Swedish metallers IN FLAMES are currently at their own IF Studios in Gothenburg, Sweden working on the follow-up to last year's "Come Clarity". The band's studio video diary is online now with Episode 2. Watch it here.

A new IN FLAMES track, entitled "Abnegation", is featured on the "Viva La Bands, Vol. 2" album, which was released on September 4 via Ferret Music and Filthy Note Records. The CD features exclusive tracks, written and recorded for the CD/DVD combo from some of Bam's favorite acts like CLUTCH, CKY, CHILDREN OF BODOM, VIKING SKULL and VAINS OF JENNA. A U.S.-exclusive track from SHINY TOY GUNS and music from other faves like GWAR, THE SOUNDS, DIMMU BORGIR and KILL HANNAH also appears on the killer compilation.

Swedish metallers THERION have revealed the songs that were recently voted for by fans that will be played on their upcoming "Adulruna Tour". The following are listed in random order, not the order they will be performed:

01. Adulruna Rediviva
02. Wisdom and the Cage
03. Summernight City
04. Rise of Sodom and Gomorrah
05. Wine of Aluqah
06. Via Nocturna
07. Ginnungagap
08. Asgard
09. Midgard
10. Blood of Kingu
11. Kali Yuga (part 1 & 2)*
12. Kali Yuga (part 3, not recorded yet!)
13. Typhon
14. Arrow from the Sun
15. Lemuria (acoustic version with flute!)

* Not voted for, but will be performed as the band decided to play the third part

German female-fronted gothic metallers FLOWING TEARS have issued the following update:

"It's time to reveal some more details about the upcoming live album. 'Invanity - Live in Berlin' will be released on October 29 and will contain the following tracks:

01. Swallow
02. Undying
03. Portsall (Departure Song)
04. Lovesong For A Dead Child
05. The Marching Sane
06. Merlin
07. Pitch Black Water
08. Dead Skin Mask (SLAYER cover)
09. The Weeping Song (NICK CAVE cover) *

* With TIAMAT's Johan Edlund on guest vocals

"The album will be released as a splendid digipack version with a huge photobooklet and liner notes. Apart from that we're looking forward to our return on stages at Metal Female Voices Fest in October — see you all there!"

Norwegian extreme metallers THE KOVENANT have re-released their classic album "In Times before the Light" on VME/Head Not Found Records, featuring the original tracks (not the re-mixed 2002 edition) with the original demos from 1993-1994. The complete track listing is as follows:

01. Towards the Crown of Nights
02. Dragonstorms
03. The Dark Conquest
04. From the Storm of Shadows
05. Night of the Blackwinds
06. The Chasm
07. Visions of a Lost Kingdom
08. Through the Eyes of the Raven
09. In The Times Before Light
10. Monarchs of Mighty Darkness

Check out the artwork at here

German melodic metallers HELLOWEEN were busy working on their twelfth studio album until the end of August, and are now ready to release more details about the CD. Entitled "Gambling with the Devil", the regular album consists of eleven songs (plus an intro, spoken by SAXON's Biff Byford) with a total playing time of 57 minutes and 40 seconds. For their many faithful fans, there will also be a limited first edition (40,000 units in a digipak with an embossed and stamped slipcase to be released in Europe, and 10,000 units in a jewel case in the U.S.) with a bonus CD featuring two extra tracks, the video for the first single "As Long As I Fall", and a "making-of" of the video, including interview sequences. As a special highlight, the first edition includes a scratch ticket with an exciting puzzle, as described in detail on the HELLOWEEN homepage. The solution to the puzzle allows you to register at Helloween.org and take part in a draw with a sensational first prize: The lucky winner will receive a trip for two to a HELLOWEEN show in America — including flight, accommodation at the band hotel, backstage tickets, and, of course, a personal meeting with the band! There are also signed Gibson/Epiphone guitars and great fan packs to be won.

HELLOWEEN is currently on a promotional tour to launch their new album and will soon start preparations for their extensive world tour, which will take them through the whole of Europe, Southeast Asia and the U.S. from November 2007.

A few days ago, the impressive video clip for the song "As Long As I Fall" was shot at Munich's AVA studios (who previously worked with the group on the "Light the Universe" clip).

The audio version of "As Long As I Fall" (including the cover) will be available for download beginning on September 28, 2007.

HELLOWEEN — Andi Deris (vocals), Michael Weikath (guitar), Sascha Gerstner (guitar), Markus Großkopf (bass) and Dani Löble (drums) — will release "Gambling with the Devil" on October 23, 2007 (USA), October 26, 2007 (Germany) and October 29, 2007 (rest of Europe). "Some of the numbers were written during the tour. The fans' positive reactions and the great responses to 'Keeper of the Seven Keys – The Legacy' really inspired us. We were rearing to go," Andi Deris describes the extremely positive atmosphere among the band members, adding: "It's been years since I had so much fun composing."

Under the direction of producer Charlie Bauerfeind, HELLOWEEN recorded a total of 16 songs at the Mi Sueno studios in Tenerife. The focal point of this diverse album is a three-part epos consisting of the chapters "The Bells of the Seven Hells", "Falling to Pieces" and "I.M.E.", which represent the ambiguous album title that thematically covers all the songs. "At the end of the day, life is a gamble with the devil," Deris explains. The cover artwork was designed by Martin Häusler ("Keeper of the Seven Keys – The Legacy" and "Live on 3 Continents") again.

"Gambling with the Devil" track listing:

CD 1:

01. Crack the Riddle (Intro)
02. Kill It
03. The Saints
04. As Long As I Fall
05. Paint a New World
06. Final Fortune
07. The Bells of the 7 Hells
08. Fallen to Pieces
09. I.M.E.
10. Can Do It
11. Dreambound
12. Heaven Tells No Lies

CD 2 (Bonus Disc – Limited Digipak Edition):

01. Find My Freedom (Bonus)
02. See the Night (Bonus)
03. As Long As I Fall - Video (enhanced)
04. EPK including "Making Of" Video (enhanced)

Finnish metallers SHADE EMPIRE will enter the studio on October 1 to begin laying down tracks for their third album, tentatively due on March 12, 2008 via Dynamic Arts Records. Most of the recording sessions will take place at Studio 33 in Kuopio, Finland and this time the band will use a real choir to boost the sound. The vocal recordings at Perkele Studios will be overseen by producer and AJATTARA mastermind Ruoja (a.k.a. former AMORPHIS frontman Pasi Koskinen). The CD will be mixed by Sami Niittykoski.

According to a press release, SHADE EMPIRE has created a sound which cannot be easily categorized. Their music contains industrial and symphonic elements while still staying true to its death/black metal roots.

SHADE EMPIRE's follow-up to 2006's "Intoxicate O.S." (which landed on the Finnish chart at position No. 25) will contain nine songs and two videos will be produced from it. The video production will be handled in part outside Finland and will be overseen by director Ari Reinikainen.

SEPULTURA guitarist Andreas Kisser has issued the following update:

"I've very busy, since we came back from the European tour. I jammed with many Brazilian artisits including, ORQUESTRA IMPERIAL (RJ), blues with VASCO FAE in the Northeast, MARINA DE LA RIVA, IRMANDADE DO BLUES, recording with different styles of musicians and I will finish my solo album, 'Hubris', by the end of the year.

"Next month after Jean's [Dolabella, drums] kid is born, we will start a new album which will be released worldwide trough SPV Records. We will start practice in Belo Horizonte at Jean's studio. Since 'Beneath the Remains' [1989] we don't write songs in Belo Horizonte. It will be another great deal of motivation to do that after so long. I'll keep you posted about the evolution of our work!"

Metal Injection, the extreme music video-on-demand web site, is currently hosting the video for Massachusetts metal outfit THE RED CHORD's song "Dread Prevailed" at this location. The video, directed by acclaimed director Dave Brodsky of MyGoodEye Studios (THROUGH THE EYES OF THE DEAD, GWAR, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD), is based on a waking-dream that vocalist Guy Kozowyk had while driving to Canada at 3 in the morning. The song comes off the band's latest release, "Prey for Eyes", available on Metal Blade Records. The album was recorded at Trax East studio, a process which was highlighted in the band's "making-of" clips which can be seen on THE RED CHORD channel on Metal Injection. THE RED CHORD bassist Greg Weeks also pens a weekly advice column called "Ask Me, I'm Right" for Metal Injection.

UK's gothic metal forefathers PARADISE LOST have released the video for the song "Praise Lamented Shade", taken from the band's latest, much-lauded CD, "In Requiem", which was issued via Century Media Records in May 2007. The clip was filmed during PARADISE LOST's April 2007 show at Koko in London (a concert which was filemd for an upcoming DVD) and was directed by Dash Productions (who worked with people such as STEVEN SEAGAL, GARY NUMAN, LEVEL 42, PAUL RODGERS, RICK ASTLEY, HEAVEN 17, THE DAMNED, MARC ALMOND, DEXY'S MIDNIGHT RUNNERS and many more). Watch the video here.

In other news, "In Requiem" is finally available on vinyl again! As the limited 4 x 7" box (2,000 copies) was sold out in the first week of release, Century Media Records and PARADISE LOST have decided to release the album as a vinyl LP, too. It contains the regular album tracks and comes in heavy cardboard gatefold cover, including a newly designed poster.

ARCH ENEMY's new album, "Rise of the Tyrant" has been receiving huge acclaim from the media throughout the world and upon release date on September 24 in Europe, the album will be available in the following formats with alternate cover artwork coloring: CD; limited edition CD including O-card packaging, uncoated booklet paper and a bonus 3" mini-DVD; and LP format with the bare CD as special bonus. The mini-DVD of the limited edition release includes the following impressive live footage filmed in South America on ARCH ENEMY's headlining tour early 2007:

* I Am Legend/Out For Blood (Live)
* Diva Satanica (Live)
* On The Road Movie

Five years after it faded into oblivion, the 2002 OVERKILL double-DVD "Live: Wrecking Everything, an Evening in Asbury Park" will be re-released on October 2 via Eagle Vision, according to MTV.com. The first disc features a 21-song concert shot in Asbury Park in March 2002 and the second DVD offers the 60-minute documentary "Batmen, the Return".

For more information on the "Live: Wrecking Everything, an Evening in Asbury Park" reissue, click here

Swedish metallers HAMMERFALL performed live on the Swedish TV morning show "Nyhetsmorgon" on TV4 on Thursday, September 13. The band played two songs: the new single, "Last Man Standing", and "Hearts on Fire". Watch the performances at the TV4.se web site:

"Last Man Standing": Video
"Hearts on Fire": Video

As previously reported, HAMMERFALL will release a two-CD "best-of" set called "Steel Meets Steel - Ten Years of Glory" (cover) on October 12 through Nuclear Blast Records. The CD will include around 25 classic HAMMERFALL tracks along with three new songs which were recently recorded at Mi Sueno studios in Tenerife, Spain: "Last Man Standing", "Restless Soul" and "HammerFall v2.0.07". The track listing for the effort is as follows:

Disc 1:

01. The Abyss
02. Last Man Standing
03. Hammerfall v2.0.07
04. The Dragon Lies Bleeding
05. Steel Meets Steel
06. Glory To The Brave
07. Heeding The Call
08. At The End Of The Rainbow
09. Legacy Of Kings
10. Let The Hammer Fall (Live)
11. Templars Of Steel
12. Renegade
13. Always Will Be
14. Keep The Flame Burning
15. Riders Of The Storm

Disc 2:

01. Hearts On Fire
02. Crimson Thunder
03. Hero's Return
04. Blood Bound
05. Secrets
06. Fury Of The Wild
07. Never, Ever
08. Threshold
09. Natural High
10. Dark Wings, Dark Words
11. The Fire Burns Forever
12. Restless Soul
13. The Metal Age (Live Musikens Hus, Göteborg, 1998)
14. Stone Cold (Live Musikens Hus, Göteborg, 1998)
15. Hammerfall v2.0.07 MPEG video (rough mix version)

UK melodic power metallers POWER QUEST have issued the following update:

"The band will be entering Remaster Studio in Vicenza on October 25th to begin recording the fourth POWER QUEST album. First up will be Francesco Tresca and drum tracking. Ahead of that the band will be gathering in Italy during the first week of October to finalize the songs for the album from the 15 songs that have been written.

"Steve Williams (keyboards) will be heading out to Poland on October 27th to take part in a musical written by Clive Nolan (ARENA) which is being performed on October 31st in Katowice. There will be also be a CD and DVD release next year. The musical is based on the H. Rider Haggard novel 'She'. You can discover more about the musical and the 'Caamora' project here."

As previously reported, POWER QUEST has set "Master of Illusion" as the title of its fourth album, tentatively due in early 2008. Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Hearts and Voices", "The Vigil", "The Right Place and the Wrong Time", "Count My Sins" and "The Tragedy Suite".

NEMHAIN, the British band featuring ex-CRADLE OF FILTH/AT THE GATES drummer Adrian Erlandsson and his wife, fetish model Morrigan Hel (a.k.a. Amber England), has issued the following update:

"Well, we're industriously writing new material at the moment, in preparation for finally sticking some of it on an album within the next few months, so anyone coming to our gigs might get a sneak preview of the new stuff before we record it.

"The new lineup rocks, and together we've conquered the Netherlands, Bloodstock and the dizzying heights of Camden! We're really looking forward to getting out and doing more shows, and we should soon have an album for you lucky people to buy!

"The next gig is our first visit to Club Tarantula at Sin (Soho, London on October 19th), which should be a fun break from the writing and a chance to defile a fresh stage, so if you're around, come out to play!"

NEMHAIN is:

Morrigan Hel - Vocals
Cherry Forever - Rhythm Guitar & Backing Vocals
Mr. Dick - Lead Guitar
Da Witch – Bass
The Swede – Drums

Inside Out Music will release a "best-of" collection from U.K. progressive metallers THRESHOLD in November. Entitled "The Ravages of Time", the two-CD set includes important compositions and classics by the band, among them the lavish "Sanity's End", which effortlessly takes the 10-minute hurdle and proves that THRESHOLD always allow their albums enough space to breathe. "You can't judge our songs with a stopwatch," guitarist Karl Groom explained some years ago, accounting for the fact that expansive arrangements are part of his band’s concept, as numbers such as "Falling Away", "The Art Of Reason", "A Tension of Souls", "Innocent", "Fragmentation", and the haunting "Oceanbound", with its memorable line "Let the sky become an ocean pull me in above my head" prove. Then there are previously unreleased radio edits of "Slipstream" and "Pilot in the Sky of Dreams" from their current album release, "Dead Reckoning", which arrived at the stores in spring 2007, plus rare radio versions of the classics, "Pressure" and "Exposed", which confirm that THRESHOLD's numbers lose none of their fascination even in this condensed format.

"The Ravages of Time" track listing:

CD One: The Latter Years

01. Slipstream (radio edit)
02. Light And Space (edit)
03. Mission Profile
04. Falling Away
05. The Ravages Of Time
06. Phenomenon
07. Pressure (radio edit)
08. Fragmentation
09. Oceanbound
10. The Art Of Reason
11. Pilot In The Sky Of Dreams (radio edit)
Total running time: 71:29
CD Two: The Former Years

01. The Latent Gene
02. A Tension Of Souls
03. Eat The Unicorn
04. Consume To Live
05. Innocent
06. Exposed (radio edit)
07. Sanity's End
08. The Whispering
09. Voyager II

Total running time: 70:06

Demolition Records has released a HANOI ROCKS special-edition digipack of the band's new CD "Street Poetry". The track listing is as follows:

01. Hypermobile
02. Street Poetry
03. Fashion
04. Highwired
05. Power of Persuasion
06. Teenage Revolution
07. Worth Your Weight in Gold
08. Trancendental Groove
09. This One's for Rock 'n' Roll
10. Powertrip
11. Walkin' Away
12. Tootin' Star
13. Fumblefoot and Busy Bee

Bonus Material:

14. Trouble Boys
15. Fashion (Video)
16. Boulevard of Broken Dreams (Video)
17. High School (Video)

Dutch metal outfit VENGEANCE has inked a deal with Metal Heaven. The group's first release through the label will be a live CD entitled "Same… But Different". The material on this album was recorded at various shows during the band's most recent tours with AXEL RUDI PELL and SINNER.

"Same… But Different" track listing:

01. Take It Or Leave It (mp3 clip)
02. Back In The Ring (mp3 clip)
03. No Mercy
04. May Heaven Strike Me Down (mp3 clip)
05. Dream World
06. Take Me To The Limit
07. Bad Boy For Love
08. She Is The Woman
09. Rock'n Roll Shower
10. Arabia

The studio version of SKID ROW singer Sebastian Bach's "original" rap song, entitled "1 4 Tha Money" — featuring a guest appearance by KURUPT — is available for streaming on Bach's Myspace Page.

As previously reported, video footage of Bach performing "1 4 Tha Money" on the third episode of MTV's new weekly competition show "Celebrity Rap Superstar" is available for viewing at www.mtv.com.

November 23, 2007 will see the release of the brand new EMPIRE album, "Chasing Shadows" on Metal Heaven. This will be the fourth release from the band and the first to feature vocalist Doogie White (RAINBOW, CORNERSTONE, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN) and drummer Mike Terrana (MASTERPLAN, AXEL RUDI PELL) alongside longtime bassist Neil Murray (WHITESNAKE, BLACK SABBATH, GARY MOORE) and founding member, guitarist Rolf Munkes (MAJESTY, RAZORBACK, VANIZE).

Munkes and White were introduced by Murray in late 2006. They quickly established a formidable writing partnership. The songs were written over a two-month period near the beginning of 2007. The album went into full production in late spring and was produced and mixed by Munkes at Empire Studios over the summer months.

"Chasing Shadows" track listing:

01. Chasing Shadows (mp3)
02. The Alter
03. Mother Father Holy Ghost (mp3)
04. Sail Away
05. Child Of The Light
06. Tahigwan Nights
07. Manic Messiah (mp3)
08. Angel And The Gambler
09. A Story Told
10. The Rulers Of The World

AYREON, the brainchild of Dutch guitarist/composer Arjen Lucassen, has posted an audio sample of the next guest singer who will appear on the band's upcoming album, tentatively due late 2007/early 2008: GOTTHARD frontwoman Steve Lee. Other vocalists scheduled to appear on the CD include Bob Catley (MAGNUM), Anneke van Giersbergen (THE GATHERING), Jonas P. Renske (KATATONIA), Jorn Lande (MASTERPLAN), Tom S. Englund (EVERGREY), Ty Tabor (KING'S X), Magali Luyten (VIRUS IV), Simone Simons (EPICA), Liselotte Hegt (DIAL), Phideaux Xavier and Floor Jansen (AFTER FOREVER). A total of fifteen singers have been confirmed to guest on the album, with more to be added.

AYREON's last CD, "Ayreon: The Human Equation", was released in 2004. It contained guest appearances by a number of acclaimed vocalists, including James LaBrie (DREAM THEATER), Mike Baker (SHADOW GALLERY), Mikael Åkerfeldt (OPETH), Eric Clayton (SAVIOUR MACHINE), Devon Graves (DEADSOUL TRIBE, ex-PSYCHOTIC WALTZ) and Devin Townsend (STRAPPING YOUNG LAD).

TRISTANIA's male vocalist Østen Bergøy has issued the following update:

"On behalf of TRISTANIA, and myself, I would like to apologize for the silence from our camp these last few months. It has not been our intention to keep you in the dark, or to hide from our responsibility to inform you about what is really going on. We also apologize for the lack of updates on Tristania.com, it has been neglected for too long. Both the band and the webmaster promise to make sure that the site will be updated more frequently for the future.

"Vibeke's [Stene, former singer] departure from the band obviously came as a shock to you, as it did to us when she told us she intended to leave. The fact that she didn't write you a few lines before she took off might seem strange to us all, I don't want to raise any speculations about why. It was her decision to make. But I think it was the wrong one.

"A couple of months ago, we had all these rumours about Vibeke and NIGHTWISH. Where all those stories came from, we don't know, and frankly we don't care. The cold facts are that she is not a part of TRISTANIA anymore, and that is what we have to relate to.

"It has been very frustrating for us that we have been unable to tour with 'Illumination'. A summer without playing festivals has been difficult. Except of a couple years where we have been busy in the studio, TRISTANIA has done summer festivals every year since 1998. Obviously something has been missing.

"The songs from 'Illumination' suit the live format very well. They have got this special energy that makes many of the songs perfect for the stage. We experienced this during the last gigs we did last year, even though the songs were yet not released, the crowds did respond very well to them. Now we can't wait to continue with touring. Day jobs are boring. At least mine is. I know I am not the only restless member of the band.

"Despite the frustration with not being able to tour, we have used the spring and summer well in the search for the new singer that can fill the shoes of Vibeke, and also take TRISTANIA to the next level.

"We have been looking for something fresh; a voice with character and identity. An imitation of the former singer is the last thing we want, but this special someone also must be able to sing the classics. We take our past with us in the future.
We have received demos from many candidates from all over the world. Some of them were asked to send more material, and a few of them have been invited to Norway where we have been working with them in our studio.

"It is with great relief we are announcing that this search is now over, and we will bring you more details around this soon. We would like to thank each and every person that contacted us and sent material. It has been deeply appreciated. Anders [H. Hidle, guitar] and Einar [Moen, keyboards] are working on new stuff, the engines are still running. I am eager to hear it.

"I am doing a lot of writing these days, working on numerous projects in various areas. Kenneth [Olsson, drums] has had surgery on his knee, and hopefully he will be fit for some heavy touring soon.

"Well, that is about it. We hope you are all well. We will try to update the 'news'-section on a monthly basis.

"Big news will be revealed soon…"

TRISTANIA's new album, "Illumination", was released in January via SPV. The CD was recorded at Woodhouse Studios in Hagen, Germany with producer Waldemar Sorychta (LACUNA COIL, TIAMAT, GRIP INC.).

Former NIGHTWISH singer Tarja Turunen has recorded a cover version of the ALICE COOPER smash "Poison". The song, which will appear on Turunen's upcoming solo album, "My Winter Storm", was recorded at the same studio where the original track was laid down — The Village Recorder (a.k.a. The Village) in Los Angeles, California.

Tarja previously stated about her decision to cover the track, "The original song has lots of backing vocals. I can say without a doubt that the song is a 'classic.' I decided to cover it after listening to it hundreds of times in the Finnish radio. I never performed the song before 'My Winter Storm' sessions. It is not a ballad…"

The original version of "Poison" (view video below) appeared on ALICE COOPER's 1989 album "Trash". Produced by the proven hitmaker Desmond Child, "Trash" featured guest appearances by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, and most of AEROSMITH. The record became a Top Ten hit in Britain and peaked at No. 20 in the U.S., going platinum. "Poison" became Cooper's first Top Ten hit since 1977.

Other songtitles set to appear on "My Winter Storm" include "I Walk Alone", "Oasis", "Lost Northern Star", "The Seer", "Damned And Divine", "Sing For Me", "Calling Grace", "The Reign" and "Ciarán’s Well".

Tarja Turunen's video for the song "I Walk Alone", can be viewed below. The clip was shot in Berlin, Germany with director Jörn Heitmann, who previously worked with NIGHTWISH on the "Sleeping Sun" clip in 2005. The "I Walk Alone" single will be released mid-October Universal Music, to be followed by the full-length CD, "My Winter Storm", on November 9.

"My Winter Storm" is being produced by Daniel Presley (FAITH NO MORE, JEWEL, THE BREEDERS), who has been joined in the studio by a truly stellar line-up of musicians: Doug Wimbish on bass (LIVING COLOUR, ANNIE LENNOX, JOE SATRIANI, JEFF BECK, MADONNA, ROLLING STONES), Alex Scholpp on electric guitars (FARMER BOYS) and Earl Harvin on drums (SEAL, PET SHOP BOYS, AIR), a player personally selected by Tarja after she saw him stealing the show at a SEAL concert. Keyboards and programming, meanwhile, are being provided by Torsten Stenzel, whose previous credits include NELLY FURTADO, MOBY, TINA TURNER, VANESSA MAE and more.

JON OLIVA'S PAIN, the band led by SAVATAGE mastermind Jon Oliva, has released the following statement:

"It is with extreme sorrow and heavy heart that we must report the tragic and untimely passing of Greg 'Super-G' Marchak... our beloved friend, JON OLIVA'S PAIN producer and engineer. Greg suffered an anyeurism on Thursday evening and never recovered.

"This is a tragedy beyond words for all of us in JON OLIVA'S PAIN, his family and the many friends, bands, and musicians that had the privilege of knowing and working with such a wonderful human being. Greg was an original and has left a whole in all our hearts.

"Greg was not only an incredible person, but he was the funniest guy we knew. He made everyone laugh! The talent, experience and enthusiasm he brought to the JON OLIVA'S PAIN CDs and live shows can never be duplicated. He was the glue that pulled the band and our sound together in the studio and on the road. They didn't call him Super-G for nothing! It is a loss without description. Greg was one of us and always will be!

"We love you and miss you, Greg. We know that you are now running the soundboard in the sky....

"May you rest in peace!"

Koch Records has announced a new revenue-sharing, multi-album, worldwide partnership with the Los Angeles-based band OTEP. The first release under this new agreement is the band's much-delayed new full-length album, "The Ascension", due on Tuesday, October 30, 2007.

Comments Otep Shamaya, the band's namesake and driving force: "We've been called the renegades of art-rock and it's invigorating and empowering to now have the support of a label that understands and embraces the explosive trends of technology and fortifies our mission of breaking the mold of the mundane. This unification of Koch and OTEP embraces the new business model for an artist/label partnership that destroys the fossilized thinking that has decimated the music industry. I am excited and honored to be partnering with such an amazingly forward thinking label and look forward to the many conquests and creative successes our collective future now holds."

Bob Frank, President of Koch Records states, "OTEP are positioned to be the biggest band in metal. This partnership gives us all the ability to truly work together and make it happen. With Otep Shamaya, Zen Media Group and Koch metal god Scott Givens on point, we have an unbeatable team."

Scott Givens, VP of Metal adds, "We feel we have perfect vehicle for Otep and all her creative visions. From musical to visual to spoken word we could not be happier that she has chosen to be her partner as she continues her already amazing career."

Produced by Dave Fortman (MUDVAYNE, EVANESCENCE), "The Ascension" sees the band challenging itself to avoid clichés and classifications and finding a new landscape of sound and vision. "We said 'genre limits and music fads be damned, let's write music that is important to us and that motivates us," explains Shamaya. "I wanted to write songs we believe in and let nothing stop us from building the album we want to make."

Look for the band to tour soon in support of "The Ascension" with band members Brian Wolf, Aaron and founding member eVil J. The group recently completed a national tour with STATIC-X.

Guitarist/founder Rick Scythe of Chicago's USURPER has issued the following update on his NIGHTSHADE project:

"This week I've been staying busy recording three more songs. These songs will not be on the 'Majick Potion' CD, but will be demos for the NIGHTSHADE full-length album. Again I met with Mr. Faust Faust at Boss Studios and began on the drums and guitars this week.

The new songs are entitled: 'The Boy Who Cried Werewolf', 'Midnight, Down in the Lab' and 'Opus Dei of the Dead'.

"Things are really starting to kick ass. Both myself and Mr. Faust are getting more involved with the overall NIGHTSHADE sound and presentation. After the 'Majick Potion' CD is release we will look for a proper record label and some additional members. We plan on auditioning bass players as well as live drummers in a couple months. If you think you have what it takes be sure to get in touch. We don't care where you live as long as you can travel to Chicago a week or two before any gigs or tours.

"Speaking of the 'Majick Potion' CD — everything is being finalized this week and we will have the CDs pressed up as well as the songs posted by Halloween."

Guitarist Lord Heikkinen of the Finnish band SOULGRIND has issued the following update:

"Summer is gone and a lot of things has happened. I got married, which is probably the main thing. The party was excellent and all 120 guests were pretty happy. At the least the couple was. 1000 cans of beer, 42 bottles of wine 11 litres of vodka and some extras were drunk. A lot of drunken metalheads were seen on the area at the night :) Our singer Lilith [former LULLACRY frontwoman Tanja 'Whisper Lilith' Kemppainen; a.k.a. Tanya] created an awesome menu for the people, a lot of meat and old-style food. Cheers for her!! And for all of the people who showed up for the party.

"But also SOULGRIND is getting ready for the next attack. The contract with French Holy Records is over and we are looking for a new label. We are fixing some new tunes and two songs are ready. Three others are on their way. Musically songs follow the same path as latest album 'Pakana' was. Of course there are some new winds, but the base is there. We are planning to demo some songs in early 2008.

"'Pakana' has been recieved well and the feedback/reviews have been great. And there shall be a video for one of the songs from 'Pakana' as soon as we get it together. As there is no financial support from the label to do the video, we shall do it by ourselves. Low-budget but pro, that is the name of the game.

"At the moment we have a couple gigs on the way, more is to come. Hopefully we get the tour together for next March. You shall be informed. See you at the gigs and enjoy your only life!"

"Pakana" was issued in February via Holy Records.

According to Classic Rock magazine, the new WHITESNAKE album, "Good to be Bad", will be released on May 13, 2008 via SPV. The CD was produced by Mike Fraser (AC/DC, AEROSMITH, COVERDALE/PAGE, METALLICA, etc.) and David Coverdale and features 14 songs (12 hard rock songs and two ballads), all of which were written by David Coverdale and guitarist Doug Aldrich. Other band members include Reb Beach (guitar), Tommy Aldridge (drums) and Uriah Duffy (bass).

According to a posting on the web site of the Trondheim, Norway venue Samfundet, W.A.S.P.'s November 9, 2007 concert at the location will be filmed for an upcoming DVD. It should be noted, however, that this information has not yet been corroborated by the W.A.S.P. camp.

As previously reported, W.A.S.P.'s latest album, "Dominator", will be released in digipack and LP format on October 1 via Demolition Records. The digipack features a special 3D cover.