary destroying."

LORD BELIAL entered Deadline Studios on March 3 with producer Valle Adzic to begin recording its eighth album, entitled "The Black Curse". The CD is tentatively expected in September via Regain Records.

The band has been confirmed for this year's installment of the Wacken Open Air festival, set to take place July 31 - August 2, 2008 in Wacken, Germany.

LORD BELIAL's seventh full-length album, "Revelation", was recorded at Los Angered studio (owned by KING DIAMOND guitarist Andy La Rocque) outside Gothenburg. It is out now on Regain Records.

Former HELLOWEEN singer Michael Kiske was recently interviewed by members of AVANTASIA's fan club Promised Land about his contibutions to EDGUY singer Tobias Sammet's project, his solo career and his hobbies. One of the more revealing points of discussion is Michael's revelation that he may go on tour again next year, 15 years after he last stepped on the stage. An excerpt from the chat follows.

Promised Land: In May your new solo career album ["Past In Different Ways"] was released [featuring acoustic and stripped down reworked versions of some of HELLOWEEN's classics]. How did you feel recording HELLOWEEN's songs? Did you miss (at least a bit) that time?

Michael Kiske: "I had big doubts in the first moment, but I am very happy that I did it and made those songs mine again. It was very important. I miss the first three years with Kai Hansen; that's, I personally think, when we were functioning as a band. The last four years were a nightmare for me because of Mr. Weikath's [Michael Weikath, guitar] mobbing. After Kai's leaving, nothing worked anymore. The chemistry was destroyed. I am sure HELLOWEEN function much better now. I simply don't fit among Weikath's people."

Promised Land: Have you ever considered going on tour with your solo career playing only the songs you recorded after leaving HELLOWEEN? Don't you miss the sensation you feel when you are on the stage? It's another question that I guess people ask you all the time

Michael Kiske: "I will do that again; I have to because you never reach new audiences without it. Maybe next year."

Read the entire interview at Promised Land.

TAROT — the Finnish group led by NIGHTWISH/ex-SINERGY bassist Marco Hietala — will release the two-DVD and two-CD versions of "Undead Indeed" in Finland on June 11.

"Undead Indeed" was filmed/recorded on August 17, 2007 at club Rupla in Kuopio, Finland with director Harri Mielonen.

"Undead Indeed" (2DVD) track listing:

DVD 1: Undead Indeed - Live At Rupla 2007

01. Crows Fly Black
02. Traitor
03. Pyre Of Gods
04. Wings Of Darkness
05. Back In The Fire
06. Tides
07. Bleeding Dust
08. Veteran Of The Psychic Wars
09. Angels Of Pain
10. Warhead
11. Follow Me Into Madness
12. Before The Skies Come Down
13. Ashes To The Stars
14. Undead Son
15. You
16. Crawlspace
Guitar Solo
17. Rider Of The Last Day
18. I Rule

DVD 2: Undead Extras

* Marco & Zac Interview
* Stigmata Archives
* 21st Century Live Scenes
* Pyre Of Gods (promotional video)
* Ashes To The Stars (promotional video)

Undead Indeed (2CD) (limited 1000 copies)

Disc 1:

01. Crows Fly Black
02. Traitor
03. Pyre Of Gods
04. Wings Of Darkness
05. Back In The Fire
06. Tides
07. Bleeding Dust
08. Veteran Of The Psychic Wars
09. Angels Of Pain
10. Warhead

Disc 2:

01. Follow Me Into Madness
02. Before The Skies Come Down
03. Ashes To The Stars
04. Undead Son
05. You
06. Crawlspace
Guitarsolo
07. Rider Of The Last Day
08. I Rule

Bonus Tracks:

09. Guardian Angel
10. Things That Crawl At Night

The release party for the DVD will be held at Henry's Pub in Kuopio on June 10. The event will be attended by all members of TAROT.

A one-and-a-half-minute trailer for "Undead Indeed" can be viewed below.

TAROT released its latest album, entitled "Crows Fly Black", in continental Europe in January 2007. The CD was issued in Finland in October 2006.

TAROT's first single from the latest album, "You", entered the national chart in Finland at position No. 1. The single contained two tracks: A straight-forward classic heavy metal song "You", taken from the new album, and a BLUE ÖYSTER CULT cover, "Veteran of the Psychic Wars".

Swedish metallers SABATON are currently streaming their entire new album, "The Art of War", on their MySpace page. Due on May 30 via Black Lodge Records, the follow-up to 2006's "Attero Dominatus" was recorded at Abyss Studios with producer Peter Tägtgren and will be made available in three formats: normal CD, gatefold LP and a limited-editon CD that comes in a DVD package that also will include the exclusive book "The Art of War".

"The Art of War" track listing:

01. Sun Tzu Says
02. Ghost Division
03. The Art Of War
04. 40:1
05. Unbreakable
06. The nature of Warfare
07. Cliffs of Gallipoli
08. Talvisota
09. Panzerkampf
10. Union (Slopes of St. Benedict)
11. The Price of a Mile
12. Firestorm
13. A Secret

Check out the cover artwork by Jobert Mello at this location.

Hungarian webzine HitKit recently conducted an interview with drummer Roy Mayorga (STONE SOUR, AMEBIX, ex-SOULFLY, SEPULTURA, MEDICATION). A couple of excerpts from the chat follow.

HitKit: You played in a song with the Russian band ANJ…let us know something about that…

Mayorga: Hmm…that was an unexpected session…. A good friend of mine, John Travis (producer/engineer), was called in to do some work with them on arranging their songs. The members of ANJ involved was the singer and guitar player Anatoly and Oleg. They came to work with John Travis in search for a different kinda of approach and sound. So John gave them the idea of hiring me and one other guitar player named Levon Sultanian (ONESIDEZERO, ABLOOM). He's an incredible guitar player. Lev and I used to play together in ABLOOM. So we got together in the studio, We learned the gist of the song and added what we thought could enhance what they had written. Definitely a cool experience…. a melding of the musical cultures… Russian, Armenian and Latin.

HitKit: As for STONE SOUR…. What the status of the band now? Seems that SLIPKNOT is gettin active, it means you are on a small lay-off?

Mayorga: Yeah, STONE SOUR is on a break until end of 2009…until then I'll be doing drum clinics/sessions and touring with AMEBIX in December/January tentatively. Also BLACK PRESIDENTS on Warped Tour August 2008. I'll also have time to develop myself and work on new ideas with drumming/composing and what not. Very excited about that.

HitKit: Tell us something about your period in SOULFLY….whats the most important thing you learned this era and by working with Max Cavalera?

Mayorga: My period with SOULFLY? That was an amazing adventure. That was a very special time in my life I hold very dear to my heart though i wish it could have been longer. But, you know, things happen and people move on. One has to walk the path that is set before them. But doesn't mean we won't work together again in the future. I ran into Max a year ago whilst touring with STONE SOUR. We actually played a couple festival shows together…it was great to hang with with him again. It's been awhile since we've seen each other. We did talk about working together sometime down the road later on in life. Max and I always had good chemistry. I have a strong feeling that our business is not quite finished just yet.

HitKit: You also toured with SEPULTURA after Igor Cavalera split with the band. How you remember those times and how Igor influenced you as a musician back in the day?

Mayorga: Once again, another unexpected quest. That was awesome…..never in a million years did I think. This is how that happened… As you know, I was involved with the "Roadrunner United" recording and show…. Through that experience is what I guess gave the idea to Andreas [Kisser] to ask me to play for SEPULTURA. I already knew the songs from playing them with Max that whole time in SOULFLY so it was just a matter of me going down to Brazil to practice with the guys and get the songs down even tighter. SEPULTURA were great to me they took me in as a brother. All we did was laugh the whole time. Igor is definitely an inspiration but my influence for tribal drumming came long before I listened to Igor and SEPULTURA. All through the '80s I was very into bands and styles other than punk or metal like KILLING JOKE, EINSTÜRZENDE NEUBAUTEN, TEST DEPT. and a lot of Moroccan music (specifically MASTER MUSICIANS OF JAJOUKA) as well as the rest of the drumming culture of Africa. Another favorite of mine to listen to for influence is "Passion Sources" — it's a record that PETER GABRIEL put together in circa '88-'89 i haven't stopped listening to it since. Also growing up in New York City, I always heard a lot of salsa, mambo…. where I lived there was a lot of Puerto Rican and Dominican influence in my neighborhood and in all the corner deli stores is where I would hear it just full volume as loud as it can go… It's pretty awesome…fun times."

Read the entire interview from HitKit.

Atlanta progressive metallers MASTODON have tapped Brendan O'Brien (AC/DC, PEARL JAM, VELVET REVOLVER) to produce their next album. The band is scheduled hit the studio this week to begin recording the follow-up to the Grammy-nominated 2006 release "Blood Mountain".

In a recent interview with UK's Rock Sound magazine, MASTODON drummer Brann Dailor stated about the songwriting process for the group's new album, "It's a long, arduous process. We've got a skeleton for the whole record and these huge chunks of music four of five different segments that don't have a beginning or end yet... We're just basically in the middle of the record, adding stuff, giving it a taste then adding a little more 'pepper' or 'salt.' Once all the ingredients are in there, you have to bake it — which is just playing it over and over again until it feels right. The main goal is to get the songs right so you don't have to think about the time changes — so you can relax with it and play it how it should be played. There's a level of difficulty to our stuff and if you're too wrapped up in trying to remember how many times something goes and the timing for the next riff, you can't examine the song for being a song. So it takes a while."

MASTODON will take part in the inaugural Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival tour, which is scheduled to start July 9 in Seattle and play 30 cities. MASTODON will also team up with SLAYER, TRIVIUM and an as-yet-undisclosed opening act will team up for "The Unholy Alliance: Chapter III" European tour in the fall. So far only one date has been revealed: November 10, 2008 at Eishalle Deutweg in Winterthur, Switzerland.

"Give Me A Reason", the new video from Finnish heavy metal singer Ari Koivunen, can be viewed below. The clip was directed by Owe Lingvall (NOCTURNAL RITES drummer) of Village Road Film.

Ari Koivunen will release his second solo album, "Becoming", in Finland on June 11 via Sony BMG (June 9 via digital music outlets). Check out the cover artwork by Thomas Ewerhard at this location.

"Becoming" track listing:

01. Raging Machine
02. Under The Burning Sky
03. Give Me A Reason
04. Sign Of Our Times
05. Sweet Madness
06. Father
07. Keepers Of The Night
08. Tears Keep Falling
09. Hero's Gold
10. My Mistake
11. Unscarred Within

"Give Me A Reason", the first single from "Becoming", entered the Finnish chart at position No. 3. The song, which is currently available for streaming on Ari's MySpace page, was written by Nino Laurenne of THUNDERSTONE and Pasi Heikkilä, who were also in charge of producing Ari's sophomore album at Sonic Pump Studios.

"Fuel for the Fire" was certified double-platinum in Finland, where it has sold more than 75,000 copies to date.

A special edition of "Fuel for the Fire" was issued in Finland on November 21, featuring a live DVD and acoustic versions of two album songs ("Hear My Call" and "Angels Are Calling") as a bonus. The live DVD contains material from Ari's concerts in Helsinki last summer and as well as interview footage.

Swedish metallers TAD MOROSE have announced the addition of guitarist Markus Albertson to the group's ranks. He replaces Daniel Olsson, who left the band late last year due to "personal reasons."

TAD MOROSE is currently working on the follow-up to 2003's "Modus Vivendi", tentatively due in 2009.

TAD MOROSE in March 2006 announced the addition of singer Joe Comeau (ex-ANNIHILATOR, LIEGE LORD, OVERKILL) to the group's ranks. Comeau joined TAD MOROSE as the replacement for Urban Breed, who left the band in December 2005.

South German metallers DEADLOCK have issued the following update:

"We just finished the pre-production for our new album and can't wait to record the new shit! At the moment we're working hard on the last fine-tuning of the songs but be sure that the new babe will rock your city!"

DEADLOCK recently extended its contract with Lifeforce Records. The label previously said in a statement, "after their successful albums 'Earth.Revolt' (2005), 'Wolves' (2007) and the newest (yet-untitled) release to hit the stores in November 2008, there will be three more albums which will combine the typical DEADLOCK essences, a high standard mixture of extreme technical and melodic metal, the dual vocals by the band's singers Joe and Sabine and a good dose of gothic darkness."

Multinational recording artists EDEN'S CURSE will release a new EP, entitled "Seven Deadly Sins - The Acoustic Sessions", in June via Metal Mayhem Music.

Produced and mixed by Paul Logue and mastered by Dennis Ward (PINK CREAM 69, ANGRA, HOUSE OF LORDS), "Seven Deadly Sins" features seven renditions of tracks from the well-received debut album from EDEN'S CURSE.

The track listing is as follws:

01. Judgement Day
02. Eyes Of The World
03. Stronger Than The Flame
04. What Are You Waiting For
05. Don't Bring Me Down
06. Heaven Touch Me
07. The Bruce / Fallen Kin

Wrapped up in the usual killer artwork by Thomas Ewerhard (EDGUY, JORN, ASIA), the EP will be released by Metal Mayhem Music on June 10. A special autographed collector's edition will be available via select retail outlets.

EDEN'S CURSE is also currently in the recording studio working on the follow-up to its debut. Production duties will once again be handled by Dennis Ward as the band continues its worldwide assault via AFM Records (Europe), Metal Mayhem Music (North America) and Spiritual Beast (Japan).

Frontman Michael Eden comments: "From the greasy spirit that is EDEN'S CURSE, the truly loud and proud will surely stand with us on the frontlines screaming for more as they have in the past. The utter clueless will scratch their collective heads in disbelief as always. The CURSE has set out to deliver a no holds barred sonic assault, giving the fans what they expect from us and nothing less. And yes kids... more freaking guitars!!!!"

Tracks being recorded are as follows (in alphabetical order):

01. Angels & Demons
02. Games People Play
03. Just Like Judas
04. Lost In Wonderland
05. Lost Soul
06. Man Against The World
07. Masquerade Ball
08. Prisoner Of The Past
09. Raven's Revenge
10. Ride The Storm
11. Sail On
12. Signs Of Your Life
13. West Wind Blows

The record is scheduled for a late October release.

Danish death metallers COMPOS MENTIS have issued the following update:

"Yeah, guess it's been a while since you have heard from us, but in the meantime we have been busy composing material for our forthcoming, as-yet untitled album, which will be recorded by Christian Bonde in his CB Studios in Holsted, Denmark from the 23rd of June. Ken [Holst, guitar] and Andreas [Posselt, drums] already worked with Christian when they recorded CROCELL's debut album last year so we have no doubt as to whether he is the right guy for the job!

"This, our third baby, is the first album that we have written with the three new members Ken, Rune [Klausen, keyboards], and Claus [Tørnes, bass] in the lineup and it will definitely show some new elements in our music, which at this point seems to be more straightforward and quite a lot faster than our previous material (well, most of it anyway) as the songs appear to be very diverse this time, judging from the rough recordings we have been doing in the rehearsal pit lately. Without revealing too much about the lyrical content of the album, we can say that most of the words will be centred around the parish pump, and different moments in the Danish history as well as various aspects of a 'typical' Danish mentality, inasmuch as you can talk about such a phenomenon, will be taken in hand.

"For the time being no concerts are planned but we are working on some dates in the fall so remember to keep an eye out for your opportunity to hear the new stuff live.

"In other news we have decided not to release our forthcoming album through Mighty Music so interested parties are hereby invited to get in touch!"

COMPOS MENTIS' second album, "Gehennesis", was released in March 2007 via Mighty Music.

Reunited seminal grindcore/extreme metal outfit BRUTAL TRUTH recorded four new songs late last year for the upcoming Relapse Records compilation "This Comp Kills Fascists".

A new BRUTAL TRUTH song, "Turmoil", is now available for streaming on the band's MySpace page.

"This Comp Kills Fascists" features new and exclusive material from such bands as INSECT WARFARE, MAGRUDERGRIND, KILL THE CLIENT, WEEKEND NACHOS, A.S.R.A, and more. It also includes the first new material in almost ten years from legendary grinders BRUTAL TRUTH and AGENTS OF SATAN.

BRUTAL TRUTH has announced a string of European dates this summer.

Commented bassist Danny Lilker, "BRUTAL TRUTH is totally psyched to play for the grindfreaks in Eastern Europe! We'll be hitting Serbia (at Castle festival) and Slovakia for the very first time so we'll be sure to fire up and give these people the most intense show of their lives! We also can't wait to play the With Full Force festival over in Germany, where we'll be going onstage extremely late, so don't drink too fast, stay awake for the nocturnal grind attack!"

Added drummer Rich Hoak, "We'll be including many new songs in the set for our shows this summer. The new songs will freak people out: louder, faster, heavier and mosh pit tested!"

The dates are as follows:

June 27 - Augsburg, Germany - Kantine
June 29 - Prague, Czech Republic - Exit Chemelnice
June 30 - Bratislava, Slovakia - Randal
July 01 - Wien, Austria - Escape Metalcorner
July 02 - Smederevo, Serbia - Castle Fest
July 04 - Roitzschjora, Germany - With Full Force
July 06 - Hengelo, Netherlands - Metropool
July 19 - Urbana, IL - Central Illinois Metalfest 2008
Aug. 29 - Bergen, Norway - Hole In The Sky Festival

BRUTAL TRUTH live in Rotterdam, Holland (2008):

Guitar player/main composer Øystein G. Brun of Norway's BORKNAGAR has issued the following statement:

"Due to the latest years evolving differences in musical ideas and visions, Asgeir Mickelson [drums] has decided to quit BORKNAGAR. The split happens in friendly manner and with mutual respect for the decision that he has made. He will remain a good friend of the band.

"We wish to thank him for a great collaboration over the years and the best of luck with future endeavours!

"The spilt will have little or no effect on the forthcoming album. We are currently working on pre-productions and we are heading for an early next year release.
As stated before, the new album will regain the musical forces that dominated the four first albums. So beware!"

BORKNAGAR recently announced that Jens Ryland (guitar) and Erik Tiwaz (a.k.a. Tyr; bass) has returned as permanent members of the band.

Jens Ryland was a longtime member of BORKNAGAR and contributed to "The Archaic Course", "Quintessence" and "Empiricism" albums before he quit in 2003 due to other priorities in life.

Erik Tiwaz joined the band in 2000 and participated on "Empiricism" as a regular member. In 2004 he quit the band due to personal reasons but contributed as a session musician to "Origin" in 2006.

According to The Pulse of Radio, RUSH bassist/singer Geddy Lee and guitarist Alex Lifeson issued a statement over the weekend about the death of original drummer John Rutsey, who passed away last week in Toronto from diabetes at the age of 55. Lifeson and Lee wrote, "Our memories of the early years of RUSH when John was in the band are very fond to us. Those years spent in our teens dreaming of one day doing what we continue to do decades later are special. Although our paths diverged many years ago, we smile today, thinking back on those exciting times and remembering John's wonderful sense of humor and impeccable timing. He will be deeply missed by all he touched."

Rutsey's family has requested that donations be made in Rutsey's memory to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, located in Ontario.

Fans around the world have posted condolences online over Rutsey's death, with one writing, "Although you may not have known it, you were loved and respected by all RUSH fans."

Rutsey and Lifeson formed RUSH in 1968, with Lee joining a short time later. Rutsey played on the band's self-titled 1974 debut album, but left the group due to health concerns. His replacement, Neil Peart, joined the group on its second effort, "Fly By Night".

Long-running UK extreme metallers BENEDICTION have finalized the track listing for their new album, "Killing Music", tentatively due in September via Nuclear Blast Records. It is as follows:

01. The Grey Man
02. Burying The Hatchet
03. Immaculate Facade
04. Killing Music
05. They Must Die Screaming
06. Dripping With Disgust
07. As Her Skin Weeps
08. Cold, Deathless, Unrepentant
09. Wrath And Regret
10. Conrolopolis (Rats In The Mask)
11. Beg, You Dogs
12. Largactyl (AMEBIX cover)
13. Seeing Through My Eyes (BROKEN BONES cover)
14. I Am The Betrayer
15. Dissembler
16. They Bleed

* Featuring Karl Willetts (BOLT THROWER), Kelly Shaefer (ATHEIST) and Billy Gould (ex-FAITH NO MORE)
** With Jock from G.B.H. on guitar. Also featuring Markus Staiger, the owner of Nuclear Blast Records, and Thorsten from Metal Hammer Germany on backing vocals

Check out audio samples on the band's MySpace page.

Commented the group: "As you can hear from the album samples we have put up on the [MySpace page], this album is a quite brutal little affair and Dave Hunt, our vocalist, was not in a good mood when he laid these songs to rest! We make no apologies for the time it has taken since the last album because ever since all-day opening hours in the bars/pubs of the UK was introduced, we thought our time would be better spent drinking ourselves stupid for a few years! Once we found out that the opening law was permanent, we thought we'd better do this album!"

DEAD TO THIS WORLD — the speed/thrash/black metal project led by former IMMORTAL bassist Iscariah — has announced that its "permanent lineup" will now consist of the following members:

Iscariah - Supreme Necromancer of the Apocalypse
Kvitrafn - Drums of War
Divra Xul – 6-Stringed Genocide of Infernal Slaughter
Thurzur - Black God of Infamous Circle

The band will enter studio shortly to record three songs for upcoming split releases. Work has also commenced on the group's second full-length album which is expected by the fall of this year.

"First Strike for Spiritual Renewance", the debut album from DEAD TO THIS WORLD is available for streaming in its entirety at MP3.com. The CD, which was released in Europe on November 19, 2007 via Dark Essence Records, was produced by Bjørnar E Nielsen at Nielsen's Conclave Media Studios in Bergen.

DEAD TO THIS WORLD was originally founded by Iscariah (NECROPHAGIA, ex-IMMORTAL) as a solo project, but was expanded to a full lineup, releasing a three-track demo in 2005.

"I Don't Care", the new video from the Finnish cello quartet APOCALYPTICA, can be viewed below. The song features vocals by THREE DAYS GRACE frontman Adam Gontier, who also appears in the clip.

APOCALYPTICA enlisted FUEL frontman Toryn Green to handle lead vocals on the quartet's recent North American tour, which began on April 11 and concluded on Monday (May 19). The group initially enlisted vocalist Johnny Andrews, who co-wrote the band's current single, "I'm Not Jesus", to sing on the trek, but Andrews was replaced after just a handful of shows. In addition to "I'm Not Jesus", Andrews also co-wrote another track called "S.O.S. (Anything But Love)". Both tunes are from APOCALYPTICA's new album, "Worlds Collide", which arrived in stores in the U.S. on April 15.

Other guests on "Worlds Collide" include SLIPKNOT/STONE SOUR frontman Corey Taylor, LACUNA COIL singer Cristina Scabbia, drummer Dave Lombardo from SLAYER and vocalist Till Lindemann of RAMMSTEIN.

Cristina Scabbia has confirmed that she will perform with APOCALYPTICA at this year's Download festival on Sunday, June 15 at Donington Park, Leicestershire, UK.

Cristina will sing the epic ballad "S.O.S. (Anything But Love)", which was featured on "Worlds Collide", and was released as a single earlier this year, accompanied by a suitably dark and lavish video. "S.O.S. (Anything But Love)" was also featured in the new motion picture "Stone's War" — a science-fiction war movie based on a story of Finnish soldiers during World War 2.

Long-running Irish folk metal act WAYLANDER has posted two songs from its upcoming album, "Honour Amongst Chaos", on MySpace. Check out the tracks "As The Deities Clash" and "Walk With Honour" at this location.

"Honour Amongst Chaos" is due later in the uear via Listenable Records.

Since the release of its last album, "The Light, The Dark And The Endless Knot", WAYLANDER has spent years bringing mosh pits to festivals across Europe such as Bloodstock, Pagan Nights and Ultimo Ratio. They have also spent this time finding and securing a powerful lineup with a passion to match their musical talents.

WAYLANDER's upcoming third album, "Honour Amongst Chaos", is "more powerful and beautiful than ever, using a vast array of Irish folk instruments and armed with their passion for metal in its truest form," according to a press release. "Blending epic atmospheres and relentless brutality, 'Honour Amongst Chaos' reflects the heart and soul of pagan warriors worldwide."

WAYLANDER recently parted ways with guitarist Gazz Murdock and replaced him with Ade Mulgrew of DARKEST ERA.

Norwegian black metal band ISKALD will enter a studio in Berlin, Germany on June 16 with producers Stamos Koiousis and Vangelis Labrakis from Greece to begin recording its second full-length album.

According to a press release, "It has been almost two years since the debut album, 'Shades of Misery', was recorded, resulting in a huge uplift for the band. Now they're back and a month with pre-production has just ended. The new material sounds amazing, a new edge and speed has found its way into the band. ISKALD sounds blacker than ever before!"

ISKALD's new CD will be released September 29 via Indie Recordings.

For more information, visit www.iskald.com.