Video footage of former IRON MAIDEN singer Paul Di'Anno's August 25 performance at the Rock Knights Festival in Larzac, France can be seen below.

Due to a number of health issues, including a knee problem which will require surgery soon, Di'Anno announced in July that he will stop touring next year.

In a message posted on his Facebook page, Paul stated about his impending retirement from performing, "To all of you who have been with me from the start, and many new friends who have given me the privilege of being able to play and meet so many of you through the years, I can't find the right words to tell you all how much I'll miss you. All of you have my love and respect forever, and anyone who knows me knows that ain't a load of bollocks you have kept me going through difficult times, happy times and a lot of heartbreak. I thank you all with all my heart and I'm glad you're not here right now watching me write this crying like a big Jessie (for you, mates, it means a wuss!). Thank you all again, I love you all and wish you all health, good fortune, and most of all, love and happiness. You will be with me always. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Timao Corinthians n again te amo simper. Love, Paul."

Michael Salenius, Di'Anno's Swedish booking manager and tour manager, told BLABBERMOUTH.NET that next year will be "a big, fantastic" last touring year for Paul, with a lot of solo shows, festival appearances and Di'Anno vs. Blaze Bayley concerts. You will also see various guest musicians joining Paul on stage.

Di'Anno recorded two classic albums with IRON MAIDEN before being fired and replaced by Bruce Dickinson. He went on to front a number of other bands, including KILLERS and BATTLEZONE, and released several solo records.

On August 27, 2011, Di'Anno played his first show since serving time in a U.K. prison after he falsely collected U.K. government benefits by claiming he suffered nerve damage to his back that prevented him from working.

After serving his jail term in early 2011, Di'Anno issued a short statement in which he thanked his fans for their support and claimed that he "managed not to drop the soap" during his stint behind bars.

Di'Anno completed his first North American tour in early 2010, 17 years after he was deported following a prison term for guns and drug offenses.

Video footage of British heavy metal singer Blaze Bayley (IRON MAIDEN, WOLFSBANE) and his solo band performing on August 25 at the Rock Knights Festival in Larzac, France can be seen below.

As previously reported, Bayley is working on songs for a new classical EP with Belgium-based classical guitarist Thomas Zwijsen. The five-song effort will include a "full classical guitar arrangement" of the IRON MAIDEN song "Sign Of The Cross", which the duo performed on their recent U.K. acoustic tour.

Zwijsen previously recorded an acoustic IRON MAIDEN tribute album called "Nylon Maiden", which featured a guest appearance by Bayley on a cover version of "The Clansman".

Zwijsen is one of the musicians who backed Bayley on Blaze's most recent European "The King Of Metal" tour.

Bayley's new studio album, "The King Of Metal", was released in March. The CD was recorded at Fear Studio in Ravenna, Italy.

The 49-year-old Bayley, who was born in Birmingham, was the original frontman in WOLFSBANE, but left in 1994 to replace Bruce Dickinson as the lead singer of IRON MAIDEN.

A reunited WOLFSBANE released its first record in 17 years in April 2011. Entitled "Did It For The Money", it contained the brand new title track along with re-recordings of four old WOLFSBANE numbers. A full-length album, "Wolfsbane Save The World", followed in January.

Mike Lopez of The Offering webzine conducted an interview with Jean-François Dagenais of Canadian extreme metallers KATAKLYSM prior to the band's August 26 concert at Reggies in Chicago, Illinois. You can now listen to the chat in the YouTube clip below.

"The Iron Will: 20 Years Determined", the new multidisc DVD from KATAKLYSM, recently entered the German chart at position No. 98.

"The Iron Will: 20 Years Determined" depicts the ups and downs of KATAKLYSM's long, turbulent career, as well as footage of the band's performance at last year's Summer Breeze festival, which took place August 18-20, 2011 in Dinkelsbühl, Germany. The cover art for the release was created by artist Colin Marks (ORIGIN, EXODUS, NEVERMORE) and can be viewed below.

KATAKLYSM's latest album, "Heaven's Venom", sold around 2,400 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 8 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.

KATAKLYSM's previous CD, "Prevail", opened with 2,250 units back in June 2008.

"Heaven's Venom" was produced by Jean-Francois Dagenais and was mixed by Tue Madsen (THE HAUNTED, MNEMIC, DARK TRANQUILLITY).

Ian Croft of iDrum magazine conducted an interview with GODSMACK drummer Shannon Larkin before the band's concert in London, England this past June. You can now watch the chat below.

GODSMACK kicked off the Rockstar Energy Uproar Festival tour with SHINEDOWN, STAIND and others on August 17 in Bonner Springs, Kansas, with singer Sully Erna starting his first major tour since canceling a European run several weeks ago over throat issues. Erna told The Pulse Of Radio just as the trek got underway that he's fine now, and explained what happened. "It was actually a bit of an infection that I had in the back of my throat, and I was exhausted, I hadn't slept in three days when we got to Europe, and it was just a combination of being like really tired, singing exhausted and just pushed myself a little too hard," he said. "And I injured it enough that I had to kind of shut it down, but it wasn't like a permanent injury or something like that. It was the first and only time it's ever happened in my career, and I don't expect this to become a habit."

Also on the Uproar bill are ADELITAS WAY, P.O.D., DEUCE, REDLIGHT KING and others.

GODSMACK will also be one of the headliners on the ShipRocked 2012 cruise this year, taking off from Fort Lauderdale, Florida in late November for five days.

GODSMACK's first-ever live album, "Live & Inspired", which sold around 16,500 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 19 on The Billboard 200 chart.

Released on May 15 via Universal Republic Records, "Live & Inspired" features fierce and furious live renditions of numerous hits from the Massachusetts rockers' five studio albums.

Official Metallica.com footage of METALLICA's pre-show tuning-room jam and "Wherever I May Roam" performance on August 18 at Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada can be seen below.

The band's setlist was as follows:

01. Creeping Death
02. For Whom The Bell Tolls
03. Fuel
04. Ride The Lightning
05. One
06. Cyanide
07. The Memory Remains
08. Wherever I May Roam
09. Sad But True
10. Welcome Home (Sanitarium)
11. ...And Justice For All
12. Fade To Black
13. Master Of Puppets
14. Battery
15. Nothing Else Matters
16. Enter Sandman

Encore:

17. Hit The Lights
18. Seek & Destroy

A member of METALLICA's road crew caught fire during the show, as the the stagehand was seen struggling with a malfunctioning pyro launcher during "Enter Sandman" when he was suddenly engulfed in flame. As James Hetfield called for the band to stop playing, other crew members doused the man with fire extinguishers and took him off the stage in stretchers, with the band resuming its show a few minutes later.

A spokesperson for METALLICA's concert promoter previously said the stunt was "all part of the show," and in fact the band has staged this type of "accident" before during its 1997 tour, on which the show ended with the stage seemingly collapsing around the group as one crew member caught fire and another dangled upside down from the fallen lighting rig. The effect was caught on the band's "Cunning Stunts" DVD.

METALLICA's recent show in Mexico City marked the debut of a new 140-foot-by-50-foot stage that features "colossal components and striking visual elements spanning the band's entire 30-year career," meaning that the "accident" stunt could be back for an encore.

At a July 28 press conference before the first show in Mexico City, frontman James Hetfield said that the band was focused on "staying alive" while performing alongside the "dangerous elements" of the new production, with bassist Robert Trujillo adding, "Like James said, it's very dangerous — we've got stuff flying every which way."

METALLICA played the Outside Lands festival in San Francisco earlier in the month and performed three shows in Vancouver, which were filmed for the band's upcoming 3D movie.

On August 24, Sam Hatch of WWUH Radio's metal show "The House Of Zazz" spoke with Devin Townsend, Canadian multi-instrumentalist and ex-STRAPPING YOUNG LAD mastermind, about his upcoming DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT release "Epicloud". Devin explains the concept (or anti-concept) behind the new disc, and how it is both a response to the four-album suite that preceded it and an exploration of the desire to maintain a positive outlook in the shadow of an increasingly negative world. He promises that the album will be a conscious attempt at sidestepping overlong, self-indulgent songs in favor of slabs of straight up, pretense-free rock numbers.

"My love for AC/DC or DEF LEPPARD is definitely going to win out at this point in life versus 'Well, this is a fifteen-part saga about a lonely gnome,'" Devin said.

The boys also delve into the foibles of turning 40 and how that affects performing, the near-failure of the four-concert series seen on the "By A Thread: Live In London" 2011 DVD, how concert audiences are rewarded while the music industry withers, attitudes on album production, the art of balancing multiple guitar endorsement deals, a flashback to the days of being a hired gun for FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY, the temptation to ditch popular music for scoring movies, and the relative merits of Lucky Charms and Cap'n Crunch.

You can listen to "The House Of Zazz" Tuesday nights/Wednesday mornings from midnight until 3:00 a.m. Eastern Time on 91.3 FM WWUH (in Connecticut) and streaming live via the Internet at www.wwuh.org.

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Part 2:

Former PANTERA and current DOWN frontman Philip Anselmo has posted three more short video updates from his home in New Orleans, where Hurricane Isaac lingered for the better part of two days, providing a first, successful test of the city’s $14.5 billion flood-control system assembled after 2005's Hurricane Katrina.

Katrina was responsible for the deaths of 1,800 people, most in New Orleans after the levee system failed and the city flooded.

According to CNN, Isaac. which made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane, passed slightly to the west of New Orleans, where the intricate network of levees, pumps and floodgates was "performing the way it was designed to," according to Rene Poche, a spokesman for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

In a 2005 interview, Anselmo spoke about the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, explaining, "I was stuck in a hotel room for two and a half weeks in Houston, Texas, with my Rottweiler, my other dog, and this cat I've had since 1992 or something. I wasn't even sure he was going to make it because of the trauma, but he's a tough bastard." He added, "I was surrounded by all sorts of different people from New Orleans, who were working class, earning week-to-week salaries just to buy groceries and pay rent, and everything that had was gone. Just to think about the city, its culture, its characters, just the bands that have come out of here over the last 20 years, scattered and literally washed away."

Vocalist Whitfield Crane of reunited hard rockers UGLY KID JOE was interviewed for the latest episode of the "Decibel Geek" podcast. You can now listen to the chat using the audio player below.

UGLY KID JOE released a new six-song EP, "Stairway To Hell", digitally on June 5 and physically on July 9.

"Stairway To Hell" heralds UGLY KID JOE's return, containing songs spanning the full repertoire of influences which made UGLY KID JOE one of the prime soundtracks for young snowboarders, surfers, keggers and characters worldwide. Whether it's "Devil’s Paradise", with it's hypnotic riffery and hook line, grooving and grinding its hips seductively, the melodic power-fueled darkness of "No One Survives" or the irrepressibly memorable chug-and-chorus of "I'm Alright" it's clear that UGLY KID JOE have everything they started with plus fatter chops and a (frankly) superior curve on songwriting.

"Stairway To Hell" track listing:

01. Devil's Paradise
02. You Make Me Sick
03. No One Survives
04. I'm Alright
05. Love Ain't True! (feat. Angelo Moore and Dirty Walt of FISHBONE)
06. Another Beer

UGLY KID JOE released three full-length albums and toured extensively throughout the 1990s before disbanding in 1997.

UGLY KID JOE 2012 is:

Whitfield Crane - Vocals
Klaus Eichstadt - Guitar
Dave Fortman - Guitar
Cordell Crockett - Bass
Shannon Larkin - Drums

"Decibel Geek" podcast (audio):

After a summer devoted to work, work and more work, Italian "cinematic" metallers LUCA TURILLI'S RHAPSODY have announced that all is proceeding perfectly with the production of their "Ascending To Infinity Cinematic World Tour". The band's guitarist/mainman Luca Turilli and singer Alessandro Conti just came back from the Backyard Studios in Kempten, Germany where they recorded a new session of epic choirs exclusively for the upcoming trek.

Explains Luca: "As in our shows we will also play some of the very old RHAPSODY songs, rarely or never played until now, we decided to re-record the choirs for those same songs in order to present them on stage with the best sound quality possible. Moreover, we decided to add a great choral impact to some songs that originally were not featuring a choir."

Adds Alessandro: “A couple of days ago, we met in Germany some of the singers who already performed on the new album 'Ascending To Infinity', and, thanks to their unique vocal power, we gave new energy and new life to those glorious and legendary tracks that made the history of RHAPSODY!"

The singers who took part in the new choral recordings are Conti, photographer Johnny Eisprung; Matthias Stockinger, singer and actor from the musical "Evita"; and the AOR legend Dan Lucas, who sold 1.4 million copies with the single "Heart Of America".

In August 2011, RHAPSODY OF FIRE guitarist Luca Turilli and keyboardist Alex Staropoli announced their decision to go their separate ways.

Due to legal reasons, Staropoli is continuing under the RHAPSODY OF FIRE name. Turilli, on the other hand, is making his efforts available under the RHAPSODY moniker (RHAPSODY OF FIRE's original name), in which he is joined by guitarist Dominique Leurquin, bassist Patrice Guers, singer Alessandro Conti (TRICK OR TREAT) and drummer Alex Landenburg (AT VANCE, ANNIHILATOR, MEKONG DELTA, STRATOVARIUS).

LUCA TURILLI'S RHAPSODY's new album, "Ascending To Infinity", entered the German Media Control chart at the position No. 32.

Former SKID ROW frontman Sebastian Bach told Billboard.com in a recent interview that he was approached to write a memoir, which he predicted could "make the dirt look clean."

The Billboard.com writer, Gary Graff, took Sebastian's comment to mean that the singer's autobiography would top MÖTLEY CRÜE's "The Dirt: Confessions Of The World's Most Notorious Rock Band", something Bach now insists he never said or even implied.

In a new post on his Facebook page, Bach writes, "Why does the press always put words in my mouth? You would think I would know better by now.

"Someone asked me about my book and my answer was exactly this: 'I could make the dirt look clean if I wanted to.' Now every single thing I read about my book says, 'Sebastian says his book will surpass MÖTLEY CRÜE's 'The Dirt'. Only thing is... I never said that. I don't even know what kind of book it will be yet.

"My book has nothing to do with MÖTLEY CRÜE! I love the CRÜE, but I have not decided if I want my book to be full-on burrito-fucking madness, or something different.

"I have never used the words 'MÖTLEY CRÜE' when talking about my book, until this very post.

"Thank you, I feel much better."

During the Billboard.com interview, Bach stated about the prospect of writing his memoir, "It seems like such an overwhelming project, so don't hold your breath for it. He added, "It has to blow me away before I release it. I want to write it by myself; I look at Duff McKagan's [VELVET REVOLVER, GUNS N' ROSES] book, Dee Snider's [TWISTED SISTER] book, they wrote them by themselves and they're amazing books. So I might try, but if it doesn't put goosebumps on my arm, I won't put it out."

Bach told the QMI Agency last year that his memoir would likely be a collaboration with Larry Sloman, the same man who helped pen "Scar Tissue", the autobiography of RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS singer Anthony Kiedis.

"'Scar Tissue' had a lot to do with Anthony Kiedis's relationship with his dad, and I had a very 'strong' relationship with my dad," Sebastian said. "[My dad] was a famous painter in Canada, he owned Art Space in Peterborough in the '70s and we came from California, and we were like freaks in Peterborough. The Peterborough Examiner — all the articles about when my dad first got there, it was like, 'The hippies are coming to town!' I swear."

Guitarist/vocalist Mille Petrozza of German thrash metal veterans KREATOR has issued the following update:

"We are getting ready for our first U.S. tour in two years.

"Rehearsals are going great and this will be the first time we are bringing the whole European stage production to the States.

"Be prepared for a setlist that contains both classic KREATOR and lots of new material.

"We are very honored to play with ACCEPT. They have been a huge inspiration when we started the band in the Eighties.

"This tour will be nothing but historical!

"After the tour, we will be shooting a new video for the song 'From Flood Into Fire', and will stay on the road in Europe until the end of the year.

"In January we will return to Israel, and after that, a full U.K. tour, a 13-date tour in Russia, plus dates in Japan, Australia and South America are in the making.

"Looking forward to see all our American friends next month."

In other news, KREATOR will return to the Holy Land for the third time and play a special show at Barby Club in Tel Aviv on January 18, 2013. The band's previous concert in Israel — in 1992 and 2006 — were both highly successful and the band even filmed a music video for the song "Renewal" during the '92 gig.

Stated promoter Yishai Sweartz: "I am highly proud to bring to Israel KREATOR, a band with honest agenda, meaningful lyrics and brilliant music.

"KREATOR have a huge fanbase in Israel since the early days. When the band played in Tel Aviv first time in 1992, I was 18, banging heads in front of the stage. Now, 20 years later, the circle complete and I am the first one to say that the band's lyrics has opened my mind to new ideas and showed me the path not once. It's a huge part of who I am today and it's a great way to thank the band for a huge influence.

"In the land of Extreme Aggression, in the middle of the Terror Zone, the place of the Second Awakening, it's time to raise the flag of KREATOR once again!!"

KREATOR's new album, "Phantom Antichrist", sold 3,900 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at 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.

Released on June 1 in Europe and June 5 in North America via Nuclear Blast Records, "Phantom Antichrist" was recorded at Fascination Street Studios in Örebro, Sweden with renowned producer Jens Bogren (OPETH, KATATONIA, SOILWORK, DEVIN TOWNSEND, AMON AMARTH).

Photo by Stefan Heilemann of Heilemania

According to Metal-Rules.com, bassist Steve Harris of British heavy metal legends IRON MAIDEN has revealed to the German magazine Rock Hard that the band's "Maiden England" concert video will be re-released in 2013, with the footage expanded to comprise the show's encores which were not included in the original VHS version of the set.

IRON MAIDEN's recent "Maiden England" tour closely mirrored, in terms of production and content, the original 1988 concert video of the same name, shot on the 7th Tour Of A 7th Tour. The spectacular stage set was 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, 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."

PureGrainAudio's Mitch Lafon conducted an interview with SLIPKNOT co-founder/conceptualist/percussionist Shawn M. Crahan (a.k.a. Clown) at this year's edition of the Heavy MTL festival, which was held August 11-12 at Parc Jean-Drapeau in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. You can now watch the chat below.

SLIPKNOT's greatest-hits package, "Antennas To Hell", sold more than 16,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 18 on The Billboard 200 chart. The set consists of 19 songs from the band's four major label studio albums, as well as live performances of "The Heretic Anthem" and "Purity", plus a remix of "My Plague". A 17-track bonus disc, "(sic)nesses: Live At The Download Festival 2009", is also included in the package.

Drummer Joey Jordison told The Pulse Of Radio that he and the band compiled the set based not on their own feelings about their music, but on what their fans enjoy. "When we create music, and we record it and then we throw it out to the world; it's other people's music now, you know what I mean?" he said. "And like, it's not really ours anymore. We'll perform it, but it's for other people to enjoy. Like, I mean, it's still our songs, and we'll always play 'em, but it's like it's other people's music. So that's like kind of what we were doing, you know, with 'Antennas To Hell'."

Corey Taylor said about the set, "It really took no time at all to get those together, and it's a good problem to have. And trust me, this band shudders at the thought of calling something a 'greatest-hits' or a 'best-of.' To us, it was just a compilation to a) celebrate the fact that our fans have been with us since day one, and b) to basically celebrate what we call the Paul years. To pay respect to that, to the years that we had Paul, and everything we built together."

The collection is the first release from SLIPKNOT since the passing of bassist Paul Gray in 2010.

Taylor recently confirmed that the group has been "putting together demos" for its fifth major label album, which it expects to begin recording next year.

Frontiers Records has set a September 25 North American release date for "Broken Bones", the 11th studio album from melodic hard rockers DOKKEN. The effort will be released in two configurations: standard CD and limited-edition CD in digipak with a bonus DVD, which features a comprehensive "Making Of The Album" documentary.

"Broken Bones" was produced by DOKKEN frontman and namesake Don Dokken and was mixed by Bob St. John (EXTREME, DURAN DURAN, COLLECTIVE SOUL) and Wyn Davis (BLACK SABBATH, DIO, WHITESNAKE) and mastered by famed engineer Maor Appelbaum (HALFORD, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, SEPULTURA). The new set features a return to the band's signature sound of catchy melodies, hot riffs and monster production.

"Broken Bones" track listing:

01. Empire
02. Broken Bones
03. Best Of Me
04. Blind
05. Waterfall
06. Victim Of The Crime
07. Burning Tears
08. Today
09. For The Last Time
10. Fade Away
11. Tonight

Audio samples of all 11 tracks are now available for streaming at MelodicRock.com.

The drums for the CD were laid down at MÖTLEY CRÜE drummer Tommy Lee's The Atrium studio in Calabasas, California.

Don Dokken stated in a recent interview about the "Broken Bones" album title, "[It] is a metaphor that we all have broken bones, be it from an accident, failed relationship, or a broken heart. Everybody gets wounded as we go through life, but, as they say, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger."

Dokken previously described the band's new material as "very uptempo and heavy." He added, "We know our fans like the classic DOKKEN sound, and this is where our new music is headed. It's been a band of brothers doing what we love: 'music.'"

Regarding the new songs' lyrical approach, Dokken said, "I write what comes from the heart, I don't believe in writing music trying to repeat what you've already done. I understand what the fans want but as an artist I see no point in painting the same picture over and over."

The first single from "Broken Bones" will be "Empire".

The cooperation between Frontiers and DOKKEN started with the European release of the group's "Lightning Strikes Again" CD in 2007. The album marked a return to DOKKEN's signature style with melodic hooklines and blazing guitar riffs that epitomized the band's sound on such records as "Tooth And Nail", "Under Lock And Key", "Back For The Attack" and "Dysfunctional".

DOKKEN's current lineup consists of Don Dokken on lead vocals, Jon Levin on guitar, Sean McNabb on bass and Mick Brown on drums.

Photo credit: Mike Savoia

On July 7, Premier Guitar's Jason Shadrick was on location at Marcus Amphitheater in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where he caught up with Trace Foster, the guitar tech for AEROSMITH's Joe Perry, during the band's "The Global Warming Tour". In the 29-minute segment below, we get to see Perry's collection of touring gear.

Perry recently signed a deal to write his autobiography, likely to be released in fall 2013.

AEROSMITH singer Steven Tyler's "Does The Noise In My Head Bother You?" autobiography was issued last year, while the band's drummer, Joey Kramer, had his own tale, "Hit Hard: A Story Of Hitting Rock Bottom At The Top", published in 2009. AEROSMITH bassist Tom Hamilton is also rumored to be working on a book.

AEROSMITH's new album, "Music From Another Dimension!", will arrive on November 6 via Columbia Records. The CD was helmed by producer Jack Douglas, who previously worked with AEROSMITH on classic early albums like "Toys In The Attic" and "Rocks" as well as on 2004's "Honkin' On Bobo".

A three-minute Israeli TV report on SABATON's visit to Jerusalem, Israel's Ammunition Hill with soldiers ahead of their sold-out Tel Aviv concert on Thursday (August 30) can be seen below.

SABATON has written several songs praising and celebrating the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The band's 2006 song "Counterstrike", from their landmark "Primo Victoria" album, recounts the lightning victory the IDF accomplished in the 1967 Six-Day War.

Ammunition Hill is the site of one of the bloodiest battles of the Six-Day War and s the main official memorial symbolizing the liberation and reunification of Jerusalem.

"[The members of SABATON are] like family," Yishai Sweartz, the Tel Aviv head of Raven Music, which promotes metal shows and albums and brought SABATON to Israel on its previous trips, told The Jerusalem Post. "They love Israel. The last time they were here, they asked to visit Latrun, and this time they asked me where else they could visit, so I suggested Ammunition Hill."

"When you read about something, which is what we did before writing the song 'Counterstrike', you get your own images in your head," SABATON bassist Pär Sundström told The Jerusalem Post. "So even though I knew most of the information already, I like the movie because it helped me visualize better what went on."

Read the full report, and check out photos, from The Jerusalem Post.

A "raw" version of a new CRIMSON GLORY demo track entitled "Garden Of Shadows" can be streamed in the YouTube clip below. The song will appear on the band's new album, a concept record tentatively slated for release next year.

"Obviously there will be many unique elements and dynamics to our new record," the Florida-based group says in a press release. "Moments of light and beauty, times of darkness, pain and sorrow; soaring, epic vocal melodies, fiercely intense dueling guitar riffs and lead harmonies, along with driving, melodic bass lines that are the very foundation of much of our music… songs with real passion, emotion and melodies that can withstand the test of time; everything our fans have grown to admire and respect about our classic songs will be there."

Adds lead guitarist Jon Drenning: "We chose 'Garden Of Shadows' as a teaser track for our fans because it was the very first song we had written/demoed with [the new CRIMSON GLORY singer] Todd [La Torre] almost a year and a half ago, before he was an official member of the band. We wanted to see what he could do musically and lyrically on his own. What you hear is exactly what Todd recorded at home without any input from anyone in the band. Indeed, this track helped seal the deal with Todd for us, because we wanted more than just a voice — we needed a creative writing force as well, someone who understood our particular style and sound of music and the legacy that accompanies it."

The guitarist continues: "Of course we have much more new material that we have been working on since the writing of this particular song, which will undoubtedly go through additional changes regarding individual parts, song arrangement, etc. as we progress further into production and the final recording. To be truthful, the compositions that come before and after this one are just as important to understanding the song itself, but we thought since it was the first song we had composed with Todd, it should also be the first new song shared with our fans around the world. This is just one example of where we started and what we have been working on, and we want to take our fans on the journey with us, from beginning to end."

La Torre became an official member of CRIMSON GLORY in April 2010 and has played a number of shows with the band during the past two years.

La Torre made his first public appearance with CRIMSON GLORY at ProgPower USA X as one of seventeen guest performers paying tribute to Midnight, the band's original singer.

Essentially unknown to the mainstream progressive metal scene, La Torre spent 22 years earning his stripes and solidifying himself as an unquestionable talent behind the drum kit of various hard rock and heavy metal projects in the Tampa Bay, Florida area. However, his vocal aspirations went largely unfulfilled until 2009 when Matt LaPorte (JON OLIVA'S PAIN), who had only heard La Torre sing on a few occasions, casually mentioned to CRIMSON GLORY guitarist Jon Drenning that he might make a nice addition to the already stellar lineup of performers the band had accumulated. It was only a short time later that La Torre found himself at the band's rehearsal studio, and the pieces began to fall into place.

Midnight passed away in 2009 due to long-term health complications.

La Torre recently joined QUEENSRŸCHE as the replacement for Geoff Tate.

The singer, who says that QUEENSRŸCHE has been his favorite band since he was 15 years old, first met QUEENSRŸCHE guitarist Michael Wilton at this year's NAMM convention in January in Anaheim, California.

A few weeks ago, SMASHING PUMPKINS frontman Billy Corgan called out Nineties contemporaries, including SOUNDGARDEN, for cashing in with their reunion tours.

"There are those bands that are essentially coming back only to make money — playing their old albums, and maybe somewhere in the back of their minds they're thinking there might be a future," Corgan said at a press conference before a show in the Philippines.

He continued: "I am not in that business, obviously. I condemn anybody who's in that business but doesn't admit [he's] in that business. When SOUNDGARDEN came back and they just played their old songs, great. I was a fan of SOUNDGARDEN, but call it for what it is. They're just out there to have one more round at the till; same with PAVEMENT and these other bands."

On Friday (August 31) Corgan appeared on the Channel 93.3 radio station in Denver, Colorado and explained his beef with SOUNDGARDEN. He said (hear audio below), "Well, there's a little bit of a backstory there. [SOUNGARDEN singer] Chris Cornell was somebody I considered a friend, and would never have said a harsh word about.

"When [SMASHING PUMPKINS] came back in 2007, [Cornell] was quoted in an interview saying, basically, he didn't consider our reunion, in quotations, to be 'legitimate.' So that's something that's… I kind of have an elephant's memory when it comes to somebody punching me in the face."

He continued, "Cornell's one of those people who is extremely talented. I was a fan from literally, I think, their second EP. I met them in 1991 and [I] still believe in what was great about the band. But when we're sitting there having conversations about who is doing what, I am no longer gonna shield somebody. If they wanna punch me in the face, I'm happy to punch them back in the face. So, [I] respect the man's talent. People gloss over the Timbaland album. [laughs] [Referring to Cornell's 2008 Timbaland-produced solo album, "Scream", which bitterly divided fans over its urban pop sound — Ed.] You know what I mean?!

"My point is, look, I don't have any specific bone to pick, although I just, obviously, made a case for one. My point is don't lump us in with people who are sort of just doing the reunion lap. Now, of course, fans are lighting up my Twitter saying, 'Do you realize SOUNDGARDEN is doing a new album?' OK, well, if they are, great. That's what they should be doing. [They are] great musicians, [and] they should make new music, and hopefully they'll make great albums, because we need artists to make great albums and great music in this day and age of the robots and the posers and, you know, the 'faux hawk' bands."

Corgan concluded, "Does it make sense? Do I sound like a fan? 'Cause I am a fan. . . I want all of my generation to raise the bar. And I don't appreciate it when somebody from my generation, who I once considered a friend, decides to piss on my little spot in the corner, for whatever reason, right around the same time he's making the Timbaland album. You know what I mean?! That's where it gets kind of dicey for me. So that's sort of the real backstory of where that came from."

Black Market Activities has set an October 23 release date for "Danza IIII: The Alpha - The Omega", the fourth and final album by THE TONY DANZA TAPDANCE EXTRAVAGANZA.

Singled out early on by Alternative Press magazine as "one of the underground's fiercest live acts," THE TONY DANZA TAPDANCE EXTRAVAGANZA cut its teeth in the mid-00s, touring with the likes of THE ACACIA STRAIN, DESPISED ICON, CATTLE DECAPITATION, MISERY INDEX and SUICIDE SILENCE. With a rep for dazzling chops and planet-smashing heaviness, balanced by a healthy sense of humor, the Tennessee band released three albums — 2005's self-titled debut, 2007's "Danza II: Electric Boogaloo", and 2010's "Danza III: The Series of Unfortunate Events" — honing a style that would help pave the way for countless younger bands.

For the fourth and final album, "Danza IIII" (think tally marks, not Roman numerals), we find a stripped-down DANZA, consisting solely of core members Jessie Freeland and Josh Travis. With Freeland manning the vocals as always, this time with even more vitriol than ever, the virtuoso Travis is responsible for all other instrumentation on the album. The result: the most musical and bloodlettingly honest work ever to bear the DANZA name. With a decade-long legacy behind them, Freeland and Travis have delivered what will serve as an incredible last will and testament for their band.

Travis, now a full-time member of GLASS CLOUD with former OF MICE & MEN frontman Jerry Roush, made this comment about "Danza IIII": "For this album, Jessie and I were looking to create more of a visceral vibe than a completely technical vibe. There's parts that do still get a bit chaotic, of course, but not nearly as much as the avid listener is used to. Everything about this record is way more to the point, with much more heart put into it rather than just seeing how many notes could be thrown into a part or seeking to create 'the heaviest shit ever' or any of that nonsense. The record being titled 'The Alpha - The Omega', to us, symbolized the beginning and the end of DANZA. Jessie and I hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed creating it for you all."

"Danza IIII" contains guest vocal appearances by WHITECHAPEL's Phil Bozeman and OBEY THE BRAVE/DESPISED ICON's Alex Erian. The album was engineered and mixed by Nicholas Scott (MISS MAY I). The artwork was created by Michael J. Windsor, known for his work with THE RED CHORD and PIG DESTROYER, and for his book covers for bestsellers like "The Da Vinci Code" and "Darkly Dreaming Dexter".

Black Market Activities' release of "Danza IIII" consists of super-limited CD and vinyl pressings. The CD package contains a 16-page booklet; the vinyl version is comprised of an LP and an additional seven-inch single.

Fans can pre-order "Danza IIII" today via the band's official online store at IndieMerch.com. Various pre-order options are available, including a $99 collector's package which includes four shirts, one sweatshirt, the album on CD and vinyl, two posters, a sticker, and a flask.

"You Won't", the first track to be revealed off "Danza IIII", can be streamed below.

According to UnionLeader.com, a New Hampshire woman was arrested four times over a 26-hour period for blasting music — including AC/DC's classic song "Highway To Hell" at 1 a.m. — and for throwing a frying pan at her nephew.

Joyce Coffey, 53, got a warning from the police around 3 p.m. Tuesday after neighbors complained about her loud rock music. An hour later, police were called back to the residence for another noise complaint and Coffey was arrested on a charge of disorderly conduct when she wouldn't turn down the music. The second arrest occurred at 9:20 p.m. Tuesday when police received yet another complaint from neighbors. The next noise complaint came in at 1:10 a.m. Wednesday when Officer Matt Blonigen said he could hear "Highway To Hell" as he pulled up in his cruiser. This time Coffey was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and breach of bail conditions.

Police arrested Coffey for the fourth time after her nephew said he tried to remove some of his belongings from her house and she threw a frying pan at him, hitting him in the head.

Police booking photo:

Kerrang! magazine conducted an interview with TURBONEGRO at this year's edition of the Reading Festival, which was held August 24-26 on Little John's Farm in Reading, England. You can now watch the chat below.

TURBONEGRO released its ninth studio album, "Sexual Harassment", digitally on June 13 via Volcom Entertainment. Fine-quality LPs and CDs of "Sexual Harassment" were made available in August.

Recorded at Electric Lady Studios in New York, "Sexual Harassment" is a ten-song album which "showcase TURBONEGRO's roots in hardcore punk, '80s alternative, the thrift-store riffs of THE STOOGES and THE ROLLING STONES, platform-booted glitter rock, and spectacular bubblegum radio music of any era — all executed with an attitude that's unmistakably TURBONEGRO," according to a press release. The CD was produced by Matt Sweeney and mixed at Malabar Studio in Oslo by Nick Terry. The artwork was created by Martin Kvamme, Gardar Eide Einarsson and Matias Faldbakken.

Professionally filmed video footage of TURBONEGRO's performance at this year's edition of the Hellfest festival, which was held June 15-17 in Clisson, France, can be seen below.

TURBONEGRO is:

Tony Sylvester (a.k.a. Duke Of Nothing) - vocals
Euroboy - lead guitar
Rune Rebellion - rhythm guitar
Happy-Tom - bass
Tommy Manboy - drums

Interview:



Hellfest performance:

Kalle-Rock.de conducted an interview with singer Ailyn of the Norwegian-Spanish gothic metal band SIRENIA on July 13 at the Masters Of Rock festival in Vizovice, Czech Republic. You can now listen to the chat in the YouTube clip below.

SIRENIA's latest album, "The Enigma Of Life", was released on January 21, 2011 via Nuclear Blast Records.

The band's "The End Of It All" video was once again directed by Patric Ullaeus of Revolver Film Company, who has previously worked with DIMMU BORGIR, LACUNA COIL, IN FLAMES, SONIC SYNDICATE and KAMELOT, among many others.

SIRENIA recruited singer Ailyn (born: Pilar Giménez García) as the replacement for Monika Pedersen, who left the group in 2007 after only one album due to "musical differences."

Ailyn is best known as a former contestant on the Spanish version of "The X Factor", the biggest television talent competition in Europe.

Interview:



Performance:

LOST ANGELS, the band featuring singer John Corabi (MÖTLEY CRÜE, RATT), guitarist Eric Dover (SLASH'S SNAKEPIT, SEXTUS, ALICE COOPER), drummer Troy Patrick Farrell (WHITE LION, GILBY CLARKE, PRETTY BOY FLOYD), has recruited Eric Brittingham of CINDERELLA to fill in for bassist Muddy Stardust, who is currently on tour with the CHRIS ROBINSON BROTHERHOOD.

Commented Farrell: "Eric put a feeler out there that he had some time off from CINDERELLA and wanted to use it by playing some shows.

"Back in 2008, Eric almost did the WHITE LION tour, so I'm glad we're able to finally get to play together.

"We are letting our friends in Mexico, South America, Europe, Scandinavia, Australia, Japan, the U.K., India and, of course, those in the USA that we want to play for you, and perhaps a few dates might come to fruition for the fall and winter of this year."

In September 2009, LOST ANGELS performed its inaugural shows in India along with visiting a hospital for children with cleft lip and palate, donating proceeds of their shows to help aid in surgeries and research. The band is planning to go back to India sometime later this year or in 2013.

For more information, visit www.lostangelslive.com.

Drummer Kerim "Krimh" Lechner has left Polish extreme metallers DECAPITATED. He explained in a statement, "Too many personal differences and other difficulties made me decide like this." He added, "I appreciate the good times we had together and what we could achieve in more than two and a half years. Even if our ways are dividing, I wish the band to keep going. However, it's time for me to move on."

He continued, "I don't know what will be next, but I would like to stay in this business. I love to write and play music for you guys. This is my life and this is what I want to continue."

DECAPITATED has reportedly recruited former VADER drummer Pawel Jaroszewicz as Lechner's replacement.

DECAPITATED's latest album, "Carnival Is Forever", sold around 2,100 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 11 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.

"Carnival Is Forever" was released in North America on July 12, 2011 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD's cover art was created by Lukasz Jaszak and can be seen below. The follow-up to 2006's "Organic Hallucinosis" was recorded at Radio Gdansk Studio in Poland with producer Wacek Kieltyka and engineer Arkadiusz "Malta" Malczewski. Drums were tracked with Daniel Bergstrand (BEHEMOTH, MESHUGGAH, DIMMU BORGIR, KEEP OF KALESSIN, DEFLESHED), who also handled mixing duties.

DECAPITATED's latest video, "Homo Sum", can be seen below.

"Homo Sum" video:

Drummer Paul Bostaph (SLAYER, TESTAMENT, EXODUS, FORBIDDEN) will sit behind the kit for MANMADE GOD's September 15 performance at New Parish in Oakland, California as the support act for M.I.R.V.

MANMADE GOD features in its ranks Bostaph's former FORBIDDEN bandmate Craig Locicero (guitar).

Commented Locicero: "A little over a week ago, MANMADE GOD got an offer to support one of the Bay Area's most experimental, talented and respected bands, M.I.R.V., on September 15th at the New Parish in Oakland. At the time we didn't think it was possible to play the gig because our drummer, Steve Jacobs, is having family matters that needed tending to. After talking to the Pann [Reed, vocals] and James [Walker, bass], I decided to reach out to Paul Bostaph and see if he'd be interested. I barely explained the situation and he said, 'Yes, I'll do it!'

"Paul will be sitting in for MANMADE GOD for this gig and it marks the first time in a LONG time that Paul and I will get some extensive work in together.

"Rehearsals have been fantastic! It's a new discipline for Paul to play like we do in MANMADE GOD and he's been amazing so far.

"With both of us being older and wiser, there is a great respect and appreciation for each other. I'm really enjoying my time playing with Paul again.

"It's funny, because of the time frame when MANMADE GOD came around in the early 2000s, people assume we were like the rest of the bands around the time. Not even close! It's nice to touch on that era again and give the songs the justice they deserved."

He continued, "We are supporting Steve Jacobs while he's dealing with his personal business and hope everything turns out OK for him and his family. We love our brother. In the meantime, MANMADE GOD rocks with Paul!"

Added Bostaph: "I'm really looking forward to playing live with MANMADE GOD . The songs are really deep and the musicianship is inspiring. I think they were ahead of their time when the first record came out. This will be a blast!"

MANMADE GOD reformed for a Bay Area appearance on July 21 at the New Parish in Oakland, California. It marked the first time all four members played together since January 2005 when they abruptly and unexpectedly called it a day.

MANMADE GOD's self-titled debut album was released in 2004 under Rick Rubin's guidance while co-produced by Brian Joseph Dobbs and later mixed by Sean Beavan. The CD was acclaimed by fans and critics but extremely underexposed and not properly supported after its release. That turned into the frustration that led to their inevitable breakup.

Luis Fernando Orquera of Ecuador's Últimas Noticias recently conducted an interview with guitarist Herman Li of British epic power metallers DRAGONFORCE. You can listen to the chat using the SoundCloud player below.

DRAGONFORCE's new album, "The Power Within", sold 5,800 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 74 on The Billboard 200 chart.

The band's previous CD, "Ultra Beatdown", opened with 24,000 units back in September 2008 to land at No. 18.

DRAGONFORCE's new album, "The Power Within", sold 5,800 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 74 on The Billboard 200 chart.

The band's previous CD, "Ultra Beatdown", opened with 24,000 units back in September 2008 to land at No. 18.

DRAGONFORCE earlier in the year completed its first North American tour with new singer Marc Hudson, who also made his recorded debut on "The Power Within".

"The Power Within" was released in the U.K. on April 16 via the band's own Electric Generation Recordings, distributed by Essential Music.

ATTIKA 7 guitarist Rusty Coones will play nomad charter president Quinn on the upcoming season of FX's "Sons Of Anarchy" The wildly successful show is now on its fifth season. Rusty is not new to television, having appeared on the Discovery Channel's bike club series, "The Devil's Ride", this past spring.

Season 5 of "Sons Of Anarchy" premieres on Tuesday, September 11 at 10/9c.

Rusty commented, "I am very honored and, of course, very excited to be chosen for a character role in this season's 'Sons Of Anarchy', especially with my long-running relationship with the show. Things just get better with this, and, of course, the ATTIKA 7 album and upcoming tour, long may it continue!!"

ATTIKA 7/ex-BIOHAZARD singer Evan Seinfeld is also headed to the TV screen this weekend with an appearance on this Saturday's "That Metal Show" on VH1 Classic. The show airs at 11 p.m. on September 1 in all time zones. Evan will discussing the top five screams of all time and, of course, ATTIKA 7. Also appearing on this episode will be AEROSMITH.

ATTIKA 7 will take part in several Rockstar Energy Drink Uproar Festival western U.S. dates of later this month. The band will join the trek on September 19 in Salt Lake City, Utah and stay on through September 30 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

In addition to Seinfeld, and Coones, ATTIKA 7 features guitarist Zach Broderick (formerly with NONPOINT), drummer Tommy Holt (ex-UPO) and former KYUSS bassist Scott Reeder

ATTIKA 7's debut album, "Blood Of My Enemies", was released on July 31 via Rocket Science Ventures/THC:MUSIC in North America and Membran/Ninetone in Europe. The CD was recorded with producer Mudrock (AVENGED SEVENFOLD, GODSMACK).

The bass and drum tracks on "Blood Of My Enemies" were laid down by Tony Campos (SOULFLY, POSSESSED, STATIC-X, ASESINO, MINISTRY) and Devin Lebsack, respectively, but due to scheduling conflicts they were not able to make the required commitment to ATTIKA 7.

German metallers MOB RULES will release their seventh album, "Cannibal Nation", 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 will celebrate the release of "Cannibal Nation" with a live release party on October 20 in their hometown of Wilhelmshaven, Germany.

MOB RULES in 2010 parted ways with longtime keyboardist Sascha Onnen and replaced him with Jan Christian Halfbrodt.

MOB RULES is:

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

MOB RULES's latest album, "Radical Peace", was released in November 2009 via AFM Records.

Malaysian war-themed death metal soldiers HUMILIATION have inked a multi-album deal with Deepsend Records. Their as-yet-untitled fourth album will be released in early 2013.

According to a press release, HUMILIATION "focus on mid-tempo headbangers with heavy anthems of war, lack of humanity and minimal guitar solos.

"HUMILIATION's war has been waged and will continue on until all in their path have been destroyed or join their hellbrigade.

"Even at the 'Dawn Of Warfare', the band will "Seek To Survive" marching 'From Strength To Strength' to raise the Malaysian death metal flag!!"

Holland-based death metallers ENRAGED are mixing their new album, "It's Your Fear That Feeds Their Power", with producer Jochem Jacobs (TEXTURES guitarist and owner of Split Second Sound studio). The CD will feature guest guitar solos by James Murphy (TESTAMENT, DEATH, OBITUARY), Andy La Rocque (KING DIAMOND), Christofer Malmström (DARKANE) and Jens Van der Valk (AUTUMN, GOD DETHRONED).

Founded in 1997, ENRAGED released a demo ("Tirade", 1999), a mini-CD ("Counterblast", 2001) and a promo ("Resist Or Serve", 2004), and toured Europe with such bands as GOREFEST, DEICIDE and ARCH ENEMY.

Lineup changes in 2006, unfortunately, caused a major setback for drummer and founding member Douwe Talma. Talma eventually remained as sole member and started recording "It's Your Fear That Feeds Their Power" back in 2007. A whole bunch of tribulations caused a massive delay to finish all the recordings in the years that followed. But thanks to a lot of time and effort, plus the help of some befriended and skilled session musicians, the recordings were finally finished last summer.