The following Twitter exchange took place earlier today (Saturday, October 10) between ALL THAT REMAINS/ex-SHADOWS FALL frontman Phil Labonte, SHADOWS FALL vocalist Brian Fair and Labonte's girlfriend Jorie Salyers, who attended last night's (Friday, October 9) SHADOWS FALL/FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH concert at the Bourbon Street Ballroom in Baltimore, Maryland:

Phil Labonte's Twitter username = philthatremains
Brian Fair's Twitter username = brianshadfall
Jorie Salyers' Twitter username = stupadgurl

Phil Labonte: Sweet, Brian from shadows fall was trying to fuck my girlfriend tonight. Thanks to Ivan from 5FDP [FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH] for sticking up for me. So much 4 home <3

Brian Fair: Some people need to get their shit together. Learn before you speak.

Brian Fair: @philthatremains you couldnt be more wrong

Phil Labonte: @brianshadfall I hope WE are ALL wrong and it was just a HUGE stupid misunderstanding.

Brian Fair: @philthatremains learn to think before you speak i cant baby sit everyone

Phil Labonte: @brianshadfall the last thing in the world that I need is YOU to babysit me. I'm on the "outside" of the drama. Your the one who's accused.

Brian Fair: save the drama for your mama.

Phil Labonte: And I'll RT I hope we are ALL wrong and this is one HUGE misunderstanding.

Jorie Salyers: Kinda bummed. Phils pissed ab last night. I guess I should be too, as I was the target, but I'm just trying not to lose everything atm

Jorie Salyers: @brianshadfall No drama! So we'll let everything lie. I did tell phil all you said, so you're aware. No need for ME to lie to him.

An ex-Marine, Labonte was a member of SHADOWS FALL between 1995 and 1997 and appeared on the band's debut album, "Somber Eyes to the Sky". He was reportedly asked to leave SHADOWS FALL due to "musical differences" and was replaced by Fair, who made his recording debut with the band on 2000's "Of One Blood".

Like Labonte, Salyers spent time in the United States Marine Corps. She was deployed to Iraq earlier this year.

Photo of Phil Labonte and Jorie Salyers (courtesy of Jorie's MySpace page):

SLAYER vocalist Tom Araya was advised by his doctors not to perform at tomorrow night's (Sunday, October 11) show at the Thebarton Theatre in Adelaide, Australia due to severe laryngitis. Tom, his band and crew were on route to Adelaide with the full intention of performing but were forced to cancel the date due to doctor-mandated rest.

Co-headliners MEGADETH have confirmed that they will perform an extended set at the Thebarton Sunday night.

The remainder of the shows will proceed as planned, with SLAYER and MEGADETH performing at Challenge Stadium in Perth this Tuesday, October 13, and SLAYER performing a full set — including the classic "Reign in Blood" album in its entirety — at Luna Park Sydney this Thursday, October 15.

SLAYER extends an apology to their Adelaide fans for their cancellation, and ticket holders who no longer wish to attend can obtain a refund from point of purchase.

Commented MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine: "I was saddened to hear that Tom Araya won't be able to perform [Sunday night], as you know, and that they are going to proceed to Perth to wait for us and the last show here in Australia.

"I wanted to be as gracious and considerate of the circumstances as possible, so yesterday I sent an invitation to Kerry King [SLAYER guitarist] to come up and play a song from back when he played with us in the early days.

"I know that it would require him coming here to Adelaide, and that the band has already decided to proceed to Perth, but I sent the invite yesterday, and I was really hoping that we could do something for the fans of Adelaide and so that the SLAYER fans could at least see their hero in action; even if it is with us.

"There is still several hours before the show, and I would love to see Kerry walk through the doors and say, 'Alright, let's play 'Rattlehead'!' However, I think that the time has passed for him to be able to comfortably travel here. I have my fingers crossed though."

"Thanks for understanding, and we will make the best of it either way."

RockOnAltitude.com recently conducted an interview with guitarist/vocalist Andrew Stockdale of the Australian retro-rock combo WOLFMOTHER. Watch the chat below. Also available is footage of the band's recent week-long appearance on Fuel TV's "The Daily Habit".

WOLFMOTHER's second album, "Cosmic Egg", will be released on October 27. The group's first CD since the departure of drummer Myles Heskett and bassist/keyboardist Chris Ross was recorded in Los Angeles with heralded U.K. producer Alan Moulder.

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. California Queen
02. New Moon Rising
03. White Feather
04. Sundial
05. In The Morning
06. 10,000 Feet
07. Cosmic Egg
08. Far Away
09. Pilgrim
10. In The Castle
11. Phoenix
12. Violence Of The Sun

WOLFMOTHER's 2006 debut sold more than 500,000 copies in the U.S. and featured the Grammy-winning single "Woman".

WOLFMOTHER's cross-country trek will kick off at the House of Blues in Dallas, Texas on October 29 and wrap up 20 cities later at the legendary Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles. Support for all shows will come from THENEWNO2 and HEARTLESS BASTARDS.

Rock My Monkey recently conducted an interview with vocalist Jon Howard of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada-based metallers THREAT SIGNAL. The chat can now be streamed using the audio player below.

"Vigilance", the sophomore album from THREAT SIGNAL, sold around 1,100 copies in the United States in its first week of release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. 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 September 8 in North America and September 11 in Europe via Nuclear Blast Records, the CD was produced by vocalist Jon Howard and mixed by Greg Reely (FEAR FACTORY, FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY).

THREAT SIGNAL members Jon Howard (vocals) and Pat Kavanagh (bass) are also involved with ARKAEA, the band featuring FEAR FACTORY members Raymond Herrera (drums) and Christian Olde Wolbers (guitar).

Jon Howard interviewed by Rock My Monkey (click on player below to launch audio):

POWERMAN 5000 frontman Spider recently told AOL Music's Noisecreep that he has mixed feelings about the name of his forthcoming album, "Somewhere on the Other Side of Nowhere". "[The album's title], depending on your mood, is the dumbest album title ever or the grandest, most profound thing I've ever said in my life," he said in a video interview which can be viewed below.

"Really the inspiration for the title was the inspiration for most of the album — getting back to all of the things that made me who I am today — nonsense, science fiction, comic books, horror movies. It sounded like a great science fiction novel. Like great science fiction, it's fun, it's cool, but it has the hidden social commentary, which is kind of what the whole album is like. On the surface it's very fun, loud, electro metal. There's some moments of thoughts in there as well."

Released on October 6 via Mighty Loud!/Fontana, "Somewhere on the Other Side of Nowhere" finds the band returning to the hard groove of their earlier work which included hits like "When Worlds Collide" and "Nobody's Real". "We made this record with a clear vision and a purpose," explains Spider. "We wanted to reclaim a sound we created and represent certain influences as only a band like POWERMAN 5000 can. While writing, we would watch 'Godzilla' or 'Ultraman' films to ensure the sonics were on point. We knew that this record needed to sound like the footsteps of a giant robot!"

He adds, "On the surface, this album is a big fun electro metal romp...though there are bigger concepts hidden within. A quote from HG Wells sums it up best; he said, 'Man is the unnatural animal, the rebel child of nature.' That is an ongoing theme in the songs, our inability to find a place in our own world. I couldn't be happier with the results. I finally feel like we have made a record that not only is exactly wanted we wanted it to be, but also a record that the fans are going to love!"

POWERMAN 5000 recently completed filming a video for the band's new single, "Super Villain". The clip was directed by Robert Hall ("Laid to Rest", "Fear Clinic"), and accompanied by award-winning cinematographer and director of photography Brandon Trost ("Halloween II", "Crank 2"). The video also features actor Johnathon Schaech ("Quarantine", "Living Hell", "That Thing You Do") as the "Super Villain".

"Somewhere on the Other Side of Nowhere" track listing:

01. Intelligent Creatures
02. Show Me What You've Got
03. Super Villain
04. V Is For Vampire
05. Do Your Thing
06. Somewhere On The Other Side Of Nowhere
07. Time Bomb
08. Get Your Bones
09. Make Us Insane
10. Technology Eats Its Young
11. Horror Show

POWERMAN 5000's current lineup:

Spider One (Michael Cummings) - lead vocals
Velkro (Dave Pino) - lead guitar
Evan 9 (Evan Rodaniche) - rhythm guitar
X51 (Gustavo Aued) - bass
GFlash (Gordon Heckaman) - drums

Rock My Monkey recently conducted an interview with vocalist Francine Boucher of Los Angeles female-fronted progressive metallers ECHOES OF ETERNITY. The chat can now be streamed using the audio player below.

"As Shadows Burn", the second album from ECHOES OF ETERNITY, sold 455 copies in the United States in its first week of release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. (Note: Internet/digital sales **ARE** included in the SoundScan totals.) The CD landed at position No. 134 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.

"As Shadows Burn" was released in North America on September 22 via Nuclear Blast Records (the LP was issued in Europe on September 25 through Massacre). The follow-up to 2007's "The Forgotten Goddess" was produced and mixed by former MACHINE HEAD/SOULFLY guitarist Logan Mader, who has previously worked with GOJIRA, DIVINE HERESY, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH and CAVALERA CONSPIRACY.

"As Shadows Burn" track listing:

01. Ten Of Swords
02. A Veiled Horizon
03. Memories Of Blood And Gold
04. The Scarlet Embrace
05. Descent Of A Blackened Soul
06. Twilight Fires
07. Buried Beneath A Thousand Dreams
08. Letalis Deus
09. Funeral In The Sky

A three-and-a-half minute video teaser for "As Shadows Burn" can be viewed below.

ECHOES OF ETERNITY recently announced the addition of rhythm guitarist Bryan Eagle to the group's ranks. Eagle has been playing with the band since September 2008 and has contributed music and laid down guitar tracks on ECHOES OF ETERNITY's new album.

ECHOES OF ETERNITY is:

Francine Boucher - Vocals
Brandon S. Patton - Guitar
Bryan Eagle - Guitar
Duane Cowan - Bass
Kirk Carrison - Drums

Francine Boucher interviewed by Rock My Monkey (click on player below to launch audio):

The Iron City Rocks podcast recently conducted an interview with BLACK LABEL SOCIETY and SPEED X guitarist Nick Catanese. The chat can now be streamed using the audio player below.

Iron City Rocks is a podcast devoted to promoting Pittsburgh-based rock, hard rock, heavy metal and blues music.

According to a new Twitter post by Zakk Wylde (BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, OZZY OSBOURNE), BLACK LABEL SOCIETY will spend January/February tracking a new album for a tentative spring 2010 release.

Zakk's wife Barbaranne revealed in a recent online posting that Wylde is suffering from "a rare genetic clotting disorder" for which he is currently receiving treatment in California.

Wylde got the "green light" from his doctor to take part in the Halloween (October 31) BLACK LABEL SOCIETY performance in Times Square (New York City) to promote his new limited-edition Epiphone Graveyard Disciple guitar. Zakk has also scheduled an in-store signing session on October 30 at Sam Ash in New York City to unveil the guitar.

Iron City Rocks podcast featuring Nick Catanese interview (click on player below to launch audio):

According to Slayerized.com, SLAYER bassist/vocalist Tom Araya blew out his voice prior to last night's (Friday, October 9) concert in Melbourne, Australia, forcing the band to play some its songs as instrumentals or with members of other groups helping out on lead vocals.

Fan-filmed video footage of Tom's announcement from the stage and various other songs from the SLAYER's set can be viewed below.

SLAYER and MEGADETH kicked off their seven-date tour of New Zealand and Australia on Monday, October 5 at Logan Campbell Centre in Auckland, New Zealand. The two bands will next perform Sunday night (October 11) in Adelaide, Australia.

A strictly limited-edition SLAYER "Hate Worldwide" one-track CD will be released in the U.K. on October 19. Only 1,000 of these will be released and will be made available exclusively through independent record shops.

For a complete list of stores that will carry the CD, go to this location.

The official CD-release and listening party for SLAYER's new album, "World Painted Blood", will be held on Friday, October 30 at Duff's Brooklyn in Williamsburg, New York beginning at 9:00 p.m. Free "World Painted Blood" merchandise and autographed copies of the best-selling Decibel magazine to date — the SLAYER issue — will be given away at the 21-and-over event, for which there is no cover.

The address is:

Duff's Brooklyn
168 Marcy Avenue (between S 5th & Broadway)
Williamsburg, New York

For more information, visit www.duffsbrooklyn.com.

"World Painted Blood" is scheduled for release on November 3 via American Recordings. The CD will initially ship with four special collector's edition covers. Each of the four covers will display one-fourth of a provocative continental map illustrated with human skulls and bones; when placed together, the four images form a complete and grisly map of the world.

All four of the initial CD packages will include a special blood-red, see-through top panel with the map displayed beneath it.

The "World Painted Blood Deluxe Edition" will have its own special layout of the map cover art and will be in a double-digipak housed in a blood-red, see-through plastic sleeve. The "Deluxe Edition" will include the "World Painted Blood" CD, the "Playing With Dolls" DVD, a 20-minute animated graphic novel featuring music from the album (including part of a new non-album song), and an expanded booklet.

"World Painted Blood" was recorded in Los Angeles over two time periods, during October 2008 and then between late January and March 2009. The CD was produced by Greg Fidelman, who's spent time in the studio with METALLICA, THE GOSSIP, THE (INTERNATIONAL) NOISE CONSPIRACY, SLIPKNOT and others, and executive-produced by longtime SLAYER colleague Rick Rubin, who suggested Fidelman for the project.

Intro + "World Painted Blood":



Tom's announcement:

Dean Goodman of Reuters recently conducted an interview with KISS guitarist/vocalist Paul Stanley. A few excerpts from the chat follow below.

Reuters: For years and years, you were adamant about not doing a follow-up to "Psycho Circus". what changed?

Stanley: I think the band has become so, so strong live, with the lineup that's been stable for quite a while. I thought we had a great album in us. The only road block was my producing it. I wasn't interested in making another KISS album that was going to be confused, diffused or unfocused. It's very hard to be in the studio with four guys who have their own sense of what we should be doing and oftentimes unfortunately in the past we've had situations where people were more concerned with having their songs on the album rather than having the best songs on the album. Or dealing with lawyers when we should have been dealing with band members. It was not productive. There have been times in the past where outside songwriters have been involved, which allows some people to do less work, and perhaps for the band to lose part of its own identity and take on someone else's interpretation of who you are. First and foremost, I had to produce the album and that was agreed to pretty much immediately. Everyone was very gung-ho for that. It was very smooth sailing from there. I started thinking during the big run we did through Europe — I think we did 30 shows in 7 weeks and played to about 400,000 people — I began thinking we have a great album in us but somebody has to harness it.

Reuters: Are there diplomatic skills involved in telling Gene [Simmons] to move over so that you can take control?

Stanley: No. Gene and I have a terrific relationship and have for 40 years. The length of time speaks for itself. Whenever we've disagreed it's always been with the best interest of the band usually at the center. He certainly went along with it because he saw that I felt strongly about it. As time moved on quite quickly, I think he was a bit surprised at how productive a decision it was. I don't think we've ever had more fun, according to everybody in the band, working together making an album. Everybody was focused on making a great album, and somebody just had to be there to, every once in a while, remind everybody who we are and what we are, and not stray from that. I think in the studio democracy is very over-rated.

Reuters: I think in a band situation democracy is over-rated.

Stanley: It's certainly over-rated when you're dealing with people who are delusional in terms of what their contributions or abilities are. Thankfully we have a band where everybody is very focused on what's best for the band. But somebody needs to have final say, somebody needs to corral everything. It worked terrifically. That's why there's 11 songs on the album and there's no filler. Filler usually means somebody twisted your arm into putting something on the album that didn't belong there. There were no quotas on this album for songwriting, and it worked terrifically. So far, universally, the critics' take on the album is pretty spectacular.

Reuters: Which begs the question why didn't you do this a long time ago?

Stanley: I always believe that things happen when the time is right. Again, you can't underemphasize the lineup. The four of us made this album, and no one else could have made this album. We certainly couldn't have made it years ago. And "Psycho Circus", honestly, was a valiant attempt to make an album where there was pretty much no band. There was Gene and myself and attorneys phoning in, and people making demands with what they wanted, to come to the studio. It was like going into the ring with one arm tied behind your back. We did the best we could, but that was probably part of what soured us all on the idea of doing it again. But with this lineup, it was just a matter of direction and ground rules. It was effortless. All of us would agree it was the most fun and easiest time we've either had. We were either writing, rehearsing or recording. The whole recording process took us I think 6 weeks.

Reuters: This is the first record with five Simmons-Stanley co-writes (including 2 with the other guys) plus no outside songwriters?

Stanley: It was terrific. I was very adamant that for this album to be what it needed to be, Gene and I had to write together. He was hesitant, and I think it's because we both have had such a long time of basically doing things our way, which means doing things apart, and that doesn't necessarily yield the best results. What it yields is what the individual may want, but it's not necessarily for the better of the band. As soon as we started writing together that magic is there. But again it was about making a great album, not about furthering your ambition as an individual.

Reuters: When you say writing together, you mean sitting across from each other like we are now, holding guitars?

Stanley: Totally, totally, absolutely. Sitting like this. And it seemed like yesterday we had done it. It was either Gene and myself, Gene, Tommy [Thayer, guitar] and me, me and Tommy, Tommy and Gene. It was done like this, sitting with guitars. That's also why the music itself has such honesty because it's not a studio creation. Once we wrote it and rehearsed it we went in and recorded it, virtually live, all of us just like this looking at each other playing. That's been lacking and lacks with a lot of bands for a long time.

Reuters: As a producer, were you too deferential to Gene?

Stanley: That's funny, because Eric [Singer, drums] became worried when on a few tracks we had to do a third take. Almost the whole album was two takes, between first and second take. And the few songs that worried Eric were because we had to do a third and it was just kind of like as a safety. One has to remember that music we grew up loving was not made under a microscope. The music we grew up loving was made by people sweating and facing each other and playing. And not always perfectly. What made some of that Stax/Volt or Motown or James Brown or LED ZEPPELIN or BEATLES music so brilliant is the vitality and the fact that it's not perfect. The idea of creating music that you look at on a computer screen to see if it's good is insane. That's what we avoided on the album. The tenth take wouldn't be better than the second. If anything, it might be worse. Technically could it be better? Possibly. Would it be what we captured? No, we would have lost it.

Reuters: How has your relationship evolved over the years? Have there been times where you haven't spoken for long periods?

Stanley: Sure. And always knowing that neither one of us was going to go away. We get pissed off at each for all kinds of reasons, and nobody ever had the thought of not staying together. But I think the key to a good friendship is knowing the limitations and knowing what you can expect and not. Gene and I trust each other. I think we always know that anything we believe or any point of view is heartfelt. It's sincere and comes from the right place, even if it's misguided — like his sometimes his!

Reuters: If you look at people in other bands, like THE WHO, Daltrey and Townshend are not friends. they don't hang out .

Stanley: One of the things we have in common is a sense of work ethic. Hard work. And honesty with each other. We want very different things from life, I think that's fairly apparent. Gene literally lives two minutes from here. I've probably been to Gene's house four times in the last 10 years. Just because, just because.

Reuters: Do you watch his TV show?

Stanley: I've seen it a few times. It's good entertainment. If you're asking me if it's "reality" — it's fun to watch, and people enjoy it. More importantly, he enjoys it. He's blessed, as both of us are, that we can do what we love doing. The fact that outside of KISS it's completely different what we both pursue, is fine.

Reuters: He is in the limelight more than you are. did you ever feel at points that he's getting too much and you should be getting some more?

Stanley: Oh yeah. And at some point I just said, That's more draining than anything else. It's a drain on me to wrestle for a spotlight. Find your own spotlight. Maybe because he's an only child he's much more apt to use "I" or "me" than "we." I tend not to be that way. As I said, I threw his birthday party last week. We're very close as family, You can love your brother and not want to see him all the time.

Reuters: Why has KISS never really touched on socio-economic or political issues?

Stanley: There's nothing more embarrassing than seeing a celebrity who thinks that they got an IQ transplant with their fame. There's nothing more embarrassing than somebody standing on a soap box talking about things they know very little about. I don't want any part of that, and I don't want the band to have any part of that.

Reuters: But you're not stupid. you could write something fairly eloquent.

Stanley: Yeah, I think I've shown myself to be not stupid. But I'm smart enough to know where to draw the line. There's an old Chinese saying, "It's better to keep one's mouth closed and be thought a fool than to open it and remove all doubt." I don't want to speak about things that I don't really think I'm qualified to. I don't want to be the guy that I see on TV who makes me uncomfortable. The actor or the musician, there are very, very few of them who really are qualified or know enough to be talking about the things they do. I've always shied away from that, and don't want the band to do things like that. Everybody needs to find their own way.

Reuters: Have you heard any feedback from Ace [Frehley] or Peter [Criss]?

Stanley: I haven't called to ask ... I spoke to Ace about 2 years ago, a year and a half ago. Peter, I haven't spoken to since I told him that he wouldn't be rejoining us (in 2004). That's quite a while ago.

Reuters: Have either of those guys expressed any regrets?

Stanley: The problem has always been that if you don't learn from your mistakes, you repeat them. It's interesting to have someone come back into the band and say. "I'm so thankful for a second chance. I'll never do that again." And then do it again. I guess that's human nature, You can tell that person, you can remind them of what they said, and it falls on deaf ears. In Ace's case, I'm just glad he's alive. He's celebrating sobriety. That's way more important than music. He's alive, and supposedly healthy and happy.

Reuters: Do you resent that they were millstones around KISS' neck?

Stanley: The band never could have been what it was without them.

Reuters: But they outlived their usefulness?

Stanley: I don't think they outlived their usefulness as much as I think people became delusional about what their contribution was or should be. Or what it entitled them to. This band couldn't be here today had it not been for the four original guys. That was the template and the foundation for everything that came after it. The problem was a cancer that just continued to grow from the very beginning.

Reuters: Will Tommy and Eric be there until the bitter end?

Stanley: I sure hope so. It's so great to have a band of guys who all love the band, and all want to do what's best for the band, as opposed to further themselves at the band's expense. The bigger the band is the bigger you are. And the better you are the bigger the band is. I want those guys to get as much spotlight, as much attention, as possible. It makes the band bigger and they deserve it. There's a real healthy relationship in the band, refreshingly so, and anybody who would kid themselves into believing that "Sonic Boom" could have been made by any four other members is out of their mind.

Read the entire interview at KissOnline.com.

Vocalist Pascual Romero of the San Diego, California-based death metal/grindcore band PATHOLOGY will be the featured guest on Metal Messiah Radio's "The Metal Magdalene with Jet" show this Tuesday, October 13 between 9:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. EST. The program will include the world premiere of the group's two new songs, titled "Extirpate/Eviscerate" and "Rupture Through Flesh".

You can listen to the show online at www.metalmessiahradio.com.

Regarding Romero's addition to PATHOLOGY, the band recently said, "Pascual is best known for being the vocalist of underground death metal band STRANGLED BY STRANGULATION as well as his tenure as the bass player for Century Media band IN THIS MOMENT. He brings years of writing, recording, and touring experience to the plate and we are very enthusiastic for what the future holds for us."

Click on the YouTube clip below to hear an unedited, raw demo of Pascual singing to "Symptoms of Bleeding".

PATHOLOGY has begun rehearsing, writing and recording new music, which will be followed by touring and preparation for the band's next album.

PATHOLOGY's latest album, "Age Of Onset", was released in May via Comatose Music. The CD was recorded at Double Time Studio in El Cajon, California. The cover artwork was created by Pär Olofsson.

PATHOLOGY was formed in the beginning of 2006 by Dave Astor (BEING KILLED, THE LOCUST, CATTLE DECAPITATION). The band's debut album, "Surgically Hacked", was released in September 2006 on Amputated Vein Records (Japan). In July 2007, PATHOLOGY signed with Grindhead Records (Australia) to release the band's crushing malpractice, "Incisions Of Perverse Debauchery" (2008).

Two brand new songs from the French heavy metal squad LONEWOLF, taken from the forthcoming studio album "The Dark Crusade", are available for streaming on the band's MySpace page.

"The Dark Crusade" will be released on November 11 on both CD (Karthago Records) and vinyl (Killer Metal Records). The CD version will include bonus track "The Hour 0" while the vinyl version — which will be available in 500 copies (100 on green vinyl, and 400 on black vinyl) — will include a different bonus cut, "Burning The Icons".

"The Dark Crusade" was mixed and mastered by the Grammy-nominated guitarist Andy La Rocque of KING DIAMOND and was produced by Bart Gabriel (editor-in-chief of the biggest Polish rock/metal magazine Hard Rocker, who also helmed albums from such groups as CRYSTAL VIPER, SABBAT and KAT). The front cover artwork was painted by Chris Moyen, the legendary French artist who has previously worked with SLAYER, TRIVIUM, BEHERIT and BLASPHEMY. Guest musicians on the CD include Majk Moti (ex-RUNNING WILD, now in WILD KNIGHT), Jan Bünning (PARAGON) and Marta Gabriel (CRYSTAL VIPER).

According to a press release, "The Dark Crusade" is being promoted with the slogan "The Reaper has returned to the Black Hand Inn", as it was strongly inspired by classic albums from such cult acts as RUNNING WILD, GRAVE DIGGER, X-WILD, U.D.O. and ACCEPT.

A video for the song "Viktoria", which was filmed at the Hard Rocker Festival 2 in Poland, can be viewed below.

MetalMachine.net conducted an interview with guitarist/vocalist Steve "Lips" Kudlow and drummer Robb Reiner of Canadian metal legends ANVIL when the band was in New York City recently promoting the "This is Thirteen" CD and "Anvil! The Story of Anvil" DVD. Watch the chat at this location.

ANVIL is set to launch its first major tour in more than a decade — "The Anvil Experience" — a full-on, 30-date North American trek in support of "This is Thirteen" and "Anvil! The Story of Anvil". The tour kicks off in earnest on January 7, 2010 in the city of rock 'n' roll, Cleveland, Ohio, will include dates in New York and Los Angeles, and will culminate in Vancouver on February 13.

But this will not be any ordinary concert tour, as audience members will be treated to a screening of "Anvil! The Story of Anvil", before the group will take the stage for a set of heavy ANVIL classics.

And if that's not enough metal for you, well, the lads are prepared. For the serious metalhead, a limited number of 50 "VIP Anvil Experience" packages will be made available for each show, which includes a ticket to the concert, a copy of the "This Is Thirteen" CD, a copy of the "Anvil! The Story of Anvil" DVD, a fanny pack (a constant fashion companion of Reiner's as seen in the film), and a meet-and-greet with the band.

For a list of dates, visit www.myspace.com/anvilmetal.

ANVIL's re-release of the group's latest album, "This is Thirteen", sold around 1,400 copies in the United States in its first week of release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The CD landed at position No. 19 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.

"This is Thirteen" was finally given proper national distribution on CD and vinyl on September 15 via VH1 Classic Records. The collectible double vinyl LP boasts newly re-recorded versions of ANVIL classics "Metal on Metal" and "666". The album, originally recorded in 2007 and produced by Chris Tsangarides (JUDAS PRIEST, THIN LIZZY), was primarily available directly from the band via their web site and at their concerts.

On September 29, 2009, METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich was interviewed by Cindy Scull of the Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas radio station 97.1 The Eagle Rocks. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

On rumors that METALLICA was assembling a tour that would feature the "Big Four" of the 1980s underground thrash metal scene — itself, SLAYER, MEGADETH and ANTHRAX:

Ulrich: "It's taken on a life of its own, this thing. I don't know what I could possibly add to it.

"As far as I know, we haven't talked to anybody about it; we've talked about it amongst ourselves. And, obviously, because you get sort of caught up in the rumor of the whole thing, so I get asked about it four times a day in interviews.

"I wish I could give you an Eagle exclusive — 'Lars confirms...' I don't know what to tell you.

"It certainly could be fun, if everybody would be up for it; certainly we would be up for it. But it's not something that's imminent; it's not something that's being discussed for January. Everybody's got their own schedules and everybody's doing their thing, but at some point, of course, in the right situation, I think it could be super-fun.

"Listen, the guys in METALLICA certainly are all about nostalgia, all about lineage, all about making the fans understand how things, sort of, came to be, and connect the dots and all that type of stuff, so I would definitely be up for that. But I haven't made any phone calls yet. [Laughs] But we'll see what happens. I'm sure it definitely could happen one day."

(Listen to Ulrich talking about "Big Four" tour rumors by clicking on audio player below.)



On whether he had any idea what he was getting himself into when he angered many fans by waging a high-profile battle with Napster in 2000 over illegal music downloading:

Ulrich: "That was just a bad dream; that never happened. [Laughs]

"Are you familiar with the phrase compartmentalizing something? It's in a part of my brain that I can rarely access, but...

"Listen, there's no glory in any of that. We took a position and a lot of people did not agree with that position that we took. A lot of people are coming now and saying, 'You were right all along,' patting me on the shoulder, but it was still a very bizarre summer, and I don't take any glory away from it.

"We've always stood up for what we believed in, we've always stood up for kind of an impulsive need to protect METALLICA from any dissent or any people that kind of go against us — it's almost like a gang-like mentality; protect what's yours — and that caught us in some hot waters, as you're very well aware of, but still, obviously it was the right thing that we did, because we threw ourselves into it. I wish we would have been a little more prepared for what was coming, but listen, it's 10 years ago now, and I think people have sort of read the writing on the wall here and people get it.

"Contrary to popular belief, the issue was never with the Internet, the issue was never about downloading... The issue was about... Well, I'll say it a little more P.C. It was about whose decision it was. What we were standing up for was, I've got no problem giving anything away, I've got no problem with the Internet. Whose decision is it whether you wanna give it away? We feel that it should be our decision, and another company made that decision for us, and we felt that that was kind of out of line, so we went out there to seek some sort of retribution or something [Laughs] — 'C'mon, do ten push-ups for doing that.' So the whole thing got a little crazy. But we've always been totally pro... I'm like an Internet whore — I'm on the Internet way too much every day — and I have 13 iPods and whatever else. So that's not the issue. It's just about who makes the decisions. If you wanna give your stuff away, then I'll give my stuff away, but it's my decision."

(Listen to Ulrich talking about Napster and illegal music downloading by clicking on audio player below.)



Cindy Scull's entire 19-minute September 29, 2009 interview with Lars Ulrich is available for streaming in three parts below.

METALLICA has launched an iPhone application that "creates a streaming interface to your LiveMetallica account," meaning that any live show fans have downloaded from the site will automatically stream to their iPhones once they launch the app, which costs 99 cents. Fans just have to purchase the app at the iPhone store and log onto their account at LiveMetallica.com to access every gig they've downloaded, as well as a free stream of the band's latest concert. More developments and features are also on the way.

METALLICA has added single-song downloads to the LiveMetallica.com web site. Instead of buying only entire concerts, fans can pick whatever individual songs they want from any concert they choose from. Every song that the band has recorded in concert since 2004, covering a span of 269 shows, is available for 99 cents per MP3. Full shows are still $9.95 as MP3 files and $12.95 as higher-quality FLAC files.

Frontman James Hetfield told The Pulse of Radio about deciding to release individual songs, "Yeah, I think the song-per-song vs. album is kind of a long lost battle, I think. You know, people in the fast-food world we live in want what they want, and want it now, and when they're done with it, they're done with it. So yeah, it's about time, and I think it's the right move."

LiveMetallica.com was launched in March 2004 and makes downloads available for purchase of every show the band has played since then, often within hours of the gig's finale.

More than 300,000 downloads have been purchased at the site since its launch.

The "Vault" section of the site offers free downloads of shows recorded before 2004.

More shows will crop up at the site in upcoming weeks, since METALLICA just launched a new North American tour last month. The band has dates booked through mid-December.

Cindy Scull's entire 19-minute September 29, 2009 interview with Lars Ulrich (click on player below to launch audio):

Part 1:



Part 2:



Part 3:

Ryan of Road Crew Magazine conducted an interview with guitarist Jason Hook of Los Angeles metallers FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH on September 28, 2009 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Watch the chat below.

"War Is The Answer" — the sophomore album from FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH — sold 44,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 7 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD follows up FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH's 2007 debut, "The Way Of The Fist", which has sold more than 350,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

"War Is The Answer" was released in the U.S. on September 22 via Prospect Park Records. The CD was produced by the band and Kevin Churko (OZZY OSBOURNE, IN THIS MOMENT), and was mixed by Randy Staub (METALLICA, MÖTLEY CRÜE, NICKELBACK). According to a press release, "the record evolves the band's already mature sound, ranging from the undeniable melodies in 'Hard to See' to the brutally nihilistic 'Burn It Down' — destined to please fans both new and old."

Guitarist Zoltan Bathory recently stated about the new CD, "In terms of the overall style, I would say that we've continued the journey we started on the first album, so there's a healthy balance of melody and aggression, and as always we concentrated on writing strong metal songs in the traditional sense. There's some epic moments on the record, and there's some straight-up home-wreckers, too. All I can say is, those who liked our first album are going to LOVE this one!"

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH kicked off "The Shock And Roar Tour" on September 22 in San Francisco. Joining them on the bill are SHADOWS FALL, OTEP and 2 CENTS.

Fan-filmed video footage of Dutch female-fronted symphonic metallers EPICA performing two new songs during last night's (Friday, October 9) concert at Escape in Veenendaal, The Netherlands can be viewed below.

EPICA will perform its new album, "Design Your Universe", in its entirety on November 6 at the first of two shows at Élysée Montmartre in Paris, France. The band will also play all of the new CD at the sold-out record-release party tonight (Saturday, October 10) at Paradiso in Amsterdam, Holland. The first 200 fans who make it through the door at Paradiso will receive a USB stick containing many exclusive, rare and previously unreleased EPICA tracks.

"Design Your Universe" is scheduled for release in Europe on October 16 . The follow-up to 2007's "The Divine Conspiracy" was recorded at Gate Studio in Wolfsburg, Germany with producer Sascha Paeth.

"Design Your Universe" track listing:

01. Samadhi (prelude)
02. Resign to Surrender (A New Age Dawns - Part IV)
03. Unleashed
04. Martyr of the Free Word
05. Our Destiny
06. Kingdom of Heaven (A New Age Dawns - Part V)
07. The Price of Freedom (interlude)
08. Burn to a Cinder
09. Tides of Time
10. Deconstruct
11. Semblance of Liberty
12. White Waters
13. Design Your Universe (A New Age Dawns - Part VI)

EPICA will perform "Design Your Universe" in its entirety on November 6 at the first of two shows at Élysée Montmartre in Paris, France. The band will also play all of the new CD at the sold-out record-release party on October 10 at Paradiso in Amsterdam, Holland. The first 200 fans who make it through the door at Paradiso will receive a USB stick containing many exclusive, rare and previously unreleased EPICA tracks.

EPICA will return to North America for a headlining tour in the beginning of 2010, with DAATH and BLACKGUARD as support. EPICA will offer fans a special VIP ticket which will grant them access to the venue an hour before door times, a pre-show meet-and-greet with EPICA and a event poster customized for the city of the show. Fans are urged to purchase these VIP tickets as only 50 are being allotted for each show.

Mexico's metal podcast Familia Perro recently conducted an interview with vocalist Sean Peck of San Diego, California metallers CAGE. The podcast can now be streamed using the audio player below. (Note: The program is in Spanish, but the actual interview was conducted in English.)

CAGE's fifth album, "Science Of Annihilation", was released in Europe on May 22 through Music Buy Mail (June 7 in the rest of the world). The follow-up to the epic "Hell Destroyer" sees CAGE "pushing its boundaries yet again in every department," according to a press release. "With tracks like 'Planet Crusher', 'Speed Kills', and 'The Scarlet Witch', be prepared to feel the need to turn it up, get in your car and drive fast as Hell! All of the classic CAGE heavy metal sound is intact and found all throughout this 12-track smasher! Like all previous CAGE offerings, these songs will stick in your mind and cause many sleepless nights! If you love classic metal anthems, vocals that soar to the heavens and shatter glass, riffs that crunch your spine, and drums that blaze with thunder then behold…the science of annihilation!!"

Sean Peck interviewed on Familia Perro (click on player below to launch audio):

Capital Chaos has uploaded video footage (see below) of SATYRICON's October 9, 2009 performance at The Boardwalk in Orangevale, California. Also on the bill were MALEVOLENT, TOXIC HOLOCAUST and CHTHONIC.

SATYRICON will take part in a signing session at Scrape Records in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada on Wednesday, October 14 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

For more information, visit www.scraperecords.com.

SATYRICON released a special-edition, two-CD version of its critically acclaimed latest album, "The Age Of Nero", on September 29 via E1 Music (formerly KOCH Records). The bonus material on this special "The Age Of Nero" package has never been available in North America before. Featuring eight live and rare recordings, this set is a must-have for SATYRICON fans.

DEEP PURPLE keyboardist Don Airey was IRON MAIDEN frontman Bruce Dickinson's guest last night (Friday, October 9) during Bruce's weekly BBC 6 Music radio program, dubbed "The Bruce Dickinson Friday Rock Show". The program is now available for streaming at BBC.co.uk.

Video footage of Airey's January 20, 2009 concert at Metropolis in Munich, German can be viewed below (clip uploaded by "eblinternational"). Airey and his band performed a set largely based on his new solo album "A Light in the Sky", alongside a selection of songs from Don's previous groups.

Airey's solo band consisted of the following musicians:

Don Airey - Keyboards
Carl Sentance - vocals
Clive Bunker (ex-JETHRO TULL) - Drums
Lawrence Cottle - Bass
Rob Harris (JAMIROQUOI) - Guitar

Don Airey released his latest solo album, "A Light In The Sky", in February 2008 via Mascot Records. For the effort, Airey gathered together a different set of collaborators (though Laurence Cottle of Sting/ Eric Clapton/ Brian Eno/ Bill Bruford fame once again contributes precision bass-playing), though naturally Don provides the record's central creative thrust — an entertaining mixture of instrumental and vocal songs, from the "Bladerunner"-style "Ripples In The Fabric Of Time" to the hook-laden hard rock of "Shooting Star".

"Tangle With Your Mind", the new video from STONE TEMPLE PILOTS/ex-VELVET REVOLVER singer Scott Weiland, can be viewed below.

"I had watched this movie called 'The Science of Sleep' about a year ago and I fell in love with the film," Weiland told Spinner.com. "I thought it was such a cool and interesting approach and I wanted to use that in a video sometime."

Weiland also had the idea that he wanted to reach out to film students and see if he could give someone a big break. So when relative newcomer Dennis Roberts came up with a treatment that was surprisingly close to what Weiland had already envisioned, he got the go-ahead. "I was really impressed," Weiland told Spinner.com. "I've worked with huge video directors and [Roberts] and his crew were just as professional as anyone I've ever worked with."

"Tangle With Your Mind" comes off Weiland's second solo album, "Happy In Galoshes", which was released in November 2008 via Weiland's label Softdrive Records and distributed by New West Records/ RED/Sony. The CD, produced by Scott Weiland and Doug Grean (VELVET REVOLVER, SHERYL CROW, CRYSTAL METHOD), with select tracks recorded by Steve Albini, features a collection of songs that bring a revitalizing sound to Weiland's highly praised and unique musical style. The album also features several guest appearances including Adrian Young, Tony Kanal and Tom Dumont of NO DOUBT, who, along with Grean and Weiland, penned "Paralysis", which features Young on drums. "She's so Cold" was co-written by Gary Beers from INXS.

"Happy In Galoshes" sold 10,500 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 96 on The Billboard 200 chart.

Zach Redrup of U.K.'s Dead Press! conducted an interview with vocalist Karl Schubach of Milwaukee, Wisconsin's metalcore act MISERY SIGNALS on September 27, 2009 when the band played Manchester, England. The chat is now available for streaming below.

"Controller", the third full-length album from MISERY SIGNALS, sold around 2,900 copies in the United States in its first week of release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The CD was recorded with producer Devin Townsend (STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, DARKEST HOUR, SOILWORK) and is the group's second to feature Schubach.

MISERY SIGNALS' "A Certain Death" video was directed by David Brodsky, who has previously worked with THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, ALL THAT REMAINS and HELMET, among others.

SUFFOCATION and AURA NOIR are among the first confirmed bands for next year's edition of the Party.San Open Air festival, set to take place August 12-14, 2010 in Bad Berka, Germany.

The festival billing is shaping up as follows:

SUFFOCATION
AURA NOIR
MÅNEGARM
WATAIN
TRIBULATION

More acts will be announced soon.

THE HAUNTED, BULLET and ALGAION have been confirmed for the Linköping Metal Massacre 4, set to take place Saturday, March 6, 2010 at Konsert & Kongress in Linköping, Sweden.

THE HAUNTED frontman Peter Dolving recently told the German edition of the Metal Hammer magazine that the band has commenced the songwriting process for a new album. "Looking at the ideas that we're coming up with, looking at the stuff that we're doodling around with, it's gonna be a very heavy and it's gonna be a very strange record," he said. "It's gonna be like a continuation of what we started experimenting with both on 'rEVOLVEr' [2004] and on 'The Dead Eye' [2006], so it'll be eclectic and hard. 'Cause around the time of 'The Dead Eye', we felt that we really needed to do something that we hadn't done that we really wanted to do, and we got a lot of critique for it; a lot of people didn't like it. We loved it, and the songs that we're playing off that record are going over really well with the audience and we're really enjoying to play them. So we figure, why the fuck shouldn't we play and continue to try and evolve as musicians and songwriters?! And that's what we'll do."

THE HAUNTED is continuing to tour in support of its latest album, "Versus", which entered the Swedish chart at position No. 14 and the Finnish chart at No. 12.The CD was recorded in part at PUK studio in Denmark with producer Tue Madsen (HEAVEN SHALL BURN, DARK TRANQUILLITY, MOONSPELL, etc), who previously worked with the group on its two previous LPs, "rEVOLVEr" and "The Dead Eye".

BULLET was invited to perform in front of 14,000 crazy hockey fanatics at the Ericsson Globe Arena on Saturday, October 3, kicking of a historic evening where Detroit Red Wings squared off against St. Louis Blues in the NHL premiere game of the 2009-2010 season.

BULLET's sophomore album, "Bite the Bullet", entered the chart in the band's home country at position No. 3. The follow-up to 2006's "Heading for the Top" was mixed and co-produced by Nicke Andersson (THE HELLACOPTERS, SOLUTION, DEATH BREATH).

Former HELLOWEEN vocalist Michael Kiske is collaborating with American singer Amanda Somerville on a brand new melodic hard rock/metal project for Frontiers Records. Mat Sinner (PRIMAL FEAR, SINNER) and Magnus Karlsson (PLACE VENDOME, PRIMAL FEAR) are handling most of the songwriting for the CD, which is tentatively due in early 2010.

Commented Sinner: "We've finished the songwriting for 12 original new songs — no covers .... and a week ago, we started the final recordings! Everything looks cool and the song material is amazing!"

Additional songwriting contributions on the CD will come from former AFTER FOREVER guitarist Sander Gommans, Amanda Somerville ("Arise", "A Thousand Suns", "Set Afire") and Sinner with keyboard maestro Jimmy Kresic ("End Of The Road" and "Devil In Her Heart", which are described as "two outstanding symphonic songs"). Other songtitles set to appear on the album include "Silence", "Don't Walk Away", "Rain", "Nothing Left To Say", "If I Had A Wish", "One Night Burning" and "Second Chance".

Added Sinner: "We're recording in two studios at the moment. Magnus is recording guitars at his own Stuntguitar studios in Sweden and I'm working at the Audiospezialist studio in Germany with drummer Martin Schmidt (ex-ATROCITY, RMC BAND) and keyboarder Jimmy Kresic (VOODOO CIRCLE).

"After the PRIMAL FEAR European tour, we will start with the vocal and choir recordings and I'm really looking forward to be a part of this progress.

"This album is a big challenge and it sounds already like something really special for me in a time we face a hundred metal releases every month.

"Sander Gommans will join the team and will add some lead guitars and we're talking to two more prominent musicians for a guest appearance."

Achim Köhler (PRIMAL FEAR, EDGUY) will mix and master the album at Indiscreet studios for a spring release.

Somerville is the American singer-songwriter and vocal coach who was tapped to replace EPICA vocalist Simone Simons on the band's North American tour with SYMPHONY X due to Simons' health issues.

Amanda was featured on KAMELOT's latest release, "Ghost Opera", and recently toured with AVANTASIA. She last year released her long-awaited solo album, "Windows".

A Michigan native, Amanda has resided and worked mainly in Germany and the Netherlands since 1999. She has collaborated with several other bands in the metal scene along with producers Sascha Paeth and Miro, and co-wrote the rock opera "Aina". Her own music is of the pop-rock genre.

ABC's "Good Morning America" filmed a segment at last night's (Friday, October 9) KISS show at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. It will air next Saturday morning, October 17.

On September 25, the KISS Alive 35 tour kicked off in North America in Detroit, Michigan. Each of KISS' 42 shows is being exclusively recorded by Concert Online and made available to purchase as a USB leather wristband with a KISS metal buckle or an instant live CD set, consisting of two CDs in a collector's box. To ensure maximum quality, all tracks are recorded live and are mixed with state-of-the-art recording technology by Concert Online.

If you buy all 42 two-CD sets for $1,145, you will get the limited-edition Kiss Alive 35 Kollector's Box and four USB wristbands for free! The box also features original autographs by all members of KISS and certificate of authenticity.

Video footage of South Carolina death metallers THROUGH THE EYES OF THE DEAD performing a brand new song, "The Manifest", on October 3, 2009 at the Chain Reaction in Anaheim, California can be viewed below. The track will appear on the band's third full-length album, "Skepsis", which will be released in January 2010 via Prosthetic Records. The CD was recorded at New York's Gellar Cellar Studios and will be mastered by Alan Douches (CONVERGE, MISFITS, THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, HATEBREED, MASTODON) at West West Side Music in New Windsor, New York.

"Skepsis" track listing:

01. Parasite Throne
02. Dementia
03. No Haven
04. Perpetual Defilement
05. Inherit Obscurity
06. The Manifest
07. Defaced Reality
08. Siphonaptera From Within
09. Insomnium
10. Skepsis

Commented guitarist Justin Longshore: "The recording process for 'Skepsis' has been going really well. We really focused on writing a record that will satisfy fans of our previous two records along with pushing new boundaries. Danny is currently finishing up vocal tracking and we couldn't be any more satisfied with the way things are sounding. I'm really stoked for everyone to hear these new songs."

The cover art for the album was created by Paul Romano, who has previously worked with THE ACACIA STRAIN, MASTODON, and THE RED CHORD.

Stated Longshore, "We had Paul Romano do the artwork once again and it is easily one of my favorite pieces he has done. It really captures the concept and music that is behind the album. We wanted the art to really project and not look like every other metal album that you see at your local record shop."

SHADOW GALLERY, widely considered a major and innovative force within the realms of progressive rock and metal, has returned with its sixth studio effort, "Digital Ghosts". Following up 2005's "Room V" as well as the "Prime Cuts" compilation release of material from previous albums in 2007, "Digital Ghosts" will be released on October 26 in Europe and November 3 in North America via InsideOut Music.

A full-length track from "Digital Ghosts", entitled "Gold Dust", is now available for streaming on the band's MySpace page.

In other news, a brand new interview with SHADOW GALLERY guitarist Gary Wehrkamp is available for streaming on DementiaRadio.com.

After the tragic passing of lead singer Mike Baker in October 2008, SHADOW GALLERY's new CD introduces new vocalist Brian Ashland and not only sees the entire band once again sharing additional vocal duties but also features guest vocal appearances by Ralf Scheepers (PRIMAL FEAR) and Clay Barton (SUSPYRE) to complement the release. With "Digital Ghosts", SHADOW GALLERY's members Brendt Allman, Carl Cadden-James, Gary Wehrkamp, Ashland and returning drummer Joe Nevolo (who appears on two songs of the record) have focused their powerful energies on creating a seamless blend of progressive, metal, and symphonic rock as a transcendent work of musical art that advances the boundaries of these genres into new directions.

Commented Wehrkamp: "As a band, we are thrilled to have new music to share with everyone. This album is a dedication to our wonderful fans, and also to the memory of our singer and friend Mike Baker.

"We had to deal with a few tragic events during the course of this recording, but pressing on we approached the production the way we always do: Trying to provide our very best. We had a terrific time making this record and hope all the emotion and love we put into it endures, transcends and touches everyone who is ready for it.

"You can expect some shades of a new direction on this record. We had long been trying to incorporate more prog elements and the time was right to stretch out a little bit, while remaining true to the heavy and powerful rock based songs that have been a staple of SHADOW GALLERY since the earliest days."

"Digital Ghosts" track listing:

01. With Honor
02. Venom
03. Pain
04. Gold Dust
05. Strong
06. Digital Ghost
07. Haunted

Former REVOLUTION RENAISSANCE keyboardist Michael Khalilov has slammed the band's mainman, ex-STRATOVARIUS leader Timo Tolkki, for allegedly failing to inform Khalilov and bassist Justin Biggs that they were no longer members of the group.

Tolkki released a statement on Thursday (October 8) indicating that REVOLUTION RENAISSANCE had parted ways with Biggs and Khalilov due to musical differences. "During the recordings of [the second REVOLUTION RENAISSANCE album], 'Age of Aquarius', it became evident to everybody that REVOLUTION RENAISSANCE was not the right band for the guys," Tolkki wrote in the statement. "Justin is more of a thrash guy and Mike expected the music to be something totally different. Out of these reasons the decision has been made that it is better to go separate ways. Both are great guys and the remaining members — Timo Tolkki [guitar], Gus Monsanto [vocals] and Bruno Agra [drums] — wish them well and best of luck on their musical endeavors."

In a posting on the official STRATOVARIUS forum, Khalilov insisted that he learned that he learned he was no longer a member of REVOLUTION RENAISSANCE via the Internet and claimed that he was never directly informed of his dismissal from the group.

"You know, Tolkki sure has a great method of firing people," the keyboardist wrote. "He ignores Biggs and I for THREE MONTHS, cancels European SONATA ARCTICA tour, and now we read this statement (which we are as shocked to read as you all are). Great way to get fired, eh? It's very similar in a way to how Tarja [Turunen] found out she was thrown out [from NIGHTWISH]."

He added, "I've sent numerous emails to [Tolkki] for three months, [and had] not [gotten] one word [back] from him. Maybe he 'assumed' that we knew we were out, but why on earth would anyone assume that they were fired if they did absolutely nothing wrong?"

REVOLUTION RENAISSANCE recently signed a three-album deal with Napalm Records.

The remaining members of the band have been writing new material "for many months now" and you can expect the follow-up to "Age Of Aquarius" sometime next year.

Recorded over three months in Finland, REVOLUTION RENAISSANCE's sophomore album, "Age Of Aquarius", was released in March 2009 via Scarlet Records. It was described in a press release as "by far the darkest, heaviest and most symphonic album that Tolkki has ever been involved in."

"Age Of Aquarius" was released on March 25 in Southeast Asia via JVC. The band also filmed a promotional video in Helsinki for the album's title track.

Legendary heavy metal singer Ozzy Osbourne and his wife/manager Sharon talked about their lives in front and behind the cameras on last night's (Friday, October 9) edition of "The Late Late Show" with host Ryan Tubridy.

Watch their appearance on the program at this location.

"The Late Late Show" airs at 9:35 p.m. on RTÉ One, Ireland's national television and radio broadcaster.

Hachette Audio has set an October 22 U.K. release date for the audiobook version of Ozzy's memoir, "I Am Ozzy". The book, which was originally slated to arrive almost two years ago but was delayed twice, was published in the U.K. on October 1.

"I Am Ozzy" chronicles the star's humble beginnings in the U.K. to his current position as international music and TV celebrity.

Publisher Antonia Hodgson called the book "fantastic," adding that it was "very much in the tone of his voice, very funny and a very full story."

A U.S. publication date has yet to be announced.

Sharon Osbourne published her own best-selling memoir in 2005, called "Extreme: My Autobiography". A second volume was rushed out in 2008 after Ozzy's book was delayed.

Ozzy is working on a new album that he expects to release next year.

VELVET REVOLVER/ex-GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Slash will release a two-track CD single in Japan on November 11 containing the song "Sahara" (featuring singer Koshi Inaba of the Japanese hard rock duo B'Z) and a version of the GN'R classic "Paradise City" (featuring CYPRESS HILL and Fergie [a.k.a. Stacy Ann Ferguson] of the BLACK EYED PEAS).

"Sahara" is expected to appear on Slash's forthcoming solo album, which will be released under the "Slash & Friends" banner. According to the guitarist, "the [record] is in its mixing stage and the mixes to this point sound great. We have recorded 18 songs, with one more I want to track in the next couple weeks." He added, "the record is still slated for a February/March release."

Slash tracked most of the CD with former NINE INCH NAILS drummer Josh Freese and ex-JANE'S ADDICTION bassist Chris Chaney. Other confirmed guest singers so far include Ozzy Osbourne, AVENGED SEVENFOLD's M. Shadows and Chris Cornell (SOUNDGARDEN, AUDIOSLAVE). The CD was produced by Eric Valentine (GOOD CHARLOTTE, QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE) and features additional appearances by ex-GUNS N' ROSES drummer Steven Adler, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS bassist Flea and former NIRVANA drummer and current FOO FIGHTERS frontman Dave Grohl.

Slash left GUNS N' ROSES in the mid-'90s, forming SLASH'S SNAKEPIT before later assembling VELVET REVOLVER with several other ex-members of GUNS N' ROSES and STONE TEMPLE PILOTS singer Scott Weiland (who was dismissed in April 2008).

'80s hard rock queen Lita Ford and her husband Jim Gillette recently sat down with ABC News Radio entertainment correspondent David Blaustein to chat about her new album, "Wicked Wonderland", family life and her upcoming tour. Watch the six-minute chat below.

In an "innovative" music marketing move, Ford has released a single from "Wicked Wonderland", her first album in 15 years, on Stockroom.com, the world's leading fetish site. It is believed to be the first time a relatively high-profile music release has been launched through a web site catering to the alternative fetish lifestyle.

"Wicked Wonderland"'s erotic song "Bed", which explores themes of bondage, kink and power exchange in a strong and highly artistic style, was made available exclusively on Stockroom.com prior to the album's release.

"My husband Jim Gillette and I have carved out our own path to develop a wonderful and close family life," said Lita. "Though we're a long-married couple, we both have very active imaginations, including being kinky with each other, and that's what this album is about. It's sort of a sexual autobiography. We've partnered up with Stockroom.com because it's our favorite outfitter for kink products."

While previewing "Bed", fans of Lita and Stockroom will also be able to view and order from "Lita's Collection", a special selection of some of the fetish gear that Lita and Jim have enjoyed, along with her personal choice of Syren latex fashion styles.

Lita's first new studio album in 14 years, "Wicked Wonderland", was released in Europe on October 2 via earMUSIC/Edel. The set was issued in the U.S. on October 6 through Lita's own JLRG Entertainment label as a regular CD and limited-edition vinyl with different artwork.



(Thanks: Fullshred)