Greg Prato of Billboard.com reports that JUDAS PRIEST will finally unveil its 16th studio album, "Nostradamus", June 17 via Epic in North America and a day earlier internationally.

A double-disc set that tells the story of the 16th century prophet, Michel de Nostredame (whose name is often "Latinized" as Nostradamus), the release is PRIEST's first-ever concept album, and was recorded throughout 2006 and 2007 at Old Smithy Studio in the U.K.

"Making 'Nostradamus' was a new experience for us in JUDAS PRIEST, insomuch as this was going to be a conceptual writing and recording event," PRIEST singer Rob Halford tells Billboard.com. "His life is well-documented, so for us it was all about taking the significant episodes he went through, and then with the right emotion, create music and lyrics that would convey them."

Read more at Billboard.com.

"Nostradamus" track listing:

01. Dawn of Creation *
02. Prophecy
03. Awakening *
04. Revelations
05. The Four Horsemen *
06. War
07. Sands of Time *
08. Pestilence And Plague
09. Death
10. Peace *
11. Conquest
12. Lost Love
13. Persecution
14. Solitude *
15. Exiled
16. Alone
17. Shadows In the Flame *
18. Visions
19. Hope *
20. New Beginnings
21. Calm Before the Storm *
22. Nostradamus
23. Future Of Mankind

* Intro pieces of music going into the main track

Relapse Records has set an April 29 release date (May 5 internationally) for the reissue of the first three albums from Australia's BLOOD DUSTER: mini-CD "Yeest" packaged with "Fisting The Dead", the band’s first full-length "Str8outtanorthcote", and the always controversial "Cunt". "Str8outtanorthcote" and "Fisting The Dead" / "Yeest" both include bonus material and all three of the reissues have been re-mastered and feature new artwork.

In other news, BLOOD DUSTER has announced its first-ever U.S. live performance. BLOOD DUSTER will appear alongside REPULSION, NUCLEAR ASSAULT, GRAVE, DYING FETUS, DISFEAR, and many more at this year's Maryland Deathfest, set to take place May 23-25 at the Sonar in Baltimore.

SOULFLY will release its new album, "Conquer", on July 29 via Roadrunner Records.

SOULFLY members Max Cavalera (guitar/vocals), Joe Nunez (drums), Marc Rizzo (guitar), and Bobby Burns (bass) entered Porch Studio in Florida on September 12, 2007 to begin recording the band's sixth studio LP.

SOULFLY's upcoming CD will feature guest appearances by MORBID ANGEL frontman David Vincent and THROWDOWN singer Dave Peters.

"Conquer" track listing:

01. Blood Fire War Hate
02. Unleash
03. Paranoia
04. Warmageddon
05. War Ghost
06. Rough
07. Fall Of Sycophants
08. Doom
09. Rot
10. Touching The Void
11. Soulfly VI

"The Islander", the new video from Finnish/Swedish symphonic metal band NIGHTWISH, can be viewed below. The clip was was shot last autumn in Rovaniemi, Finland and was directed by Stobe Harju. The video premiered yesterday (Monday, April 14) on MTV Finland's show "Spanking New".

"The Islander" single will be released on May 21 and will include the following tracks:

01. The Islander
02. Escapist (instrumental version)
03. Meadows Of Heaven (orchestral version)

Additionally, it will include the videos for "The Islander" and "Bye Bye Beautiful".

Check out the "The Islander" single artwork at this location.

For those who like their women heavily tattooed and pierced with a loud Gibson guitar in their hands, Revolver magazine has once again revealed the "The Hottest Chicks in Metal" — in its June 2008 issue, on sale Tuesday, April 22. They've all posed for new photos shot especially for the magazine.

Led by TV fixture Kat Von D, who just hooked up with MÖTLEY CRÜE's Nikki Sixx, BLEEDING THROUGH's Marta Peterson, SONIC SYNDICATE's Karin Axelsson, WINDS OF PLAGUE's Kristen Randall, and LIGHT THIS CITY's Laura Nichol.

Check out some sample shots below:

Vocalist John Tardy of the long-running Florida death metallers OBITUARY has issued the following update:

"We leave today for South America for a couple of weeks. This is always a great time with insane fans!!! This trip will take us to places we have been and places we have not been too yet, so we are really getting excited! We have four shows in Brazil and 1 in Chile, Venezuela, Colombia and Ecuador!

"We have so much going on when we get back it is just crazy.

"We started to write new music for an EP that we plan on releasing in a few months and we need to get that recorded, so Redneck Studios will be getting fired back up for that!

"We have to get our new setlist ready for a really busy Europen summer festival tour and we finally have a show set up in Tampa!!!! We will be playing at The Crowbar in Tampa, FL (Ybor City) on Friday, May 23."

"Saints of Los Angeles", the new video from MÖTLEY CRÜE, can be viewed below. The song, which also includes backing vocals by Josh Todd (BUCKCHERRY), Jacoby Shaddix (PAPA ROACH), James Michael (SIXX: A.M.) and Chris Brown (TRAPT), is the title track of the group's new album, due on June 17 through Mötley Records.

In support of the album, MÖTLEY CRÜE will embark on a 40-plus-city North American amphitheater tour, beginning July 1 at the Cruzan Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach, Fla., and wrapping August 31 at the Post-Gazette Pavilion in Pittsburgh.

Brazilian death metallers KRISIUN have issued the following update:

"KRISIUN is currently in Germany at Stage One Studios with producer Andy Classen [TANKARD, ROTTING CHRIST, DEW-SCENTED] finishing the production of their upcoming record which is scheduled to be released around late July or early August 2008. The new album does not have a definitive title yet but soon will be announced. Meanwhile, before the release of the new record, the band will do some shows in Brazil and at some summer fests in Europe introducing people for some new tunes. So be aware the storm is coming."

KRISIUN's new CD will be released through Century Media Records.

According to a posting on the KISS fan site KissNews.de, KISS guitarist Tommy Thayer told an Italian radio station earlier today (April 16) that the band will perform all songs from its classic "Alive!" release on the forthcoming European leg of the Alive 35 World Tour along with "obscure songs never played before." Thayer also revealed that plans exist for the group to hit the road in the U.S. and Canada later in the year as well South America and possibly Japan.

Long-running Seattle metallers METAL CHURCH have issued the following update:

"After much consideration and many qualified applicants, we have come to a decision on a new guitar player. We have chosen Rick Van Zandt.

"Rick is a very gifted player who spent many years in the Seattle metal scene in bands like THE END, ROTTWEILLER and THE RONNY MUNROE BAND. Some of Rick's influences are Steve Vai, Ritchie Blackmore and Eddie Van Halen.

"Rick brings a whole new level of playing to METAL CHURCH and we are all glad to have him and we are sure you, the fans will be as well. Get ready for some shredding! The new album really kicks some metal ass; every band says that, but we mean it!!"

"Love Communion", the new video from legendary vocalist/bassist Glenn Hughes (DEEP PURPLE, BLACK SABBATH), can be viewed below. The clip features Hughes on bass and vocals, Chad Smith (RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS) on drums, and Luis Carlos Maldonado on guitar. The song comes off Glenn's new solo album, "First Underground Nuclear Kitchen (F.U.N.K.)", which is scheduled for release on May 11 via Frontiers Records.

Produced by Glenn in Los Angeles, after countless hours spent writing in his home studio, "F.U.N.K." is another magnificent statement from the "Voice of Rock." "It is a roots album, it is a true account of my musical heritage but also fearless and multi-dimensional," said Hughes.

Once again all drums on the record were played by none other than the great Chad Smith of the RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, while Luis Maldonado took care of the majority of the guitars (JJ Marsh and George Nastos only appear on two songs each) and Anders Olinder is on keyboards (with Ed Roth guesting on three songs).

"F.U.N.K." track listing:

01. Crave
02. First Underground Nuclear Kitchen
03. Satellite
04. Love Communion
05. We Shall Be Free, Imperfection
06. Never Say Never
07. We Go To War
08. Oil And Water
09. Too Late to Save the World
10. Where There's A Will

Check out more audio samples at this location

A 23-minute audio interview with SOULFLY/CAVALERA CONSPIRACY frontman Max Cavalera conducted earlier this week by Vassil Varbanov of Bulgaria's Tangra Mega Rock is available for download at this location (MP3, 5.4 MB). A couple of excerpts from the chat follow:

Tangra Mega Rock: You're [playing] with [your brother] Igor again. Is there anything that hasn't been said about that reunion?

Max: It's been a lot of excitement, the album came out yesterday... I don't know what hasn't been said... maybe some personal things... One of the reasons we got back together is that Igor became more family-oriented. He's got a new son who's only a year old — his name is Antonio, which is my middle name and my grandfather's name — so I credit some of the reasons for the reunion to the birth of his son, because he wanted me to see his son. He felt that he couldn't bring a new son to the world and not have him know me, because I'm the uncle. He loves sharks, so I nicknamed him Tubarão, which means "shark" in Portuguese, he-he!

Tangra Mega Rock: Is CAVALERA CONSPIRACY just a project or it's a real band?

Max: We're not sure yet, because what we make is very different from everything. I believe it's more than a project, but less than a band. I you could think of a medium term... NAILBOMB was a project, as we never toured and stuff, and with CONSPIRACY I wanna tour. I want people to see me and Igor on stage again, as it's a magic thing, really powerful. So we're gonna tour a lot and make more records, however done in a different way — we're not let it turn into a real band, because we have separate lives, and I also love SOULFLY, which is my main thing.

Tangra Mega Rock: CAVALERA CONSPIRACY features also Marc Rizzo of SOULFLY, and also a French guy, Joe Duplantier of GOJIRA. Please tell us more about him.

Max: The idea was to bring something new and unexpected to the table. When I got hold of the GOJIRA CD, it felt very, very different, like "This will work for us." It was kind of an adventure for us, as we didn't know Joe before. I just knew he was a huge SEPULTURA fan who plays in a good band. It was sort of dangerous and exciting to bring a guy you don't know into the camp, but it worked out, as he's a cool guy and a great musician.

Tangra Mega Rock: Joe co-wrote the song "Ultra-Violent" with you, and he plays the bass on the whole record except for this very track where you've got Rex Brown (DOWN, ex-PANTERA). It's a bit confusing...

Max: Joe is originally a guitar player in GOJIRA, so... It was a bit like NAILBOMB, where I and Alex Newport played bass. Most guitar players can't play bass. That's not the case with Joe, but on this specific song he wanted to play the guitar. I agreed and we invited Rex to do the bass. CAVALERA CONSPIRACY is more of a punk mentality project where you do what you want, not what you're told to.

Tangra Mega Rock: To what extent does the so-called Latin metal differ from the Anglo-Saxon one?

Max: I think metal is feeling the same in the whole world in general. I've always said that metal is the best son of rock'n'roll, like the black sheep in the family of rock music. As for the Latin roots, they do exist in the form of a little bit more percussion oriented things and stuff, but on this record, for example, I think there's very little Latin influence — just straightforward metal. When people do too much Latin it's not good, you know, so sometimes I back away from that. Maybe later we'll do some more Brazilian-style things, but at the moment I and Igor wanted to do a pure, raw metal record.

Tangra Mega Rock: In this connection, I'm sure a big part of the world is thinking of a SEPULTURA reunion with you and Igor. Would this be possible?

Max: It's possible, but I don't know neither when nor how. A couple of years ago, if somebody told me I'd be talking with Igor again, I wouldn't have believed him, and you see we're together again now, so yes, it's definitely possible. I make jokes about this SEPULTURA reunion saying that I'm waiting for the end of the world, so we can be the opening band for Armageddon, ha-ha!

Read the entire interview at Tangra Mega Rock.

Massachusetts metallers UNEARTH have issued the following update:

"Thanks to everyone who made our recent Alive from the Apocalypse tour such a good time. Every show was a rager, all the fans brought the ruckus and every band were great dudes and fun to party with. Thanks to the fans, BURY YOUR DEAD, AS BLOOD RUNS BLACK, MY CHILDREN MY BRIDE, THE DESTRO, all the crew for their help and hard work and thanks to everyone involved in this tour for making it happen.

"This short time away from writing the next album gave us the platform to go out and have fun playing on tour again, support our new DVD and give a little taste of some new material to the fans. We are fired up as all hell and looking forward to finishing up writing this next album and getting it out there for all to hear by October.

"Without going into too much detail about the new tunes, it is harder-hitting with more groove than any previous UNEARTH material.

"If you were in the crowd at one of our shows on this last tour, you got a glimpse of what to expect. Working with Derek Kerswill as our drummer for this album has given us the chance to let the songs grow as they should, the parts build up how they should and have the tunes hit as hard as they should. We are beyond amped about the new stuff and we look forward to giving everyone some new tunes to thrash to real fucking soon."

UNEARTH's first-ever DVD, "Alive from the Apocalypse", debuted at No. 13 on Billboard's Top Music Videos chart with first-week sales of 1,800 copies. It also landed at No. 15 on the Top Video/DVD chart in Canada, where it was certified gold just one week after its release.

Canada is the first territory to commemorate certified gold status of "Alive from the Apocalypse".

Long-running Spanish death metallers AVULSED have issued the following update:

"Yesterday night, our drummer Ricky suffered a loss of consciousness and once in the hospital he remained in the Intensive Care Unit. It seems like he suffered a small brain stroke or something like that. This is, one of the veins was broken and some blood was spilled, so he need some surgery to take that blood out.

"At this point we don't know much about it, since he liked 200 km away, and this is the information provided to us by his girlfriend, but what it's sure is that we'll have to cancel the AVULSED performance at the Delirium Festival that's taking place near Paris, France next Saturday, April 19. Also, right now we're not sure if we'll be able to perform at the Underground Metal Fest in Lyon (France) next Saturday, April 26 as well. We still have to see how Ricky develops from this and then we'll see, although this really doesn't depend on us.

"We're very sorry for not being able to perform at the Delirium Festival on which AVULSED was the headliner sharing the bill with quite some cool bands like HACRIDE, NO RETURN, DEGRADEAD, EMBRYONIC CELLS, HYSTHERESY, E-VICE. We hope our fans and the organizers will understand us in this critical situation and we really hope to play at next year's edition of the festival."

AVULSED recently released its very first official DVD, "Reanimating Russia 2007", featuring a multi-camera shoot of the band's 19-song May 2007 performance in Moscow, Russia. It is available through the band's web site, www.avulsed.com.

Watch fan-filmed video footage of AVULSED performing the song "Sick Sick Sex" on May 26, 2007 in Moscow, Russia:

One of the extreme metal genre's most talked about new bands, SUICIDE SILENCE just completed a very successful North American trek as direct support to NILE, which leads them directly into a European tour with PARKWAY DRIVE and BURY YOUR DEAD next week. SUICIDE SILENCE will make their triumphant return to the U.S. in July as part of the summer’s most anticipated tour, Rockstar Energy Mayhem, alongside SLIPKNOT, DISTURBED and MACHINE HEAD, among a slew of others.

Commented guitarist Chris Garza: "We are happy to be home and take it easy after a straight month of brutality with NILE. Every night was fucking killer. A huge thank you to all that went ape shit at the shows. PARKWAY DRIVE and BURY YOUR DEAD starts next week! We look forward to the 12 hour plane ride and getting trashed.

"Just to fill everyone in, we will take the month of June to begin writing for our next album. Lots of crazy ideas are flying around. Then get ready to get your face bashed in after a full day of metal at the Mayhem tour with SLIPKNOT! They have been one of my favorite bands since I was in junior high so it's gonna be a good time. Come out to hang and drink some beers with us. See you all in July."

The young drumming phenom Alex Lopez continues to turn heads as he annihilates the kit with sheer aggression, speed and precision. He just completed a series of instructional videos for YouTube and in the first episode he breaks down how to differentiate blast beats while explaining certain parts of the track "No Pity For A Coward". Click below to check it out.

Finnish folk/pagan metal band MOONSORROW and Faroe Islands metallers TÝR, who are currently touring European together under the Paganfest Europe banner (alongside ENSIFERUM, KORPIKLAANI, and ELUVEITIE) have released a joint videotaped statement rejecting rumors that they are Nazi sympathizers in the wake of reports that their April 17 concert in Berlin may be cancelled (as a result of pressure from a local anti-fascist organization).

Watch the two-minute statement below (English with German subtitles).

MOONSORROW will release its new EP, "Tulimyrsky" (Firestorm), on April 30 via Spikefarm Records. The CD will contain over 60 minutes of music, including a cover version of METALLICA's "For Whom The Bell Tolls".

"Tulimyrsky" (cover artwork) track listing:

01. Tulimyrsky (new song)
02. For Whom The Bell Tolls (METALLICA cover)
03. Taistelu Pohjolasta (from the "Tämä Ikuinen Talvi" demo)
04. Hvergelmir (from the "Metsä" demo)
05. Back To North (MERCILESS cover)

TÝR will release its fourth full-length album, "Land", on May 30 in Europe and June 10 in the U.S. via Napalm Records. According to the band, the follow-up to 2006's "Ragnarok" "contains mostly Faeroese, but also Icelandic and Norwegian traditionals, re-arranged into heavy metal. The second most prevalent language is English." The CD was recorded at Jacob Hansen's (RAUNCHY, ROB ROCK, HATESPHERE, MERCENARY) studio in Ribe, Denmark.

"Land" track listing:

01. Gandksvaedi Tróndar
02. Skinlars Visa
03. Gátu Rima
04. Brennivin
05. Ocean
06. Fipan Fagra
07. Valkyrjan
08. Lokka Tattur
09. Land
10. Hail To The Hammer

Atlanta, Georgia's BECOMING THE ARCHETYPE will enter the studio in July with producer Devin Townsend (STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, LAMB OF GOD, DARKEST HOUR) to begin recordings its third album. Tentatively titled "Dichotomy", the CD will be released later this year on Solid State Records. More information will be made available soon.

BECOMING THE ARCHETYPE's video for the track "Endure" — directed by Endeavor Media — can be viewed below. The son, comes off the group's second album, "The Physics of Fire", which was released in Europe in June 2007 via Century Media Records. The U.S. release was handled by Solid State Records. The CD was produced by Rob Caggiano (BLEEDING THROUGH, CRADLE OF FILTH, ANTHRAX).

For more information, visit the band's MySpace page.

Swedish death metallers VISCERAL BLEEDING have issued the following update:

"After the tour last year with DEICIDE, we all felt that we needed a break from the band and because of that we only did a couple of shows during the rest of 2007. But now after a well-needed rest we have regained our strength and we've now started writing material for a fourth album. As of now, we only have a few riffs here and there but we have a well-formed plan for the next album and we're all very excited to start working on this. So that's that.

VISCERAL BLEEDING's third full-length album, "Absorbing the Disarray", was released last year via Neurotic Records.

CIVILIZATION ONE, the group featuring vocalist Chitral "Chity" Somapala (highly regarded for his work with AVALON, FIREWIND, FARO, MOONLIGHT AGONY and RED CIRCUIT), guitarist Christian Münzner (ex-NECROPHAGIST, MAJESTY) and bassist Pierre-Emmanuel Pélisson (MALADAPTIVE, ex-HEAVENLY), has set "Calling the Gods" as the title of its sophomore album, tentatively due late 2008/ early 2009.

"We are in the perfect mood with our songwriting and things are coming smooth as silk!" the group writes in a press release. "The album will be produced again by none other than Markus Teske at the Bazement studio in Germany in August 2008. The artwork will be handled by Niall Parkinson from Ireland."

Commented Chity: "This is not going to be a concept album at all! It has enough balls to please the metal/hard rock fans! We are not following any trends, we try our best on this one to get more recognition among today's competition! We keep our feet on the ground!"

CIVILIZATION ONE's current lineup includes newly added second guitarist Björn Daigger (MAJESTY, R:I:P) and drummer Holger Rodammer.

KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons has posted the following message on his web site:

"The famous Japanese Manga comic book DMC is being made into a movie by Toho/Sony. Toho Productions are the fine people who brought you 'Godzilla' and 'The Mysterians'...as well as countless other Japanese movies.

"I was thrilled to be asked to play the Demon God of rock and roll — what else? Shooting was from dawn 'till late at night. The shoot took place right after the New Zealand KISS show. I got to sleep at 2:00 am and got up 4:30 am to catch the 7:00 am flight to Tokyo.

"Hectic.

"Once there, I not only had to shoot the Japanese movie (which is being released in August — only in Japan), our 'Gene Simmons Family Jewels' TV crew were also there to record some of the fun and games.

"Here is yours truly in a real Geisha House. And, here is what I look like in one of my get ups in the movie. You'll see the results in a future 'Gene Simmons Family Jewels' episode."

Australian atmospheric/gothic/doom metal band THE ETERNAL has issued the following update:

"After completing all the tracking in February, we have been editing and preparing files for the final mix [of the new THE ETERNAL album, 'Kartika']. A small change of plan occurred and it was decided that Mark [Kelson; guitar/vocals] would head over Helsinki, Finland and ferry his away across to Tallen, Estonia to mix the album with Endel Rivers. Endel recently relocated back to his home land of Estonia and after what we felt was a solid album, 'Sleep of Reason', we thought it would be best for Endel to mix the new album. So after a hectic and confusing few months we are back on the track to completion. Mark will be returning to Australia with a mixed album May 19th and we look forward to finally moving onto the next stage of the project. We have decided to do a show in Sydney in May to get ourselves back in the flow before we start any 'Kartika'-related touring. We have also added some new studio photos from the vocal sessions at Palm Studios."

"Kartika" projected track listing (in no particular order):

01. Self Inflicted
02. Means for an Ending
03. Blood
04. Without Reason
05. A Pale Reflection
06. Illuminate
07. Walk Beside You
08. Brighter Day
09. Kartika
10. Silence
11. July
12. Lost Our Way
13. Inside the Grey
14. I've Seen The Dream Through Someone Else's Eyes
15. Sunshine
16. Frozen Sun
17. Last Embrace

JUDAS PRIEST's much-anticipated new album, "Nostradamus", will be released in Germany on June 13 via Sony/BMG (June 16 in the rest of Europe, and most likely June 17 in North America). It will be made available as a double CD in a jewel case, as a deluxe digibook and as a special box set containing the new album on three LPs, a 48-page book and a poster.

In a recent interview with Rock My Monkey, JUDAS PRIEST singer Rob Halford was asked if "Nostradamus" will feature any "full-on-assault" tracks like "Painkiller" or if it will stick to the more classic JUDAS PRIEST style that PRIEST had on "Angel Of Retribution". "Well, I think, you know, I think it's always important to remember that the PRIEST in all of the years that we've been together, we've been very determined to give each record its own definition, and identity," he replied. "As you know, we're into double digits now since 'Rocka Rolla' all the way through to 'Angel Of Retribution', all the hundreds and hundreds of songs that we've released, you know. I guess the other thing is in terms of what we try to stand for is that we really avoid repetition. And that's an easy thing to fall into when you have a commercially successful record in terms of record sales and recognition, as 'Painkiller' was for us. But, I mean, you listen to 'Angel Of Retribution', and I think it's a very powerful, strong record, with a lot of the great elements that we all love about JUDAS PRIEST. So, you know, I think your feelings are one that would be expressed by millions of PRIEST fans around the world, you know. Everybody is very passionate about everything that we've ever done. There's always an eagerness to maybe refocus on some of your favorite moments. But we just leave that there. It's in the great breadth of things that we've achieved in that three decades plus of making heavy metal. We're just excited now to be focused on the present endeavor of 'Nostradamus'."

JUDAS PRIEST's upcoming tour will include shows where the group's entire upcoming "Nostradamus" album (based on the legendary 16th century prophet Nostradamus) will be performed as well as concerts featuring the band's classic songs.

"Till Death Do Us Part", the brutal new album from death metal legends DEICIDE, will be released as a special-edition CD with a free "Glen For President" woven patch — hurry, only available while stocks last! The album will also be available as a standard CD, limited-edition 12" picture disc LP and limited edition 12" color vinyl LP.

Don't forget that you can still create and enter your own video for the brand new track "In the Eyes of God" from "Till Death Do Us Part" for a chance to win a bass guitar signed by the whole band! To download the track and for more details on how to enter the competition, just visit www.earache.com/deicidevideo.

Got questions for Glen Benton? Revolver magazine wants your help! Send your questions for Glen to letters@revolvermag.com with the subject line "Glen" by May 9, 2008, and the esteemed Mr. Benton will answer the best ones in an upcoming issue of Revolver, "The World's Loudest Rock Magazine"!

"Till Death Do Us Part" will be released on April 28 in Europe and May 13 in the U.S.

Guitarist Jeff Waters of the long-running Canadian thrashers ANNIHILATOR has issued the following update:

"[The songwriting process for the] new CD [is] coming along just delightfully. Something strange happened in the last few years in that I have started to really play guitar more than usual, thus giving me more than five times as many guitar riffs written on tour, in hotel rooms, on buses and at home in the studio. I have, for the first time since I started this band, around three CDs' worth of material now. Ridiculous amounts of stuff but at least this could be exciting as I can pick the best material for the CD rather than writing 10 for a record and using them all. So that means the new ANNIHILATOR CD should technically be three times better! HA! Ya never know! Dave [Padden, guitar/vocals] wants to heavy the record up vocally this time but not so much in a 'newer style' and not so much in an early '80s style. Should be interesting to hear what he has in mind. Drumming on the new cd is probably going to be done by our touring drummer Ryan Ahoff. He kicked ass on the ICED EARTH/ANNIHILATOR tour in Europe late last year. Bassist Dave Sheldon has also been fitting in well and playing like a madman on that tour, as well as in Greece. Dave S. is also a guitar player so that helps in this band, as a bass player!"

ANNIHILATOR released its latest album, "Metal", in North America on January 15 via SPV. The CD's ten new tracks were recorded by Jeff Waters (guitar, bass and lead vocals on one song), drum legend Mike Mangini and Dave Padden (longtime vocalist and touring guitarist/vocalist). The album features sensational performances by some of metal's finest players and ANNIHILATOR's good friends, like Alexi Laiho (CHILDREN OF BODOM), Danko Jones, Michael Amott and Angela Gossow (ARCH ENEMY), Corey Beaulieu (TRIVIUM), William Adler (LAMB OF GOD), Jeff Loomis, Jesper Strömblad (IN FLAMES), Steve "Lips" Kudlow, Anders Björler (THE HAUNTED), Jacob Lynam (LYNAM) and more.

"A Sense of Purpose", the new album from Swedish metallers IN FLAMES, has topped the chart in the band's home country in its first week of release.

The CD has registered the following chart positions so far:

#1 - Sweden
#3 - Finland
#7 - Canada
#14 - Japan
#28 - U.S.

"A Sense of Purpose" (Koch) shifted 20,000 copies in the United States during its first week of release. This is slightly less than the opening tally of "Come Clarity" (Ferret), which sold just under 24,000 copies in February 2006 to debut at position No. 58.

IN FLAMES will perform at the Metal Hammer Golden Gods 2008 awards ceremony on Monday, June 16 at the IndigO2 (O2 Arena) in London, UK.

IN FLAMES is nominated in two categories at the event, which is organized by the monthly UK magazine Metal Hammer:

* Best International Band
* Shredder (Jesper Strömblad)

Swedish thrashers THE HAUNTED recently entered PUK studio in Denmark to begin recording their new album with producer Tue Madsen (HEAVEN SHALL BURN, DARK TRANQUILLITY, MOONSPELL, etc), who has previously worked with the group on their two previous albums, "rEVOLVEr" and "The Dead Eye".

Commented the band: "The recording is moving forward with great progress. It is now day ten into the session and all the drums, bass and guitar tracks are done.

"Tomorrow, Anders [Björler] will start on the guitar leads (yes, there are solos on this album) and some other shit he couldn't play live. It's been a hard week, but it seems like the hard work has paid off.

"Next Wednesday we'll start recording vocals with Peter [Dolving] up in Gothenburg. We hope to give you another video update then."

A four-minute video clip from the studio can be viewed below.

Bassist Jonas Björler previously stated: "We have like 20+ songs, so we have a lot of material to choose from; I think we aim at putting 11 or 12 on the CD. This time around we worked 6 months on the songs, and I think that really paid off — none of the songs sound alike, and the material sounds really heavy and groovy."

Working songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Walk on Water", "Final Regression", "You", "Faultline" and "Narcotic".