Finland's hard rockers LORDI, whose live show is described as "a combination of theatre, fire and horror," have been selected as the Finnish representatives in the Eurovision Song Contest. LORDI won the Finnish national selection with the song "Hard Rock Hallelujah" and will represent the country in the semifinal of the 51st Eurovision Song Contest in Athens, Greece on May 18, according to ESCToday.com.

The band scored a runaway victory in the super-final of the Finnish national final on Friday, March 10. They picked up 42.2% of the votes, outstripping their nearest rival TOMI METSÄKEDON who scored 28.5%, according to Doteurovision.com. After the twelve competing songs had been heard for a first time Friday night, voting cut down the field to six. These songs were performed one more time and then voting continued to pick the winner.

LORDI have just released their new album, entitled "The Arockalypse". The CD features guest appearances by TWISTED SISTER frontman Dee Snider and guitarist Jay Jay French, as well as former ACCEPT vocalist Udo Dirkschneider and ex-KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick.

Guitarist Henrik Johansson of the Swedish black metal band APOSTASY was murdered in his home Wednesday night/Thursday morning (March 8/9), the group's frontman, Fredric Edin, told BLABBERMOUTH.NET. "According to the police, his girlfriend stabbed him without known reason in his heart area and he bled to death before the ambulance showed up!" Edin said.

Added Fredric: "Rest in peace, dear brother and friend."

APOSTASY's second full-length album, "Devilution", was released last year via Black Mark Records. The follow-up to 2004's "Cell 666" was recorded at Studio Undergound in Västerås, Sweden.

Swiss hard rockers GOTTHARD will release a live album, entitled "Made in Switzerland", on April 28. The CD will include 17 songs that were recorded during a concert at the Hallenstadion in Zürich in December 2005. As a special bonus, the CD will also contain a DVD featuring the complete concert as well as "making-of" footage and many new photos.

As previously reported, GOTTHARD's latest effort, "Lipservice", has been certified platinum in Switzerland for sales in excess of 40,000 copies (official certification date: January 29, 2006). The ceremony took place in Zürich during the 'PISA Finals." The CD is reportedly approaching double-platinum status.

"Lipservice" was released in Europe last June via G.Records/Nuclear Blast.

Australia's dark-metal-hybrid act VIRGIN BLACK will follow up their well-received 2003 offering "Elegant...and Dying" by releasing three albums simultaneously in 2006 on The End Records. Each CD is "a separate entity, but each is also linked through recurring musical themes and artistic motifs," according to a press release. "When fully unfurled in all its grandeur, listeners will experience a grandiloquent two-and-a-half hour requiem mass with three stages of evolution."

The three albums are described in the following way:

* "Requiem – Pianissimo" is an entirely classical album with instrumentation performed by the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, and featuring spectacular choral arrangements along with tenor, mezzo-soprano and soprano solo voices. "Requiem – Pianissimo" forsakes guitars and drums in favour of the melancholic tragedy and bombastic dynamics of classical composition.

* "Requiem – Mezzo Forte" is where the band joins the orchestra and strikes a balance more reminiscent of previous VIRGIN BLACK outings, albeit with greater epic breadth.

* The final album, "Requiem – Fortissimo", unleashes a sound infinitely heavier than anything in VIRGIN BLACK’s history. While still retaining an air of classical sensibility, it concludes the series with an intense dose of death/doom.

A release date for the albums has not yet been set.

EMBRAZE, the Finnish band featuring FOR MY PAIN… guitarist Lauri Tuohimaa, have finished recording all instrumental parts and scratch/guide vocals for their new album. The material "sounds heavier, but also more melodic than ever before in EMBRAZE history!" reads a posting on the band's web site. "There are going to be some guests on the album doing their thing here and there."

The vocals recording for the as-yet-untitled follow-up to 2002's "Katharsis" (Mastervox Records) are scheduled to begin on March and mixing is slated for April/May. A release fate for the effort has yet to be announced. The projected track listing is as follows:

01. Carvings on the Gallowstree
02. Branded
03. Racing Against Time
04. Dead Roses
05. Liquid Fire
06. Memory Trace of our Time
07. The One
08. Sleeping Ground
09. Sun Goes Down
10. No Solace

NEBELHEX?, or rather Andrea Haugen, does not need any introduction really, as she has been mesmerizing the alternative music scenes since '94, often described as one of the most intriguing and charismatic artists of the subculture. Her latest album is called "Essensual". Like the extravagant title, this is a unique album with new and fresh sounds. With an almost pop like production, this album will surely attract a broader audience. With this album she tries to express hidden feelings, various thoughts within the psyche, the bad experiences that shape us, thoughts about our real being, thus the title "Essensual". The essence of sensuality. Exposing both a glamorous side and the darker real side within, reflecting the diversity of Andrea’s inner self. As always she creates with sincere emotion and honesty.

With the album, Andrea has fashioned her own perfume, Nebelhex? 'Essensual’. (She already has been selling bottles of Nebelhex? perfume oil at her concerts in the past.)

Ronnie James Dio's (DIO, BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW) official web site has been updated with the following message:

"Ronnie and company are busy writing a new [DIO] studio record to be released later this year. Touring is expected to gear up in May with a South American jaunt, followed by a European tour commencing May 27 in Belgium. Dates will be announced as soon as they are confirmed, so keep watching the tour page for details."

As previously reported, Eagle Rock Entertainment has set an April 18 North American release date for DIO's "Holy Diver Live" CD (one day earlier internationally). Captured live in 2005 in front of a sold-out London crowd, "Holy Diver Live" sees Ronnie James Dio delivering a truly memorable performance on this truly memorable night. Dio has been hailed as one of the finest voices in heavy metal for over 30 years now and for good reason. Due to his stints in RAINBOW, BLACK SABBATH and as a solo artist, Dio is one of the few people in the history of music that can honestly say they have played on three classic albums, each under a different moniker. "Holy Diver Live" features the classic "Holy Diver" album in its entirety, from start to finish, recorded live for the very first time. It also features, among others, "Heaven & Hell", "Sign of the Southern Cross" and "Mob Rules" from his BLACK SABBATH days, "Tarot Woman", "Man on the Silver Mountain" and "Long Live Rock 'N' Roll" from the RAINBOW era and "We Rock" from his solo career.

To view the complete track listing, click here.

Swedish death/black metallers IN AETERNUM have announced their new llineup. Joining guitarist/vocalist David Larsson and drummer Per "Perra" Karlsson in the group's new formation are lead guitarist Erik Kumpulainen and bassist Claes Ramberg.

Commented the band: "At the moment we have been rehearsing seven songs: 'A New Dawn', 'Pactum Diaboli', 'No Salvation', 'Spawned by the Fires Below', 'The Apocalypse Division', 'Reaper in Black' and 'Nuclear Armageddon'. It sounds very good. We will make a set list of about 10-12 songs and after the summer live blasphemies will take place again. Also, new songs are being worked on. Hope to do some recording sessions shortly."

IN AETERNUM released their fourth album, "Dawn Of A New Aeon", last year via Agonia Records.

According to a posting on legendary Chicago doomsters TROUBLE's web site, the band are putting the finishing touches on their new studio album, "Simple Mind Condition", with producer Vinny Wojno (KREATOR, MACHINE HEAD) for a tentative June release via Escapi Music in Europe and Century Media in the U.S. The group's current lineup includes vocalist Eric Wagner, guitarists Rick Wartell and Bruce Franklin, drummer Jeff Olson and bassist Chuck Robinson (formerly of THIS TORTURED SOUL). 15 songs were reportedly recorded for the follow-up to 1995's "Plastic Green Head", including "Mindbender", "Seven", "Beginning of Sorrows", and "After the Rain". The group's previously announced "unplugged" EP is currently "on hold" and will be completed at a later date, Wartell recently told BLABBERMOUTH.NET. The band have also finally reached an agreement to re-release their first two albums, 1984's "Psalm" and 1985's "The Skull", both featuring "some cool bonus material that nobody has seen or heard before," according to the group's web site. A late 2006 release is expected.

In other news, TROUBLE have uploaded a previously unreleased song, entitled "Here the Earth", at this location (.ZIP file). The track was originally under consideration for the band's "One for the Road" collection of cover songs and rarities back in 1994 but was eventually omitted from the CD's final track listing.

As previously reported, TROUBLE will release their long-awaited live DVD, entitled "Live in Stockholm", on March 27 via Escapi. The disc was recorded in November 2003 in Stockholm, Sweden.

According to a posting on the RAINBOW fan site The Rainbow Fanclan Legacy, Darker Than Blue (The Deep Purple Collectors Service) has announced the release of three complete concerts from RAINBOW 1976 European Tour in Germany on CD. The first release will be "Live in Cologne 1976", featuring the following track listing: "Kill The King", "Mistreated", "Sixteenth Century Greensleeves", "Catch The Rainbow", "Man On The Silver Mountain", "Stargazer", "Still I'm Sad" and "Do You Close Your Eyes".

Three of RAINBOW's German shows from 1976 have been remixed to form special collectors' releases to mark the 30th anniversary of the band's first world tour. These have been produced primarily for Japan but will also be issued in Europe via AFN in Germany. The first release is September 25 when 1976 Cologne will be issued as a two-CD set in jewel-case. Dusseldorf and Nurnberg will follow.

Metal Blade Records go medieval! No, not at all! But as some of you might know, Metal Blade started a sublabel called Staupa Musica in 2004. In the beginning it was meant to bring German medieval music into all of Europe . The first two albums that Staupa Musica released outside of Germany were CORVUS CO RA X’ “ Seikilos” and POTENTIA ANIMI’s “ Das erste Gebet”.  

In the beginning of 2006 POTENTIA ANIMI decided to work together with Staupa Musica in Germany as well. As a result their second sin, “Psalm II”, will be released in Germany , Austria and Switzerland on April 28 th (May 1 st in the rest of Europe ).

Expect the five monks in best shape, telling again some ( un)holy stories about the treasures and secrets that are hidden behind church walls (and that were meant to remain there!). Be lead into temptation by hypnotic medieval rhythms and archaic choirs and chants combined with poppy choruses and elements of modern (Hard) Rock. Frivolous and waggish lyrics, not quite meant to be taken seriously, are served on top.

In February the German press already had the chance to have a listen to this masterpiece of medieval music with a modern approach! Listen what they experienced:

„Someone who links medieval instruments and sacral choirs to dusty and quixotic church music, should experience POTENTIA ANIMI. It’s a musical and lyrical kick in the ass. They play a unique mixture of whimsical and che eky lyrics below the waistline, guitar riffing and perfectly trained choirs. These monks couldn’t be more entertaining !“ Andre as Kais, Metal Heart Germany  

“’Psalm II’ is a real masterpiece! […] These monks have the unique ability to arouse even extremely uptight people!” Thomas Manegold, www.subkultur.com

Here’s the tracklist of “Psalm II”:
01.)  Intro
02.)  Ave Maria
03.)  Eifersucht
04.)  Qui Per Mundum
05.)  Anima
06.)  Manus Ferens
07.)  Drei Reiter
08.)  Verlorene Haufen
09.)  Bettelweib
10.)  Non Major
11.)  Die R?uber
12.)  Ewigkeit
13.)  Viva La More

CRADLE OF FILTH recently spent time working on the as-yet-untitled follow-up to 2004's "Nymphetamine" at Lincolnshire, England's Chapel studios with producer Rob Caggiano (BLEEDING THROUGH, ANTHRAX).

"I'm not saying it's 'experimental,' but we're definitely testing the limits of what we can do," Dani frontman Dani Filth recently told Revolver magazine about the new CD. "This is our sixth or seventh record, so we're trying to spice things up to keep the marriage going!"

"We were hungry to write again," Filth added. Once we finished all our tours [in 2005], we spent the summer just writing. Nobody really throught about where it was going, which is why I think it's really fresh sounding. A lot of the songs are really rhythmical — thrashy, almost — but they're all also really catchy."

IMPERIA, the new band fronted by former TRAIL OF TEARS singer Helena Iren Michaelsen (photo#1, photo#2), have inked a recording deal with Black Lotus Records. The band recently entered Spacelab studios in Germany with producers Christian "Moschus" Moos and Oliver Philipps (EVERON, ANGEL) to begin recording their sophomore album, tentatively titled "Queen of Light". The follow-up to 2004's "The Ancient Dance of Qetesh" will contain 12 tracks and will be "heavier and more varied" than its predecessor, according to a press release. "There are fast and powerful metal songs, slow ballads, heavy songs as well as a lot of serious guitar leads and oriental keyboards. It is a diverse album with crystal clear sound!"

Guitarist Martin "Sigtyr" Thim of the Danish death metallers EXMORTEM has posted the following message on the band's official web site:

"It's been a long time since the last update again...and the thing is that theres not a hell lot to tell really. Morten [Siersbaek, drums] is in France at the moment and in the meantime me and Andreas [Schubert, guitar] continue working on new material. We are also working on a four-track rehearsal that should be done in a few weeks, but this will not be made official in any way!

"Andreas is involved in LITHIUM that have recorded a MCD and are looking for a label, they should have a site up soon... Simon [Petersen, vocals] has just finished a new album with HORNED ALMIGHTY that should be out soon. In ILLDISPOSED we are awaiting the release date on the new album, plus the touring schedule that follows...more on this as it [becomes] available!"

EXMORTEM's latest album, "Nihilistic Contentment", was released in January 2005 via Earache/Wicked World Records. The CD was recorded over a four-week period at Antfarm Studio in Aarhus, Denmark with producer Tue Madsen (THE HAUNTED, HATESPHERE, MNEMIC).

EXMORTEM were previously signed to France's Osmose Productions and Holland's Hammerheart Records.

German female-fronted gothic metal band FLOWING TEARS are currently writing material for their seventh release, tentatively due later in the year via Century Media Records. "The work on the new album is in good progress and if the devil is with us, the album will definetely be released within 2006," the band write on their web site. "Until then we decided to let you participate in the carthatic agony of writing an album by dropping some personal notes and comments on the progress of our work in form of a diary. If you're lost, sleepless or just have nothing better to do — feel free to act as a voyeur and get an insight here."

FLOWING TEARS' latest album, "Razorbliss", received its long-overdue U.S. release on July 12 via Magick Records (a division of Cleopatra Records).

"Razorbliss" was issued in Europe in March 2004 through Century Media Records. The follow-up to 2002's "Serpentine" was recorded at Woodhouse Studios in Hagen, Germany with producer Waldemar Sorychta (THE GATHERING, LACUNA COIL, SENTENCED, MOONSPELL) and was the band's first to feature vocalist Helen Vogt, who replaced Stefanie Duchêne in 2003.

Swedish metallers ENTOMBED have pushed back the projected release date of their new full-length album, "Serpent Saints", to September 18. An EP, entitled "When in Sodom", will precede the album on June 6 via Threeman Recordings.

Commented the band: "There were so many great songs to chose from and this is a great way give the fans what they want — more ENTOMBED!"

ENTOMBED's new album is being recorded at Soundland studio in Upplands Väsby, Sweden. The upcoming CD will be the group's first without the contributions of guitarist Uffe Cederlund, who left the band in September.

Swedish death/black metal band TORCHBEARER will release thier sophomore album, "Warnaments", on April 18 via Regain Records.

"Warnaments" is the follow-up to 2004's "Yersinia Pestis", which was released through Metal Blade under license from Cold Records. "While the [lyrical content of the] debut dealt with the black plague and its way through medieval Europe, 'Warnaments' deals with two special occations from World War One," reads a press release. "Mainly it's about the Battle of Jutland, which was a massive naval battle between the British and the Germans. Apart from that, two of the songs concern the sinking of a german submarine outside the coast of Great Britain in 1915."

"Warnaments" track listing:

1. Dark Clouds Gathering
   
2. Last Line Of Defence
   
3. Burial Waters, Deepsome Graves
   
4. Swift Turns Of War
   
5. The Stale Drownings
   
6. Battlespawn
   
7. Where Night Is Total
   
8. Sealer Of Fates
   
9. The Blunt Weapon
   

TORCHBEARER lineup:

• Pär Johansson – Vocals
  
• Christian Älvestam – Guitar
  
• Mikael Degerman - Bass
  
• Henrik Schönström - Drums
  
• Patrik Gardberg - Guitar
  

Irish rockers THERAPY? have posted the cover artwork for their new album, "One Cure Fits All", on their official web site. Check it out at this location. The cover was designed by "Curt Evans of 'High Anxiety' and 'Never Apologise...' notoriety and he's come up trumps this time," the band write on their web site, "The front cover can only be described as a cross between 'Nurse', Andy Warhol portraiture and the first KING CRIMSON album sleeve…garish and disturbing would be one way of putting it!"

Due on April 24, the follow-up to 2004's "Never Apologise Never Explain" was produced by Pedro Ferriera, who has previously worked with COLOUR OF FIRE, THE DARKNESS and TOKYO DRAGONS, among others.

"One Cure Fits All" track listing:

1. Sprung
   
2. Deluded Son
   
3. Into The Light
   
4. Lose It All
   
5. Dopamine Seratonin Adrenaline
   
6. Unconsoled
   
7. Our White Noise
   
8. Private Nobody
   
9. Rain Hits Concrete
   
10. Fear Of God
    
11. Heart Beat Hits
    
12. Walk Through Darkness
    

TIAMAT's classic "Wildhoney" album (1994, Century Media) will be reissued in May — only weeks after the release of the group's "The Church of Tiamat" DVD, which is scheduled to arrive on April 24 via Century Media. "This will be a 'Wildhoney'-on-steroids [release] which will include a new layout with extensive (exhausting?) liner notes plus acoustic versions of 'Gaia' and 'Do You Dream Of Me?' plus maybe even more," the band write in a statement.

As previously reported, TIAMAT have "written and recorded ideas for about five [new] songs, with more to go in the 'near' future," according to bassist Anders Iwers. The band, whose last studio album, "Prey", was released in 2003 through Century Media, are currently unsigned and are composing material for a demo that they will use to procure a new label home. "And [then] hopefully, world domination will ensue," Iwers joked to BLABBERMOUTH.NET.

For more information on TIAMAT's upcoming "The Church of Tiamat" DVD, click here.

Swedish death metallers NOMINON will have their latest album, "Recremation", released in the U.S. via Necroharmonic Productions via distribution from Deathgasm Records. "We are working on the final details right now, but be sure that we will definately give you something extra with the CD, not neccesarily any bonus tracks or so...," the band write on their web site. "We'll see whatever will come as bonus together with the album? The most important thing is that 'Recremation' finally will be licensed and get a proper distribution in the States as well."

"Recremation" was issued last year via Konqueror Records (CD) and Blood Harvest Records (12-inch vinyl). The album was recorded and mixed at Necromorbus Studio in Stockholm with engineer Tore Stjerna. A video for the track "House of Flies" was shot during the band's European tour with VITAL REMAINS in September/October 2005.

Finnish melodic death metallers INSOMNIUM will enter Fantom studios in early April to begin recording their third album. "Some crystal-clear and yet brutal sounds are to be expected since Fantom is the name behind some of the best albums ever produced in Finland," the band write on their web site. "The songs which are to be recorded include such dreary titles as 'At the Gates of Sleep', 'The Mortal Share', 'Drawn to Black' and 'The Killjoy'. The new material is clearly more aggressive, punchy and tighter than the previous album but the melancholic mood, wistful melodies, doomish passages and progressive twists are still present."

Commented vocalist/bassist Niilo Sevänen: "For sure this is going to be our greatest effort so far. This will be a very versatile album and each song will be full of nuances. There is fury and there is sorrow. Scandinavian melodic death metal at its finest!"

INSOMNIUM's third album is scheduled for release this fall via Candlelight Records.

Finnish traditional metallers MANITOU have uploaded several audio clips from their upcoming second album, "Deadlock", at their official web site.

"Deadlock" is scheduled for release on March 22 via Firebox. The material on the CD is being described as a mixture of IRON MAIDEN, ANNIHILATOR, QUEENSRŸCHE, OZZY OSBOURNE, DIO, EVERGREY and JUDAS PRIEST." The album's first single, "Fools in Control", entered the Finnish single chart at position No. 2 last month.

MANITOU feature in their ranks members of OMNIUM GATHERUM, MALPRACTICE and KAIHORO. The band's debut album, "The Mad Moon Rising", came out in 2004 on the now-defunct Rage Of Achilles Records.

NINE INCH NAILS will be issuing their first commercially released U.S. single from their latest CD, "With Teeth", on April 4. Entitled "Every Day Is Exactly The Same", the EP will feature the title cut plus five remixes of songs from "With Teeth". The track listing is as follows:

1. Every Day Is Exactly The Same
   
2. The Hand That Feeds (DFA Mix)
   
3. The Hand That Feeds (Straight Mix)
   
4. Only (El-P Mix)
   
5. Only (Richard X Mix)
   
6. Every Day Is Exactly The Same (Sam Fog Vs, Carlos D Of Interpol Mix)
   

The cover art for the CD can be viewed at this location.

SINISTHRA (formerly NEVERGREEN), the Finnish band featuring current AMORPHIS frontman Tomi Joutsen, have issued the following update via their official web site:

"Isn't it just bloody irritating when bands can't be bothered to update their webpages? Our excuse for not updating is.. err.. well, there just isn't that much to report at the moment. We are currently unsigned and have just recorded four new songs for demonstrational purposes. We'll start sending out the demos to record labels shortly with a message saying 'sign us or your family gets it' so in a perfect world it's only a matter of time before we land a satisfying deal.

"We're not planning on doing gigs for the time being. Tomi Joutsen is very busy touring with AMORPHIS for the next months so we'll concentrate on finishing the music for our planned second album. A few of us are also involved in a new band and will release a record before summer. More details of this band later on, or possibly not.

"We've received messages where people have expressed their concern regarding the future of SINISTHRA so here's the official statement, officially stated by the officials themselves: No need to worry. We've always been slow movers when it comes to putting together new music and although 50% of us are now committed to other bands as well it doesn't diminish our commitment to SINISTHRA in the slightest. There will be another SINISTHRA album, eventually, no matter what."

SINISTHRA's full-length debut, "Last of the Stories of Long Past Glories", was released in May 2005 via Arise Records. The CD was recorded in the summer of 2004 at Sonic Pump studios and features a sound best described as "metal with all the most common metal clichГ©s removed," according to the group's official web site. A "teaser" MP3 containing audio samples from the CD can be downloaded at this location.

Florida-based Christian punk/metal act UNDEROATH have announced they’ will release their new album June 20 on Tooth and Nail/Solid State Records.

Co-produced by Matt Goldman (COPELAND, CARTEL) and KILLSWITCH ENGAGE guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz, the as-yet-untitled album is being mixed in Los Angeles with Chris Lord Alge (GREEN DAY, ROB ZOMBIE). "This is the record we've been striving to write for the past five years, and I never thought I'd see the day when it actually happened," explains guitarist Tim McTague. "I can't wait for everyone to hear what we've been creating for the past few months, but in the end, if everyone hated it, we'd still think it's probably the best record we may ever be a part of."

This marks UNDEROATH's third full-length CD and the follow-up to their massive breakout album "They’re Only Chasing Safety", which has now sold over 300,000 copies.

In touring news, UNDEROATH is confirmed for the U.K.'s Give It A Name Festival April 29-30 in London and Manchester. On May 3, the band will kick off a headlining U.S. trek, with POISON THE WELL, AS CITIES BURN, SPITFIRE and SINCE BY MAN supporting. On Sunday, May 7, UNDEROATH will perform at the Bamboozle Festival in East Rutherford, NJ along with TAKING BACK SUNDAY, MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE and SENSES FAIL, to name a few.

This summer, UNDEROATH will hit the road as one of the headlining main-stage acts on the Vans Warped Tour '06. The group will join NOFX, THURSDAY, RISE AGAINST, JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS and MOTION CITY SOUNDTRACK, among many others, on the festival all summer long.

If you think 6.6.06 is an intimidating calendar date, just wait. The killer reunion of all time — complete with live tour dates — is about to commence.

The four original members of SLAYER — Tom Araya/bass, vocals, Kerry King/guitars, Jeff Hanneman/guitars, and Dave Lombardo/drums — the pioneers and undisputed kings of extreme speed/thrash metal, have entered a Los Angeles-area studio to record what will be their first new studio album since 1990's "Seasons In The Abyss". And if that's not enough, uber-producer Rick Rubin, who helped solidify the much-emulated SLAYER sound beginning with their genre-defining 1986 classic "Reign In Blood", has taken the helm as executive producer of the project. The original team is back in place.

Working closely with Rubin will be Josh Abraham (KORN, VELVET REVOLVER, ATREYU) who will produce the album. "We're real happy to have Josh on the team," said SLAYER's Jeff Hanneman. "He's a very creative and intuitive guy, he knows music, and he really gets who SLAYER is and what we're doing." The as-yet-untitled album will be released on SLAYER's longtime label, Rubin's American Recordings/Warner Bros. Records, and is expected out this fall.

"Dave's been back with us, playing live, for a couple of years now, and we're all looking forward to recording together again," said the band's Tom Araya. Kerry King added, "There really is no one like Dave — he doesn't have to work at what he does, he just walks in, picks up his sticks and goes."

Said Lombardo, "It feels really good being back with the same guys I started out with. The chemistry is definitely there, that's the exciting part of it, to capture that chemistry again. And that's what is happening."

Jeff, Tom and Kerry have been writing songs for this new album since they wrapped their last North American tour in September 2004. "This is probably the most prepared we've been to record an album since the '80s," King added. "We've been writing and cutting demos for months." While these may change, working titles for some of the songs that will be recorded include "Catalyst", "Cult", "Supremist", and "Consfearacy". "I like to write songs that have different meanings for different people," said King, "where everyone can say, 'I know what he means,' but still get their own sense of what the song is about."

But wait, this just gets better. On 6.6.06 in San Diego, CA, SLAYER will kick off a seven-week summer trek, "The Unholy Alliance Tour ­Preaching to the Perverted", that boasts what has got to be the genre's coolest line-up of the summer — LAMB OF GOD, MASTODON and CHILDREN OF BODOM (who will rotate the second and third slots), and THINE EYES BLEED who will open the shows.

Not only is the line-up terrific, but ticket prices will not exceed $39.00, giving fans a great value for their dollar. Tour dates and all other details will be announced shortly. Confirmed dates are below.

According to SLAYER's longtime manager Rick Sales, "We want to make 'The Unholy Alliance' tour an annual global event, so we decided to be smart about the design from the beginning. We chose to book most of the tourВ№s shows at indoor venues, as that allows the bands and the fans amenities like air conditioning and indoor bathrooms, as well as the very best stage lighting, production, and sound and less expensive concession prices. The few shows that will be played outside will be played at night in permanent facilities with our lighting, production, and so on. Everyone wins."

U.K. metal act TWIN METHOD will be shooting a video in support of their upcoming album, "The Volume Of Self", in Los Angeles this week with directors Matt "The Lord" Zane and Danny Rowe. The video will be for the song "The Abrasive". The clip is expected to be finished before the summer and ready for national and regional video outlets just prior to the album release.

Matt "The Lord" Zane has directed the DECEMBER WOLVES video which was named the sickest video in history by Kerrang! magazine, along with a video for the band PIMPADELIC for Tommy Boy Records. Zane is also known for winning the title of "Best Adult Film Director" in 1999.

Zane says, "I am looking forward to getting back into the directors chair. It has been awhile, but TWIN METHOD approached me and had a great idea that they want to get across. I am looking forward to making it happen with my most technically advanced video to date. Besides, it's about time I start flexing my directing muscles again."

TWIN METHOD, based out of Liverpool, England, recently finished recording at Audio Lab Studio in Los Angeles with producer/engineer Logan Mader (MACHINE HEAD, SOULFLY) for their soon to be released Crash Music debut album, "The Volume of Self".