Launch Radio Networks reports: AEROSMITH is just one week away from their Route Of All Evil co-headlining tour with MÖTLEY CRÜE, but it wasn't that long ago that there were doubts about the band's future. Back in the spring, the band had to cancel a run of dates with CHEAP TRICK when Steven Tyler suffered some damage to one of his vocal cords, which required surgery, but now he's back and just as good as ever. AEROSMITH and the CRÜE get things started at the Germain Amphitheatre in Columbus, Ohio, next Tuesday (September 5).

AEROSMITH will release a greatest-hits album called "Devil's Got A New Disguise" on October 10. The set has two new songs — the title track, and "Sedona Sunrise". The band will resume work on a new studio album in February.

In related news, two classic AEROSMITH albums have recently been to outer space. Astronaut Mark E. Kelly brought CDs of "Rocks" and "Toys In The Attic" on board the space shuttle Discovery to the International Space Station last month. Tyler said, "Having spent most of the '70s and part of the '80s on the dark side of the moon myself — just for inspiration, mind you — I'm not surprised that the magic in those recordings lifted them to such heights. Having risen to the top of the charts myself, being weightless and docking with the Space Station seems fitting." Kelly had offered to carry Tyler's favorite AEROSMITH CDs into space, and the discs were give to Tyler and bassist Tom Hamilton when Discovery returned to earth.

Hamilton is recovering from a nearly two-month stretch of radiation treatments for throat cancer, and he'll miss the first five or six weeks of the tour. AEROSMITH has brought in old friend and former JOE PERRY PROJECT bassist David Hull in the interim.

Finnish cyber thrash metal band SCORNGRAIN will release its second full-length album, "0,05%", in its home country on October 4 (November 3 in G/A/S and November 6 in the rest of the world) via Dynamic Arts.

SCORNGRAIN released its debut album, "Cyberwarmachine", in March 2004 via Dynamic Arts. The group's new CD is being described in a press release as containing "thrashing guitar riffs, mental industrial loopsand& noises, wicked vocals, hunting basses and mostly mid-tempo based drums." Download an MP3 of the track "Übermensch" at this location.

"0,05%" track listing:

01. The Code
02. Toadstool Journey
03. Mural
04. Off With Their Heads
05. Übermensch
06. Draw The Line
07. Shot Down
08. Mama Stabber
09. Teaspoonful

+ video "Making of 0,05%"

According to Amazon.com and Century Media Records' official release schedule, a new ICED EARTH DVD, entitled "Alive in Athens", is slated for release on October 31. The set is believed to contain video footage recorded during the band's 1999 two-night appearance at at the Rodon Club in Athens, Greece which previously resulted in a two-disc live CD of the same name. More information will be made available soon.

As previously reported, ICED EARTH recently officially launched the search for a new bassist. All interested parties are encouraged to send their bio packs to ICED EARTH mainman Jon Schaffer's store at the following address:

• Jon Schaffer
  
• Spirit of 76 Collectibles, Inc.
  
• 1728 17th St
  
• Columbus, IN 47448
  

ICED EARTH in late June announced the addition of Elkton, MD guitarist Ernie Carletti to the group's ranks. Mastering his craft beyond 19 years and teaching guitar lessons to 100 students weekly in excess of 16 years, Carletti is equally versed in styles such as classical and jazz but his first love is heavy metal "shredding."

The central figure of ICED EARTH is guitarist and songwriter Jon Schaffer, who originally formed the band as PURGATORY in 1984. Though the band has undergone numerous lineup changes since its inception, Schaffer has remained steadfast in his passion to thrash.

Schaffer is currently working on a concept album based on the "Something Wicked This Way Comes" story that first appeared on ICED EARTH's 1998 album of the same name. A 2007 release is expected.

ICED EARTH's last release was the "Gettysburg (1863)" DVD, which came out in June 2005. The main program, a CGI-rendered video presentation of the epic "Gettysburg" trilogy from 2004's acclaimed album "The Glorious Burden", drew praise from fans and media alike. The DVD was also reportedly being used as a teaching tool in several high schools across the country.

Legendary Swedish doomsters CANDLEMASS returned to Polar studio in Stockholm this past weekend to add one song to their forthcoming album. The brutally heavy "Of Stars and Smoke" was put down with ease and in a very releaxed working environment. Since the as-yet-untitled CD won't be out until next year, there is no need to rush things and the band can take their time to make it a perfect doom metal album.

Commented guitarist Mappe Björkman: "'Of Stars and Smoke' definitely had a vibe of 'Epicus...' around it. It sent fucking chills down my spine."

As previously reported, CANDLEMASS frontman Messiah Marcolin contacted BLABBERMOUTH.NET on April 28, 2006 to reveal that he has parted ways with the group and that it's 100 percent definite that he will not return. "We could not agree on how to do the new album," he said, but would not further elaborate on his sudden exit.

In a subsequent posting on CANDLEMASS' web site (dated April 30), the band wrote, "Messiah's got a severe pre-recording psychosis at the moment, so folks, please calm down. The band is confident that he will sing on the [upcoming] album as planned."

The CD — a concept album about the road to ruin in the modern society — is being self-produced and will feature nine or ten tracks. Check out some recent photos from the album recording sessions at this location.

GMR Music recently announced plans to re-release the CANDLEMASS albums "Chapter VI" (1992) and "Dactylis Glomerata" (1998) as double remastered discs. "Chapter VI" will include the "Sjunger Sigge Furst" EP as bonus tracks plus a live DVD disc and "Dactylis Glomerata" will contain an entire previously unreleased album. Each reissue will be sold for the price of a normal full-length CD. An early fall release is expected.

BORKNAGAR mainman Oystein G. Brun has issued the following message regarding the group's current activities:

"The new BORKNAGAR album will be called 'Origin', and is set to be released in Europe through Century Media/EMI on the 30th of October. A U.S. release date has not yet been set.

"Most of our fans will know by now that 'Origin' is a purely acoustic album. A sheer and honest result of a vision that we have had for many years: To let the acoustic basis of our music out to thrive and grow throughout an entire album. Those who are familiar with our music know that it has always had a very organic feel to it, and therefore we have chosen to focus entirely on the atmospheric and acoustic aspects of the band this time around. We love the result and truly believe that it shows a character and a side of the Borknagar that you have never heard before — only sensed.

"To accomplish the organic sound of the album, we have worked with several eminent musicians. Erik Tiwaz aka Tyr (bass) has spiced our album with his rumbling, low frequent wizardry, Sareeta (violin) and Thomas Nilsson (cello) have helped us to obtain the genuine wooden string sound that the album craved, and Norwegian flute-icon Steinar Ofsdal (flutes and recorders) has added mystic and enchanting atmospheres into the organic framework.

"In good tradition, the cover and layout is once more courtesy of Asgeir Mickelson. More information will follow shortly!"

BORKNAGAR's sixth album, "Epic", was released in June 2004 through Century Media Records.

Anus.com reports that members of the American Nihilist Underground Society — an organization known for its extensive and elitist Dark Legions metal archives — last week returned a long-lost artifact of heavy metal history to its rightful owner.

The "Melissa" skull, which was once owned by heavy metal crooner King Diamond, was stolen at a MERCYFUL FATE show in Holland in the mid 1980s. The skull was said to be that of a witch who suffered at the hands of Judeo-Christianity before finding its way to King Diamond. Prior to the theft, the skull often accompanied King Diamond on shows and inspired multiple MERCYFUL FATE and KING DIAMOND songs; one of which was chosen as the title for MERCYFUL FATE's debut album.

The ANUS member who recovered Melissa declined to give his real name, but opted to give his ANUS screen name of "Penisbird".

Shrapnel Records has set a September 12 release date for L.A. GUNS' live album, entitled "Loud and Dangerous". This record contains not only some of the band's biggest hits, but is also the first release of live versions of the band's best newer material. As a bonus, the CD includes exclusive live video performances of "Hollywood's Burning" and "It Don't Mean Nothing".

L.A. GUNS emerged on the scene as an L.A. supergroup in the late '80s and struck gold with a series of albums that appealed to metal fans but were heavily steeped in the time honored tradition of hard rock and roll.

Vocalist Phil Lewis has long been one of rock's greatest frontmen, possessing a distinctive voice that at times reveals his British heritage. Having much more in common with groups such as THE ROLLING STONES, AC/DC, and the NEW YORK DOLLS than most bands from the metal scene, L.A. GUNS are one of the few bands from this era who have maintained both a healthy fan base and an active international touring schedule.

"Loud and Dangerous" track listing:

01. No Mercy
02. Sex Action
03. Never Enough
04. Nothing Better To Do
05. Hell Raisers Ball
06. Over The Edge
07. Rock And Roll Outlaw
08. Nothing Better To Do
09. Hellraisers Ball
10. One More Reason
11. Electric Gypsy
12. Rip And Tear
13. The Ballad Of Jayne
14. Don’t Look At Me That Way

Bonus Live Video Tracks:

1. Hollywood's Burning
2. It Don't Mean Nothing

According to a posting on the IRON MAIDEN fan site MaidenFans.com, MAIDEN's European support act TRIVIUM will not be able to make it to the two sold-out shows in Denmark (November 9-10) and will be replaced for those gigs only by LAUREN HARRIS (photos) — daughter of IRON MAIDEN bassist Steve Harris.

Lauren's current solo band has a lineup of Ritchie Faulkner (guitar; also in VOODOO SIX) from U.K., Tom McWilliams (drums; JON SECADA, CRITICAL MASS) from U.S. and new bassist Randy Gregg (THIN LIZZY, ANGEL) also from U.S., who takes over from Miguel Gonzales (BRIAN HOWE).

Lauren Harris recently spent time in Miami, Florida recording a solo album with Grammy-nominated writer/producer Tom McWilliams.

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

Reunited Swedish hard rockers EUROPE will release their new album, "Secret Society", in Japan on November 18 via JVC/Victor Entertainment Inc. The CD will be issued in Europe on October 27. A U.S. release date has not yet been announced.

Although the band members chose to produce the album themselves, they relied on the support of highly experienced studio professionals. Lennart Östlund, longtime engineer at the legendary Polar Studios in Stockholm, recorded the sessions in his new Stockholm studio, Kingside. Lennart has worked with countless international artists over the years, including LED ZEPPELIN, SCORPIONS, just to name a few. When Stefan Glaumann, who has mixed albums for RAMMSTEIN and a score of other major bands, agreed to work with them and mix "Secret Society", the band was overjoyed — all of the pieces were beginning to fall into place.

They chose to master the CD with George Marino at Sterling Sound in New York. George is one of the top names in his field, having mastered countless successful albums for everyone from AC/DC to COLDPLAY. The band didn't want to leave anything to chance, so they enlisted the legendary Storm Thorgerson to design the artwork for the next EUROPE cover. As a member of the design studio Hipgnosis, Storm worked on all the classic album covers by PINK FLOYD, LED ZEPPELIN and PETER GABRIEL, to name just a few. Guitarist John Norum reminisces: "Growing up, my favorite covers were done by this guy. The cover of UFO's 'Obsession' and the MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP's first album cover really blew me away." Storm has recently created the CD art work for bands like THE MARS VOLTA and MUSE.

"Secret Society" track listing:

01. Secret Society
02. Always The Pretenders
03. Love Is Not The Enemy
04. Wish I Could Believe
05. Let The Children Play
06. Human After All
07. The Getaway Plan
08. A Mother's Son
09. Forever Traveling
10. Brave And Beautiful Soul
11. Devil Sings The Blues

TESLA is scheduled to enter the studio in November to begin recording an all-covers album, tentatively due next April. Among the cuts that are expected to appear on the CD are TESLA's versions of "Rock Bottom" (UFO), "Street Fightin' Man" (THE ROLLING STONES), and "War Pigs" (BLACK SABBATH).

In a recent interview with KNAC.COM, TESLA frontman Jeff Keith stated about the group's future plans, "We are doing this covers record that we plan on releasing next April. We are planning on putting a box set together with some DVD things. We have a ton of DVDs that we have in the archives. So we plan on going through that. It will be a three-disc that will include DVD footage, TESLA's songs that revisited acoustically and maybe some covers. . . Myself, I am working on a country music record. But that is a whole different thing. So when people think about Jeff Keith solo record, it is not rock and roll, it is country. So some people that might think Jeff Keith has a solo record are going to be very disappointed. It is not like me, doing my version of rock and roll. It is pure country."

Earlier in the year, TESLA hired its former Geffen Records A&R guy Tom Zutaut as its new manager. The band's first collection of new material since 1994's "Bust a Nut", "Into the Now", sold 30,000 copies in the U.S. during its first week of release back in March 2004 to enter The Billboard 200 chart at position No. 31.

Guitarist Jesse Pintado (TERRORIZER, ex-NAPALM DEATH) died over the weekend in a hospital in Holland, Century Media Records has confirmed. A pioneer in our musical genre, Jesse and his influential sound will be sorely missed. BLABBERMOUTH.NET would like to offer our most sincere condolences to his family and friends. Century Media Records will make a further announcement later in the week.

In a recent interview with Rockdetector.com, Pintado spoke about his final days in NAPALM DEATH.

"The departure was basically due to a variety of reasons," he said. "We shared a house together, we toured together, we were always together, but people move on. Along the way there was a little rough bumps, though I don't know. In my situation it got to the point where I needed a little fresh start. I'm still good friends with the guys; there's no animosity there, we're all cool, and they're happy with what I'm doing."

Asked if the media twisted the situation in some ways since it was reported that the band stated he had personal problems and alcohol issues," Pintado replied, "Yeah, of course. The other day I was browsing the Internet, and they stated I was dead! I thought 'Oh shit, I'm dead!' I really don't pay much attention to that."

Pintado's final release was the long-awaited TERRORIZER reunion CD, entitled "Darker Days Ahead", which came out last week via Century Media Records.

Polish rock band Moonlight entered Fonoplastykon studio in Wroclaw on Wednesday 23rd of August to record a follow up to their “DownWords” album from 2005.
Moonlight in line-up: Maja Konarska – vocal, Andrzej Kutys – guitar, Michał Podciechowski – bass guitar, Kuba Maciejewski – keyboards and Krzysztof Mędrala – drums, work again with studio engineer Marcin Bors. As Maja says: „As for now we haven’t recorded a lot of music but we make progress quite well and smoothly. The album is scheduled to be released in October and will contain probably 10 tracks (this may change though). I am not going to talk about music. It will be OUR music and YOU, the fans will know if you like it only after you listen to it”. New, yet untitled album will be their jubilee 10th release! Moonlight is planning to make a promo tour in October.

Brazilian heavy metal band ANGRA will release its new album, "Aurora Consurgens", in Europe on October 30 via SPV Records. The complete track listing for the effort is as follows:

01. The Course Of Nature
02. The Voice Commanding You
03. Ego Painted Grey
04. Breaking Ties
05. Salvation: Suicide
06. Window To Nowhere
07. So Near So Far
08. Passing By
09. Scream Your Heart Out
10. Abandoned Fate

Check out the cover artwork at here.

The songwriting process for "Aurora Consurgens" started towards the end of the "Temple of Shadows" touring cycle. The band spent the early part of 2006 pre-producing the album with producer Dennis Ward at House Of Audio Studios in Germany. Drums recordings followed, also in Germany. Then, the band headed back to Brazil where all the remaining stuff was recorded. Mixing was also done in Germany.

Dutch death metallers SINISTER shot their first-ever live DVD with seven cameras on August 24 at the Stodola Club in Warsaw, Poland. The group's setlist was as follows:

01. Intro 1
02. Bleeding towards the Wendigo
03. Epoch of Denial
04. The Grey Massacre
05. Sadistic Intent
06. Into the Forgotten
07. Men Down
08. Barbaric Order
09. Intro 2
10. Enslave the Weak
11. Altruistic Suicide
12. Afterburner
13. Intro 3
14. Cross the Styx
15. To Mega Therion

Entitled "Prophecies Denied" (view cover here), the set will be released in November as a standard DVD and a DVD+CD limited-edition package via Metal Mind Production.

SINISTER's latest CD, "Afterburner", was released earlier this year through Nuclear Blast Records.

The band, who re-signed with Nuclear Blast back in 2002 after a one-album stint with the now-defunct Hammerheart Records, have already announced the working title of their next album: "No Mercyful God".

MANOWAR will release their first-ever EP, entitled "The Sons of Odin", on the following dates:

• October 6, 2006 (Germany)
  
• October 9, 2006 (rest of Europe)
  
• October 24, 2006 (USA)
  

"We decided that just a single wasn't enough," said bassist Joey DeMaio. "We want to give our fans maximum value for minimum expense and the EP format is the best way to do that. It gives us the opportunity to cram tons of audio and video content into one package."

The EP will feature over 27 minutes of total playing time. Besides "The Sons of Odin" — which features MANOWAR's patented, lion-hearted metal riffs mixed with arena-rock stomping grooves and orchestral arrangements — the EP includes the title track from the upcoming MANOWAR full-length album, "Gods of War", an orchestral version of the new song "Odin" and live performances of "The Ascension" and "King of Kings" from the Earthshaker Fest 2005. A special Immortal Package digipak version will also feature a bonus DVD boasting 38 minutes of footage from the first-ever MANOWAR Fan Convention in 2005 and the band's rehearsal of "Heart of Steel" — recorded in the Czech Republic with a full choir and orchestra — as well as a video trailer for the upcoming "Live at Earthshaker Fest 2005" DVD. Finally, the DVD will also include a special audio section with 5.1 audio mixes of all 5 EP songs as well as a slide show of exclusive MANOWAR live shots and photos submitted by fans.

MANOWAR will continue their "Demons, Dragons and Warriors World Tour" in Europe beginning in late November, featuring Italian epic-metal legends RHAPSODY OF FIRE as special guests and introducing the newest female-fronted group HOLYHELL to the world.

MANOWAR's "Live at Earthshaker Fest 2005" DVD is scheduled for release on November 10.

QUIET RIOT has uploaded several MP3 samples from its upcoming CD, entitled "Rehab", at this location.

For the new recordings, Kevin DuBrow (vocals) and Frankie Banali (drums) are joined by Tony Franklinon bass (ex-THE FIRM, BLUE MURDER), session guitarist Neil Citron, and the voice of rock, Glenn Hughes (ex-DEEP PURPLE, BLACK SABBATH), who performed a vocal duet with Kevin DuBrow on the classic 1969 SPOOKY TOOTH song "Evil Woman" and also contributed the bass track for that song as well.

"Rehab" will be available throughout the United States and issued through the recently formed independent label Chavis Records (CR) on October 3, 2006. The worldwide release of "Rehab" will be available and issued by U.K.-based Demolition Records. A Japanese release date is soon to be announced. The U.S. release will contain 11 songs, while the European/South American, etc., release will have the same track listing but will also include an additional bonus track. The Japanese release will include a bonus track that is different from the other international releases.

"Rehab" track listing:

01. Free
02. Blind Faith
03. South of Heaven
04. Black Reign
05. Old Habits Die Hard
06. Strange Daze
07. In Harm's Way
08. Beggars and Thieves
09. Don't Think So
10. It Sucks to be You
11. Evil Woman

QUIET RIOT original members DuBrow and Banali recently reunited with Alex Grossi (guitar) and Chuck Wright (bass).

German metallers SACRED STEEL recently shot their very first video for the song "Maniacs of Speed". The tracks comes off the group's sixth album, "Hammer of Destruction", due on November 10 via Massacre Records.

The CD was recorded at the Spiderhouse studio in Lütte (near Berlin) with legendary producer Harris Johns (VOIVOD, HELLOWEEN, ST. VITUS, DEPRESSIVE AGE, SODOM, KREATOR). Mixing took place at the Music Lab Studio at the heart of the German capital.

"Hammer of Destruction" track listing:

01. Hammer of Destruction
02. Where Demons Dare to Tread
03. Impaled by Metal
04. Maniacs of Speed
05. Pounding Inferno
06. Children of the Spirit
07. Hell Insanity
08. Unholy Majesty
09. Blood and Thunder
10. Plague of Terror
11. Sword and Axes
12. The Torch of Sin
13. Generally Hostile (JAG PANZER cover)

German thrashers HOLY MOSES have posted the following message on their official web site:

"Unfortunately, we have to let you know that our bass player Ozzy [Robert 'Ozzy' Frese] had to go into a psychiatric clinic unexpected. As soon as Ozzy is back on his feet, he will be back in the band again, but for now we don't have any idea when this will be.

"When we got the first impressions that this problem could appear, we asked Maurer (ex-WARPATH, TEMPLE OF THE ABSURD) if he could replace Ozzy, just in case. But unfortunately Mauer let us know just a couple of days ago that he couldn't the job on personal ground. He just couldn't combine being in the band with his regular job, which he recently accepted after a long period of being unemployed.

"Ozzy's situation went backwards so fast that finally last Tuesday he had to go into the clinic very urgently. A lot of friends offered us their help. We have been talking to more than 10 bass players, who all really would have liked to take over the job for the time being. But unfortunately due to gig obligations with their own bands, family reasons or just because of holiday absence, they just couldn't do it.

"Yesterday we got an offer from GAMMA RAY bass player and good friend Dirk, but he stated that even for a professional musician it's hardly impossible to learn the HOLY MOSES material within 24 hours. It's just too much and too complicated to do that within just a few hours.

"Yesterday we had to make decisions what to do and we were talking to the promoters by phone. They told us that they would appreciate it very much, if we could show up anyhow, in spite of the fact we would use a computer-bass instead. As we only have one guitar player in the band, the bass-problem just had to be solved by using a computer. "Since yesterday afternoon, we bought the equipment needed for the job and Michi our guitarist recorded all the bass parts in the computer system. Our drummer Asgard was responsible for programming the click tracks.

"We did all we could just to avoid that we had to cancel the shows this weekend. For the upcoming shows we will definitely have a bass player found, who will be capable to learn our songs within two weeks. We will work with two bass players, just in case one has to perform with his own band while having a HOLY MOSES show. No show will be cancelled and we are looking forward to this very moment when Ozzy will be back in the band. Ozzy, we'll be waiting for you! Thanks a lot for all the fan mails that reached us and supported and made us pull through the solution with the bass-computer!

"Ozzy, please get well soon!!!"

NEVERMORE filmed its headlining performance Friday night (August 25) at the Studio Seven in Seattle, Washington for the band's first-ever DVD, tentatively due in early 2007. The group's setlist for the show was as follows (NOTE: With the exception of the first and last songs, the tracks are not necessarily listed in the exact order in which they were played):

01. Final Product
02. Next In Line
03. Enemies of Reality
04. Matricide
05. What Tomorrow Knows
06. The Garden of Gray
07. Inside Four Walls
08. This Godless Endeavor
09. The River Dragon Has Come
10. I, Voyager
11. Dead Heart in a Dead World
12. Born
13. My Acid Words
14. Narcosynthesis

As previously reported, NEVERMORE's September 12, 2006 concert at the Zeche club in Bochum, Germany will also be filmed for the DVD. The Seattle-based metallers will play a set of about two hours, featuring material spanning their 11-year career. The result will be the main part of their forthcoming home DVD, captured by a seven-camera team, with live recordings (in 5.1 Surround Sound) handled by producer Andy Sneap, who produced the band's latest album, "This Godless Endeavor". The planned double-DVD set will also contain a full NEVERMORE documentary, live footage from throughout the band's career, all of their promotional videos and more extras. Only 666 tickets will be available for the Bochum show.

NEVERMORE guitarist Steve Smyth (ex-TESTAMENT) was diagnosed with end-stage kidney failure last fall, the result of a congenital birth defect. JAG PANZER guitarist Chris Broderick filled in for Smyth on all European festival dates, just as he has done on the band's recent U.S. tour and last night's show in Seattle.

NEVERMORE's bass player and one of the founding members Jim Sheppard recently underwent a minor procedure for Crohn's Disease, a condition he's managed for over 15 years. Unable to perform with the band during the first part of their recent tour with IN FLAMES, Sheppard was temporarily replaced by longtime friend James MacDonough (ex-MEGADETH, ICED EARTH).

NEVERMORE will be supporting DISTURBED across Europe this fall. After their touring activity the band will be taking time off to write the follow-up to last year's critically acclaimed album "This Godless Endeavor".

Warrel Dane is collaborating with former SOILWORK guitarist Peter Wichers on material for Dane's first solo album. The CD is expected to include an appearance by Warrel's former SANCTUARY (pre-NEVERMORE) bandmate Dave Budbill (currently in ZEROCREEP) on drums. No information is presently available regarding the album's musical direction or possible release date.

Bassist Jan Bünning of the German power metallers PARAGON has posted the following message on the band's official web site:

"Recordings [for the new PARAGON album] started and Martin [Christian] already laid down pilot guitars for six songs. Three plus one more to record as there will be nine PARAGON songs on the album as well as one cover song. Ah — I forgot to mention that there will also be a short instrumental track as well; we've never done one before! We will take recordings easy this time as we agreed on some kind of 'flat rate' with our engineer Steve to record the album. When Martin is done with the pilot guitars Chris [Gripp] will do his drums and after that I am the one to record my bass. Then Martin and Günny [Kruse] will enter the studio again to record the 'real' guitars before we then change the studio to record Buschi's [Andreas Babuschkin] vocals and mix the whole album. I still can't announce the the producer but I guess some of you already know who it is. Just a hint: He sings, plays guitar and has red hair..."

As previously reported, PARAGON has set "Gangland" as the working title of its new album. Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Hammer of the Gods", "Souleaters", "Gangland", "Forgotten Prophecies", "Face of Death", "Halls of Doom" and "Agony".

PARAGON's latest album, "Revenge", was released in the U.S. in April 2005 via Magick Records. The CD was the follow-up to "The Dark Legacy", which was released in 2003 by Remedy.

DYING FETUS has posted the following message on its official web site:

"We are pleased to announce that we will be heading into the studio to record the long-anticapted follow-up to 'Stop at Nothing' [2003]. We will be recording at Hit & Run Studios in Rockville, MD in mid-September. We look forward to getting back into the swing of things. More info to come on that as we progress on it. We are also very excited to announce that we will be heading off on a full U.S. tour in support of CANNIBAL CORPSE starting in November."

Joining CANNIBAL CORPSE and DYING FETUS on the upcoming tour will be NECROPHAGIST and UNMERCIFUL.

DYING FETUS recently announced the addition of drummer Duane Timlin (ex-DIVINE EMPIRE) to the group's ranks.

Songtitles set to appear on the upcoming DYING FETUS CD include "Parasites of Catastrophe", "Unadulterated Hatred", "Raping the System" and "The Ancient Rivalry".

News.com.au reports that GUNS N' ROSES' "Sweet Child O' Mine" and VAN HALEN's "Eruption" were selected as two of the tracks with the best guitar solos of all time. PINK FLOYD's "Comfortably Numb" topped the list, with "Sweet Child O' Mine" following in second place. Third was "Freebird" by LYNYRD SKYNYRD, while "Eruption" by VAN HALEN was fourth and GUNS N' ROSES' "November Rain" fifth. LED ZEPPELIN classic "Stairway to Heaven" was in sixth place.

British radio station Planet Rock asked listeners to come up with a top 40.

Top 20 best guitar solos, according to Planet Rock listeners:

01. PINK FLOYD - "Comfortably Numb"
02. GUNS N' ROSES - "Sweet Child O' Mine"
03. LYNYRD SKYNYRD - "Freebird"
04. VAN HALEN - "Eruption"
05. GUNS N' ROSES - "November Rain"
06. LED ZEPPELIN - "Stairway to Heaven"
07. DIRE STRAITS - "Sultans of Swing"
08. JETHRO TULL - "Aqualung"
09. THE EAGLES - "Hotel California"
10. DEEP PURPLE - "Child In Time"
11. QUEEN - "Brighton Rock"
12. JIMI HENDRIX - "All Along The Watchtower"
13. DEEP PURPLE - "Highway Star"
14. WISHBONE ASH - "Throw Down The Sword"
15. OZZY OSBOURNE - "No More Tears"
16. CREAM - "Crossroads"
17. GUNS N' ROSES - "Paradise City"
18. LED ZEPPELIN - "Since I've Been Loving You"
19. TEN YEARS AFTER - "I'm Going Home (Woodstock)"
20. JIMI HENDRIX - "Voodoo Chile"

Launch Radio Networks reports: Robert Plant's post-LED ZEPPELIN career will get boxed on November 14 with the release of "Nine Lives" (cover). The package will have all of Plant's solo albums, as well as a DVD with music videos, interviews, and bonus footage.

Each of the albums — "Pictures At Eleven" (1982), "The Principle Of Moments" (1983), "The Honeydrippers Volume One" (1984), "Shaken 'N' Stirred" (1985), "Now And Zen" (1988), "Manic Nirvana" (1990), "Fate Of Nations" (1993), "Dreamland" (2002), and "Mighty Rearranger" (2005) — have been remastered, and they're now expanded with rare and unreleased live and studio tracks.

The DVD has 20 music videos, live performance footage, and a career-spanning interview with Plant, as well as interviews with friends including Phil Collins, singer-songwriter Tori Amos, tennis star John McEnroe, and former Atlantic Records President Ahmet Ertegun, among others.

The only show on Plant's itinerary is The Sunflower Jam, a benefit in London on September 14 that will also feature DEEP PURPLE drummer Ian Paice and former PURPLE keyboardist Jon Lord.

Audio samples of all 12 tracks that appear on MOTÖRHEAD's new album, "Kiss of Death", are available at this location.

Due on August 29 via Sanctuary Records, "Kiss of Death" was recorded at the Paramount studios in Los Angeles with Cameron Webb, who also worked with the group on their last effort. The CD includes guest appearances by POISON guitarist C.C. Deville and ALICE IN CHAINS bassist Mike Inez.

"It's better than 'Inferno', and 'Inferno' seems to be the favorite of the later years so far," MOTÖRHEAD frontman Lemmy said. "It's better songs. Better arrangements and a better performance from me vocally, and a better performance from Phil Campbell on the guitar; he plays great on the songs."

"Kiss of Death" track listing:

01. Sucker
02. One Night Stand
03. Devil I Know
04. Trigger
05. Under The Gun
06. God Was Never On Your Side
07. Living In The Past
08. Christine
09. Sword of Glory
10. Be My Baby
11. Kingdom of the Worm
12. Going Down

From the where-are-they-now file comes this item: former CANNIBAL CORPSE guitarist Bob Rusay is now a golf teacher in Arizona! On his USGTF.com profile, Rusay doesn't mention the band he was in, only that "we had put together three full-length albums and toured the United States, Europe, Mexico, and Canada several times and were featured in the movie 'Ace Ventura, Pet Detective'."

Bob Rusay played on CANNIBAL CORPSE's first three full-length albums: "Eaten Back to Life" (1990), "Butchered at Birth" (1991) and "Tomb of the Mutilated" (1992).

Anders Teglund (keyboards and electronics) and Magnus Lindberg (drums) of Sweden's CULT OF LUNA will put a special song for streaming/downloading on the CULT OF LUNA MySpace profile. The track, which is described by the band as "'Marching to the Heartbeats' in a quite different form," will be uploaded on Sunday, August 27 at noon CET time (6:00 a.m. EST / 3:00 a.m. PST). It will stay up for exactly one week, and after that, "will never be given out again!"

CULT OF LUNA's fourth sonic outing, "Somewhere along the Highway", came out in April via Earache Records. The album was made available in the following formats: digipak CD, regular CD, and limited edition 2 x 12" vinyl LP.

MASTERPLAN members Uli Kusch (drums) and Roland Grapow (guitar; both ex-HELLOWEEN) have started the recordings for the band's third album. According to a posting on Kusch's web site, a replacement for singer Jorn Lande, who announced his departure from the group in early May, will be confirmed soon. The band's final show with Lande took place on August 8 at Lokersefeesten in Belgium.

According to a statement released by the band in May, Lande's departure was caused by increased "musical differences" between the vocalist and the rest of the band. During the songwriting process for the group's third album, it became increasingly apparent that the other members of the band had different visions and plans for the group's musical direction. While Jorn wanted MASTERPLAN to follow a more melodic path, the rest of the band wanted to return to the metallic roots of their debut album.

Jorn recently released fourth solo album, "The Duke". The CD — which entered the Norwegian national album at position No. 54 — was produced by Lande and PAGAN'S MIND guitarist Jörn Viggo Lofstad, and was mixed at Jailhouse Studios in Denmark by Tommy Hansen.

In related news, reunited German progressive-thrashers MEKONG DELTA, which feature Kusch in their ranks, completed the drum recordings for 11 new songs at Kusch's studio in Norway. A vocalist for the group — which also includes Ralf Hubert (bass) and Peter Sjöberg (guitar; also known as Peter Lake from THEORY IN PRACTICE) — has not yet been named.