Eric Blair of "The Blairing Out With Eric Blair Show" conducted an interview with ANTHRAX singer Joey Belladonna at the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund's second awards gala, which was held on October 31 at the Avalon nightclub in Hollywood, California. You can watch the chat below.

ANTHRAX recently spent time in the studio recording several cover versions of some of their favorite rock classics, to be included with the upcoming re-release of the band's latest album, "Worship Music".

In addition to RUSH ("Anthem") and BOSTON ("Smokin'") covers, ANTHRAX is also recording its versions of AC/DC's "T.N.T.", JOURNEY's "Keep On Runnin'" and BLACK SABBATH's "Neon Knights". The latter song is expected to appear on the upcoming Ronnie James Dio tribute album which is being assembled by the singer's widow and longtime manager Wendy Dio.

"Worship Music" has sold more than 100,000 copies in the U.S. since its September 2011 release, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

On October 7, DaBelly conducted an interview with guitarist Thomas Youngblood of American/German/Swedish symphonic metallers KAMELOT. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

DaBelly: Whether intended or not, [new singer Tommy] Karevik's voice is reminiscent to [former KAMELOT singer] Roy Khan's and I'm eager to hear Karevik's interpretation of your older works.

Youngblood: One of the reasons we hired Tommy is because his voice had a similar quality and when it came to writing the new record we wanted to keep the KAMELOT sound. But also we want to grow. We want to show that Tommy is his own vocalist with his own thing going on. We know the fans will see that.

DaBelly: Did you write [the new KAMELOT album] "Silverthorn" with Karevik or was most of the record in place before he arrived?

Youngblood: Most of "Silverthorn" was written by myself and Oliver [Palotai], our keyboard player. We presented the songs to Tommy to work on vocal melodies and lyrics. So yeah, Tommy wrote all the vocal melodies and lyrics. I think Sascha [Paeth], our producer, helped a little bit, but for the most part Tommy is already been assimilated into KAMELOT. To me, it's a really good sign for the future. I know that we will be able to invest a lot more time into writing the next album.

DaBelly: This was the first time you've entered the studio with a new singer in a long time. What was the preparation like? Did you approach writing music any differently?

Youngblood: My goal from day one was to make a KAMELOT record, so we didn't do anything differently. We wrote the songs in the same keys. The only real difference was that some else was writing the melodies and lyrics and Tommy did an amazing job. He worked a little with Sascha on it. I wasn't in the studio when they recorded vocals. Once Oliver and I started working together on this album, I knew that the music was going to be KAMELOT. The next step was to make sure the vocals fit in with what we've done in the past but also that they offered hints of what is yet to come.

DaBelly: I felt your last album, "Poetry For The Poisoned", was heavier, especially in the lyrics. It was certainly heavier than "Karma", my favorite. The new record seems heavier as well. The music has the old "Karma" feel, but the vocals seemed more like "Poetry". Do you think that is a fair description on the new record?

Youngblood: I think one of the things I missed in "Poetry" was the melody, like you said. You know, like with "Karma" and "Black Halo", the chorus had a melodic sense to it that we didn't have on "Poetry"; it was something that I was missing and it was one of the first things that I talked to Tommy about — bringing more of a melodic sense to the song. He's really great at writing melodies. Almost every chorus on the new record has a significant melodic feel to it. But at the same time I don't want to abandon the melancholy undertones that I personally like in our music. I think it's an important component that helps make us unique — blending uplifting choruses with a verse or mid-part sections that are darker and make you feel a little sad. But at the end of the record I want people to feel good about life, I don't want to leave them feeling like they want to cut their wrists! That's one of the things that I thought we missed on "Poetry" and it's certainly one of the things that I think people liked about albums like "Black Halo". Even though it had some darker elements, it also had this uplifting release as well.

Read the entire interview from DaBelly.

"Sacrimony (Angel Of Afterlife)" video:

Marseille, France-based metalcore band ETHS has recruited Virginie Goncalves (KELLS) and Nelly Wood-Hasselhoff to handle lead vocals at the group's upcoming shows following the recent departere of Candice Clot.

The first photo of the new ETHS lineup can be seen below.

Clot played her final show as a member of ETHS on October 13 at L'Arcade in Notre-Dame-de-Gravenchon, France.

Candice announced her decision to leave ETHS in September, explaining in a statement, "I made this choice for personal and family reasons."

She added, "I can't live unconditionally for music and its listeners anymore. Although the stage remains an outlet, I can't live up to such a demanding job anymore.

"I have been living for music for the past 15 years and it has given me back so much, but there are now things I can't sacrifice anymore and I need to take care of my family and stay with them.

"The band wants to go on, as the guys are still burning with a rage and a motivation that I don't have anymore.

"You can't cheat with things that have to come from your heart, body and soul.

"I am begging you to keep ETHS and the people who will replace me close to your hearts.

"This is the end of a chapter, but you have to give a chance to novelty and change.

"I am definitely not irreplaceable.

"Until the band finds a permanent successor, two people will share the vocal duties and I asked my friend Virginie from KELLS (please be nice to her) to be one of them.

"I wish to thank all those who have been supporting us since our early days in 1999, our friends, people from the music business who believe in ETHS and, of course, the fans without whom nothing would have ever been possible. ETHS' fans are so kind-hearted and gave me so much love and gratitude along the years that I will cherish those memories forever. I have been through wonderful times thanks to you and have been keeping all gifts and notes in a box. Thank you again.

"I guess you will ask me a lot of questions regarding my departure but please respect my silence. I told you all you need to know.

"Last but not least, I wish to thank ETHS and the music, which taught me so much about surpassing oneself, willpower, tolerance, writing and all the things that made me become the person I am today."

ETHS' third album, "III", was released on April 6 via Season Of Mist. The CD was recorded at Studio Fredman in Gothenburg, Sweden with producer Fredrik Nordström, who has previously worked with AT THE GATES, IN FLAMES, DARK TRANQUILLITY, ARCH ENEMY, SOILWORK and BRING ME THE HORIZON, among others.

Eric Blair of "The Blairing Out With Eric Blair Show" conducted an interview with DIO DISCIPLES at the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund's second awards gala, which was held on October 31 at the Avalon nightclub in Hollywood, California. You can watch the chat below.

DIO DISCIPLES is the project featuring former DIO members Simon Wright (drums), Craig Goldy (guitar) and Scott Warren (keyboards).

The group, which pays tribute to legendary heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio (BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW, DIO, HEAVEN & HELL) is fully supported by Dio's widow/manager, Wendy.

DIO DISCIPLES currently consists of the following musicians:

* Tim "Ripper" Owens (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH) - Vocals
* Oni Logan (LYNCH MOB) - Vocals
* Craig Goldy (DIO) - Guitar
* Bjorn Englen (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN) - Bass
* Scott Warren (DIO,HEAVEN & HELL) - Keyboards
* Simon Wright (DIO, AC/DC, UFO) – Drums

Commented Goldy: "After Ronnie's passing and a lengthy mourning period, Wendy Dio and the band that was left behind have decided it was time to honor and keep the memory and legacy of Ronnie James Dio alive in the most respectful way possible!

"There is something special that happens when a group of people gather together with the same heart, mind and spirit as one another... and that is what happens every night we (the DIO DISCIPLES) perform! I never know when... but I know that it will happen because it always does... some time during the concert, the audience and the band connect and become as one!

"And with the large speaker system, lights and special performances by past members of AC/DC, JUDAS PRIEST, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN and LYNCH MOB... you don't want to rely on all the crappy little cell phone recordings that look and sound like shit posted on YouTube!

"I've never lied about anything to any DIO fan and I'm not about to start now! Every time we perform there's always several very special moments that just can't be defined into words! You just have to trust me and come experience it for yourselves! And I hope you do!"

Interview:



Performance footage (October 23 at El Corazon in Seattle, Washington):

Ozzy Osbourne's wife/manager Sharon Osbourne has revealed that she underwent a preventive double mastectomy over fears she could develop breast cancer.

The 60-year-old, whose son Jack became a first-time dad to daughter Pearl earlier this year, told Hello! magazine that doctors told her she had a genetic mutation which raised her chances of developing breast cancer, which convinced her to have the procedure done.

"As soon as I found out I had the breast cancer gene, I thought: 'The odds are not in my favour'. I've had cancer before and I didn't want to live under that cloud: I decided to just take everything off, and had a double mastectomy," she said.

She added, "For me, it wasn't a big decision, it was a no-brainer. I didn't want to live the rest of my life with that shadow hanging over me. I want to be around for a long time and be a grandmother to Pearl.

"I didn't even think of my breasts in a nostalgic way, I just wanted to be able to live my life without that fear all the time. It's not 'pity me', it's a decision I made that's got rid of this weight that I was carrying around."

According to Wairarapa Times Age, two New Zealand men were charged with armed robbery in connection with the theft of an AC/DC compact disc.

Peter Tapine, 37, and Jackson Huata, 47, are accused of robbing a house in Masterton while armed with a sword. They appeared in the Masterton District Court and were remanded in custody to appear again on November 8.

Armed police were called in to help execute search warrants at three different addresses during which the two men were arrested and a sword and machete seized.

TV Rock Live conducted an interview with vocalist Angela Gossow and guitarist Michael Amott of Swedish/German extreme metallers ARCH ENEMY prior to their October 21 concert in Paris, France. You can now watch the chat below.

ARCH ENEMY's upcoming tour of South America and Mexico will be documented for the band's next DVD, to be released in late 2013. German production company Filmefahrer Pictures, known for its work on "2012 - The Movie" and THE VERY END's music video for "A Hole In The Sun", will film the shows, conduct interviews with the bandmembers, shoot backstage footage, fans and other incidentals during the tour.

ARCH ENEMY's ninth album, "Khaos Legions", sold around 6,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to enter The Billboard 200 chart at position No. 78.

The band earlier in the year amicably parted ways with guitarist Christopher Amott and replaced him with American musician Nick Cordle (ARSIS).

Patricia Strehl Adler, the mother of LAMB OF GOD members Chris (drums) and Willie Adler (guitar), was interviewed for the "Metal Muthas" column in the December 2012 issue of Decibel magazine.

Asked what her sons were like growing up, Patricia Strehl Adler said, "Chris was one of those pen-clickers that a lot of teachers find annoying. He was always tapping his fingers or feet. Always moving and usually in a chair that was leaned back on two back legs. Willie went to acoustic guitar for a very short time and then onto electric — where he has lived ever since."

Patricia Strehl Adler, who was born during World War II and grew up with bread lines and ration stamps, also revealed that she never expected her children to get to this level. "I really didn't follow their successes," she said. "I knew they were doing what they loved. I don't know if they thought I wasn't interested or if they just didn't put a lot of importance on what they considered passing success. I've made it pretty clear by now that I am interested and want to know the ups and downs. I've only gone to one of their shows in Richmond. I was seriously blown away with the noise and the vibrations. It took me a couple of days to recover."

Regarding what it's like when her sons get noticed around their hometown of Richmond, Virginia, Patricia Strehl Adler said, "I'm very impressed with the polite distance their fans take whenever they are recognized. I am very proud of my sons."

For more information on how to obtain a copy of the magazine, visit DecibelMagazine.com.

Critical Mass conducted an interview with Canadian multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter and producer Devin Townsend before his November 3 concert at the Brewhouse in Gothenburg, Sweden. You can now watch the 28-minute chat below.

Townsend played a special concert on October 27 at the Roundhouse venue in London, England as part of a one-night-only event that was recorded for both DVD and Blu-ray, likely to be released sometime in the second quarter of 2013 via InsideOut Music.

Devin described The Retinal Circus as "a retrospective of my career in music to date, with the central theme being a metaphor of how life and the adventures therein are a 'circus' of sorts. The show involves a cast of characters and guests that support this theme through carnival type performances. A story about how a troubled young man dreams of fantastic scenarios, (illustrated through the music of my back catalogue), which ultimately crests in the characters realization that life is all about the relationships we have with each other. This is the first opportunity I have been given to make theatrical representations of my music."

This three-hour performance included:

* A retrospective of Devin Townsend's entire career
* Full choir and theatrical cast
* Visual and aural enhancements unlike any show Devin has done to date
* Several special guests
* Circus and carnival performances and cast
* Art exhibit of Devin's albums, including explanations of each album

Devin Townsend played four shows in London in November 2011 dedicated to his tetralogy album concept — a great journey through Devin's different states of musical moods — which he started in 2009 with the albums "Addicted" (2009) and "Ki" (2009) and finished with last year's "Deconstruction" and "Ghost". The concerts were professionally recorded and filmed for a unique box-set release, which he has decided to call "By A Thread - Live in London 2011".

Released on June 18 in Europe and June 19 in North America through HevyDevy Records/InsideOut Music, "By A Thread - Live in London 2011" contains all four shows on four DVDs, plus a five-CD set (the four albums and one disc with all of the encores).

The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino has responded to the controvery over a image promoting GUNS N' ROSES' concerts in Las Vegas that appears to depict a woman who has been sexually assaulted under the world-famous "Welcome To Fabulous Las Vegas" sign by removing the woman from the artwork (see below).

The image, which is said to be a watered-down version of the banned cover for the band's classic 1987 debut, "Appetite For Destruction", was used in mainstream advertising, including newspaper promotions and taxicab placards.

The Hard Rock Hotel said in a statement released Friday, "Hard Rock Hotel & Casino regrets that the GUNS N' ROSES advertising for their current shows has offended any member of the community. The resort has decided to further modify the art and began the process of changing the materials (Friday)."

"This type of advertising is simply unacceptable," Hannah Brook, executive director for The Rape Crisis Center, told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. "Not only for just the victims and the message of violence it brings, but also for the community in general. This is not the type of message we want to portray to tourists that are coming to our city. We want them to know it's a safe place to come, and by putting a message out there with Las Vegas above it is concerning."

Commissioner Mary Beth Scow oversaw the October 29 event temporarily renaming Paradise Road as Paradise City Road in honor of GUNS N' ROSES' first-ever residency, Appetite For Democracy, at The Joint.

"I hadn't seen the advertising before the media event," she told the Las Vegas Sun. "It's clearly inappropriate. Maybe it's the risk of doing business with a rock band, but I guess we'll have some remorse over this decision. It's a lesson learned."

A KTNV-TV video report on the controversy can be seen below.

Gibraltar's premier metal band BREED 77 is back with a brand new single, "Drown".

"Drown", due on Monday, November 26, is the first single to be lifted from the band's forthcoming album, "The Evil Inside", to be released on February 25, 2013.

The new single coincides with BREED 77's European tour with SOIL and FOZZY, which commences Tuesday, November 27.

Commented BREED 77: "It's a great opportunity for us to kickstart the new single and album cycle by joining two awesome bands like SOIL and FOZZY on tour.

"To be playing the prestigious Hard Rock Hell festival for a second time is fantastic. If it's as half as good as last time, it's going to be a blast for all. We're very excited at the prospect of raising hell again and letting the hounds loose at a show near you!"

A dark, brooding affair, "Drown" showcases BREED 77's new album, which is said to be the band's most introspective work to date. Not one to rest on its laurels, BREED 77 has pushed the envelope again with a rockier, more melodic offering this time around.

"'Drown' was debuted live at the Rock Nights Galapagai festival in Lithuania earlier this summer and it became an instant monster of a song on stage and went down a storm with the crowd," said BREED 77. "The single release will be packaged with some B-side surprises, so look out for that!"

Earlier this year, BREED 77 teamed up with Pledge Music for an exclusive acoustic EP, "Under The Skin"; a collection of eight tracks, encompassing versions of the band's classic songs from their chart hits back catalogue and a few surprises as the band tackled some well known rock standards but with their own unique twist.

BREED 77 is:

Paul Isola - Vocals
Danny Felice - Guitars
Pedro Caparros - Guitars
Stuart Cavilla - Bass
Andre Joyzi - Drums

RockNLive.org recently conducted an interview with GREAT WHITE singer Terry Ilous. You can now watch the chat below.

GREAT WHITE — Mark Kendall (lead guitar), Scott Snyder (bass), Audie Desbrow (drums), Michael Lardie (guitar, keyboards) and Terry Ilous — filmed a video for the song "Hard To Say Goodbye" on September 23 in Orlando, Florida. The clip was helmed by the Flatbush South production team.

GREAT WHITE's latest album, "Elation", sold around 1,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release. Issued on May 22 via Frontiers Records, the 12-song CD marks GREAT WHITE's first effort with Ilous following the band's split with founding singer Jack Russell.

GREAT WHITE filmed the "(I've Got) Something For You" video on April 27, in Tujunga, California. Photos from the video shoot can be found at this location.

This version of GREAT WHITE is not to be confused with JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE, which features Russell alongside Robby Lochner (FIGHT) on guitar, Matthew Johnson (DOCTOR M, JACK RUSSELL) on guitar, Dario Seixas (FIREHOUSE, STEPHEN PEARCY) on bass and Derrick Pontier (GREAT WHITE, SAMANTHA 7) on drums.

Russell filed a lawsuit against his estranged bandmates in March claiming that they fired him and stole the group's name while he was recovering from surgery to repair a perforated bowel. Named in the complaint were Kendall, Desbrow, Lardie and talent agency Bigg Time Entertainment. Kendall, Desbrow and Lardie responded with a 30-page counterclaim, filed on April 24 in a federal court in Los Angeles, accusing their former frontman of, among other things, "miss[ing] 80 performances in 18 months" before leaving the band; "irreparably damag[ing]" their "market reputation" by putting on performances that "are not up to the standard of GREAT WHITE; and misleading the public by stating that the musicians in Jack's new band "were once full members of GREAT WHITE." They also accuse Russell's new bandmates of "profit[ing] from their wrongful affiliation with the GREAT WHITE brand."

Vocalist Aleksi Sihvonen (MEDICATED, NORTHER, IMPERANON) joined Finnish metallers on stage this past Friday, November 2 at Kerubi in Joensuu, Finland to perform a cover version of STRAPPING YOUNG LAD's "Love?" Video footage of his appearance can be seen below.

NORTHER announced its decision to disband in July, citing the bandmembers' inability to "tour or do shows as much as we would want to, this being due to members' complicated and time-consuming life situations." The group added, "We simply cannot act as an active and working band and it is clear that these issues are not solved in the future."

Currently unsigned, NERVE END is a four-piece metal act from Joensuu, Finland. The band's aim is "to deliver high-quality, high-energy music," according to their official bio.

Reunited Florida-based "nu metal" act TWISTED METHOD played its first show in nearly eight years on October 28 at Dixie Roadhouse in Cape Coral, Florida. Original members Derrick "Tripp" Tribbett (vocals) and Derek DeSantis (bass) were joined by Tony Elchert (EKOTREN) on drums and Virus (DOPE) on guitar.

Fan-filmed video footage of the concert can be see below. Photos are available at this location.

According to The News-Press, TWISTED METHOD was one of only two rock acts to originate in Lee County, Florida and go on to sign national recording contracts. The band were signed to MCA in 2002 and released "Escape From Cape Coma" the following year. In 2003, the band was tapped to perform on the second stage at Ozzfest.

Over the two years that followed, TWISTED METHOD continued to tour and and bring new "inmates" (as they called their fans) to their asylum of sound. Their first show back home after Ozzfest at the defunct Neptune's was sold out and their performance at radio station 99X's X-Fest stole the show from more popular bands such as PUDDLE OF MUDD and TRAPT.

Following TWISTED METHOD's split in June 2005, the Tribbett formed a new project called MAKESHIFT ROMEO with DeSantis. The group also included ex-MOTOGRATER bassist Jonny Nailz and former SLITHERYN drummer Tom "T-Bone" Burke.

Former TWISTED METHOD guitarist Andy Howard died in September 2005 at the age of 23. The cause of death was not revealed.

"I felt numb about it at first, but then it hit me like a ton of bricks. Andy was a very bright mind and a dynamite guy to be around," DeSantis told NaplesNews.com. But, he added, "I never thought for a second about quitting music. None of us did."

Radio Caley's Colin Stone recently conducted an interview with FOZZY singer and WWE wrestling superstar Chris Jericho. You can listen to the chat in the YouTube clip below.

The lead single from FOZZY's new album, "Sin And Bones", "Sandpaper" features guest vocals by M. Shadows of AVENGED SEVENFOLD. Directed by Sean McEwen, the accompanying video is inspired by horror classic "Evil Dead", with Shadows playing the role of FOZZY's evil puppet master.

"Sin And Bones" sold around 3,400 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 143 on the Billboard 200 chart. The CD landed at position No. 1 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.



"Sandpaper" video:

Legendary rocker Alice Cooper recently spoke to The Village Voice about the bands that are carrying on the traditions he created, including ROB ZOMBIE, GWAR and BLACK VEIL BRIDES.

On ROB ZOMBIE:

Cooper: "You have to start with Rob Zombie. Rob Zombie's like my little brother. Live, he's fantastic. if you're gonna go see an extravaganza, sort of like a media blitz on your brain, it's Rob Zombie. He knows his stuff when it comes to all things dark and scary. But he's got a great sense of humor about it. We went on tour together, and we watched the same movies. He and I (along with Tim Burton) agree, most horror movies are comedies. They're so over-the-top if you're not laughing there's something wrong with you."

On GWAR:

Cooper: "GWAR! Love GWAR. GWAR is just so over-the-top ridiculous that they're wonderful. I mean, what band has their own factory where they build their own costumes? You've gotta give it to them for taking it to the ultimate limit. They are really out there."

On BLACK VEIL BRIDES:

Cooper: "There's one young band out there that's doing something right: BLACK VEIL BRIDES. They're sort of like MÖTLEY CRÜE/ALICE COOPER junior. But they're a pretty good idea of style and look and everything, sort of like the brand new Sunset Strip. If MÖTLEY CRÜE had children, it would be these guys. Sleek, very made-up, very rock 'n' roll dark, scary creepy. A good rock 'n' roll band. A good, snotty rock 'n' roll band."

Read the full article at this location.

On November 3, Rustyn Rose of Metalholic.com conducted an interview with bassist Markus Brinkmann of German metallers MOB RULES. You can now listen to the chat in the YouTube clip below.

MOB RULES' seventh album, "Cannibal Nation", was released on October 19 via AFM Records. According to a press release, the CD "is a varied, hook-oriented and energetic record. By building their own studio, a whole lot of new possibilities opened to the band. So the Dwelling Mound studio of guitarist Sven Lüdke became the place for MOB RULES to compose their new material. The result: every song on 'Cannibal Nation' appears sophisticated and right on point. From the prog metal-influenced opening track 'Close My Eyes' to the following 'Lost' with its strong hookline, the first single 'Ice & Fire' (inspired by the story of the abducted Colombian politician Íngrid Betancourt), which features atmospheric orchestral parts by Michael 'Miro' Rodenberg (AVANTASIA), to 'Scream For The Sun' (lyrically dealing with the first ascent of Mount Everest) and the album's final song 'Sunrise', every track was arranged with passion and reason. With 'Tele Box Fool' also a song whose lyrics criticize today's dull TV/media culture, can be found on the album."

"Cannibal Nation" track listing:

01. Close My Eyes
02. Lost
03. Tele Box Fool
04. Ice And Fire
05. Soldiers Of Fortune
06. The Sirens
07. Scream For The Sun (May 29th 1953)
08. Cannibal Nation
09. Sunrise
10. Children Of The Flames (live in Atlanta) (digipak bonus track)

MOB RULES' "Ice & Fire" video can be seen below. The clip was filmed with director Ronald Matthes (Roax Media), who previously worked with such bands as AVANTASIA, PRETTY MAIDS and ICED EARTH.

MOB RULES is:

Klaus Dirks - Vocals
Matthias Mineur - Guitar
Sven Lüdke - Guitar
Jan Christian Halfbrodt - Keyboards
Markus Brinkmann - Bass
Nikolas Fritz – Drums

Interview (audio):



"Ice & Fire" video:

Capital Chaos TV conducted an interview with HATRIOT, the new San Francisco Bay Area thrash metal band led by former EXODUS and LEGACY (pre-TESTAMENT) frontman Steve "Zetro" Souza, before the group's October 25 performance at The New Parish in Oakland, California as the support act for DEATH ANGEL. You can now watch the chat below.

HATRIOT will release its debut album, "Heroes Of Origin", on January 25, 2013 via Germany's Massacre Records. The CD was recorded with producer Juan Urteaga (MACHINE HEAD, EXODUS, TESTAMENT) and features guest appearances BY TESTAMENT 's Chuck Billy and MACHINE HEAD 's Phil Demmel . The cover artwork is being created by Mark Devito, who has previously worked with MOTÖRHEAD and ANVIL CHORUS, among others.

HATRIOT's new drummer is none other than Steve's 18-year-old son, Nicholas Souza. Nicholas auditioned for the band after the recent departure of Alex Bent and "proved himself to be the best choice," according to Steve.

HATRIOT's lineup also includes Zetro's 21-year-old son Cody, who got his first bass as a present from his father after Zetro bought it off current EXODUS bassist Jack Gibson. "I told him," Zetro said in a recent interview with Metalholic.com, "'You have to try out [for the bassist position in HATRIOT if you want to be in the band]. There's no nepotism here, boy. If you can hang, you're on.' So he actually tried out, and he got the gig."

Regarding HATRIOT's musical direction, Zetro said, "It's in the vein of typical Bay Area thrash, but these guys are a lot younger, so there's gonna be some blast-beats in there. There's gonna be some kind of death [metal] approach to it, a little bit. 'Cause these guys are new. They're raw, and they're fast, young, heavy, hard and aggressive, and I'm trying to convey that along as well."

He added, "These new kids seem to understand what we did in the '80s, but still bring a little bit of a new essence to it. We put that together with what I write vocally and it's turned out to be really, really killer. It's good stuff."

Asked why he thinks thrash metal has enjoyed something of a revival in more recent years, Zetro told Über Röck, "You know, I get asked this a lot, and I think it is because the first wave of thrash came and went so fast. I mean, it started in the mid-'80s and was gone by 1991 or so. The older bands still have something to say, and I feel that's why they are still able to put out great music so many years later. Now the fans that were young kids back then have bands of their own, so these new bands are naturally influenced by the old sound and it has come full circle. Of course, with technology and things like they are today, it is a totally different ballgame when it comes to marketing the music. I don't know that there will ever be another band as big as the 'Big Four' or anything, because the business structure just isn't there anymore, but it is really cool to see these new bands carrying the torch of what we helped invent back in the old scene."

HATRIOT's "Blood Stained Wings" video can be seen below.

HATRIOT is:

Steve "Zetro" Souza - Vocals
Kosta Varvatakis - Guitar
Miguel Esparza - Guitar
Nicholas Souza - Drums
Cody Souza - Bass

Interview:



Performance:

Eric Blair of "The Blairing Out With Eric Blair Show" conducted an interview with Wendy Dio, the widow of legendary heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio (DIO, BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW, HEAVEN & HELL), at the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund's second awards gala, which was held on October 31 at the Avalon nightclub in Hollywood, California. You can watch the chat below.

Asked what her reaction was when she found out that Ronnie's BLACK SABBATH and HEAVEN & HELL bandmate Tony Iommi was diagnosed with lymphoma, Wendy said, "I cried. And I'm so, so happy he's making it. He's gonna be here tonight and he's gonna be here tonight and he's just a wonderful person. He was a very, very good friend of Ronnie's — him and Geezer [BLACK SABBATH and HEAVEN & HELL bassist Terry 'Geezer' Butler] both — and we're so, so happy. It is fantastic."

On the topic of whether Iommi asked for any advice after he was first diagnosed with lymphoma, Wendy said, "Not really. We didn't talk about that. He lives in England and I live here. But I saw him a few weeks ago and I sent hm lots of encouragement and letters and things."

Ronnie James Dio died of stomach cancer on May 16, 2010 at the age of 67.

Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund is a charity organization founded by Wendy Dio which is dedicated to cancer prevention, research and education.

Wendy Dio married her boyfriend of the past two decades, Omar Gimenez, on September 9 in a private ceremony among family and friends in Montecito, California.

Mick Burgess of Metal Express Radio conducted an interview with VAN HALEN and TREMONTI bassist Wolfgang Van Halen on October 15 at O2 Academy in Newcastle, England. You can now listen to the chat using the audio player below.

Interview (audio):



Wolfgang Van Halen made his first appearance as part of CREED and ALTER BRIDGE guitarist Mark Tremonti's solo band in September at a show in Rhode Island. This marks the first time Wolfgang has played with anyone outside of his father Eddie, his uncle Alex and singer David Lee Roth.

Asked if he is going to be involved with future TREMONTI tours and recording sessions, Wolfgang told "Robb's MetalWorks", "Yeah, every chance that I have. I'd love to be a part of this. If they'll let me, I guess," he joked.

Wolfgang Van Halen is replacing Tremonti's bandmate from CREED and ALTER BRIDGE, Brian Marshall, who is sitting out the Tremonti trek for undisclosed personal reasons. The other members of Tremonti's touring band include Eric Friedman on guitar and Garrett Whitlock on drums.

Tremonti is on the road behind his debut solo album, "All I Was", which came out this past July.

On October 17, Metalshock Finland's Tarja Virmakari conducted an interview with vocalist/bassist Marcel "Schmier" Schirmer of German thrash metal veterans DESTRUCTION. You can now listen to the chat using the audio player below.

Interview (audio):



DESTRUCTION recently filmed a video for the song "Carnivore" in Poland, with Mania Studio at the helm. The track comes off the band's 30th-anniversary album "Spiritual Genocide", which will be released on November 23 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was recorded at Gernhart Studios in Troisdorf, Germany with engineer Martin Buchwalter and was mixed by Andy Classen. The album features guest appearances by Thomas "Angelripper" Such (SODOM), Andreas "Gerre" Geremia (TANKARD) and Ol Drake (EVILE). In addition, the "Mad Butcher"/"Release From Agony" lineup of DESTRUCTION — featuring guitarist Harry Wilkens and drummer Oliver Kaiser — reunited for one song.

"Spiritual Genocide" track listing:

01. Exordium
02. Cyanide
03. Spiritual Genocide
04. Renegades
05. City Of Doom
06. No Signs Of Repentance
07. To Dust You Will Decay
08. Legacy Of The Past (feat. Andreas "Gerre" Geremia, Thomas "Angelripper" Such)
09. Carnivore
10. Riot Squad
11. Under Violent Sledge

Limited-Edition Digipack Bonus Tracks:

12. Princess Of The Night
13. Carnivore (feat. Harry Wilkens, Oliver Kaiser)