Ex-TNT singer Tony Harnell is rumored to be planning to rejoin his former bandmates for their 30th-anniversary concert on June 2 at the Clarion Hotel in Trondheim, Norway. The group will perform a special setlist while accompanied by the Trondheim Symphony Orchestra (Trondheim Symfoniorkester).

In a posting on his Facebook page, Harnell addressed the rumors of his one-off appearance with TNT by writing simply, "You never know," and adding a smiley face.

After leaving TNT in 2006, Harnell was replaced by British singer Tony Mills (SHY), who has since appeared on three studio albums from the band: 2007's "The New Territory", 2008's "Atlantis" and 2010's "A Farewell To Arms".

Harnell's final release as a member of TNT was the "Live in Madrid" DVD, which came out in September 2006 via MTM Music. The set, which was filmed on April 1, 2006 in Madrid, Spain, was accompanied by an 82-minute audio CD plus booklet liner notes from Harnell about his work with the group as well as an additional tour documentary by Darren Paltrowitz.

On April 28, Kaaos TV conducted an interview with vocalist Anders Fridén of Swedish metallers IN FLAMES when the band played at Pakkahuone in Tampere, Finland as part of its Scandinavian club tour. You can now watch the chat below.

IN FLAMES' latest digital single, "Where The Dead Ships Dwell", contains three completely different remixes for the title track. With versions by German rapper Casper, drum-and-bass act THE QEMISTS and Kristof Bathory, vocalist of the black metal band DAWN OF ASHES, there should be something everyone can enjoy.

IN FLAMES' tenth album, "Sounds Of A Playground Fading", sold around 14,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 27 on The Billboard 200 chart.

IN FLAMES' previous CD, "A Sense of Purpose" (Koch) opened with 20,000 units to land at No. 28. This was slightly less than the opening tally of "Come Clarity" (Ferret), which shifted just under 24,000 copies in February 2006 to enter the chart at position No. 58.

The first two in a series of webisodes featuring behind-the-scenes footage from DEATHDESTRUCTION's current Swedish club tour with IN FLAMES can be seen below.

DEATHDESTRUCTION last year inked a deal with the Swedish branch of Sony Music Entertainment. The band's three-song EP, "Fuck Yeah", was released in April 2011 and was followed by the group's self-titled debut album in August. The CD was recorded at IN FLAMES' IF Studios with producer Roberto Laghi (IN FLAMES, HARDCORE SUPERSTAR, LOK, SONIC SYNDICATE).

"Deathdestruction" track listing:

01. The Shredding March
02. Kill It!
03. Fuck Yeah
04. Silence
05. Mark My Words
06. Hellfire
07. Day Of Reckoning
08. Purified
09. Chained In Thoughts
10. Sea Of Blood
11. Kingdome Come

DEATHDESTRUCTION is:

Jimmie Strimell (DEAD BY APRIL) - Vocals
Henrik Danhage (ex-EVERGREY) - Guitar
Fredrik "Loppan" Larsson (HAMMERFALL) - Bass
Jonas Ekdahl (ex-EVERGREY) - Drums

Formed in late 2003 by Danhage, Ekdahl and EVERGREY keyboardist Rikard Zander (who was handling the vocals in the band's earliest incarnation), DEATHDESTRUCTION began as an innocent "hobby project" before Henrik and Jonas realized they wanted to pursue the band more seriously. They eventually parted ways with Rikard and enlisted Larsson and Strimmell, both of whom were "very excited to join the band," according to the group's official bio.





"Mark My Words" video:

Reunited '80s Montreal power metallers SWORD (not to be confused with Texas-based luminaries THE SWORD) performed this past Friday night (April 27) at the Keep It True XV festival Tauberfrankenhalle in Lauda-Königshofen, Germany. Fan-filmed video footage of the concert can be seen below.

SWORD played its first show in more than 20 years on July 8, 2011 in La Baie, Quebec, Canada, in front of a select few hundred screaming fans. According to the Capitale du Metal web site, "The show lasted for 90 minutes and featured flawless interpretations of the band's catalogue, with all four members in great shape." A second reunion show was held on July 10, 2011 at the Imperial Theater in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada as the support for act for ANNIHILATOR's first show in North America since 1993.

SWORD was formed in early 1985 by brothers Rick Hughes (vocals) and Dan Hughes (drums), guitarist Mike Plant, and bassist Mike Larock. After signing with local label Aquarius Records, the band released its debut album, "Metalized", in 1986 and a follow-up effort, "Sweet Dreams", in 1987.

SWORD never made much headway south of the border and split up soon after the release of its sophomore album.

SWORD's sound was previously described as "a muscular brand of classic metal with tasteful riffs and solos by Plant and infectious shout-along choruses."

Rick Hughes released a solo album in 2006 entitled "Train D'Enfer".

SKID ROW performed on the Rockklassiker Kryssning aboard the ship Silja Galaxy, which departed from Sweden on April 28 and returned the next day. Fan-filmed video footage of their appearance can be seen below.

SKID ROW's latest CD, "Revolutions Per Minute", was released on October 24, 2006 via SPV Records.

When asked in a July 2011 interview with SCTimes.com if the band has been working on any new music, bassist Rachel Bolan replied, "Actually, we are. Snake and I are writing when we get a chance. We've got about eight songs right now and we want to write at least 10 more and pick from that. I live in Atlanta and he lives out in Hollywood, so it takes a little bit of planning. We do what we can through the mail, but we never really feel right about something until we sit down in the same room together and write. I doubt that it will be out this year, but hopefully 2012. I gotta tell you, just saying that, 'in 2012'... When we recorded our first album in '88, I never thought we'd still be making records in 2012. That's pretty cool."

Bolan previously told Times-Standard.com about SKID ROW's forthcoming sixth album, "I think the next record, as far as what Snake and I are writing, is going back to what people would expect from SKID ROW. We're looking forward to it."

SKID ROW in 2010 parted ways with drummer Dave Gara and replaced him with Atlanta native Rob Hammersmith.

Rob spent many years touring and recording with Atlanta-based rockers ROCKETS TO RUIN and has performed with GUNFIRE 76, the band featuring MURDERDOLLS frontman Wednesday 13.









Photo credit: Fran Strine

Norwegian thrashers DEAD TROOPER have announced the addition of bassist Andreas Stenvoll (pictured below) to the group's ranks. The band comments, "Andreas plays with Norwegian stompers BLODSPOR and he is possibly one of the best finger-pickin' thrashmasters out there!!"

DEAD TROOPER last month parted ways with guitarist/vocalist Birger Larsen. A replacement guitarist has not yet been announced.

DEAD TROOPER recently released a live album with a bit of a difference. The eight-track effort, "No Tan En Vivo En Mexico", with artwork by Danny Larsen, was released digitally on March 9, and is inspired by the band's appearance at Mexico's Wild Metal Fest last year which was rained off only one and a half songs into the set. As a result, the group decided to release a live studio recording of what would have been the entire show as a tribute to the fans who took DEAD TROOPER to their hearts after they performed an impromptu set at a local biker bar following the cancelation of the festival.

The members of DEAD TROOPER, who describe their music as "groovy, aggressive thrash metal," are currently on the hunt for a label to release what will be their sophomore full-length album.

"Kiss of the Kannibal", a track from "No Tan En Vivo En Mexico", along with other songs from DEAD TROOPER can be heard using the SoundCloud player below.

For more information, visit www.deadtrooper.com.

Video footage of THE UNABOMBER FILES frontman Vladimir Korg laying down the vocal track to the band's song "Adjust The Timer" earlier this month can be seen below.

In addition to Korg, THE UNABOMBER FILES features current/former members of SEPULTURA and EMINENCE.

THE UNABOMBER FILES last year recorded three songs at WZ Estúdio in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, with more on the way. Songtitles are as follows: "Borderline", "The Clown" and "Buried in My Bunker".

THE UNABOMBER FILES is:

Allan Wallace (EMINENCE) - Guitar
Paulo Jr. (SEPULTURA) - Bass
Vladimir Korg (THE MIST) - Vocals
André Márcio (EMINENCE) - Drums

Studio footage:



Audio sample of new song "Bipolar":



"Borderline" audio stream:



"Buried in My Bunker" audio stream:



"The Clown" audio stream:

Sick Drummer Magazine has uploaded drum-cam footage of Jon "Charn" Rice of Arizona extreme metallers JOB FOR A COWBOY playing the song "Black Discharge" during the band's April 12 concert at Pop's in Sauget, Illinois. Check it out below.

JOB FOR A COWBOY's new album, "Demonocracy", sold 4,900 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 87 on The Billboard 200 chart.

The band's sophomore full-length CD, "Ruination", opened with around 10,600 units back in July 2009 to land at No. 42.

Released on April 10 via Metal Blade Records, "Demonocracy" was produced by Jason Seucof (THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, WHITECHAPEL, TRIVIUM) who recorded the band's blistering "Ruination" full-length, at Audiohammer Studios in Sanford, Florida, and features another strikingly detailed concept cover by artist Brent Elliott White.

MOTÖRHEAD is boldly going where no other band has gone before! The legendary, Grammy-winning rock'n'roll outlaws announced the most fan-friendly VIP experience ever, meaning that for the first time, an exclusive number of fans can experience the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival like never before. These lucky few will enjoy the Mayhem Festival like royalty. Throughout the day they can kick back in their very own VIP tent, watch the entire main stage show in premium seats, meet members of MOTÖRHEAD in a private VIP area, stand on the stage when MOTÖRHEAD performs and much more!

The band is offering these very limited packages for select shows via their web site. Only 20 packages per show will be offered on a first-come-first-served basis.

The MOTÖRHEAD "We Are The VIP Crew Experience" package includes:

* Premium ticket to the show (within the first 15 rows)
* Meet-and-greet with members of the band
* Get invited to watch MOTÖRHEAD's performance on the stage
* A VIP tent to relax in throughout the day. Light snacks and soft drinks provided
* Early entry into the venue
* Exclusive MOTÖRHEAD merchandise and souvenirs, including:
- Commemorative MOTÖRHEAD shirt
- MOTÖRHEAD autographed photo
- Collectible laminated MOTÖRHEAD tour pass
- Mayhem Festival guitar picks, mini-statue, tour poster and more!
* On-site VIP host

All this for only $599 (plus applicable taxes)

Keep in mind that the "We Are The VIP Crew Experience" packages will only be available in select markets.

Litsa Olsson of Sound Entertainment News recently conducted an interview with drummer Mercedes Lander of the Canadian metal band KITTIE. You can now watch the chat below.

KITTIE recently parted ways with bassist Ivy Vujic and was rejoined by Trish Doan. Doan was previously with the band from 2005 to 2007, appearing on the band's 2007 release "Funeral For Yesterday".

KITTIE's new album, "I've Failed You", sold 3,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 178 on The Billboard 200 chart.

The band's previous CD, "In The Black", opened with around 3,400 units back in 2009 to land at No. 132.

KITTIE's fourth album, "Funeral for Yesterday", registered a first-week tally of 9,000 in February 2007 to enter the chart at No. 101.

"I've Failed You" was released on August 30, 2011 via eOne Music. The CD was recorded at Beach Road Studios in Goderich, Ontario, Canada. The band once again worked with producer Siegfried "Siggy" Meier, who helmed KITTIE's last CD, 2009's "In The Black".

South Florida's ABIOTIC entered Sonic Assault Studios in Cape Coral, Florida on April 23 with producer Charles J and engineer Phil Pluskota to begin recording its debut album for a late 2012 release via Metal Blade Records. The cover artwork for the CD will be created by Daniel McBride.

ABIOTIC stormed onto the underground metal scene with the release of the "A Universal Plague" EP in September 2011. Since then, through word of mouth online and steady gigging in the Southeast, ABIOTIC has become one of the top bands to watch. Their music video for "Vermosapien" was released in January 2012 and was viewed over 40,000 times within the first month of its release. The band has proven that they have the wherewithal to stand alongside the best and brightest in the technical death metal genre worldwide. Fans of OBSCURA, VEIL OF MAYA, and CANNIBAL CORPSE will immediately identify with their finely-honed technical attack.

ARCH/MATHEOS — the new progressive rock band featuring FATES WARNING/OSI guitarist Jim Matheos and former FATES WARNING singer John Arch — played its first-ever show last night (Saturday, April 28) at the Keep It True XV festival Tauberfrankenhalle in Lauda-Königshofen, Germany.

The band's lineup for the performance was as follows:

* John Arch (FATES WARNING) - Vocals
* Jim Matheos (FATES WARNING, OSI) - Guitar
* Joey Vera (ARMORED SAINT, ANTHRAX, FATES WARNING, SEVEN WITCHES) - Bass
* Bobby Jarzombek (HALFORD, FATES WARNING, SEBASTIAN BACH, RIOT) - Drums
* Frank Aresti (FATES WARNING) - Additional Lead Guitar

The setlist was:

01. Neurotically Wired
02. Midnight Serenade
03. The Sorceress
04. Stained Glass Sky
05. Damnation
06. The Apparition
07. Any Given Day/Strangers Like Me
08. Guardian

Encore:

09. Epitaph
10. Exodus

Fan-filmed video footage of ARCH/MATHEOS performing the FATES WARNING classics "Epitaph" and "Guardian" can be seen below.

ARCH/MATHEOS will play its only U.S. show on May 5 at the Webster Theater in Hartford, Connecticut.

ARCH/MATHEOS last year filmed a video for the song "Midnight Serenade" with director David Brodsky of MyGoodEye (DEVIN TOWNSEND, HELMET, IN THIS MOMENT). The track comes off the group's debut album, "Sympathetic Resonance", which sold around 1,800 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at No. 13 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.

"Sympathetic Resonance" entered the official chart in Germany at No. 27, in Austria at No. 67, and in Switzerland at No. 78.

The cover art for "Sympathetic Resonance" was fashioned using an image created by light painting photographer Dennis Calvert, who has described light painting as "The ability to see in four dimensions, time traveling, and creating fantasy using only what we base all reality on, light."

Released on September 13, 2011 via Metal Blade Records, "Sympathetic Resonance" features the following track listing:

01. Neurotically Wired
02. Midnight Serenade
03. Stained Glass Sky
04. On the Fence
05. Any Given Day (Strangers Like Me)
06. Incense and Myrrh

Comments Matheos: "I think John and I work really well together. There's a lot of mutual respect and trust in what we do. But we're also both very critical of ourselves, and each other. This can make for a long and sometimes tedious process. But ultimately it's one I enjoy because I think it brings out the best in both of us."

Matt Bishop recently conducted an interview with guitarist Corey Beaulieu of Florida metallers TRIVIUM. You can now watch the chat below.

TRIVIUM's latest album, "In Waves", sold 22,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 13 on The Billboard 200 chart — the highest U.S. chart entry of the band's career. The group's previous CD, "Shogun", opened with just under 24,000 units back in October 2008 to debut at No. 23. The effort followed up "The Crusade", which registered a first-week tally of 31,000 copies in October 2006 to enter the chart at No. 25.

"In Waves" was recorded primarily at Paint It Black Studios in Orlando, Florida (with only the drums having been tracked at Audiohammer Studios in Sanford, Florida) with the production/mixing team of Colin Richardson (MACHINE HEAD, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE, SLIPKNOT, FEAR FACTORY) and Martin "Ginge" Ford, along with engineer Carl Bown. A two-disc special edition is also available. It features five bonus tracks, plus a DVD with a 40-minute, behind-the-scenes documentary, as well as an exclusive concert filmed in a warehouse located in Orlando, Florida, which is the band's stomping grounds. This concert features the first performances of tracks from "In Waves", along with TRIVIUM classics.

Radio Metal recently conducted an interview with singer Charlotte Wessels of Dutch symphonic metallers DELAIN. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Radio Metal: Your guitar player, Timo Somers, will not join you on this tour. He will be replaced by current DORO and former AFTER FOREVER guitarist Bas Maas. What brought about this situation?

Charlotte: Timo is really busy with a lot of musical projects. When he auditioned for the position of guitarist for DELAIN, we already knew that music was really in his blood. He has so many projects going on, and he was really busy. We were wondering how we could think of a solution that would provide everybody space. We were actually thinking about having two guitarists joining us when Bas Maas came along. There were enthusiastic about the possibility of filling the job together. It's not really a thing that you would automatically go for, but when we saw the option of having these two very talented guitarists who were willing to take the responsibility, we thought it might be a very good idea. We're curious to see how it turns out and to have Bas on stage with us for the first time.

Radio Metal: Unfortunately, we haven't heard the [new DELAIN] album ["We Are The Others"] yet, but there were a couple of extracts in various videos you posted on line, especially in the tour trailer. These tracks sound particularly heavy, and some of the titles are quite aggressive: "Hit Me With Your Best Shot", "Where Is The Blood", etc. Does this album mark a change of direction for DELAIN?

Charlotte: These questions are very difficult to answer for me. Usually, it's more the public than ourselves that decides whether or not it's going in a certain direction. What I can say is that, lyrically, I've been trying not to avoid anything, like aggressive things or lyrics that I would normally think should be a bit more subtle. I've been looking for the limits, like: "How far can you express yourself without crossing certain borders?" Musically, you mentioned it was quite heavy. I think it has to do with… I mean, there are very different songs on the record. Some songs are actually much more poppy, and others are more heavy. It really goes in a lot of directions. But I feel that it does portray one identity. I think we also owe that to Tripod, our production team, and Jacob Hellner, who's worked with RAMMSTEIN and APOCALYPTICA. He's worked very much with the band, on just the groove of the band. When you listen to this album, there's a little less orchestration going on. It's a little bit more straightforward, with drums and guitars, more in your face. This is what I really like about it, and what I think makes even the poppier songs still more intense, in a way. Everything is real and right there.

Radio Metal: The change seems to be very important — compared to "Lucidity", at least, perhaps not to "April Rain"…

Charlotte: I can imagine. In a band, you feel like you naturally evolve to a certain state, because there are years that you just spend writing songs. Of course, the audience doesn't see the whole process. They see one spot of the process, which is called "Lucidity", one spot called "April Rain", and then "We Are The Others". They don't get to know what happened in between, and how some choices don't come from a sudden desire to do something else, but were naturally created.

Radio Metal: "We Are The Others" is DELAIN's third studio album. It was probably too early before to talk about a live album, but are you starting to think about it now?

Charlotte: (long pause) It's not the first thing on my mind. We've recorded some live tracks and mixed them properly, so we've actually got some decent quality live songs ready. Maybe one day we'll do it, and of course, it will be great to have it. But I just really like to create new music more. These days, you can see every live gig on YouTube. I can imagine it would be nice to have something, because I like listening to live tracks of other bands, but to me, it's not the most exciting thing. I'm more thinking about album number four already!

Read the entire interview from Radio Metal.

"Get The Devil Out Of Me" video:



Interview:

Photo credit: Sandra Ludewig

Sam Roon conducted an interview with Los Angeles-based female-fronted metallers HUNTRESS when the band played in New York City on March 31 as part of the "Paganfest America Part III" tour with TURISAS, ALESTORM and ARKONA. You can now watch the chat below.

HUNTRESS's debut album, "Spell Eater", was released on April 27 via Napalm Records.

"Spell Eater" track listing:

01. Spell Eater
02. Senecide
03. Sleep and Death
04. Snow Witch
05. Eight of Swords
06. Aradia
07. Night Rape
08. Children
09. Terror
10. The Tower
11. The Dark

HUNTRESS vocalist Jill Janus told AOL's Noisecreep about the "Spell Eater" artwork, "The album cover captures the beauty and brutality of HUNTRESS. Vance Kelly is a warlock and he took our vision and created a magical illustration that breathes glory into the old crone. We contemplated having either a sultry sorceress or decrepit forest witch as our cover babe. Ultimately, the crone won because she is the true Huntress."

According to a press release, "Janus is an operatic banshee with an unparalleled four-octave range and lust for the occult. Born and raised in the Catskill Mountains of New York, she toured Europe as a teenage opera starlet. Upon her return to the States, Janus embraced Manhattan nightlife, creating Felliniesque cabarets and parties in a nihilistic club scene. Years later, Janus moved to Los Angeles and began the gestation period of HUNTRESS. In 2009 she met underground metal band PROFESSOR. The universe spread her legs and delivered HUNTRESS to Janus, combining former members of PROFESSOR, DARK BLACK and SKELETONWITCH."

HUNTRESS is currently supporting DRAGONFORCE on a North American tour.

HUNTRESS is:

Vocals: Jill Janus
Lead Guitar: Blake Meahl
Rhythm Guitar: Ian Alden
Drums: Carl Wierzbicky
Bass: Eric Harris

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/huntresskills.

Interview:



Performance:

Noisey, Vice magazine's music channel, has uploaded video footage of "a nameless ghoul" from the mysterious Swedish buzz metal act GHOST talking about Satan's faith in his band and his band's faith in the BEACH BOYS. Check out the clip below.

GHOST cult leader "Papa Emeritus" (rumored to be REPUGNANT/SUBVISION's Tobias Forge, who takes the stage in the form of "a satanic pope") and his anonymous ghouls are currently supporting MASTODON and OPETH on a North American tour.

GHOST is continuing to support its debut album, "Opus Eponymous", which has been called "amazing" by Stereogum and "a primer on the creation of melodic hard rock" by The Big Takeover.

GHOST floored music fans with its first U.S. shows and served notice that it is not only a "band to watch" but will be a force to be reckoned with for years to come. In its live review of GHOST's New York City headlining show, the Village Voice called the group's performance "lurching and menacing", saying "GHOST's sound is like heavy metal trapped in a state of suspended animation since 1973."

GHOST's "Opus Eponymous" is a daringly fascinating combination of satanic rock music merged with an almost unthinkable pop sensibility. Enveloped in a shroud of mystery and standing anonymous beneath the painted faces, hoods and robes which their sect demand, the GHOST deliver litanies of pulsating heavy rock and stimulating lyrics which "glorify and glamorize the disgusting and sacrilegious." The music and philosophies of GHOST specifically target "individuals who have a void in their life perhaps caused by some form of emotional trauma or upset" (research suggests these are most likely adolescents); this dearth can then be alluringly filled by GHOST's music and philosophies.



Photo credit: Stephanie Cabral

Portuguese extreme progressive metallers MALEVOLENCE have set "Antithetical" as the title of their forthcoming third album. The main theme of the CD illustrates a razor-sharp concept inspired from Ancient Greek Etymology (1580s, from Gk. Antithetikos) that reflects the diametrical opposition to a number of propositions consisting in the revelation of a divergent thought. Pertaining to "Antithetical", the Anti (against) + Thesis (position), as a figure of speech (mainly used by the authors of the Baroque period; style of the epoch known as the art of conflict) acknowledge opposition towards the relative thesis expressed.

Commented MALEVOLENCE singer/guitarist/songwriter Carlos Cariano: "'Antithetical' is loaded with intoxicatingly corrosive contrasts whilst the album represents pure rebellion, a pure nonconformist extension towards the current situation of the globe, an upheaval towards the current language that has no force of expression and no meaning, due to the predictability of words and counterfeit actions that have become commonplace worldwide. Inner strength and living values nowadays are negatively base underneath relative truths and we are expressing ourselves precisely antithetically whilst insisting on critical thinking."

A press release states: "Music and lyrics are far beyond the average practice and 'Antithetical' is a very unnatural progressive slab of extreme sonic amalgamation creating parallelisms to simplify extremes whilst apprehending both the positive and the negative perspectives of existence, in order to erect with the synthesis that transcends both.

"As hope is antithetical to despair, the contrasts established within the album serve in effect to give tension to the broad-spectrum body of work consisting of seven songs.

"'Antithetical' includes the most epic material (longest song clocking at 9:27), plus the heaviest proportional songwriting ever accomplished on the eighteenth year of existence of the collective.

"Exploring experimental yet instrumental mind bending extreme metal structures, the album is a pure heavy mammoth demonstration on extreme progressive metal territory."

Swedish rockers ANGEL KING will release their debut album, "World Of Pain", on May 18 via Meantime Music (a division of Yesterrock).

Formed in late 2010, ANGEL KING is a Stockholm-based quartet playing sleaze/glam rock. Before the band even had existed, guitar player Jack Vegas had worked on song ideas for a couple of years, for which he hadn't found the right musicians. In fall of 2010, Jack presented these songs to his good friends Rock Boston and Snake Denver and they started to jam together. For the first time Jack felt that he had found the right musicians for the project and everything started to fall into place: the songwriting felt natural and the chemistry was right. To take the sound of the music to the next level, the band needed a singer with an exceptional voice. So after recording a few backgrounds they decided to invite Lazzy G, a friend of Jack Vegas, to the studio to try to sing a track called "World Of Pain". After laying down the track, it was settled — Lazzy G was the singer they had been looking for.

ANGEL KING is:

Lazzy G - Vocals
Rock Boston - Bass/Vocals
Jack Vegas - Guitar
Snake Denver - Drums

"World Of Pain" track listing:

01. Dangerous (5:02)
02. World Of Pain (3:31)
03. She Wants To Be Loved (3:11)
04. Living The Wild Life (3:46)
05. Enemy (3:39)
06. Fahrenheit 541 (2:55)
07. Rock And Roll Doctor (4:16)
08. Get Up (3:44)
09. Wasteland (3:41)
10. Last Generation (5:26)

The Age Of Metal recently conducted an interview with vocalist Fernando Ribeiro of Portuguese gothic metallers MOONSPELL. You can now listen to the chat using the Mixcloud player below.

MOONSPELL's new video, "Lickanthrope", can be seen below. The clip was directed by Filipe Melo, who worked with the band on the "I Will See You In My Dreams" video ten years ago. The shoot took place in Nandufe, Tondela, in the central region of Portugal.

"Lickanthrope" comes off MOONSPELL's new album, "Alpha Noir", which was released on April 27 via the band's new label home, Napalm Records. The cover artwork for the CD — an intricate, marvellous and symbolic creation by Seth Siro Anton, the Greek artist who collaborated with the band on "Night Eternal" — can be seen below. Also available is a preview image of the strictly limited edition "Alpha Noir" deluxe box set containing the limited-edition double album mediabook, including two album covers, and "Alpha Noir"'s counterpart "Omega White" and an exclusive MOONSPELL logo pendant.

"Alpha Noir" deluxe box set track listing:

CD 1

01. Axis Mundi
02. Lickanthrope
03. Versus
04. Alpha Noir
05. En Nome Do Medo
06. Opera Carne
07. Love is Blasphemy
08. Grand Stand
09. Sine Missione

CD 2

01. White Omega
02. White Skies
03. Fireseason
04. New Tears Eve
05. Herodisiac
06. Incantatrix
07. Sacrificial
08. A Greater Darkness

THE SMASHING PUMPKINS will release their new album, "Oceania", on June 19 via EMI Label Services/Caroline distribution.

Produced by THE SMASHING PUMPKINS' frontman Billy Corgan, "Oceania" is an intense and dynamic offering that will appeal to new and existing fans of THE SMASHING PUMPKINS alike. "Oceania", the band's seventh studio record, is “an album within an album,” part of their 44-song work-in-progress "Teargarden By Kaleidyscope".

Peter Katsis, manager of SMASHING PUMPKINS for Prospect Park, stated: "THE SMASHING PUMPKINS created 'Oceania' as an album experience, and it is intended for the process of the release to follow a path of inclusion, so that best efforts are made for all the fans hear it at the same time as press or radio. We were excited to find partners in EMI Label Services that were equally passionate about the plan for the album release as well as being huge fans of the PUMPKINS."

EMI's relationship with THE SMASHING PUMPKINS dates back more than 20 years, to the release of "Gish" in 1991. That album was reissued this past November along with 1993's "Siamese Dream".

Said Mike Harris, EVP/GM EMI Label Services/Caroline distribution: "We are thrilled to extend the long-term partnership between THE SMASHING PUMPKINS and EMI with the release of 'Oceania'. Everybody at EMI Label Services is looking forward to working closely with Billy and the band to help them deliver their vision and their music to fans around the world."

"Oceania" track listing:

01. Quasar
02. Panopticon
03. The Celestials
04. Violet Rays
05. My Love Is Winter
06. One Diamond, One Heart
07. Pinwheels
08. Oceania
09. Pale Horse
10. The Chimera
11. Glissandra
12. Inkless
13. Wildflower

Fan-filmed video footage of THE SMASHING PUMPKINS performing various tracks from "Oceania" during their fall 2011 tour can be seen below.

Montreal, Quebec, Canada-based photographer Von Wong has posted behind-the-scenes video footage from the photo shoot for THE AGONIST's forthcoming album, "Prisoners". Check out the four-minute clip below.

Commented Wong: "Alissa [White-Gluz, vocals] from THE AGONIST contacted me two weeks before shoot deadline to ask me if we could put together some sort of crazy shoot. After an hour of crazy brainstorming, we managed to pull together an insane fight concept that we put together in one week (leaving one more week for retouching)! We pulled our resources together and managed to whip up in a week: A garage to shoot in, destructible clothing, and all the random objects you see lying around (fire hydrant, couch, etc…). Alissa did the makeup/rips for all the boys, giving me a good three hours to set up a crazy 10-light-or-so setup. Oh, and that exploding glass behind her head in the shot? Yah, that’s real. We exploded some neon lights for the shoot."

THE AGONIST's new song "Ideomotor" can be streamed using the SoundCloud player below (courtesy of GuitarWorld.com ). The track comes off the band's long-awaited third studio album, "Prisoners", which is scheduled for releaase on June 5 (one day earlier internationally) via Century Media Records. Produced by Christian Donaldson (CRYPTOPSY) and mixed by Tue Madsen (THE HAUNTED, DARK TRANQUILLITY, SUICIDE SILENCE), the CD "picks right up where 2009's 'Lullabies For The Dormant Mind' left off, with soaring melodies over complex metal passages that fans of thinking-man's metal can appreciate," according to a press release.

In a recent interview with MetalConcerts.net, Alissa White-Gluz stated about the musical direction of the follow-up to 2009's "Lullabies For A Dormant Mind", "I wouldn't say it's heavier or more melodic. I think it sounds more mature. It has the same sort of schizophrenic side that 'Lullabies' has, but it also has some other I guess what you would call classic influences. Like, there's some PANTERA influence, there's some RADIOHEAD influence. I mean, there's a lot of influences that we didn't really have before."

"Lullabies For A Dormant Mind" debuted at No. 105 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.

Swiss folk metallers ELUVEITIE will perform their new album, "Helvetios", in its entirety for the first time ever on May 18 at Kulturfabrik in Lyss, Switzerland. The band will also play older songs during the concert, which will last more than two hours.

"Helvetios" sold 4,200 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. 3 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.

"Helvetios" was released in Europe on February 10 via Nuclear Blast RecordsNew Sound Studio in Pfäffikon, a municipality in the canton of Zurich in Switzerland, with producer Tommy Vetterli (a.k.a. Tommy T. Baron; CORONER/ex-KREATOR guitarist). According to the band, Vetterli "record[ed] drums, guitars and vocals and also produc[ed] and mix[ed] the record. Most folk instruments and also vocals [were] recorded by Anna Murphy and Marco Jencarelli at the Soundfarm studios in Lucerne."

The "Havoc" video can be seen below. The clip was produced by the Polish company Grupa13, which previously worked with the band on the videos for "Thousandfold" and "A Rose For Epona" as well as with such other acts as BEHEMOTH and AMON AMARTH.

ELUVEITIE recently completed a North American tour as the support act for Finnish metallers CHILDREN OF BODOM. The trek kicked off on January 30 in Rochester, New York and ran through March 4, hitting 26 cities over the course of the five-week jaunt. Boston-based extreme metal band REVOCATION and Canada's THREAT SIGNAL were also on the bill.

"Havoc" video:



"Helvetios" preview:

"Demon Sent", a brand new song from WEST OF HELL, the Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada-based band featuring ZIMMERS HOLE frontman Chris "The Heathen" Valagao, can be streamed using the audio player below (courtesy of Stereokiller.com). The track comes off the group's full-length debut, "Spiral Empire", which will be released on May 8 via Reversed Records. The CD was recorded at The Factory Studios in Vancouver and was produced by Juno Award-winning engineer Rob Shallcross (STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, GWAR, ZIMMERS HOLE, FEAR FACTORY).

According to a press release, "Spiral Empire" features "a unique sound that preserves the band's legendary, distinctive influences whilst incorporating modern elements, creating a one-of-a-kind listening experience."

"Spiral Empire" pre-order packages are available exclusively at this location.

WEST OF HELL was formed in 2002 in West Auckland, New Zealand by guitarist Ivan Vrdoljak and drummer Andrew Hulme. A short time later, friends of the pair finally directed them to guitarist Sean Parkinson (ex-SINATE). Parkinson established an instant chemistry with Vrdoljak and Hulme, driving the trio to immediately begin working, writing songs, and forging their trademark sound. Then, after two years of painstaking searches and monitoring the grapevine, the band was led to bassist Jordan Kemp.

With the instrumental portion of the band locked down, all that was left to be discovered was the perfect frontman. Having searched without success for perfect vocalist locally, the band decided to continue the hunt in Vancouver, B.C., Canada, and uprooted to the area in 2009. In order to share their vision and establish WEST OF HELL in a larger scene, they needed a singer that was more than just a screamer, which drastically narrowed the possibilities. The band played a series of shows as a four-piece instrumental, drawing critical acclaim, and ultimately attracted the attention of the local metal community. The exposure led them to Valagao. It was apparent to the founding members that Valagao's diverse skills were exactly what WEST OF HELL needed to realize the band's ultimate vision.

WEST OF HELL is:

Vocals - Chris "The Heathen" Valagao
Bass - Jordan Kemp
Guitar - Sean Parkinson
Guitar - Ivan Vrdoljak
Drums - Andrew Hulme

Phoenix, Arizona's LACONIC has inked a deal with Swimming With Sharks Records. The band's new album, "For The Life Of One", was recorded by notable producer Ben Schigel (CHIMAIRA, DROWNING POOL, BREAKING BENJAMIN). Fans of KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, AS I LAY DYING, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH and ALL THAT REMAINS will immediately identify with LACONIC's melodic metal approach.

Commented LACONIC frontman Danny Brian: "We are beyond excited for what the future brings with our partnership with Swimming With Sharks Records. The label owner, Noah Robertson, is an extremely hard-working and passionate individual, and that is hard to find in the industry these days. Our fans and us know that this has been a long time coming. We've been waiting for the right move and to work with the right people before we just settled. We couldn't be happier to be part of the Swimming With Sharks family, and we look forward to seeing everyone out on the road and beyond!"

Added Swimming With Sharks Records founder Noah "Shark" Robertson: "LACONIC is truly an amazing band and their music deserves to be heard by the masses. From the moment I discovered this band, I haven't been able to stop listening. We couldn't be happier to add such a talented band to our artist roster. Soon, the world will know the name LACONIC!"

LACONIC stormed onto the underground metal scene with its release "Visions" in 2009, receiving rave reviews from fans and critics alike. Since then, the band has built a name for themselves through word-of-mouth on-line and persistent gigging and touring.

LACONIC will release a video for the song "Bridge Burner" very soon and has a number of live performances lined up, including a direct support slot for THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA on June 27 at Top Deck in Farmington, New Mexico.

St. Louis, Missouri-based power/thrash metallers CONQUEST are putting the finishing touches on their new album, "The War We Rage", for a summer/fall release via Dark Star Records. Produced once again by CONQUEST lead singer Derrick Brumley, the CD is being engineered by Adam Long, who also worked on the band's debut album, "End Of Days".

"The War We Rage" will mark the recording debut of CONQUEST's new bass player Rob Boyer.

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. The War We Rage
02. Wicked
03. Against All Odds
04. Never Forget
05. Tomorrows Black
06 Live Free Or Die
07. Turn Me Away
08. Coming With Vengeance
09. Scream For My Life
10. Get Off My Back
11. Tyrant Of The New World
12. Fall From Grace

In other news, CONQUEST has decided to re-release its popular single called "Never Forget" a new tribute to 9/11 as a free download. Check it out at this location.