According to a posting on TURISAS' web site, MACHINE HEAD, LAMB OF GOD, DIMMU BORGIR and TURISAS will perform at this year's Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards, which will be held June 11 at Koko in London, England.

LAMB OF GOD is up for an impressive five awards at the event, including "Best Album", "Best Live Band" and "Best International Band". Also nominated are British IRON MAIDEN, VELVET REVOLVER and AVENGED SEVENFOLD, among many others.

For a complete list of this year's nominees, click here

According to MansonUSA.com, the track listing has been finalized for the new MARILYN MANSON album, "Eat Me, Drink Me", tentatively due on June 5. It is as follows:

01. If I Was Your Vampire
02. Putting Holes in Happiness
03. The Red Carpet Grave
04. They Said Hell Is Not Hot
05. Just a Car Crash Away
06. Heart-Shaped Glasses (When the Heart Guides the Hand)
07. Evidence
08. Are You the Rabbit?
09. Mutilation is the Most Sincere Form of Flattery
10. You and Me and The Devil Makes 3
11. EAT ME, DRINK ME

Note: The title track will appear in all capital letters.

MANSON will issue "Heart-Shaped Glasses (When the Heart Guides The Hand)" as the first single from "Eat Me, Drink Me", according to Universal Music France. The track is expected to arrive at radio stations by the middle of this month and will be accompanied by a video shot in 3D. The clip is said to be an excerpt from a larger project that Manson is filming with "Titanic" director James Cameron, although that collaboration has yet to be officially confirmed.

The album will reportedly be available in both a standard and collector's edition.

MANSON is scheduled to support the album with a summer tour co-headlined by SLAYER.

Italian folk/power metal band ELVENKING has finished mixing its new album at Sonic Pump Studios in Helsinki, Finland. The mastering took place yesterday (Tuesday, April 10) at Finnvox Studios with Mika Jussila and Nino Laurenne.

Due this fall via AFM Records, the CD will feature a guest appearance on two tracks by Swedish guitarist Mike Wead (KING DIAMOND, MERCYFUL FATE, MEMENTO MORI, FIREGOD, ABSTRAKT ALGEBRA, CANDLEMASS).

LINKIN PARK explodes at the top of the charts this week with its first single, "What I've Done", from its long-awaited third studio album, "Minutes to Midnight". Breaking an all-time record with six consecutive #1's in a row, LINKIN PARK debuted at #1 at Alternative and #3 on Active charts. In addition to its radio impact, the song has already sold over 100,000 downloads on iTunes. The video for "What I've Done", directed by band member / DJ Joseph Hahn, premiered on MTV and AOL last week. "Minutes to Midnight", co-produced by Mike Shinoda and Rick Rubin is due out on May 15 on Machine Shop/Warner Bros.

RAZORBACK, the band consisting of Rolf Munkes (guitar, MAJESTY, ex-VANIZE), Stefan Berggren (vocals, ex-COMPANY OF SNAKES) and Chris Heun (guitar, ex-SHYLOCK) has uploaded two songs from its upcoming third album, "Deadringer", on its MySpace page . Check out the tracks "The Last Man Standing" and "Hero" at this location.

Due on April 20 via the Munich, Germany-based label Metal Heaven, "Deadringer" will feature the following track listing:

01. The Faint Distant Bell Ring (Intro)
02. Deadringer
03. The Last Man Standing
04. Take Me To The Other Side
05. Hero
06. Line Of Fire
07. Burden
08. Miracle Baby
09. Rock and Roll Life In Hellsink
10. Let Me Give My Lovin
11. Razor Blues

"Deadringer" features the drumming of Mike Terrana (MASTERPLAN, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, AXEL RUDI PELL, METALIUM, RAGE).

Founding member and guitarist Oscar Dronjak of the Swedish melodic metallers HAMMERFALL has issued the following update:

"The waiting and speculation is over. Magnus [Rosén, bass] has been replaced. The new guy should be no stranger to any HAMMERFALL fan: re-enter Fredrik Larsson, original member of the band and fugutive for the past decade. Fredrik brings structure to the rhythm section and I think you will definitely hear and feel the difference when we play live. Drummer Anders Johansson remarked, "He plays with a pick, for one, and has a great groove and timing, all of which will make HAMMERFALL sound better than we ever have before." Guitarist Stefan Elgrem chimed in: "We are all very psyched about this and can't wait to get on the road again." Lead singer Joacim Cans added, "Fredrik recorded 'Glory To The Brave' with us, so he's definitely a part of the family. It's great to have him back!"

Larsson had the following to say about rejoining the band: "I am very happy and excited to be back! I have known the guys for more than ten years and we have kept in touch all the time, so it is not as if I come in a complete stranger. We played a few songs together last weekend, and it felt like 1997 was just a couple of weeks ago."

World Entertainment News Network reports that Ozzy Osbourne is hoping to return to his roots after finding a plush $5.85 million (£3 million) mansion in his hometown of Birmingham, England.

The BLACK SABBATH singer and wife/manager Sharon plan to move from their current home in Buckinghamshire following a number of incidents, including two fires and a million pound burglary.

The couple recently viewed the Tudor Gothic style property which was built for the son of former British Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel in 1855.

Four demo tracks for VOIVOD's "Katorz" album have been posted online at the Voivodfan.com web site. Download the songs "Mr. Clean", "The Getaway", "Red My Mind" and "After All" at this location.

VOIVOD drummer Michel "Away" Langevin recently commented on the rumors that the band is planning to embark on a tour once the group's bassist Jason "Jasonic" Newsted has recovered from his recent shoulder injury.

Said Away: "Well, we certainly hope to be able to promote the next album and [last year's] 'Katorz' live in 2008 but no plans have been laid down yet. Of course, we're not thinking of replacing [guitarist] Piggy [who died of colon cancer in August 2005]. It would be more of a tribute to him type of thing. It's still too early to think about a tour. In fact, I'm preparing myself mentally to hear Piggy's tracks in the headphones in the studio in the fall 2007!"

VOIVOD will enter the studio this fall to begin recording the follow-up to "Katorz".

The cover artwork for CARNAL FORGE's upcoming sixth album, "Testify for My Victims", has been posted online at http://www.carnalforge.com/images/cf_tfmv_cd_large.jpg. Due in May via Candlelight Records, the follow-up to 2004's "Aren't You Dead Yet?" was recorded, mixed and mastered over a four-and-a-half-month period and was produced by CARNAL FORGE.

"Testify for My Victims" track listing:

01. Testify For My Victims
02. Burning Eden
03. Numb (The Dead)
04. Godsend Gods End
05. End Game
06. Questions Pertaining The Ownership Of My Mind
07. Freedom By Mutilation
08. Subhuman
09. No Longer Bleeding
10. Biological Waste Matter
11. Lost Legion
12. Ante Mori

"Testify For My Victims" was mixed at Black Lounge Studios. Two videos have already been filmed for the album tracks "Numb" and "Burning Eden", both directed by Owe Lingvall (Village Road Film). The "Burning Eden" clip can be viewed at YouTube.com.

Frontiers Records has set a May release date for "The Revenge", the greatly anticipated second charter of the ALLEN / LANDE musical alliance.

The first result of Jorn Lande and Russell Allen's collaboration, "The Battle" was unleashed in September 2005 with unanimous acclaim from fans and critics alike. Many web sites and magazines named it "Record of the Year." Its success made it one of the most popular releases ever in melodic heavy metal, thanks to beautiful, sweeping piano and keyboards, heavy guitar riffs, virtuoso guitar solos, hooky choruses and the vocal talents of two of the finest heavy metal vocalists around.

Russell Allen is the singer of the American progressive metal band SYMPHONY X, who have released six studio albums and one live record so far. More than once SYMPHONY X received accolades such as "Best Progressive Power Metal Band Worldwide" or awards for the "Best Progressive Metal Album of the Year."

Highly rated ex-MASTERPLAN vocalist Jorn Lande has a vocal capability that is world class, distinctive, rich and spanning a large range. He is in high demand and has appeared as guest or sung for such bands as MILLENIUM, ARK, THE SNAKES and many others. He is also a well-known solo artist with six studio albums released, since the debut "Starfire" in 1999.

Once again songs were written by guitar sensation Magnus Karlsson (STARBREAKER, LAST TRIBE), while the artwork for "The Revenge" was specially designed for this project by Rodney Matthews (DIAMOND HEAD, MAGNUM, ASIA etc.)

Heavier and with a tighter production, thanks to the involvement of Dennis Ward (PINK CREAM 69, ANGRA, PLACE VENDOME) at the mix, this album will excite the many fans who loved the first chapter and everyone who declares themselves fan of quality hard rock or metal.

"The Revenge" track listing:

01. The Revenge (vocals: Jorn and Russell)
02. Obsessed (Russell)
03. Victory (Jorn and Russell)
04. Master Of Sorrow (Jorn)
05. Will You Follow (Russell)
06. Just A Dream (Jorn and Russell)
07. Her Spell (Jorn)
08. Gone Too Far (Russell)
09. Wake Up Call (Jorn and Russell)
10. Under The Waves (Jorn)
11. Who Can You Trust (Jorn and Russell)
12. When Time Doesn't Heal (Jorn and Russell)

Check out audio samples at this location

Metal Mind Productions has set a May 14 European release date for the new SOLITUDE AETURNUS and ONSLAUGHT live DVDs, entitled "Hour of Despair" and "Live Polish Assault 2007" respectively. The footage for both discs was filmed/recorded on February 12, 2007 at the Stodola Club in Warsaw, Poland.

SOLITUDE AETURNUS's critically acclaimed new album, "Alone", was released in November through Massacre Records. The CD was recorded at Nomad Studios in Carrolton, Texas with Sterling Winfield (PANTERA) and J.T. Longoria (KING DIAMOND) sharing engineering duties.

ONSLAUGHT's new album, "Killing Peace", was released earlier in the month via Candlelight Records. The CD was recorded at Backstage studio in Derbyshire, England with producer Andy Sneap (MEGADETH, MACHINE HEAD, ARCH ENEMY, NEVERMORE).

Former BLACK SABBATH frontman Tony Martin has posted the following message on his official web site:

"I became a grandfather recently but the baby was born with severe brain damage and is likely to be quite disabled. Normally it would be a huge drama but my lady already has a disabled boy of 19 years and her sister also has a disabled boy so I have lived with it for some years and was able to put a more positive view on it. These kids can achieve quite a lot given help, and so I still have hope.

"I also just got a new house and that has taken up five months of ridiculous paperwork bashing!!!!

"Apart from that I'm still standing and writing and I've had a new publishing deal offer which I'm concidering. Also offers for festivals this year are already coming in and a DVD of us at the Bang Your Head!!! festival is being released as we speak.

"I still have live stuff to release and I'm working on that."

Martin's latest solo album, "Scream", was released in November 2005 via MTM Music. The CD features legendary drummer Cozy Powell (BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW, WHITESNAKE) on "Raising Hell" as well as songwriting contributions by another SABBATH member, Geoff Nicholls.

German power metallers PRIMAL FEAR have posted the following message on their official web site:

"We had a great vocal/guitar session over the weekend! Stefan [Leibing, guitar] finished his guitar work for our new album at the U3 studio with our good friend Achim Köhler engineering. Ralf [Scheepers] recorded another vocal track. We're only a few steps away to finalize the recordings and we're ready to mix the album. Swedish guitar hero Magnus Karlsson (STARBREAKER, ALLEN/LANDE) played two fantastic [leads], alternate guns with Stefan, and we're waiting for one spot by GAMMA RAY's Kai Hansen and the comeback of doctor Henny Wolter! We will start to mix the album on April 15th with Ronald Prent (RAMMSTEIN, MANOWAR, IRON MAIDEN) at the Galaxy Studio in Belgium.

"First, we didn't want to play any festival shows during this summer, because our new album release is scheduled for August 31st, 2007, but after a nice discussion, we confirmed to play the Rock Am Haertsfeldsee on June 30th — very close to our home, together with MOTÖRHEAD, SAXON and more!"

Songtitles set to appear on the follow-up to 2005's "Seven Seals" include "Save Me", "Fighting the Darkness", "Every Time It Rains" (featuring a guest appearance by EPICA singer Simone Simons) and "Torn". A summer release via Frontiers Records is expected.

Swedish heavy metal masters LION'S SHARE will film a video for the song "The Edge of the Razor" on April 15 in Stockholm. The track features a guest solo from Bruce Kulick (KISS), and comes off the group's comeback album, "Emotional Coma", which is scheduled for release on June 15 through AFM Records. Check out the cover artwork at www.lionsshare.org.

According to a press release, "Emotional Coma" is "the heaviest and most powerful LION'S SHARE record to date" and it features guest appearances by Kulick, Glen Drover (MEGADETH) and Mats Levén (THERION, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN). The band features guitar player and founding member Lars Chriss, along with vocalist Patrik Johansson (ASTRAL DOORS, WUTHERING HEIGHTS), bass player Sampo Axelsson (GLENN HUGHES) and well-known session drummer Richard Evensand (CHIMAIRA, SOILWORK, THERION).

"Emotional Coma" track listing:

01. Cult of Denial
02. The Arsonist
03. Emotional Coma (feat. Glen Drover)
04. Clones of Fate
05. The Edge of the Razor (feat. Bruce Kulick)
06. Toxication Rave
07. Trafficking
08. Bloodstained Soil
09. Soultaker
10. Hatred's My Fuel
11. Sorcerers (ANGEL WITCH cover)
12. Ring of Stupidity (bonus track for Japan and digipak)

DORNENREICH recently signed a contract for further three albums with Prophecy Productions.
About the status quo of the working progress of the upcoming album "In Luft geritzt" ("Carved in air") Eviga and Inve write:
"For 'In Luft geritzt' we will be recording eleven tracks: ten tracks that will form the album, and one that will only be included as a bonus on the first edition. The writing process is nearly finished by now, and we will try to feature additional new songs in the set-list of concerts to come. We have also already gathered specific ideas for the artwork, and the lyrics are also coming forth, promising to be more concise than ever before. We will see... and this most probably in spring 2008."

WHITESNAKE/ex-DEEP PURPLE frontman David Coverdale has responded to a recent Glenn Hughes (ex-DEEP PURPLE, BLACK SABBATH) interview in which Hughes indicated that Coverdale has shown interest in a reunion of DEEP PURPLE's Mark III lineup.

Said Coverdale: "As disappointed as some may be, I am disappointed to have to keep repeating this, I have not agreed in any way, shape or form, to a reformation of DEEP PURPLE Mark III, and my soul brother should be aware of that after our repeated conversations. Those of you who have followed and supported my for many years know how I feel about 'going back.' The only consideration, as I have said repeatedly in interviews, would be by willingness to be involved in a 'one-off' charity show which would feature all surviving members of DEEP PURPLE.

"As you all know who co-habit this little oasis of ours, I am entirely devoted to my band WHITESNAKE and have plans and ideas for the band that will take me as far as my rapidly maturing legs will allow and then some. I have nothing but the fondest and totally appreciative memories of my time spent with PURPLE and all the incredible adventures that continue to this day, related entirely to the opportunities I was given by the band. But, now it's WHITESNAKE time, as far as I am concerned, and I am dedicated to fulfilling all my hopes, wishes and dreams to ensuring quality work for all involved in the SNAKE, and, along with the time I need to be with my family at home. That pretty much fills my years in the most satisfying way. If indeed there is a reformation, then I wish them every success, and perhaps WHITESNAKE could 'special guest' them somewhere!"

The cover artwork for ICED EARTH's upcoming EP, "Overture of the Wicked", has been posted online at Icedearth.com. The art was created by Felipe Machado of Final Frontier Digital Art and Nathan Perry. Due on June 5 via SPV (one day earlier internationally), the CD will feature the following track listing:

01. Ten Thousand Strong
02. Prophecy
03. Birth of the Wicked
04. The Coming Curse

Regarding the songs that appear on the "Overture of the Wicked" EP, ICED EARTH mainman Jon Schaffer recently stated, "First, the song 'Ten Thousand Strong' is the single track, and it will appear on [the upcoming full-length album] 'Framing Armageddon (Something Wicked Part 1)', albeit a bit different than the single version. Second, the 'Something Wicked' trilogy that is comprised of the songs 'Prophecy', 'Birth of the Wicked', and 'The Coming Curse' has been completely re-recorded. From the ground up this is a more vicious and more atmospheric version of the epic piece. I played all of the guitar tracks with a baritone guitar and Brent [Smedley, drums] and I are locked up like a machine gun with the double kicks following many of the detailed picking patterns. This makes for a more intense- and wicked-sounding rhythm section. All of the vocals have been redone, obviously by Tim Owens, who did a masterful job at retaining the passion and honesty of the original, and still put his stamp on it and made it his own. We also put in some teaser atmospheric things that will give you a hint of things to come on Part 1. But just a hint... we don't want to spoil any surprises."

A video for the track "Ten Thousand Strong" will be filmed a video during the coming months, most likely in June right around the band's appearance at the Sweden Rock Festival.

Schaffer is currently putting the finishing touches on a two-part concept album based on the "Something Wicked This Way Comes" story that first appeared on ICED EARTH's 1998 album of the same name. "Framing Armageddon (Something Wicked Part 1)" will be released in late August/early September, to be followed by "Revelation Abomination Something Wicked (Part 2)" in February/March 2008.

"Framing Armageddon (Something Wicked Part 1)" projected track listing:

01. Overture
02. Something Wicked (Part 1)
03. Invasion
04. Man's Motivation
05. The Setian Massacre
06. A Charge to Keep
07. Reflections
08. Ten Thousand Strong
09. Execution
10. Order of the Rose
11. The Clouding
12. Infiltrate and Assimilate
13. Retribution Through the Ages
14. Something Wicked (Part 2)
15. The Domino Decree
16. Framing Armageddon
17. When Stars Collide (Born is He)
18. The Awakening

"Revelation Abomination Something Wicked (Part 2)" projected track listing:

01. The Sacred Flames
02. Behold the Wicked Child
03. Minions of the Watch
04. A Gift or a Curse
05. I Walk Among You
06. Harbinger of Fate
07. Ancient Rage of the High Priest
08. A Gathering Threat / Time Marches On
09. Sacrificial Kingdoms
10. Something Wicked (Part 3)
11. Divide Devour
12. Conspiracy / Pilgrimage In Guile
13. Come What May

ICED EARTH has announced several European summer festival appearances beginning in early June. In addition, the band will support HEAVEN AND HELL on their U.K. tour in November.

German "dark Satanic metal" band MYSTIC CIRCLE has inked a new deal with Armageddon Music. The group is planning on entering Stage One studios in Borgentreich, Germany on October 1 with producer Andy Classen (DEW-SCENTED, CALLENISH CIRCLE, TANKARD, OCCULT) to record its new album, tentatively due in January 2008.

MYSTIC CIRCLE's seventh full-length album, entitled "The Bloody Path of God", was released in February 2006 via Dockyard 1. The CD was recorded at State of the Arts studio in Ludwigshafen, Germany with producer Alex Koch and contains 13 songs, including a bonus cover version of CELTIC FROST's "Circle of the Tyrants".

According to Rolling Stone magazine (web site), OZZY OSBOURNE has set "Black Rain" as the title of his new solo album, due out early June.

The first single from the upcoming CD, "I Don't Want to Stop", will receive its online premiere on Friday, April 13. (To hear a clip of the single, click here.)

A number of other audio clips from "Black Rain" are available streaming at this location.

Among the eleven new tracks Osbourne has recorded is "Not Going Away", which Rolling Stone describes as "a fiery rocker with ominous riffs from guitarist Zakk Wylde," and "Lay Your World On Me", which was inspired by Ozzy's wife and manager's recent battle with cancer. Other songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Countdown's Begun", "The Almighty Dollar", "Not Going Away" and "Civilize the Universe".

Spikefarm Records has set a June 6 release date for the Internet-only single from the Finnish hard-rockin' and turbo-lovin' quintet AMORAL, entitled "Leave Your Dead Behind". The bonus track for this release will be a cover of Swedish pop star PANDORA's song "The Naked Sun". AMORAL's back catalogue is also about to go digital: "Wound Creations" (2004) and "Decrowning" (2005) will both be released to digital music distributors on May 23.

AMORAL recently completed the recording of its third album, entitled "Reptile Ride". The CD will be released by Spikefarm Records on August 15.

"Reptile Ride" was produced, recorded and mixed by Janne Saksa at Sound Supreme Studios in Hämeenlinna, Finland. The track listing is as follows:

01. Leave Your Dead Behind
02. Nervasion
03. Hang Me High
04. Mute
05. Few and Far Between
06. Snake Skin Saddle
07. D-Drop Bop
08. Apocalyptic Sci-Fi Fun
09. Pusher

Finnish cello-rockers APOCALYPTICA will support METALLICA on July 15 at the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki, Finland. Also scheduled to appear are fellow Finns H.I.M.

APOCALYPTICA is a Finnish band consisting of three (formerly four) classically trained cellists and, since 2003, a drummer. Their speciality is metal music played on cellos (cello rock), though they also play classical music. They are all graduates of the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki.

San Diego wrecking crew AS I LAY DYING is rumored to have acquired the services of bassist Josh Gilbert as the replacement for the recently departed Clint Norris. Josh Gilbert, of Oceanside, CA, previously played guitar for ALL IN (Hand of Hope Records).

AS I LAY DYING has been laying low for the past few months, joining forces with producer (and KILLSWITCH ENGAGE guitarist) Adam Dutkiewicz (UNDEROATH, ALL THAT REMAINS, UNEARTH, EVERY TIME I DIE) to brew up a new album that will be ready by fall 2007. This highly anticipated third effort will be the follow-up to the band's critically acclaimed, breakthrough CD, "Shadows are Security", which came out in 2005.

22-year-old Finnish heavy metal singer Ari Koivunen was crowned the winner of the the national TV talent show "Idols" Friday night (April 6) after singing four songs — including SCORPIONS' "Still Loving You", SOUNDGARDEN's "Black Hole Sun" and SONATA ARCTICA's "Full Moon" — during the competition's final. The performances — which were broadcast live on MTV3 from the Helsinki Ice Hall are available for viewing on YouTube:

SCORPIONS – "Still Loving You": Video
SOUNDGARDEN - "Black Hole Sun": Video
SONATA ARCTICA - "Full Moon": Video

Ari is from Lahti, the Finnish town that has given birth to such metal acts as PROFANE OMEN, BEFORE THE DAWN and ENTWINE. One of his hobbies is "Hevikaraoke" (Finnish "heavy metal" karaoke); in 2005 he won the Finnish karaoke championships. Among his favorite bands are IRON MAIDEN, RAINBOW, DEEP PURPLE, DIO, PROFANE OMEN and HELLOWEEN.