A new trailer for "King Animal", SOUNDGARDEN's first all-new album in 16 years, can be seen below. The CD is due on November 13 via the Universal Republic label.

According to The Pulse Of Radio, a new SOUNDGARDEN song called "Been Away Too Long" will be shipped to rock radio stations next Wednesday (September 19).

SOUNDGARDEN drummer Matt Cameron told The Pulse Of Radio that the band's 2010 reunion after 13 years apart never felt contrived. "You know, it never really felt forced or anything to try to make a big comeback and, you know, make a reunion happen, 'cause it can certainly backfire," he said. "I think we wanted to just approach it very methodically, and I think we've been doing so."

The band recently launched a web site and teaser video for "King Animal", which included an excerpt from a track called "Worse Dreams".

The only new SOUNDGARDEN song to be heard in its entirety so far is "Live To Rise", which was the lead single from the soundtrack album of the blockbuster superhero film "The Avengers" this past summer.

SOUNDGARDEN's last full-length album was 1996's "Down On The Upside". The quartet disbanded the following year. Singer Chris Cornell embarked on a solo career and also joined AUDIOSLAVE, while Cameron became a member of PEARL JAM in 1998.

SOUNDGARDEN has yet to announce live plans for the rest of 2012 and beyond.

HardrockHaven.net conducted an interview with guitarist/vocalist Mille Petrozza of German thrash metal veterans KREATOR when the band played in Columbus, Ohio on September 14 as part of the "North American Teutonic Terror Attack 2012" tour with ACCEPT. You can now watch the chat below.

After the tour with ACCEPT, KREATOR will film a video for the song "From Flood Into Fire", and will stay on the road in Europe until the end of the year.

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

Swedish modern metal band ONE WITHOUT has released the following statement:

"We have jointly decided to not continue with ONE WITHOUT, and are going separate ways to focus on other bands instead. ONE WITHOUT will not continue to function as a band, and we won't be working with the band at all.

"This is not due to any hard feelings in between us as members; we are still very good friends and everyone feels this is the right thing to do. It's just a natural move in musical taste combined with having a lack of energy for keeping ONE WITHOUT alive.

"We have put all our hearts and all our energy in this band for so many years, and, unfortunately, we just don't have it in us anymore to continue as it is, as it has been a long uphill battle in too many ways.

"When there is no joy left, and everything concerning the band becomes a struggle, there is no reason to continue as we all play and create music first and foremost because we love doing it. And at the end of the day it should be fun."

ONE WITHOUT released a new EP, "Numbers", at the end of June via all bigger online music stores (and Spotify). The effort was produced, mixed and mastered by Joonas Niskanen and Kenny Boufadene, with cover art by Markus Mönttinen.

ONE WITHOUT previously released two albums, 2011's "Sweet Relief" and 2009's "Thoughts Of A Secluded Mind", has toured with DEAD BY APRIL, EVERGREY, KATATONIA, MARIONETTE and the GENITORTURERS, been featured in numerous magazines and radio shows and shared stages with bands like SOULFLY, EPICA, DORO, KRYPTERIA, PARADISE LOST, CARPARK NORTH, and ALL ENDS.

ONE WITHOUT was:

Catrin Feymark - Vocals
Kenny Boufadene – Guitar, Screams
Joni "Jupiter" Kaartinen - Bass
Joonas Niskanen - Guitar
Håkan "H-Can" Strind - Drums

Uddevalla, Sweden-based metallers HELLENNIUM have tapped Andy La Rocque (KING DIAMOND) to produce their second album at his Sonic Train Studios in Varberg, Sweden.

La Rocque previously worked with HELLENNIUM on their self-titled debut CD, which came out in May via Gothenburg, Sweden's Rambo Music, a division of Gain Music Entertainment (which is distributed and partly owned by Sony Music).

Commented the band: "This time around the band has decided to record the album in live studio sessions. Modern-day studio technics with one-on-one recordings just kills too much of the magic. The idea came from that our fans kept telling us how different the magic is when we play live."

Added La Rocque: "The first album was great, but if we could just feed on the full potential this band has for the second album."

HELLENNIUM has completed most of the songwriting for the next CD and is planning on hitting the studio during the coming months.

HELLENNIUM is:

Khaled El Tayara: Vocals
Martin Lindberg: Guitar
David Borg-Hansen: Guitar
Linus Palmqvist: Bass
Dave O'Neill: Drums

Fan-filmed video footage of singer Geoff Tate and his solo band performing the QUEENSRŸCHE classic "Eyes Of A Stranger" this past Friday, September 14 at Wiens Family Cellars in Temecula, California can be seen below.

Tate will release his second solo album, "Kings & Thieves", on November 6 via InsideOut Music.

"My goal with this record was to make a solid rock album," said Tate. "I wanted it to be an album that I could play live that would be both satisfying and fun, because, as a singer, you need to create a show that has a lot of dynamics to it and takes people on a ride."

Tate told AnthologySD.com about the musical direction of his forthcoming CD, "Well, it's very different from my last one, for sure. It's a new bunch of people I've been working with to write and record it, so that changes things. When you're working with different people, it really changes the record. This one is really hard rock. The last one was really all over the place with different styles of music and everything, but this one really keeps with the hard rock style. It does it in kind of a different way — more of my way or what I would envision. I guess it's experimental in some ways, while in others it's very traditional. What I tried to do was take traditional rock instrumentation and apply it in kind of a different song structure."

Tate released his first solo CD in 2002 on Sanctuary Records. Self-titled, the LP was a huge departure from the work he had previously done with QUEENSRŸCHE.

Tate, who was fired from QUEENSRŸCHE in June after fronting the group for three decades, recently sought to prevent his former bandmates from touring and operating under the QUEENSRŸCHE name without him. While ruling against Tate, the presiding judge determined that there was no legal hurdle in Tate also using the name with an all-new lineup of musicians. "I don't see any reason that Mr. Tate can't have the benefit, if he gets other members, of whatever name he uses of using the brand," Superior Court Judge Carol A. Schapira said during the July 13 court hearing. "I think [doing that would be] inherently confusing, although I'm sure the market can get these things sorted out," she added.

On September 2, Tate announced that he was launching his own version of QUEENSRŸCHE with RATT drummer Bobby Blotzer, former QUIET RIOT, OZZY OSBOURNE and WHITESNAKE bassist Rudy Sarzo and former MEGADETH and KING DIAMOND guitarist Glen Drover. Also on board in the new group are returning QUEENSRŸCHE guitarist Kelly Gray — who played with the band from 1998 until 2001 and also produced several of their albums — and keyboardist Randy Gane, who has toured and recorded with QUEENSRŸCHE and Geoff's solo group in the past.

Hellbilly of Rockstars Glued radio conducted an interview with guitarist Jason Hook of Las Vegas metallers FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH on August 1 at the PNC Pavilion in Cincinnati, Ohio during the "Trespass America" tour. You can now listen to the chat in the YouTube clip below.

Hook told Loudwire in a recent interview that FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH would ideally like to have a new album out every 18 months. To make that happen, they tentatively plan to get into the studio in January 2013. But will they have material ready? Hook told The Pulse Of Radio what they've done to make sure they keep coming up with new music. "Last year, we put together a portable studio set-up, if you will," he said. "The idea behind that is just to keep the creative muscle worked out. It's kind of like going to the gym — if you stop for a year, you lose all your strength, and we just want to keep that muscle tight. We're in the business of making music. Touring is great, but we should always be prepared and always be exercising the creative muscle."

Hook said that the group had six to eight new songs in various stages of preparation.

The next record will follow up FIVE FINGER's third effort, "American Capitalist", which has sold 455,000 copies in the United States since coming out last October.

The latest single from "American Capitalist" is called "Coming Down".

Kalle-Rock.de conducted an interview with PAIN/HYPOCRISY mainman Peter Tägtgren 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.

PAIN, MOONSPELL, SWALLOW THE SUN and LAKE OF TEARS will join forces for the "Into Darkness Tour 2012" in November.

PAIN's seventh album, "You Only Live Twice", was released in June 2011 via Nuclear Blast Records.

Regarding the album's cover artwork, Tägtgren previously said, "I really wanted something 'Nightmare Before Christmas' meets 'Alice In Wonderland' kind of feeling but with our mascot, the Painhead in it. And Heile created that after what I wanted. And he did it in his own way. It really has this kinda Tim Burton feel to it. It will be really crazy with a big backdrop. We also gonna do some inflatable stuff with our Painhead. Its gonna be our Eddie, like IRON MAIDEN has it."

HYPOCRISY is writing material for their 13th studio album, which they plan to record later this year for an eary 2013 release via Nuclear Blast Records.

The band's latest DVD/CD, "Hell Over Sofia - 20 Years Of Chaos And Confusion", was released in October via Nuclear Blast. The disc contains footage of the group's February 27, 2010 concert at the Blue Box club in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Pharaoh and The Original Brad of the WLJS 91.9 FM radio station in Jacksonville, Alabama recently conducted an interview with BUTCHER BABIES. You can now listen to the chat in two parts below.

Fronted by Carla Harvey and Heidi Shepherd — former Playboy TV and radio personalities that are rarely seen wearing more than strategically placed electrical tape and a gallon or so of blood — and backed by Henry Flury (AMEN) on lead guitar, Jason Klein (AZDACHAO) on bass, and Chris Warner (SCARS OF TOMORROW) on drums, the BUTCHER BABIES describe their sound as "heavy fucking metal co-fronted by two girls that don't give a shit, and backed by three guys with writing techniques so different that they complement each other. Between our combined influences of thrash, punk, experimental, death, and nu-metal, we've managed to create our own sound that, in a nutshell, is pure sex, blood, and rock and roll."

When asked by Revolver magazine why the BUTCHER BABIES refer to themselves as "slut metal" and what the hell "slut metal" exactly is, Shepherd said, "We can't go balls out — so we go tits out! When girls are perceived as sexual or outspoken, they get labeled sluts, but we embrace those qualities and bring them to our music as well. BUTCHER BABIES is true slut metal: We're doing what we want, how we want."

On the topic of BUTCHER BABIES' goals, Harvey told Revolver, "To bring slut metal to the masses — duh! In all seriousness, we feel like we are just touching on what we are capable of, and we want to continue to grow, get our music out there, and get on the road! There are so many repressed people out there that need to see a show like ours. Hopefully they will take home with them the message that they are able to do everything they want to do regardless of who they are told they are supposed to be."

BUTCHER BABIES recently released a video for the song "Mr. Slowdeath". The track, which was produced by Mudrock (AVENGED SEVENFOLD, GODSMACK), comes off the band's EP, which is available on iTunes.

Part 1:



Part 2:



Performance:

The Age Of Metal recently conducted an interview with guitarist Aaron Aedy of British gothic metal pioneers PARADISE LOST during the band's "Epic Kings & Idols Tour" with DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT and KATATONIA. You can now watch the chat below.

PARADISE LOST's new album, "Tragic Idol", sold around 900 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 32 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 April 24 (one day earlier internationally) via Century Media Records, "Tragic Idol" was recorded in part at The Chapel studios in Lincolnshire, England and features cover art by by Parisian designer Valnoir, who has previously worked with MORBID ANGEL, LAIBACH, ULVER and WATAIN, among others.

PARADISE LOST's new video, "Honesty In Death", can be seen below. The clip was filmed in the United Kingdom with director Matt Green, who previously helmed the "Cathedrals Of Dread" video for Mackintosh's death metal side project VALLENFYRE.

Interview:



Performance footage:

According to The Batavian, ten people were charged during Saturday's (September 15) KISS and MÖTLEY CRÜE concert at Darien Lake Performing Arts Center in Darien Center, New York.

Among the arrested:

* A 43-year-old Syracuse woman who was charged with harassment and resisting arrest. When deputies attempted to arrest the woman, she allegedly physically resisted being taken into custody. After being transported back to the security trailer, the woman allegedly kicked an officer that was walking past her. The woman was jailed on $500 bail.

* A 44-year-old Churchville woman who was charged with of harassment after allegedly fighting with a security guard. The woman allegedly bit the security officer and hit him in the throat. She was jailed on $250 bail.

* A 39-year-old Buffalo man who was charged with disorderly conduct. The man allegedly engaged in disruptive and threatening behavior which was directed toward security officers and deputies. He was jailed on $250 bail.

* A 23-year-old Batavia man who was charged with of disorderly conduct. The man allegedly engaged in disruptive and threatening behavior which was directed toward his girlfriend, security officers and deputies. He was jailed on $250 bail.

* A 31-year-old Rochester man who was charged with trespass for allegedly refusing to leave the concert venue after being told to leave on several different occasions.

For a complete list of arrests, visit The Batavian.

Aniruddh "Andrew" Bansal of Metal Assault recently conducted an interview with drummer Donald Tardy of Florida death metal veterans OBITUARY. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Metal Assault: Coming to the next album, I guess it should be out sometime soon. What's the update on that?

Donald: It's really exciting time for us right now. We are writing and recording some of the rough tracks to get our minds set with the album. The main thing we're realizing is we're really in no hurry. We don't want to rush things. We're at a point of our career right now where anything rushed doesn't make sense. A fan would love an album tomorrow if we had it, but the fact is we've been very busy this year, and although we have a lot of material, we're still going to take our time with making sure these songs are exactly the way we want them before we hit the record button. So we'll be listening to the songs we already have, re-recording some of the stuff, and really get a true recording come Christmas time and the beginning of the year. I think the idea would be to go with the songs we're extremely happy with, and the target date would be early next year or early summer time next year to have this album released.

Metal Assault: These days there are so many extreme metal bands going around. Do you ever look at what they are doing to kind of see where you stand?

Donald: The fuse is already lit, and you can't put it out now. Even when we were young, I don't think we ever really looked around to see what other people were doing to see what we need to be doing. I appreciate the new metal music, specially when it's good. But with OBITUARY, we know what we are, we're very comfortable in our own skins, and specially when it comes to writing songs, the only thing we're thinking about is what music we like, and what OBITUARY fans want to hear when it comes to an OBITUARY album. So there is a ton of good music out there, but we know what we want to do. We believe in our skills and creativity, and that's what the fans really want. The last thing we would want to do is try to change just because other styles of music are changing. So, it is an exciting time to see what's going on in the world of music and to know that OBITUARY is always going to be there as those godfathers of true, mid-tempo, groove metal that's not trying too hard but it's definitely throwing down and showing people how to keep it simple and keep it heavy.

Metal Assault: Yeah you're right, I know OBITUARY hasn't changed their music, but personally do you think you've changed or improved as a musician over the years?

Donald: I think we've kept to a straight arrow. It's important for us to do that. It's always fun to create and step outside your box, but with OBITUARY it's more than just the four band members. It's more than what we believe in. It's about the whole planet of people that love OBITUARY. You're always going to have the people that say, "Oh, this band's next record is going to be the same as their last one." Some people will always say that, but the important thing is the majority of the people buy OBITUARY albums because they want OBITUARY. You buy a SLAYER album knowing what it's going to be, as someone who worships SLAYER. If they were to change, who knows what we would do besides cry and be mad. The main thing with SLAYER is, they're the best band in the world because they are SLAYER. They don't need to change. They are my favorite band on the planet and I know what I'm getting when I buy a SLAYER album. And I think OBITUARY is that same way. Everybody knows what our style is, we know what we're good at, we know what John's [Tardy] voice needs, we know the style of songs he's good at singing, and we keep it that way. Some dude in Indiana or some guy in India, when he goes and picks up an OBITUARY, they're buying it because they love OBITUARY. We never want to change that.

Read the entire interview from Metal Assault.

Video footage of CREED/ALTER BRIDGE guitarist Mark Tremonti's solo band performing on September 13 at Experience PRS in Stevensville, Maryland can be seen below.

VAN HALEN bassist Wolfgang Van Halen made his first two appearances as part of TREMONTI on Tuesday (September 11) and Wednesday (September 12) as Tremonti kicked off his headlining stint on the annual HardDrive Live tour, presented by HardDrive Radio. Tuesday night's gig took place at Rock Junction in West Greenwich, Rhode Island, while Wednesday night found the group at Highline Ballroom in New York City.

Tremonti introduced Van Halen to the New York crowd by saying, "48 hours ago, he had no idea he was going to do this show. In 24 hours he picked up the entire album." In a statement released on Thursday (September 13) confirming that he'll be on the entire tour, Van Halen said, "I am excited to be joining the band and playing this incredible music with some of my best friends in the business."

Van Halen is replacing Tremonti's bandmate from CREED and ALTER BRIDGE, Brian Marshall, who is sitting out the Tremonti trek for undisclosed personal reasons.

Speaking to Artisan News prior to the New York City gig, Tremonti said about how Van Halen came to be involved with the tour, "It was an amazing turn of events. We had no time to rehearse for this tour. We were just gonna roll right into it. We were gonna get together at our buddies'… EVE TO ADAM was another band that was on tour with us with CREED, and they were nice enough to say, 'You can use our rehearsal pad.' So we rushed into the rehearsal pad. And that day, Brian had something personal come up and he was, like, 'Man, I'm really sorry, I can't do the tour.' And we were just kind of like, 'Ahh… I love you, man, but, man, this is really bad timing.' And these guys kind of whispered to me, 'Wolfgang is in town with the SEVENDUST guys, just rocking in the studio with them.' So I immediately called him and he was, like, 'Hey, how're you doing, buddy?' I was, like, 'Not so good.' [laughs] So I said, 'Brian can't do the tour and I heard you're around. What do you think?' And he's, like, 'Are you kidding me?'"

Added Wolfgang, "It was just so perfect the way this mysteriously worked out. I just happened to have all of my bass equipment — like, everything — just ready to go."

Tremonti contined, "He already knew a handful of the songs, knew the record from listening to it, but picked them up, like… He learns ten times faster than I can learn."

Said Wolfgang, "We rehearsed at midnight the day before the first show [laughs] — just ran through every song once, and that was it."

Mark added, "Our first show last night, I introduced everybody and I said, 'Wolfgang Van Halen,' and I told them the story about how 24 hours prior to this, he had no idea this was happening and we are on stage together right now, and the crowd immediately started [chanting] 'Wolfgang! Wolfgang!'"

Tremonti played every cut from his debut solo album, "All I Was", and did not air any material from either of his other acts.

Wolfgang Van Halen's dad, Eddie Van Halen, is currently recuperating from emergency intestinal surgery, which will keep the VAN HALEN band off the road until early 2013.

TREMONTI will begin the major portion of the tour on September 20 in Flint, Michigan.

SEVENDUST has entered Architekt Music studios in Butler, New Jersey with engineer Mike Ferretti to begin recording its ninth album for an early 2013 release.

More video footage from the recording sessions can be seen below.

SEVENDUST's latest CD, "Cold Day Memory", sold around 27,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 12 on the Billboard 200 chart.

The band's previous effort, "Chapter VII: Hope and Sorrow", opened with 25,000 units back in April 2008 to land at position No. 19.

"Cold Day Memory" was released on April 20, 2010 on the band's own 7Bros. Records, through Warner Music Group's Independent Label Group. The CD — produced by Grammy Award winner Johnny K (DISTURBED, STAIND, 3 DOORS DOWN, PLAIN WHITE T'S) — was the group's first new album with its original lineup back together with Lowery's return after his departure in 2003.

CALL ME NO ONE — the new project featuring Lowery and SEVENDUST drummer Morgan Rose — released its debut album, "Last Parade", on June 5. The CD's first single, "Biggest Fan", was made available to purchase on iTunes on April 24.

SEVENDUST guitarist John Connolly and bassist Vince Hornsby also recently launched a new project, joining forces with CREED/ALTER BRIDGE drummer Scott Phillips in a new outfit called PROJECTED.

PROJECTED has already completed recording its debut disc, "Human", to be released September 18 on Connolly's own Yaya Papu LLC label.

LOVE AND DEATH, the band fronted by former KORN guitarist Brian "Head" Welch, has inked a deal with Tooth & Nail Records. The group's full-length debut is tentatively due on November 6.

LOVE AND DEATH's debut EP, "Chemicals", was released on April 24.

Regarding his decision to call his group LOVE AND DEATH, Welch recently said, "I put this band together in 2009. Since then, we've experienced some very intense highs and lows. Michael Valentine, Dan Johnson, J.R. Bareis and myself have toured around the world playing a lot of killer shows, but we've also had some heart-shattering difficulties along the way. To us, the name LOVE AND DEATH symbolizes everything we've been through as a band over the last few years. We love this band so much and we'll go through hell to connect with our fans. We've proven that to ourselves over and over again."

With LOVE AND DEATH, the music now lives under its own banner.

"Many people have confused my speaking dates and our band dates because they were both being booked as Brian 'Head' Welch," said Welch. "I have wanted to use a band name for branding my music for a few years. It has been an ongoing discussion with my management, but we were just starting to tour and I was in the middle of supporting my third book and it seemed like a bad time to switch names. Now with the new music coming out, it's time to really separate the things I do. I want the music to be about music. I will still be doing public speaking under Brian 'Head' Welch. I am happy that all the confusion will be over."

LOVE AND DEATH formed when Welch decided to have open auditions on YouTube in 2009. "I picked the guys and then had a jam session in Phoenix," says Welch. "Over the last couple of years, there have been a few lineup changes as we went through normal growing pains. The current band has been together and touring for a while now and they are a big part of the new music and the future of LOVE AND DEATH."

The "Chemicals" video can be seen below. The intense, semi-animated clip was shot by POAB Designs/Martillo Pictures.

For more information, visit www.loveanddeathmusic.com.

"Chemicals" video:

Later this year, Bret Michaels will release his new album, "Bret Michaels And Friends: Get Your Rock On". The effort features some of the rocker's famous friends helping him out on various tracks. Among them are Rickey Medlocke and Gary Rossington from LYNYRD SKYNYRD, who lent their talents to Bret's cover of SKYNYRD's hit song "Sweet Home Alabama".

Speaking to VH1 Radio Network's Dave Basner, Rickey revealed how he became involved in the project. "[Bret's] doing a rendition of 'Alabama' and he wanted some guitar work on it," he said. "He got a hold of me and Gary and we kind of went in, did a little bit of playing on it, on 'Sweet Home Alabama'. It's pretty cool. We played a little bit of leads, a little bit of chinky rhythms on it or whatever. But Bret's a good guy. He's a good friend of ours."

Asked how the song sounds, Rickey said, "It's good. I mean, it's different. It's real different. And he took it away from what you would cop 'Sweet Home Alabama'. He took it from that but he did a… I think he did a good rendition of it. It's different. Different arrangement, but it's cool."

Also scheduled to appear on "Bret Michaels And Friends: Get Your Rock On" are Ace Frehley (KISS), Michael Anthony (CHICKENFOOT, VAN HALEN), Phil Collen (DEF LEPPARD), Joe Perry (AEROSMITH), Loretta Lynn, Lil Jon, Bobby Capps (.38 SPECIAL) and Sal Coz Costa (MY DARKEST DAYS).

In a recent interview with Gimme Noise, Bret stated about his upcoming CD, "I'm really proud of what we've done with it. It's actually going to be called 'Bret Michaels And Friends: Get Your Rock On', and I'll explain why: It's really not just a Bret Michaels album. I had so many other talented artists come in and support that it's really a 'Bret Michaels And Friends' album. There's a staggering amount of talent on this album. . . It's been such a fun project for me and I'm excited to share it with the fans."

Speaking to Rolling Stone magazine in February, Bret revealed that his new solo album will feature a remake of the POISON smash "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" as a duet between him and Loretta Lynn. He said, "For me, growing up in a family that my father loved country music and 'Coal Miner's Daughter', this is gonna be a really awesome time."

Three of the leading gear/technology companies for both musicians and consumers alike returned on September 7 with their successful "Metal Masters" clinic series. "Metal Masters 4" brought back some of the classic "masters" while adding a few new members to the list. The night's main band comprised of Philip Anselmo (DOWN, ex-PANTERA), Kerry King (SLAYER), Dave Lombardo (SLAYER), Scott Ian (ANTHRAX), Charlie Benante (ANTHRAX), Frank Bello (ANTHRAX) and newly added masters Billy Sheehan (MR. BIG, DAVID LEE ROTH) and Gary Holt (EXODUS, SLAYER).

A pre-show interview with Sheehan, Bello and Holt conducted by Jo Schüftan of Horns Up Rocks! can be seen below.

The following songs were performed:

* "Room For One More" (w/ Frank Bello on lead vocals) (ANTHRAX)
* "Mouth For War" (PANTERA)
* "Five Minutes Alone" (PANTERA)
* "A New Level" (PANTERA)
* "Chemical Warfare" (SLAYER)
* "War Ensemble" (SLAYER)
* "Goddamn Electric" (PANTERA)
* "Sergeant D & The S.O.D." (STORMTROOPERS OF DEATH)
* "Kill Yourself" (STORMTROOPERS OF DEATH)
* "Angel Of Death" (SLAYER)
* "Strike Of The Beast" (EXODUS)
* "Raining Blood" (SLAYER)
* "Fucking Hostile" (PANTERA)

The entire event was streamed live via Ustream and can now be seen below.

Matt Cruz and Adam of Little Rock, Arkansas' 100.3 The Edge radio station conducted an interview with Marilyn Manson for the "Off The Air Podshow With Matt Cruz And Adam" podcast. You can now listen to the nearly one-hour-long chat below.

MARILYN MANSON's new album, "Born Villain", sold 38,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 10 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD arrived in stores on May 1 via Cooking Vinyl and Manson's own label Hell, Etc.

MARILYN MANSON and ROB ZOMBIE are hitting the road together this fall, co-headlining the "Twins Of Evil" tour. Debauchery, theatrics, ghoulish imagery, and a full-on assault of all the senses are what's in store for fans when the tour kicks off, first in the U.S. and then with a 10-country sweep through Europe.

Kicking off September 28 when both Zombie and Manson co-headline the first day of the Desert Uprising festival in Phoenix, Arizona, expect defiant rock 'n' roll showmanship in the form of these unholy rollers with the first U.S. date wrapping in Dallas on Halloween, October 31.

DJ Marco Garavelli of Italian web radio LineaRock.it recently conducted an interview with Jonas Renkse and Anders Nyström of Swedish dark rockers KATATONIA. You can now watch the chat below.

KATATONIA's ninth album, "Dead End Kings", sold 3,200 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 138 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD landed at position No. 4 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.

KATATONIA's previous album, 2009's "Night Is The New Day", opened with around 2,200 units.

"Dead End Kings" was released on August 28 (one day earlier internationally) via Peaceville Records. Containing some of KATATONIA's most poignant and ambitious material to date, the CD sees the quintet conjure yet another milestone in audial angst and melancholy with this much-anticipated follow-up to 2009's inspired and acclaimed "Night Is The New Day".

"Dead End Kings", which features a guest appearance by Norwegian singer Silje Wergeland (THE GATHERING), was recorded at Ghost Ward Studios and The City Of Glass, and was produced by KATATONIA's own Anders Nyström and Jonas Renkse, and mixed by David Castillo, known for his prior work with KATATONIA, as well as OPETH and BLOODBATH.

The album marks the recording debut of KATATONIA guitarist Per Eriksson and bassist Niklas Sandin. Additionally, KATATONIA was joined once again by Frank Default and his invaluable expertise on sampling and atmospherics. The cover artwork was created by KATATONIA's longtime visual collaborator Travis Smith.

Interview:



"Dead Letters" lyric video:

Graham "Gruhamed" Hartmann of Loudwire recently conducted an interview with FOZZY singer and WWE wrestling superstar Chris Jericho. You can now watch the chat below.

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

FOZZY's previous album, 2010's "Chasing The Grail", opened with around 2,200 units to enter the Heatseekers chart at No. 6.

"Sin And Bones" was released on August 14 (one day earlier internationally) via the group's new label, Century Media Records.

"Sandpaper", the lead single from "Sin And Bones", features a guest appearance by AVENGED SEVENFOLD lead singer M. Shadows. The song was released via iTunes on July 17.

Interview:



"Sandpaper" audio stream:

SLIPKNOT and STONE SOUR frontman Corey Taylor was honored with the "Legend" award at this year's installment of the Metal Hammer Award Show, which was held this past Friday, September 14 at Kesselhaus in Berlin, Germany. Former ACCEPT and current U.D.O. singer Udo Dirkschneider presented the award to Taylor, who stated, "It's very lucky to be able to do what I do, but I wouldn't be able to do this without the fans, without you guys, so thank you so much. I really appreciate it. And honestly, I wouldn't be able to do this without the people that I grew up listening to, like Udo, like METALLICA, like GUNS N' ROSES. So I followed in really good footsteps, and I hope I can keep doing it for a few more years."

Video footage of Corey's acceptance speech can be seen below.

Angela Gossow (ARCH ENEMY) hosted the event, which featured performances by SABATON, ELUVEITIE and CALLEJON.

"House Of Gold And Bones - Part 1", the first half of STONE SOUR's upcoming two-disc concept album, arrives on October 23, while the second half will come out next year, probably in May.

SLIPKNOT released a greatest-hits package on July 24 called "Antennas To Hell".

New QUEENSRŸCHE singer Todd La Torre has revealed that he is currently laying down vocals on demo versions of some of the band's new material. He says, "[I am] loving the new songs. [They are] refreshing, not dated, and heavier than anything put out in years! Oh yeah!"

La Torre, 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.

In a June radio interview, La Torre stated about QUEENSRŸCHE's plans to record new original music, "Obviously, we wanna try and write something that's heavy, but also has a common thread of what is QUEENSRŸCHE's sound — very melodic guitar parts. Vocally, I'm in a very unique position because a lot of people like to throw around, 'Oh, he's a clone, he's an imitator, he's this, he's that.' And I feel like I'm damned if I do and I'm damned if I don't.

"My style of singing and phrasing is very similar to Geoff Tate and Bruce Dickinson and Rob Halford. I mean, a lot of my high metal screams are grittier and dirtier, like Rob Halford. My vibrato is more similar to Bruce Dickinson or Geoff Tate. A lot of the crying and ways of entering a vocal phrase and phonating, the way I say words, are very similar to Geoff Tate.

"I wear my influences on my sleeve, but I also think that I have a heavier vibe than Geoff Tate ever had. With a lot of the heavier, gritty, thrashier metal style… I mean, I love to do some of the death growls like Chuck Billy [TESTAMENT] does. Is that QUEENSRŸCHE sound? No. But if they want it kicked up and give it a heavier edge, I think that I have that, and that's something that Geoff Tate never did. Not taking anything away from him, but I think I do show a wide range of versatility.

"As an artist, you wanna spread your wings, and you wanna try things that are creative, and you wanna still stay current. So it's like, 'OK, how do we achieve, how do we pacify the masses?' You don't wanna write a record that sounds like 1986. But you don't wanna sound so changed that the older fans aren't finding that common thread in the music that they loved that is from the early-to-mid-'80s or even early '90s, like 'Operation: Mindcrime'. I mean, that's regarded as one of the greatest concept albums of all time, and it's stood the test of time. Is that a real heavy, heavy metal record? In my opinion, no. I call it 'metal,' but it was progressive and it had a lot of wonderful instrumentation and elements, and it's a masterpiece of a work. So we just wanna do what we do. They've told me, 'Todd, don't feel like you have to try to sound like our past. We want you to do you.' And so the things that we have worked on together, there are elements that are indicative [of], or very similar to, the classic QUEENSRŸCHE vocal sound, but I'm still doing things that are me.

"It's kind of frustrating for me when people say, 'Oh, he's come in and just tries to copy [Geoff].' Well, if I sing [the songs] so close to the original [versions]… Obviously, I want to represent the songs in [their] truest form that I can do. I think, live, I still kind of end up phrasing things a little different and will do things kind of my way, but I try to stay as true as I can. So if I do that, people are like, 'Oh, he's a clone, he's a copycat, and it's never the same without Geoff Tate,' which I do respect. On the other hand, if I'm so different, then they're gonna say, 'It's nothing like Geoff Tate. It's nothing like QUEENSRŸCHE sound. This isn't QUEENSRŸCHE. It's not even close to the same style.' . . .So if the fans wanna hear the hardcore, classic heavy high-screaming stuff that they haven't heard in many, many, many years, we're gonna stay true to the classic material that the fans have been wanting to hear for so long and then we'll be interjecting some new stuff soon."

Tate, who was fired from QUEENSRŸCHE in June after fronting the group for three decades, recently sought to prevent his former bandmates from touring and operating under the QUEENSRŸCHE name without him. While ruling against Tate, the presiding judge determined that there was no legal hurdle in Tate also using the name with an all-new lineup of musicians. "I don't see any reason that Mr. Tate can't have the benefit, if he gets other members, of whatever name he uses of using the brand," Superior Court Judge Carol A. Schapira said during the July 13 court hearing. "I think [doing that would be] inherently confusing, although I'm sure the market can get these things sorted out," she added.

On September 2, Tate announced that he was launching his own version of QUEENSRŸCHE with RATT drummer Bobby Blotzer, former QUIET RIOT, OZZY OSBOURNE and WHITESNAKE bassist Rudy Sarzo and former MEGADETH and KING DIAMOND guitarist Glen Drover. Also on board in the new group are returning QUEENSRŸCHE guitarist Kelly Gray — who played with the band from 1998 until 2001 and also produced several of their albums — and keyboardist Randy Gane, who has toured and recorded with QUEENSRŸCHE and Geoff's solo group in the past.

Video footage of Swedish glam rockers CRASHDÏET warming up backstage for their August 24 performance at The Studio at Webster Hall in New York City can be seen below.

CRASHDÏET recently spent time at Kingside Studios outside Stockholm, Sweden with producer Otto Wellton recording the follow-up to 2010's "Generation Wild" album for a tentative January 2013 release.

The new CD can be preordered at this location.

CRASHDÏET has been touring quite a bit in the last two and a half years, opening up for such bands as MÖTLEY CRÜE, OZZY OSBOURNE, MICHAEL MONROE and WEDNESDAY 13, and traveling everywhere from Australia to USA to Brazil.

CRASHDÏET performed a new song "Anarchy" for the first time on June 7 when they played at Kaisaniemi Park in Helsinki, Finland as the support act for MÖTLEY CRÜE.

The band's third CD, "Generation Wild", was recently released on vinyl. This gatefold LP features the new bonus track "Hollywood Teaze" as well as updated artwork.

"Generation Wild" entered the official chart in Sweden at position No. 3.

CRASHDÏET in 2009 announced the addition of Simon "Simme" Cruz from the Stockholm act JAILBAIT as the group's new lead singer.

The band parted ways with its previous vocalist, the Finland-based H. Olliver Twisted, in July 2008.

Warming up:



Performance:

Texas occult metal band VENOMOUS MAXIMUS will release its new album, "Beg Upon The Light", on October 30 via Occulture Records. The CD was recorded at Origin Sound in Houston with a head space described as "somewhere between a Alejandro Jodorowsky film and a New Orleans voodoo den."

"Beg Upon the Light"'s striking cover art was designed by artist Dann Miller and builds on the band's ever-evolving thematic that involves, among other things, magic, alchemy, extra-sensory perception and astrology; wide-eyed themes that lay "on the outermost fringe of accepted forms of knowledge and discourse."

Since its formation in 2010, VENOMOUS MAXIMUS has become the go-to metal band in the country's third-largest city, winning back-to-back titles at the Houston Press Music Awards as the Space City's "Best Metal Band" and has shared the stage with the like-minded MASTODON, PENTAGRAM, SAINT VITUS, THE SWORD, GRAVEYARD and more.

VENOMOUS MAXIMUS' sound combines intense, unabashed metal riffing that locks into heavy rock grooves featuring interjected dual leads and surprisingly darkened atmospheres. Add to it the distinctive voice of towering front man Gregg Higgins and his unorthodox, unsettling tone, unholy sinister laugh and unchained lyrics described as "primal psychomagic", detailing "paths of doom", dying witches, moon worship, haunted graveyards and travel through space and time, and the speed of the band's bat out of hell success becomes surprisingly clear.

When asked to describe the band's sound in eight words or less, Higgins replied, "Dark, Chrome, Leather, Snuff, Smoke, Sweat, Death, Apparitions." He went on to say about the group's new album, "It's something you can't describe with words. You're either born hearing it or not. When it finally has a mind of its own, the best you can hope for is that it will keep talking to you."

"Beg Upon The Light" track listing:

01. Funeral Queen
02. Path Of Doom
03. Give Up The Witch
04. Father Time
05. Dream Again (Hellenbach)
06. Moonchild
07. Battle For The Cross
08. Venomous Maximus
09. Mothers Milk
10. Hell's Heroes

VENOMOUS MAXIMUS is Gregg Higgins (vocals, guitar), Christian Larson (guitar), Trevi Biles (bass) and Bongo (drums).

Joey Tempest and John Norum of Swedish hard rockers EUROPE played a special acoustic show for listeners of the U.K. digital radio station Planet Rock this past Thursday, September 13 in London, England. Video footage of the performance can be seen below.

EUROPE's ninth studio album, "Bag Of Bones", was recently certified gold in the group's home country for sales in excess of 20,000 copies. According to the band, the CD entered the official chart in Sweden at position No. 2 and "has since then continued to sell steadily." The group added, "'Bag Of Bones' is fast becoming the most successful record since the reunion."

Note: The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) in Sweden has revised the sales requirements for albums to reach gold status in the country twice in the last seven years — from the pre-2002 level of 40,000 to the current 20,000.

"Bag Of Bones" was released in Europe on April 27 via earMusic/Edel. The CD, which features a guest appearance by blues-rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa (BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION), was produced by Kevin Shirley, who has previously worked with IRON MAIDEN, JOE BONAMASSA, BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION, BLACK STONE CHERRY and JOURNEY, among others.

Fan-filmed video footage of Regina, Saskatchewan-based Canadian extreme progressive metallers INTO ETERNITY performing on August 16 at Petit Campus in Montreal, Quebec, Canada can be seen below.

INTO ETERNITY recently tapped Amanda Kiernan of the Edmonton, Alberta-based metal band THE ORDER OF CHAOS as their new touring vocalist. Kiernan takes over from Stu Block, who was hired away last year by American metallers ICED EARTH, leaving INTO ETERNITY without a full-time singer.

Kiernan made her live debut with INTO ETERNITY on February 24 at the 11th edition of the Manitoba Metalfest at The Zoo in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

INTO ETERNITY founder and guitarist Tim Roth told the Regina Leader-Post that he invited Kiernan to Regina to try out for the band after hearing a tape of her performing his songs.

"I had all these guys who told me they could do the songs and hit the notes Stu could. So I had them try out and it was like, 'No way.' Nobody could do it," Roth said. "But Amanda's got this great voice … none of the dudes could hit the notes Stu could, so maybe it makes sense that only a chick can do it. Besides, she already fits in like she's one of the guys."

Kiernan, who said she's been an INTO ETERNITY fan since she was in high school, told the Regina Leader-Post about her audition, "At first, I was pretty intimidated. These guys are rock stars to me. There were times when I was sitting around with the guys, and then all of a sudden I'd get this little burst of energy because I reminded myself that I was sitting with INTO ETERNITY."

INTO ETERNITY's new single, "Fukushima", was released in February. The track was written about the Fukushima Daiichi, Japan nuclear disaster, a series of equipment failures, nuclear meltdowns, and releases of radioactive materials at the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant following the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011. The song talks about the struggles involved, and the amazing ability of the Japanese people to overcome such a tragedy.

INTO ETERNITY's signature sound has often been described as a hybrid of latter-day DEATH and CONTROL DENIED, combined with the technical stylings of DREAM THEATER.

INTO ETERNITY's last album, "The Incurable Tragedy", came out in 2008 via Century Media.