California metallers BONDED BY BLOOD will celebrate the release of their brand new studio album next week with a free show in Fullerton, California.

"The Aftermath" is due to be released on July 2 in Europe and July 3 in North America, and BONDED BY BLOOD are inviting fans to join in the celebrations with a completely free show on Monday, July 2 at the Slidebar Rock-N-Roll Kitchen. Joining BONDED BY BLOOD are EXMORTUS, ENROT and MONOLITH.

"The Aftermath" was tracked at at Darth Mader Music in Los Angeles with producer and former MACHINE HEAD/SOULFLY guitarist Logan Mader (DEVILDRIVER, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH). The cover art was created by Vitaly S. Alexius (EVILE, INSIDIOUS DISCREPANCY, ETERNAL REIGN).

A guitar/bass demonstration video for the song "Overcome" from New Brunswick, New Jersey's melodic, thrash-metal warriors GOD FORBID can be seen below. The clip features Doc Coyle (guitar, vocals), Matt Wicklund (lead guitar) and John Outcalt (bass).

"Overcome" comes off GOD FORBID's new album, "Equilibrium", which sold 3,400 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 156 on The Billboard 200 chart. The effort landed at No. 7 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.

"Equilibrium" was released on March 27 via Victory Records. The bulk of the CD was recorded by Mark Lewis (THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, WHITECHAPEL, DEVILDRIVER, TRIVIUM), with Jason Suecof (TRIVIUM, ALL THAT REMAINS, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, CHIMAIRA, DEVILDRIVER) stepping in during the the vocal-tracking stage. The effort was mixed by acclaimed Swedish producer Jens Bogren, who has previously worked with such acts as KATATONIA, OPETH, PARADISE LOST and AMON AMARTH.

Fan-filmed video footage of SCORPIONS' June 26 concert at Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas can be seen below.

During a recent interview with ArizonaRepublic.com, SCORPIONS guitarist Matthias Jabs was asked what "different things" he is planning on doing following the band's current farewell tour. "I don't know," he said. "Do you know what you're doing three years from now? The SCORPIONS will not break up. We're giving up the constant touring, into the studio, out of the studio, back on the road. At some point, you have to say, 'OK, thank you very much.' We have a project which we will probably release next year. We have so much film material. We will work on something like an anthology, some kind of box set. And nobody has said we'll never hit the stage again, for one show somewhere in the world. Why not? If somebody wants to see us desperately, yes, OK, here we are. There's also the chance ... that we would get terribly bored just sitting around at home, and we would call each other and go, 'Let's play a few shows.' But the intense touring, the way we've been doing it for decades now, it had to come to an end. The one-off show, fine. We were approached to play for the opening of the World Cup Championships in 2014. That is not confirmed, but those opportunities, we would not let slip away. We're scheduled until December 15 this year. That's the last show. It's somewhere in a small town in Germany. After that, we don't know."

When asked if the SCORPIONS' next project will consist of new material, Jabs said, "The first three months of this year, we took off to work in the studio, resurrecting unfinished songs from what some people say was our best time, leftovers from the albums 'Blackout', 'Love At First Sting', 'Crazy World', 'Savage Amusement', all the albums from the '80s and early '90s. There's so much strong material, but it hasn't ever been finished, especially the lyrics. They're like 'Blah blah blah blah blah.' It was recorded like you would record a demo, no click track, anything. But the vibe is great because it's from the time when we were starting out. Everything I played back then, I remember when I found a new riff, I would get excited. It's slightly different today because I know it all. I've heard it all. So it's much harder to get excited about the simplest or sometimes half-genius riff. But there was a definite spark in those old recordings and the idea is to redo them with today's technology and take it further as a tribute to the fans."

One of the greatest Brazilian heavy metal bands has rejoined forces with its original lead singer after 22 years. VIPER reunited with vocalist André Matos (ANGRA, SHAAMAN) in order to celebrate the 25-year anniversary of the release of the group's album "Soldiers Of Sunrise". For the first time ever, VIPER played its first two LPs, "Soldiers Of Sunrise" and "Theater Of Fate", in their entirety, on June 22 at Central Rock Bar in Santo André, São Paulo, Brazil. Fan-filmed video footage of the concert can be seen below.

In addition to Matos, VIPER's current lineup includes Pit Passarell (bass, vocals), Felipe Machado (guitar) and Guilherme Martin (drums). Hugo Mariutti has replaced Yves Passarell during the trek, the setlist for which contains "nice surprises for the fans."

The "To Live Again Tour 2012" is the only opportunity for fans to check out VIPER in this formation.

Josh Rundquist (a.k.a. That Drummer Guy) conducted an interview with ICED EARTH guitarist Jon Schaffer before the band's June 26 concert at The Myth in Maplewood, Minnesota with VOLBEAT and HELLYEAH. You can now watch the chat below.

To coincide with the current trek, ICED EARTH released a limited tour edition of its latest album, "Dystopia". Currently available only at the merchandise stands on the tour, the two-disc "Dystopia Tour Edition" contains the original full-length album, as well as B-side covers of IRON MAIDEN's "The Trooper" and BLACK SABBATH's "Mob Rules", as well as the classic 17-minute ICED EARTH track "Dante's Inferno", re-recorded with vocalist Stu Block. The bonus disc also contains both music videos from "Dystopia" — the title track and "Anthem" — as well as a "Making Of Dystopia" studio interview with the band, and exclusive cell phone skins and desktop backgrounds.

Bassist Freddie Vidales recently left ICED EARTH and was replaced by Luke Appleton of FURY UK.

ICED EARTH's video for the song "Anthem" was filmed on December 7, 2011 at Essigfabrik in Cologne, Germany.

Produced and directed by Kosch Fabian Film, "Anthem" is the second music video from ICED EARTH's new album, "Dystopia", which sold around 6,100 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 67 on The Billboard 200 chart.

ICED EARTH's previous CD, "The Crucible of Man (Something Wicked Part II)", opened with 6,700 units in September 2008 to debut at No. 79.

ICED EARTH's 10th studio offering, "Dystopia", was released in Europe on October 17, 2011 and in the U.S. on October 18 via Century Media Records. Two bonus tracks were also recorded for inclusion on special editions of the album.

SHADOWS FALL drummer Jason Bittner is filling in for ANTHRAX's Charlie Benante on the the first few weeks of the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival, which kicked off yesterday (Saturday, June 30) in San Bernardino, California. Charlie is recovering from a minor hand injury.

Fan-filmed video footage of the San Bernardino concert can be seen below.

Bittner (pictured below) most recently filled in for Benante at two ANTHRAX shows in Argentina in February.

Benante and ANTHRAX bassist Frank Bello (who is Charlie's nephew) missed several shows on ANTHRAX's North American tour in order to spend time with Charlie's mother, who was terminally ill. On February 4, Benante informed fans via his official web site that his mother passed away.

Bittner previously joined ANTHRAX on stage on November 8, 2011 at Northern Lights in Clifton Park, New York to perform the ANTHRAX classic "Madhouse". He also filled in on drums for Benante for two ANTHRAX shows in January 2006 after Charlie was forced to leave the tour early to attend to his wife Sandra, who gave birth to the couple's first child, Mia Charley Benante.

Slow-motion video footage of what may or may not be the stage incident which allegedly resulted in the death of a fan at a LAMB OF GOD concert in the Czech Republic more than two years ago can be seen below. The clip was originally aired yesterday (Saturday, June 30) as part of a TV report from Czech Republic's TV Nova.

**UPDATE**: It should be noted that the TV Nova report did not claim that this was, in fact, footage of actual stage jump that that led to the person's death. The performance clip from LAMB OF GOD's 2010 concert in Prague was only included in the report to illustrate the behavior of vocalist Randy Blythe and the fans during the show.

Blythe was arrested Wednesday (June 27) at the Prague airport and is accused of causing the fatal injury that occurred at LAMB OF GOD's May 24, 2010 show in the city's Abaton venue. The singer apparently pushed a 19-year-old fan named Daniel N. — a guitarist in a local metal band — who had come on stage, and that person died 14 days later of bleeding in the brain. A post-mortem reportedly found that he had not been drunk or under the influence of drugs.

According to Czech media reports, Blythe will be released on 4 million Czech Koruna bail (approximately $200,000 — an amount which Randy claimed was the equivalent of his annual income). Since most banks are closed this weekend, Blythe will be allowed to pay off his bail on Monday (July 2).

The crime of which Blythe is being accused is punishable by up to ten years in prison, according to popular Czech news web site Novinky.cz.

LAMB OF GOD was scheduled to perform on Thursday at the Rock Café in Prague with SKELETONWITCH and ALL SHALL PERISH but that show ended up getting canceled.

LAMB OF GOD's publicist, Adrenaline PR, issued a statement on Friday stressing that "under no circumstances was there a fight of any kind involved [during LAMB OF GOD's 2010 concert]. This incident deals with a fan that three times during the concert jumped the barricade and rushed Randy during the performance. It is alleged that the third time, security was not able to reach him and that Randy pushed him back into the audience where supposedly he fell and hit his head."



Pictured below is the victim, Daniel N.

Four-fifths of LAMB OF GOD — everyone except singer Randy Blythe — returned home to Virginia last night, less than four days after Blythe was taken into custody in Prague, Czech Republic in connection with the death of a fan more than two years ago.

LAMB OF GOD guitarist Mark Morton wrote on Twitter, "Finally HOME! 4/5 of us anyway. I can't wait to give Randy a big bear hug and kiss his pointy, stubbly face! Thanx for all the support y'all! Flooded with questions about Randy. I truly understand and appreciate [your] concern. But it would be irresponsible for me to comment on any of it. Again….thank y'all SOOOO much for your love and support during these difficult times. It means the world to us."

Blythe, who was arrested Wednesday (June 27) at the Prague airport on manslaughter charges, will reportedly be released on 4 million Czech Koruna bail (approximately $200,000 — an amount which Randy claimed was the equivalent of his annual income). Since most banks are closed this weekend, Blythe will be allowed to pay off his bail on Monday (July 2).

Blythe, 41, is accused of causing the fatal injury that occurred at LAMB OF GOD's May 24, 2010 show in Prague. The singer apparently pushed a 19-year-old fan named Daniel N. — a guitarist in a local metal band — who had come on stage, and that person died 14 days later of bleeding in the brain. A post-mortem reportedly found that he had not been drunk or under the influence of drugs.

The crime of which Blythe is being accused is punishable by up to ten years in prison, according to popular Czech news web site Novinky.cz.

A video report from Czech Republic's TV Nova on yesterday's court hearing for Blythe can be seen at this location. The two-and-a-half-minute clip appears to contain low-quality footage of the actual incident that resulted in the fan's death (around 57-second mark).

SLIPKNOT kicked off its headlining stint at this year's Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival yesterday (Saturday, June 30) at San Manuel Amphitheater in San Bernardino, California without guitarist Jim Root, who is out of action while recovering from a burst appendix.

The band's setlist was as follows:

01. (sic)
02. Eyeless
03. Sulfur
04. The Blister Exists
05. Wait and Bleed
06. Before I Forget
07. Disasterpiece
08. Gently (performed live for first time since 2002)
09. Vermilion
10. Pulse of the Maggots
11. The Heretic Anthem
12. Psychosocial
13. Duality
14. Spit It Out

Encore:

15. People = Shit
16. Surfacing

Fan-filmed video footage of the concert can be seen below.

Yesterday's Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival concert in San Bernardino had a record-breaking attendance of 26,105 — 4,000 more than the previous attendance record set by the tour.

In an interview with Loudwire, SLIPKNOT percussionist Chris Fehn spoke about working without Root and how it's hard deciding which songs to play in the set. He explained, "It always is [tough] when you've got more than one or two records, and it's hard for us to do live too. We're not sure what we want to do new and what we can play live, what we can't play live cause a lot of it has to do with Jim not being here and stuff like that, which is a big hole in the SLIPKNOT camp right now, but it's always a good problem to have [deciding which songs to feature]. Sometimes what we want, what the fans want, it's a whole different situation. It is difficult, but there'll be more to come."

SLIPKNOT began its return last summer with a European tour, continued it earlier this year with jaunts through Australia and South America, and will now complete it this summer with a headlining slot on the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival. The icing on the cake will be Knotfest, two festival dates put together by the band itself on August 17 in Council Bluffs, Iowa and August 18 in Somerset, Wisconsin.

In addition to the headliners, both days will include sets from DEFTONES, LAMB OF GOD, DETHKLOK, SERJ TANKIAN and PRONG.

Also playing at the Iowa show will be THE URGE and DIRTFEDD, while the Wisconsin show will also feature CANNIBAL CORPSE, GOJIRA and THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN.

Knotfest is being positioned as a "dark carnival experience," and the event will feature circus tents, pillars of fire, amusement park rides, burlesque performers, fire-breathers, stilt walkers, drum circles made of junkyard cars, graffiti walls and even a SLIPKNOT museum.

The festival will mark the end of a two-year grieving period for the band following the May 2010 death of bassist Paul Gray from an overdose of drugs.

SLIPKNOT will tentatively enter the studio sometime in early 2013 to begin recording its fifth album. In the meantime, a greatest hits collection called "Antennas To Hell" arrives on July 24.

SLIPKNOT will also release its first-ever mobile app, Wear The Mask. The app will be made available simultaneously with "Antennas To Hell" and is marketed as part mask builder, part social connector for fans.

Quality multi-camera fan-filmed video footage of British heavy metal legends IRON MAIDEN performing the songs "2 Minutes To Midnight" and "Afraid To Shoot Strangers" on June 27 at Nikon at Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh, New York can be seen below.

The band's setlist was as follows:

01. Moonchild
02. Can I Play With Madness
03. The Prisoner
04. 2 Minutes To Midnight
05. Afraid To Shoot Strangers
06. The Trooper
07. The Number Of The Beast
08. Phantom Of The Opera
09. Run To The Hills
10. Wasted Years
11. Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son
12. The Clairvoyant
13. Fear Of The Dark
14. Iron Maiden

Encore:

15. Aces High
16. The Evil That Men Do
17. Running Free

The 34-date "Maiden England" tour is IRON MAIDEN's most extensive visit to North America for many years and includes a number of other cities the band have not played in a very long time such as Atlanta, Milwaukee, Buffalo, Indianapolis, Salt Lake City and Sacramento, and places like Sarnia (Ontario, Canada) and Cadott, Wisconsin where they have never visited before. The tour is based on the band's "Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son Tour", with a setlist almost exclusively from the 1980s featuring all the classic songs and hits. The same spectacular stage set as was used on the original 1988 tour has been recreated, complete with a magnificent light show, pyro and a newly reincarnated Eddie!

When asked by The Aquarian Weekly what the reason was behind choosing a setlist like that of the famous 1988 excursion, 7th Tour Of A 7th Tour, IRON MAIDEN guitarist Adrian Smith said, "Well, we just thought it'd be fun to revisit that period in time — there were some good songs there. It's just great revisiting some of the songs we haven't played for a long while. It keeps us fresh and it's just, you know, we got a lot of new fans coming on board now, a lot of younger fans who probably never saw or were around when we did that tour. That's one factor of it for us revisiting that time and I think there's some good songs from that period, so it's fun to do."

On the topic of how this tour differs from those in the recent years, Adrian said, "Well, this is a new set; we haven't taken the stage set out, for example, so it's a new stage set. We got new effects. I think it's going to be actually more spectacular than the original tour and probably, technically, you got more stuff now to put into a live show in terms of lighting and that, which will make it quite spectacular, so I think this is going to be pretty special, this tour. What with the songs, we love playing these songs, and with the stage set and effects and of course we got Eddie, he's back, so it should be fun."

The extraordinary and legendary ALICE COOPER is IRON MAIDEN's very special guest on all shows up to July 21. After that date, special guest will be COHEED AND CAMBRIA, the inspiring, cutting-edge band from New York.

For a complete list of "Maiden England" 2012 tour dates, visit IronMaiden.com.

HADES singer Alan Tecchio will be joined by members of OVERKILL and SEVEN WITCHES for an appearance at this edition of the Headbangers Open Air festival, set to take place July 26-28 in Brande-Hörnerkirchen, Germany. Their set is being billed as "A Night Of Hades Music With Alan Tecchio & Friends" and they will exclusively play music from the first two HADES records.

In order to "warm up" for the Headbangers Open Air concert, "Tecchio & Friends" will play a one-off U.S. show on Tuesday, July 24 at Dingbatz in Clifton, New Jersey.

Regarding how he chose the musicians to join him at the Headbangers Open Air concert, Tecchio previously said, "[When HADES guitarist] Dan Lorenzo decided not to play the show, no one else in the band wanted to do it without him since he is the band's founder. I felt the same way initially. However, since the promoters had already been advertising us for over eight months, I felt an obligation to deliver on our promise to play. We finally came to an agreement that our set will be billed as 'A Night Of Hades Music With Alan Tecchio & Friends' and we will exclusively play music from the first two HADES records.

"In all fairness, bassist Kevin Bolembach, who has been in HADES now for the past few years, will be on bass and Ron Lipnicki from OVERKILL (who was also on one HADES CD — 'DamNation') will be on drums, so there is at least some related HADES history there for two of the players and myself.

"Personally, I hate it when I see a band and there is only one original member left so I came as close to getting former members as I could.

"On guitar, Jack Frost [SEVEN WITCHES, ex-SAVATAGE] immediately offered to help since I am in the early stages of writing a new SEVEN WITCHES CD with him anyway. He suggested his friend and bandmate in a local cover band, Sean Tarr, as the second guitarist. I checked out Sean at a gig and he really blew me away. So that took care of the axemen."

Lorenzo issued a statement in May saying that he was pulling out of the Headbangers Open Air gig because it would have required of him "to work at least an hour or two a day for months to play the songs adequately." He added, "Playing 25-year-old songs just isn't where my head and heart is this year."

Norway's VG TV conducted an interview with KISS prior to the band's performance last night (Saturday, June 30) at the Kollen Sommerfestival in Solo, Norway. You can now watch it below.

The band's setlist was as follows:

01. Detroit Rock City
02. Shout It Out Loud
03. Deuce
04. Makin' Love
05. I Love It Loud
06. Crazy Crazy Nights
07. Shock Me
08. Calling Dr. Love
09. 100,000 Years
10. Love Gun
11. Black Diamond

Encore:

12. Lick It Up
13. I Was Made For Lovin' You
14. Rock And Roll All Nite

KISS's 20th studio album, "Monster", is set for release in October through Universal Music Enterprises. The 12-track, straight-ahead rock 'n' roll album features collaborations among all four members — including co-founders Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons and longtime members guitarist Tommy Thayer and drummer Eric Singer — in an album that shows the band at the top of its game. And that's saying something, considering their illustrious, 40-plus year history — 28 U.S. gold albums, the most gold records for any American rock band, 40 million sales in the U.S., and a total exceeding 100 million worldwide.

Interview:



Performance footage:

German/Norwegian melodic metallers MASTERPLAN have tapped Czech musician Martin "Marthus" Skaroupka (CRADLE OF FILTH) to lay down the drum tracks for the band's new album.

Commented MASTERPLAN guitarist/mastermind Roland Grapow (formerly of HELLOWEEN): "We are very happy that we found Martin. He is a very talented and powerful drummer and besides that he is an amazing gifted songwriter."

Added Martin: "I feel honored that the band has chosen me to record drums on the new MASTERPLAN album! I have always been a huge fan of MASTERPLAN's music and I am indeed looking forward to record the new MASTERPLAN album! This is going to be a blast, no doubt about it!"

Back in March, Grapow revealed that he had 15 songs written for MASTERPLAN's next album. He added, "We are looking for a more powerful album this time... still with great melodies and feelings, but also with more orchestration and faster stuff again… just more metal."

In an August 2011 interview with the Czech web portal Kultura21.cz, Grapow stated about the status of the songwriting sessions for the next MASTERPLAN album, "This time we tried not to make demo productions, which have a poor sound — so we wanted to make really nice pre-production [recordings] which sound very close to the album sound, which is very easy [to do] in my studio now. I think we have many, many new ideas which, I guess, are a little bit more modern and more aggressive as well. So we try not to follow any trends of MASTERPLAN — I'm not saying we're reproducing the first album or the third one or the fifth one. I think we always have to try to make some surprises for the people. The 'Time To Be King' album is great, but this new album sounds a bit different again. I always want to do this, because I'm not that kind of guy who wants to make every year the same album."

On the topic of MASTERPLAN's numerous lineup changes, Grapow said, "I think it's always difficult in this band, I guess. If you see, the first album just came out after a big turbulence — leaving HELLOWEEN, Uli [Kusch, drums] and me. I think this band always needs some very bad moments to some great songs. [Laughs] And it looks like MASTERPLAN, basically, is my main band, and whoever will sing and whoever will play in the band, I'm happy with, or if Jorn [Lande, vocals] will stay as long as possible. But, basically, at the moment, I'm thinking the main songwriters are Axel [Mackenrott, keyboards] now and me. Also Jan [S. Eckert], the bass player, who was very involved in different in projects and has a great job now, just called me one week ago. He's happy to continue with MASTERPLAN and he's looking forward to the next album and the next tour. So whatever happens, this band will continue. It's very important for me to show that we still have the power and the ability to write beautiful melodies and some aggression and rock and metal songs. Whatever we do, we want just to make good-quality stuff."

MASTERPLAN's last CD, "Time To Be King", was released on May 21, 2010 through AFM Records. The CD's first single, "Far From The End Of The World", was issued on April 16, 2010.

During a recent conversation with Ultimate Classic Rock, legendary bassist Rudy Sarzo (OZZY OSBOURNE, QUIET RIOT, WHITESNAKE, DIO) revealed that he has parted ways with BLUE ÖYSTER CULT.

"Due to my scheduling with other projects that I'm doing, it became a little bit hard for me to keep a really solid working schedule with BLUE ÖYSTER CULT, so we amicably, we just basically parted ways," Sarzo said. "So they can actually find somebody who can devote more time to the band and I can actually pursue other bands that I'm doing."

Sarzo's other projects include the Japanese anime-inspired project ANIMETAL USA and TRED, the new band featuring former ANTHRAX singer Dan Nelson, TWISTED SISTER drummer AJ Pero and ADRENALINE MOB guitarist Mike Orlando. His time is further occupied by shows with the official Ronnie James Dio tribute band DIO DISCIPLES and his ongoing duties with the Rock And Roll Fantasy Camp.

A collector's edition of Rudy's book, "Off the Rails: Aboard the Crazy Train in the Blizzard of Ozz", was released in August 2008 via TooSmart! Publishing. According to Sarzo, "The new edition is beautiful and includes many more pictures throughout the book as well as a 16-page glossy spread of Ross Halfin photos from the beginning of our tour."

"Off the Rails" includes a first-person account from Rudy's personal day-by-day diary of events while touring with Ozzy Osbourne and Randy Rhoads in the early Eighties. The book was originally due in 2005 but was delayed after Sharon Osbourne allegedly applied pressure to have it pulled.

On February 24, Dani Buarque of the "Lokaos Rock Show" conducted an interview with Sarzo prior to BLUE ÖYSTER CULT's concert at HSBC Brasil in São Paulo, Brazil. You can watch the chat below.

Slovenian thrash metallers SARCASM have inked a deal with the Serbian label Grom Records for the worldwide Internet distribution of their music. The band is recording new material right now and plans to release a new single, "Z Mano Je Slabo" ("I Don't Feel So Good") very shortly. The single will be distributed online in co-operation with Grom Records, while physical CDs will be made available through SARCASM's web site, www.sarcasm-band.com.

SARCASM's "Crematory" album was first published in 1989, reissued in 2002, 2007 and 2010, is almost sold out, and will soon be reissued again. "Igra Narave" ("Twisted Way Of Nature"), was issued in 2002, was sold out, and is at the moment available only on the Internet. "Something To Believe In", released in 2010, is still available.

SARCASM will celebrate its 25th anniversary the best way it can: on stage, thrashing with their fans on Metal Mania Open Air festival, set to take place July 19-21 in Komen, Slovenia.

Swedish death metallers DEMONICAL have issued the following update:

"As a lot of people have asked us during the past months what's up with the DEMONICAL lineup, we feel that it is time to sort things out.

"Since February Pablo Magallanes [guitar] is no longer a member of DEMONICAL. Only about two months after he officially joined the band we had to part ways due to him moving back to South America and as a result of this, some of the shows during the spring were done as four-piece.

"The timing of Pablo's departure was not the best as Johan [Jansson, guitar] had already last autumn notified us that because of personal reasons he needs to take some time off from all touring activities during this summer. However, Johan will be back again after the summer and everything will be back to normal.

"We have not yet decided and feel no rush in deciding what to do with the vacant guitarist slot. We will continue as a five-piece live — that's for sure — but in which form (full-time or session member) is yet to be decided.

"As of now, we have Daniel Gustavsson and Antti Kurvinen with us to fill in on guitars and so far everything has worked out incredible well.

"The shows we have done this spring have been awesome - actually some of the best shows we have ever done — and we are all very much looking forward to the exciting festivals and club battles that we have ahead of us."

DEMONICAL's third album, "Death Infernal", was released in April 2011 via Germany's Cyclone Empire Records. The CD was recorded, mixed and mastered at Necromorbus Studio (WATAIN, UNANIMATED, DESTRÖYER 666) in Alvik, Sweden under the watchful eye of DEMONICAL frontman Sverker Widgren. Other individuals taking part in the creation of "Death Infernal" were Costin Chioreanu of Twilight 13 Media and photographer Soile Siirtola.

Swedish guitar sensation Stefan Lindholm will perform live with drummer John Macaluso (TNT, ARK, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, HOLYHELL), Joe Stump (HOLYHELL, REIGN OF TERROR), Mats Levén (THERION, CANDLEMASS, TREAT, KRUX, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN) and friends on July 4 at Pub Anchor in Stockholm, Sweden. They will play "Far Beyond The Sun" by YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, "Red House", "Spanish Castle Magic" and jam as well.

Lindholm's bands VINDICTIV and RAVEN LORD are currently in the studio recording new albums.

Linholm has played for PHENOMENA, SOULSPELL, FIRECRACKER and worked with Tony Martin (BLACK SABBATH), Oliver Hartmann (AT VANCE, AVANTASIA) and Mark Boals (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, RING OF FIRE).

QUEEN's Roger Taylor and Brian May joined forces with "American Idol" runner-up Adam Lambert last night (Saturday, June 30) to take part in the Elena Pinchuk ANTIAIDS Foundation charity concert at Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square) in Kiev. The show was the largest social and cultural event of Euro 2012 and attracted hundreds of thousands of people on the main square of Ukraine and was seen by millions of viewers on TV screens throughout Ukraine and Poland.

In recognition of the importance and the charitable status of this project, the musicians who performed last night waived their fees.

The concert was held under UEFA support one day before the Euro 2012 final in the official Fan zone of the football championship. It was broadcasted live on Ukrainian and Polish Television.

QUEEN + Adam Lambert setlist:

01. Flash (intro)
02. Seven Seas Of Rhye
03. Keep Yourself Alive
04. We Will Rock You (Fast)
05. Fat Bottomed Girls
06. Don’t Stop Me Now
07. Under Pressure (Roger/Adam duet)
08. I Want It All
09. Who Wants To Live Forever
10. A Kind Of Magic (Roger)
11. These Are Days Of Our Lives (Roger)
12. Love Of My Life (Brian)
13. 39 (Brian)
14. Dragon Attack
15. Drum Battle / Guitar Solo
16. I Want To Break Free
17. Another One Bites The Dust
18. Radio Ga Ga
19. Somebody To Love
20. Crazy Little Thing Called Love
21. The Show Must Go On
22. Bohemian Rhapsody

Encore:

23. Tie Your Mother Down (Brian)
24. We Will Rock You
25. We Are The Champions

Video footage can be seen below.

Adam Lambert said last month that he knows that he can't replace Freddie Mercury in his shows fronting QUEEN — but he doesn't intend to let anyone down either. He told the Daily Mail that when he performs with the remaining members of QUEEN, Brian May and Roger Taylor, he will learn from the experience.

He said, "We want to keep the music alive and give it an energy that would have made Freddie proud. You can't replace him. But playing with QUEEN is the best thing that could happen to me. My intention is to pay tribute to Freddie. I'm looking forward to spending time with Brian and Roger. I want to make myself familiar with their more obscure songs and hear some stories from the guys themselves. I'll get my own personal QUEEN documentary. Working with them is going to be a great honor, but I'm also very keen for people to hear my own music, so who knows what the future will hold?"

Bergen-based post-metal crew KRAKOW has debuted two tracks from its upcoming album, "diin", which is set for release on Dark Essence Records in September of this year. "diin" will be KRAKOW's sophomore album, and a follow-up to their 2009 debut, "Monolith". The tracks "Hymn to the Winds" and "Future Past" can be heard using the SoundCloud player below.

As well as well as having debuted the tracks, KRAKOW have also revealed the cover art for "diin", which has been designed by one of America's foremost tattoo artist Thomas Hooper. Brooklyn-based Hooper, who, as well as being a tattooist is also well known for his paintings and designs, has previously worked with bands such as DOOMRIDERS, TOMB, SCOTT KELLY and OLD MAN GLOOM. According to KRAKOW guitarist and vocalist René Misje, the chance to work with Hooper is something the band relishes. "We are proud to have had such a talented and renowned artist to create the artwork for our new album," he said. "We are big admirers of his work and we were honoured when he agreed to work with us. We are eternally grateful and can only hope that our music does justice to his art."

Formed in 2005 by Frode Kilvik (bass, vocals), Kjartan Grønhaug (guitar) and René Misje (guitar, vocals), the band recently added KAMPFAR and MONDVOLLAND drummer Ask Ty Arctander to their lineup. With a sound that ranges from dark, evocative and mesmerizing to fast, aggressive and heavy, KRAKOW is a band that is not easily categorised, fitting as it does equally well within the post-rock, metal and stoner rock genres.

Fan-filmed video footage of VAN HALEN's entire June 1 concert at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California can be seen below.

The band's setlist was as follows:

01. Unchained
02. Runnin' With The Devil
03. She's The Woman
04. Romeo Delight
05. Tattoo
06. Everybody Wants Some!!
07. Somebody Get Me A Doctor
08. China Town
09. Hear About It Later
10. Oh, Pretty Woman (ROY ORBISON Cover)
11. Drum Solo
12. You Really Got Me (THE KINKS cover)
13. The Trouble With Never
14. Dance The Night Away
15. I'll Wait
16. And The Cradle Will Rock…
17. Hot For Teacher
18. Women In Love
19. Beautiful Girls
20. Ice Cream Man (JOHN BRIM cover)
21. Panama
22. Guitar Solo
23. Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love
24. Jump

As previously reported, Eddie Van Halen and his son, VAN HALEN bassist Wolfgang Van Halen, gave a rare joint interview to USA Today on June 13 in which they discussed the reason for the band canceled more than 30 summer tour dates following a June 26 show in New Orleans. Eddie explained, "We bit off more than we could chew. This record took a lot out of us. And we went on tour earlier than we wanted to so we could play Madison Square Garden (in March, before a renovation), and that threw the schedule out of whack."

Eddie added that "a lot of the canceled dates were in cities we already played," but promised that VAN HALEN will return to U.S. stages later on: "In November, we'll hit Japan, and in the New Year, we'll possibly do something special, but I can't talk about it."

When the canceled shows were announced, rumors originally began circulating that Eddie and singer David Lee Roth were feuding again. But Eddie denied that, saying, "Dave's the same as he's always been, funny, witty. Sometimes I can only take that in small doses, because he just goes on and on."

Wolfgang added, "He's like the Energizer Bunny — wind it up and see what happens," while his father said, "But Dave always lands on his feet."

Roth himself posted a video message online explaining the scrapped dates, saying that "the band is getting along famously, better than we have in quite some time . . . (but) if we continue past July 4 and all the way into Australia and Japan then we're asking for the robot zombie tour."

VAN HALEN is touring behind "A Different Kind Of Truth", its first album in 14 years and first with Roth since 1984.

On October 29, 2007, a tour bus accident claimed the life of DECAPITATED drummer Witold "Vitek" Kieltyka, and gravely injured the band's lead singer, Adrian "Covan" Kowanek, who has yet to make a full recovery.

After he underwent what was deemed to be "successful" neurosurgery, a 36-hour pharmacological coma ended with Covan suffering a cardiac arrest and diffuse cerebral hypoxia (wherein brain impairment occurs due to low blood oxygen levels) because of alleged "medical negligence." Covan returned home after another six months of treatment in October 2008. Since then, Covan has made vast improvements, but still is unable to communicate and care for himself and requires 24-hour care.

A documentary about Covan and "Covan Wake The Fuck Up Tour", which was held in January this year, will be available for purchase the last quarter of this year. All proceeds from the disc sales will go to cover Adrian's treatment. The DVD will include footage of the January 28 concert at the club Kwadrat in Krakow as well as a documentary and other bonus features.

33 bands from the Polish rock and metal scenes took part in a charity tour, "Covan Wake The Fuck Up Tour 2012", to help Covan.

The following bands performed in 10 biggest cities in Poland:

HUNTER
DECAPITATED
FRONTSIDE
VIRGIN SNATCH
CHAINSAW
CORRUPTION
TRAUMA
THY DISEASE
QUO VADIS
PARRICIDE
MASACHIST
NEOLITH
ANAL STENCH
MADE OF HATE
TOTEM
CIRYAM
BUTELKA
DEIVOS
MILCZENIE OWIEC
ALASTOR
CALM HATCHERY
BEHEADING MACHINE
THE SIXPOUNDER
HEART ATTACK
OGOTAY
REDEMPTOR
LOSTBONE
THRASHER DEATH
DEVON
EMPATIC

The tour started on January 19 in Pod Palma club in Rzeszow and wrapped on January 28 at Kwadrat club in Krakow. This final concert was narrated by the famous satirist Adam Grzanka from the "Chatelet" cabaret.

At each concert there was a merchandise sale of a special "Covan Wake The Fuck Up" collection. All proceeds from these sales and ticket sales were supposed to be transferred to directly to Adrian's family.

A four-and-a-half-minute video report from Poland's national television station TVP on Covan's current medical status can be seen below. The report itself is in Polish, but English subtitles are available by clicking on the "CC" button below the video's progress bar.

For more information, go to www.wakeupcovan.com.

DVD trailer:



Polish TV report:

"Last June", the new video from U.K.'s GALLOWS, can be seen below. Turned around in less than aweek in true punk-rock fashion, this incendiary clip was directed by Marshall Darlings and features live GALLOWS footage shot at various festivals over the last few months and at the recent sold-out Sailor Jerry's show in London.

"Last June" comes off GALLOWS's highly-anticipated follow-up to 2009's "Grey Britain" album. Set for release in Europe on September 10 through the band's own label Venn Records (in partnership with [PIAS] Recordings) and in the U.S. on September 11 via Bridge Nine Records, the self-titled CD was recorded, produced, mixed and mastered by longtime friends Thomas Mitchener and Steve Sears at Broadfields Studio in Watford in May this year.

"We made this record self-titled as it musically defines the band known as GALLOWS as we exist today," explains the band. "This is the first of many releases to come from the house of Venn Records, our imprint, hijacked from [PIAS] those long-standing backers of independent rock 'n' roll."

The group adds, "This is our statement of intent, our laugh in the face of those who said GALLOWS were done when in reality we're just warming up. We couldn't feel more vindicated and proud."

"Gallows" track listing:

01. Victim Culture
02. Everybody Loves You (When You're Dead)
03. Last June
04. Outsider Art
05. Vapid Adolescent Blues
06. Austere
07. Depravers
08. Odessa
09. Nations
- Never Enough -
10. Cult Of Mary
11. Cross Of Lorraine

A free download of the track "Last June" is now available from www.gallows.co.uk.

The band will embark on a U.K. tour in October.

GALLOWS is a band that needs little introduction. Described, variously, as "the best British punk band since THE CLASH" and "the British music industry's biggest mistake," the Hertfordshire hardcore crew first emerged from the fecund U.K. underground punk scene in 2005. Inspired by REFUSED, AT THE DRIVE-IN, JR Ewing and Swing Kids, their ferocious, feral 2006 debut, "Orchestra Of Wolves", offered a harsh, unflinching dissection of suffocating suburban mores, shot through with images of small-town violence, desperation and disgust. Its follow-up, 2009's apocalyptic "Grey Britain", was darker, denser and even more brutally incisive, a lacerating, none-more-bleak state of the nation address, speaking of a once-proud nation on its knees, riven by prejudice, greed, ignorance and fear. December 2011's "Death Is Birth" EP heralded the arrival of a new GALLOWS: united, uncompromised, unfettered, unbroken. With old friend (and former ALEXISONFIRE guitarist) Wade MacNeil installed as the band's new frontman, the seven-inch EP was a defiant declaration of independence, 459 seconds of apoplectic punk rock fury landing like an adrenaline spike to the heart.

GALLOWS is:

Wade MacNeil (vocals)
Lee Barratt (drums)
Stephen Carter (guitar)
Laurent Barnard (guitar)
Stuart Gili-Ross (bass)

Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival, the world's largest touring heavy music festival, kicked off its fifth year yesterday (Saturday, June 30) at San Manuel Amphitheater in San Bernardino, California with a record-breaking attendance of 26,105 — 4,000 more than the previous attendance record set by the tour.

The headlining slot on the main stage at Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival is occupied by SLIPKNOT. Next are thrash metal kings SLAYER, followed by the legendary MOTÖRHEAD). The main stage also spotlights a ferocious mix of today's best artists in a rotation, including THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, AS I LAY DYING and ASKING ALEXANDRIA.

Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival is produced by Rockstar Taste of Chaos organizer John Reese, Vans Warped Tour founder Kevin Lyman, Live Nation, and Creative Artists Agency. The team has made the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival a standout on the summer concert circuit by following the proven model of utilizing sponsorship to deliver a lower ticket price and an enhanced concert experience. This year sees them joining forces once again with Rockstar Energy Drink as the title sponsor.

"Sweet Child Of Mine: How I Lost My Son to Guns N' Roses" (formerly "No Bed Of Roses"), the long-awaited tell-all book from Deanna Adler, the mother of original GUNS N' ROSES drummer Steven Adler, has had its release date pushed back to August 28 from the previously announced April 5 (via 4th Street Media).

Several excerpts from the book can be found at this location.

Deanna gives an honest and revealing look into a life beset by abuse and betrayal and what it was like raising a child who became a member of one of the greatest rock bands in history, and a heroin addict of equally epic proportions. The book emotionally and enthrallingly details a mother's love for her infamous son, whose phenomenal success is surpassed only by his astounding capacity for self-destruction.

"Sweet Child Of Mine" is the universal journey of a mother's devotion to her child, filled with moments of both profound joy and crippling heartache. Deanna takes readers on a roller coaster ride through raising a troubled young boy who ultimately reached the pinnacle of fame and success, only to then be publicly branded a junkie and kicked out of his band in front of a television audience of millions; go on to endure continuing addiction, legal battles, financial ruin, two heart attacks, multiple suicide attempts, a debilitating stroke, and numerous stints in rehab. But it is her courage and indomitable spirit that both educates and inspires, as she is living proof that devotion to family, a sense of humor, and faith in a higher power are the foundations for achieving peace and purpose in life.

For more information, visit www.sweetchildbook.com.

La Voce, the voice of the Las Vegas' Italian-American community, last year spoke to Deanna Adler about her upcoming book. The chat can be streamed in two parts below.

Interview - Part 1 (audio):



Interview - Part 2 (audio):



Deanna Adler appeared on the second season of "Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew", on which Steven was a cast member. During the season's episode five, Dr. Drew, Dr. Sophy and Steven sat down for a meeting with Deanna in a what was described as "a tense whirlwind of accusations, denials and resentment. Steven is so flustered that he storms out of the room, leaving the many issues between he and Deanna unresolved, possibly forever."

You can see Deanna Adler's appearance on "Celebrity Rehab" at this location. (Deanna Adler first appears around the 19-minute mark.)

Having been kicked out of his mother's house on numerous occasions before he was old enough to vote, Steven Adler reportedly started skipping school and doing drugs when he was 11.

Steven Adler was the drummer for GUNS N' ROSES from 1985 to 1990. He was eventually fired from the band due to his drug addiction, which caused him to spiral down into depression and more drug use.

Steven Adler's autobiography, "My Appetite for Destruction: Sex, and Drugs, and Guns N' Roses", came out in July 2010. In the book, Adler tells all, fearlessly addressing his struggles with heroin and crack addiction; his financial ruin after being kicked out of GN'R; his shattered marriage; and the severe health problems that nearly claimed his life on several occasions.