Ozzy Osbourne (BLACK SABBATH), Ray Davies (THE KINKS) and Lou Reed joined METALLICA on stage earlier tonight (Friday, October 30) at Madison Square Garden in New York City for their performance at the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame 25th anniversary concert.

METALLICA's setlist was as follows:

01. For Whom The Bell Tolls
02. One
03. Turn The Page
04. Sweet Jane (w/ Lou Reed)
05. White Light White Heat (w/ Lou Reed)
06. Iron Man (w/ Ozzy Osbourne)
07. Paranoid (w/ Ozzy Osbourne)
08. You Really Got Me (w/ Ray Davies)
09. All Day And All Of The Night (w/ Ray Davies)
10. Stone Cold Crazy
11. Enter Sandman

In his review of the concert, John Soeder of The Plain Dealer writes, "METALLICA was on hand to represent the harder side of rock. The headbanging portion of the evening commenced with 'For Whom the Bell Tolls'.

"In addition to a sampling of their own fist-pumping anthems, singer-guitarist James Hetfield, guitarist Kirk Hammett, bassist Robert Trujillo and drummer Lars Ulrich took a stab at BOB SEGER's 'Turn the Page' before summoning an impressive supporting cast.

"'Go (expletive) crazy!' Ozzy Osbourne instructed as METALLICA accompanied him on 'Iron Man' and 'Paranoid'.

"The inspired pairings continued as METALLICA tore through 'Sweet Jane' with Lou Reed and 'You Really Got Me' with Ray Davies."

Check out photos and fan-filmed video footage of METALLICA's performance below. More pictures are available from The Plain Dealer.

METALLICA was inducted into the Hall of Fame this past April.

Tonight's show also featured U2, BECK, BUDDY GUY, ARETHA FRANKLIN, ANNIE LENNOX, LENNY KRAVITZ and JERRY LEE LEWIS.

Highlights of both nights' Madison Square Garden concerts will be part of a four-hour broadcast next month on HBO.

WORLD COLLISION, the new Sarasota, Florida-based band featuring NEUROTICA guitarist Shawn Bowen, has just released a new CD entitled "Trancention".

Regarding the band's musical direction, Bowen stated: "WORLD COLLISION certainly has its roots in rock and metal music, but in this band I play an eclectic mix of different instruments from all over the planet. I play sitar, hammered dulcimer (sometimes through a cry-baby pedal), harmonium, a new instrument from India called a 'Shahi Baaja' that has 15 strings, and on one song I play propane tanks that have 'tongues' that are tuned to sound somewhat like an eerie, dissonant xylephone. Our drummer actually carved his own drum kit with a chainsaw and uses goatskins on them rather than plastic drumheads, and tunes them with ropes in the African tradition. He even carved the guitar I play with his chainsaw. Instead of bass guitar, we have a didgeridoo player for low end, he makes his own didges and has one or more in every key possible. And we have an amazing female vocalist, so this band really has a new, and fresh sound that I've never heard before and simply can not be replicated by any other group of people."

For more information, visit www.worldcollision.com.

Stinky of Capital Chaos conducted an interview with guitarist Steve "Snake" Green of San Francisco Bay Area metallers SKINLAB on October 24, 2009 at The Boardwalk in Orangevale, California. Watch the chat in two parts below.

SKINLAB recently announced the addition of guitarist Brian Jackson (formerly of the Las Vegas band KREEP) to the group's ranks. The band said, "Brian stepped in after only a week to learn a 14-song set and has absolutely crushed shit while on tour. He's proven to be a perfect fit for SKINLAB and is willing to dedicate himself 150% to SKINLAB."

SKINLAB was forced to cancel its "Sons of a Sikworld Tour" with MOWER earlier in the month after vocalist/bassist Steev Esquivel was diagnosed with "a severe lung infection" before the October 3 concert in Herkimer, New York.

SKINLAB's new album, "The Scars Between Us", was issued on September 15 via Stand And Deliver Records.

The band's video for the song "In for the Kill" was filmed in May 2008 at the group's warehouse in Oakland, California with new, up-and-coming director Jourdan McClure and it features appearances by UFC fighter Nate Quarry and Greg Thompson.

SKINLAB released a live album, "SkinnedAlive!", in April 2008 via BCD Music Group. The CD was recorded on June 3, 2007 at The Metro in Oakland, California.

Part 1:



Part 2:

Metal Mark of SkullsNBones.com conducted an interview with vocalist Mark Hunter and guitarist Matt DeVries of Cleveland, Ohio metallers CHIMAIRA before the band's October 29, 2009 concert in Atlanta, Georgia. Watch the eight-minute chat below.

DeVries sat out the last few weeks of the band's European tour so that he could be home in time for the birth of his son. Filling in for him for the European dates was Emil Werstler of DAATH.

CHIMAIRA will play its tenth annual Christmas show on December 27 at the House of Blues in the band's hometown.

The band will embark on a tour of Australia and New Zealand in January 2010. Support on the trek will come from DOUBLE DRAGON. This will be CHIMAIRA's first headlining Australian tour, having previously played the country as a support act for IN FLAMES, BIOHAZARD and KORN.

Former GUNS N' ROSES and current ADLER'S APPETITE drummer Steven Adler will guest on "That Morning Show" on E! Television on Monday, November 2.

Airing every morning, seven days a week, "That Morning Show" is a new upbeat and topical lifestyle program featuring both in-studio and field pieces in an unconventional new format that is fast-paced, upbeat and always fresh. The show is hosted by a trio of fresh faces — Mark Long, Karla Cavalli, and Chelsea Cannell.

Adler was featured in "Celebrity Rehab Presents Sober House", an eight-episode, one hour series that premiered in January 2009 on VH1.

ADLER'S APPETITE's current lineup includes Adler, vocalist Rick Stitch (of the Los Angeles-based group LADYJACK), guitarists Alex Grossi (HOOKERS 'N' BLOW, ex-QUIET RIOT) and Michael Thomas (FASTER PUSSYCAT) along with bassist Chip Z'nuff (ENUFF Z'NUFF).

ADLER'S APPETITE played its first show with Stitch on April 17, 2009 at the The Galaxy Theater in Santa Ana, California.

Singer Sheldon Tarsha announced his departure from ADLER'S APPETITE in April, saying it was "time now for me to follow my heart and continue working with my original band."

Norway's FVN.no conducted an interview we did with W.A.S.P. mainman Blackie Lawless before the band's October 29, 2009 performance in Kristiansand. Blackie talks about his faith, why he doesnt "do the blood" anymore and why he will never perform the song "Animal (Fuck Like A Beast)" again. Watch the chat below (Windows Media). A couple of excerpts follow.

On having a pretty basic live show nowadays:

Blackie: "What you're saying is: Are you doing the blood anymore? No, I'm not doing it. I don't need that anymore, because when you're trying to get a message across to people, the image of that early show spoke so loudly, people were listening with their eyes and not their ears. We did what we thought was abstract art and we were trying to make social comment within that, and no one was getting the social comment; they thought, 'Oh, it's a shock-rock band.' We've never considered ourselves a shock-rock band, and to be honest, even to this day, I resent that; I don't like being considered that. But I understand that the eyes are the dominant sense, and so if you're going to try and get your message across, sometimes you have to simplify it to be able to do that."

On not playing "Animal (Fuck Like A Beast)" live anymore:

Blackie: "We haven't done that song for several years. And it's totally because of my religious faith, and it's something that I don't want to do anymore, and I will never play that song again.

"What can I do to be a positive influence? So I'm looking at what I'm doing and I'm trying to create the best example that I can. I don't want 13-year-olds going around singing that song. If that's something they wanna do later in their life, that's their business. But, like I said, it's a question of faith and the religious conviction that I have."

On whether it means that he's not so proud of all the things he's done in his past:

Blackie: "Well, that would be one of them, but... You have to understand that I believe that I've been put here on this Earth to do a very specific thing. This album, 'Babylon', that we're doing now really talks about what's going on with the Book Of Revelation and the bible.

"Someone asked me the other day. They said, 'Are you a rock and roll preacher now?' I said, 'No. But I am a messenger.' And that's what my job is. So everything I did up to this point has led me to where I am now."

"Babylon", the new album from W.A.S.P., entered the U.K. "Rock Albums" chart at position No. 15.

"Babylon" was released on October 12 through Global Music (via Demolition Records). The CD is themed around biblical visions of "The Four Horseman of the Apocalypse," and is described in a press release as "a metal masterpiece that will make fans both old and new craving for more."

The track listing for the album is as follows:

01. Crazy
02. Live To Die Another Day
03. Babylon's Burning
04. Burn
05. Into The Fire
06. Thunder Red
07. Seas Of Fire
08. Godless Run
09. Promised Land

Audio samples of all the tracks that appear on "Babylon" are available at Amazon.co.uk.

"Crazy" was made available for download via various digital service providers from September 28.

Lawless commented on the track: "Although like it may sound like a man talking to a woman, 'Crazy' is about a performer talking to an audience; the dangers of idol worship and elevating musicians and politicians to a level that's dangerous!"

'80s hard rock queen Lita Ford and her husband Jim Gillette (NITRO) were interviewed yesterday (Thursday, October 29) on "The Smiley Morning Show", a morning program airing on the Indianapolis, Indiana radio station WZPL 99.5 FM. Watch the chat below.

"Wicked Wonderland", the first album in 15 years from Lita Ford, sold around 2,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The CD landed at position No. 31 on the Top Hard Music Albums chart.

"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.

In an "innovative" music marketing move, Ford released a single from "Wicked Wonderland" 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.

QUEENSRŸCHE and Ford have teamed up for over two dozen dates beginning October 15. Lita is hitting the stage during the QUEENSRŸCHE set to perform three songs, including "Close My Eyes Forever", which she is singing with QUEENSRŸCHE frontman Geoff Tate. For all songs, Lita is being backed by QUEENSRŸCHE — Geoff Tate on vocals, Michael Wilton and Parker Lundgren on guitars, Eddie Jackson on bass and Scott Rockenfield on drums.

"It's Always Christmas Time", a collaborative carol from Al Jourgensen (MINISTRY, REVOLTING COCKS) and Mark Thwaite (MISSION UK, PETER MURPHY, MOB RESEARCH) will have its exclusive world broadcast debut on "The Mancow Show" on Friday, November 6 at 8:35 a.m. CST. Jourgensen will join Mancow live during the premiere and will be taking calls during the broadcast and adding his irascible charm to the hit radio show.

A special limited-edition hand-numbered and autographed CD of "It's Always Christmas Time" will be available exclusively through the 13th Planet webstore soon, with a download release to follow during the week of November 15.

Jourgensen and Thwaite, both longtime friends of KILLING JOKE/MINISTRY bassist Paul Raven, who passed away October 20, 2007, joined forces recently at Jourgensen's 13th Planet compound in Texas on REVCO projects and another Jourgensen side project.

Thwaite brings his remix skills to REVCO's "Sex-O MiXXX-O" on "Abundant Redundancy (Dambuster Metalmorphosis Mix)", released as a digital-only bonus supplement to the physical release. Thwaite's previous remix credits include GARY NUMAN, METHOD MAN and LICKY, to name a few. Additionally, Thwaite collaborated with MINISTRY/REVCO guitarist Sin Quirin on "Filthy Senoritas" for the upcoming REVCO release, slated for spring 2010.

"God of War III Ultimate Edition", an exclusive collector's pack celebrating the final installment of the award-winning franchise, will include "God Of War"-inspired downloadable music in the form of the "God Of War Trilogy" soundtrack and the "God Of War Heavy Metal EP" (Extended Play). Florida's TRIVIUM is known to have recorded a new song for the latter, which is described as "a heavy metal homage featuring original music inspired by 'God Of War'."

Developed by Sony, "God Of War III" is set in the realm of Greek mythology and is a single-player game that allows players to take on the climatic role of the ex-Spartan warrior, Kratos, as he treads through the intimidating heights of Mt. Olympus and the dark depths of hell to seek revenge on those who betrayed him. Armed with double-chained blades, Kratos must take on mythology's darkest creatures while solving intricate puzzles throughout his merciless quest to destroy Olympus.

TRIVIUM's participation in the game was revealed on October 20 during guitarist/vocalist Matt Heafy's interview with Kidd Christoff of Baltimore's 98Rock radio station. The chat can be streamed using the audio player below.

For more information about "God of War", visit www.GodofWar.com.

Greek death metallers GOD.FEAR.NONE have completed recording their new album, "Over Black Clouds". The CD contains 11 new songs of technical and melodic death metal, plus three re-recordings of songs taken from the "Vultures" album, which was released in 2007 (available only through iTunes and Uppercut Music).

"Over Black Clouds" features international guest musicians such as Ahrue Luster (guitar; ILL NINO, ex-MACHINE HEAD), Steve Smyth (guitar; FORBIDDEN, ex-NEVERMORE, TESTAMENT), Rob Arnold (guitar; CHIMAIRA) and Thomas Englund (vocals; EVERGREY). The CD's cover artwork is inspired by the classic death metal releases of the '80s and '90s and is a creation of the Canadian artist Neal Blevins from the Miramax company, which has released such animated movies as "Toy Story", "Finding Nemo" and "Ratatuille".

Songtitles set to appear on "Over Black Clouds", among others:

* "Becoming Nothing"
* "Ghost Of A Chance"
* "Half A Man"
* "War Lost"
* "The Devour"

For more information, visit www.myspace.com/godfearnone.

In August 2007, Germany's most successful music export worldwide, SCORPIONS, ventured deep into the Brazilian jungle for a sold-out show in front of 40,000 enthusiastic fans the band played a concert in Manaus, the metropolis on the Amazon river. A cooperation with Greenpeace was already existent at this point and when the band returned to South America the next year, they happily intensified it.

Kaus Meine, lead singer of the SCORPIONS, recollects, "Due to the unbelievable success we returned to Manaus in 2008, but we also played Rio, Sao Paulo and Recife again. During the show in Belem, we accepted Greenpeace's invitation to participate in a three-hour flight across the rainforest in order to get a picture of the proceeding destruction (an area twice the size of Germany has been destroyed by fire so far). We wholeheartedly supported Greenpeace with large banners saying 'Stop the deforestation' during these shows and part of the proceeds from this DVD will consequently be given to this organization that is commited in so many parts of the world."

For many years, Greenpeace has been fighting against the rapid deforestation of the amazon rainforest and for the preservation of the habitat of numerous animal and plant species and also of more than 180 native peoples counting more than 200,000 people altogether. Scientists assume that the rainforest will be gone by 2050 — given a constant "deforestation speed." The consequences would be disastrous: People would lose their homes, animals and plants would become extinct and the impact on the world climate would be bomb-like.

The SCORPIONS have now commited themselves to protecting this unique ecosystem. The rock icons' DVD "Amazonia - Live In The Jungle" not only includes the complete show played in Recife on September 7, 2008 and a "Special Feature – supported by Greenpeace" consisting of five live videos from their legendary concert in Manaus in 2007, but also a Greenpeace documentation of the SCORPIONS' legendary flight across the amazon rainforest. Royalties of DVDs sold in Brazil and Mexico predominately go to Greenpeace Brazil's projects to protect the ancient forest.

Musically, the DVD is a highlight as well. Meine says, "During the 2008 tour we had the pleasure to perform with Brazilian guest musicians. It was a wonderful experience and demonstrated very well how music builds bridges and brings people from different cultures together."

In a closing statement, the musician addresses his South American fans and says, "We want to thank our Brazilian fans for the support and the incredible enthusiasm. To quote James: '3 words: You kick ass.' Brazil rocks!!!"

The "Amazonia - Live In The Jungle" will be released on November 20, 2009. Watch a six-minute preview below.

Official Metallica.com footage from METALLICA's October 27, 2009 concert at Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada — including clips of the pre-show meet-and-greet and tuning-room jam and the actual performance — can be viewed below.

The band's setlist was as follows:

01. That Was Just Your Life
02. The End Of The Line
03. For Whom The Bell Tolls
04. Holier Than Thou
05. One
06. Broken, Beat And Scarred
07. My Apocalypse
08. Sad But True
09. The Unforgiven
10. The Judas Kiss
11. The Day That Never Comes
12. Master Of Puppets
13. Blackened
14. Nothing Else Matters
15. Enter Sandman
- - - - - - - -
16. Die, Die My Darling
17. Motorbreath
18. Seek and Destroy

METALLICA guitarist Kirk Hammett has commented on the disappearance of Morgan Dana Harrington, the missing 20-year-old junior from Virginia Tech who was last seen at METALLICA's October 17, 2009 concert at the John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville, Virginia. Speaking to Alan Cross of ExploreMusic.com, Kirk said, "I can only tell you what everyone knows, really. She went to the show in Charlottesville, got separated from her friends, never really got reunited with them, and later on, they found her purse and cell phone, but not her person. So there's been a missing person report filed and there's been a reward put out by the family and we decided to contribute to that reward, 'cause we would like to see — as parents and just of our own good nature — we would like to see her found and reunited with her family. It's a very sad thing to hear about. We're just trying to do what we can to help her and help her family out. It's a pretty intense, screwed up thing that's happened, and I really hope that she's found and that she's OK."

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.

Look for KISS to headline the "Guitar Hero" stage on November 19 with a three-song track pack that's sure to satiate the KISS fan in everyone. The track pack will feature "Modern Day Delilah", the first single off the band's new album, "Sonic Boom"; "Lick It Up", the title track from the group's 1983 album; and "I Was Made for Loving You", KISS's second gold single.

KISS Track Pack will be available via Xbox Live Marketplace for Xbox 360 for 440 Microsoft Points, on the PlayStation Store for the PS3 for $5.49 and for Wii for 550 Wii Points. In addition, all songs in the KISS Track Pack will be released as downloadable singles for Xbox 360 for 160 Microsoft Points each, PS3 for $1.99 each and Wii for 200 Wii Points each.

While you wait, you can also rock out to KISS right now in "Guitar Hero 5", which features "Shout It Out Loud".

Video footage of KISS talking about "Guitar Hero 5" can be viewed below.

For more information, visit www.guitarhero.com.

Fender Vision has posted video footage of guitarist John 5 (ROB ZOMBIE, ex-MARILYN MANSON) rehearsing for Zombie's current tour. Watch the five-minute clip below.

Rob Zombie's North American trek kicked off last night (Thursday, October 29) in Phoenix, Arizona. The singer is performing with the same band that toured behind his 2006 CD, "Educated Horses", consisting of John 5, bassist Piggy D. and drummer Tommy Clufetos.

Zombie said on a conference call with reporters earlier this week that fans can expect surprises in both the set list and stage production on the current trek. "We have a lot of new things this time, you know," he said. "We didn't want to go out and just do the same old show, so we've dug deep and we've kind of tried to mix it up. You know, there's always the obvious songs that you have to play for people that they want to hear, but we're actually going back and we're grabbing some songs that I've actually never played live ever. And as far as the stage show, there's been some pretty incredible advancements in digital technology, so we have a pretty high-tech show going on. It's pretty awesome."

It was announced late Wednesday (October 28) that Zombie has left Geffen Records, his label home for 18 years, and signed a new deal with Roadrunner Records' Loud & Proud imprint. The label will release his new album, "Hellbilly Deluxe 2", in early 2010.

Zombie sold more than 15 million records on Geffen as a solo artist and with WHITE ZOMBIE. He said in a statement, "It certainly wasn't an easy decision to make after all this time, but it had to be done. I love this new record and wanted to surround myself with an excited new group of people who can reignite my enthusiasm for working within a hard rock record label. Roadrunner seems to be the perfect place."

Geffen was initially supposed to issue "Hellbilly Deluxe 2" on November 17. It was abruptly yanked from that date, with sources saying that Zombie was at odds with his longtime label.

The singer also said he "toyed with" the idea of bringing out the original "Hellbilly Deluxe" stage set from 1998, but decided in favor of an updated version.

"In The Halls Of White Death", the new video from French black metallers MERRIMACK, can be viewed below.

Commenting on the clip, guitarist Perversifier states, "We're really satsified with how it turned out — pure devil-worshipping madness, featuring the French porn star Eliska Cross in the main role. Check it out before it's censored again!"

MERRIMACK will hit the road in the U.S. for the first time in November and December alongside MARDUK, NACHTMYSTIUM, and MANTIC RITUAL. The band will tour in support of its new album, "Grey Rigorism", which is being hailed by critics as one of the year's very best black metal records.

Amy Kelly of Ultimate-Guitar.com recently conducted an interview with DOWN guitarist Pepper Keenan. A few excerpts from the chat follow below.

Ultimate-Guitar.com: After so many years in the business, I'm sure you've experienced every type of festival or tour. What was your impression of the latest tour?

Pepper: Right now, it's probably my favorite tour that I've ever done or that we've ever headlined for. We've pretty much always played by ourselves, so we've played two-and-a-hours straight. We're bringing bands with us. There are two other bands that we love, and it's just a great package together. It's the most fun on the road that I've had.

Ultimate-Guitar.com: The members of DOWN could easily be considered veteran players with the collective number of years in the business. Do you see yourself slowing down at all in the next five or ten years?

Pepper: I enjoy touring. You get spoiled sometimes. We've been doing it so long, and we kind of do it at a comfortable pace now. In the beginning we were all maniacs. Now we have two buses and we have room so that we don't kill each other. We figure out how to make it work.

Ultimate-Guitar.com: There has been some information floating around about the next album, which isn't slated for release until 2010. Are you basically in the earliest stages of pre-production?

Pepper: Yeah. I think we're planning at earliest the summer of 2010. I think we start recording in January, so we'll be doing that.

Ultimate-Guitar.com: The time period between DOWN releases can go from anywhere to five to seven years, obviously because you have your other bands. With that amount of time, do you gather quite an arsenal of material by the time you go into the studio?

Pepper: Sometimes, yes. When you're touring as much as we have like this, it's really showing which songs work in a live setting. I think we feed on a lot of that energy to see which songs are good and bad. There are certain songs that work like gangbusters. You use that mentality and that attitude, and you focus that on writing new songs in the vein of that kind of stuff.

Ultimate-Guitar.com: So with that mentality in mind, at this point do you have quite a few ideas ready to be recorded?

Pepper: Yeah, definitely. We have some. We actually have one microphone, one vocal track, stripping it back kind of like the first record – but even better.

Ultimate-Guitar.com: Do you have anyone in mind to produce it?

Pepper: I think I'm going to work with an old friend of mine who I grew up with in New Orleans. He used to produce all kinds of bands, and now he's back in it. I think we're going to work with him.

Ultimate-Guitar.com: In terms of working with Kirk (Windstein, guitarist), is it usually a tradeoff with who comes up with the guitar parts?

Pepper: I come up with a lot of the main riffs, and Kirk pretty much does the same. A lot of times if I come with something, Kirk will do something to balance it out that I couldn't play in a million years.

Ultimate-Guitar.com: How would you describe your distinct styles and approaches to the guitar?

Pepper: I would say my style is more hammer-fisted. I use thick strings and downpick everything. Kirk is a little bit more precision-oriented, I guess. Kirk can play all the fast solos and I'll do all the David Gilmour shit! So that's a pretty good separation. It's a good balance.

Ultimate-Guitar.com: On DOWN's fan forums, there have been discussions about the possibility of acoustic tracks on the new record. Can we expect heavy use of the acoustic?

Pepper: We have a bunch of parts that we're hanging on to, but we figure on the last two records that we had a pretty good mix. Now we want to go straight for playing a heavy-hitter song. So that's the plan. Whether that happens, I don't know. That's the master plan, but it could change all tomorrow.

Ultimate-Guitar.com: There was a message from Rex (Brown, bass) on the band's MySpace page regarding his not being able to play on the latest tour.

Pepper: He needed to see his family and get things together. So we thought it would be better if he could get all that straightened out. We've been on the road three years. I can't believe that someone else hasn't tagged out. That's a long time to be away from your family.

Ultimate-Guitar.com: Can we expect any future releases that might hit the shelves before the 2010 album?

Pepper: We have a huge live DVD. What it is, it's the first time we got back together after Hurricane Katrina. We decided to go to Europe. New Orleans was all screwed up and we were all screwed up mentally. We decided to just go to Europe and play some shows. We hadn't played there for four or five years. I made some fliers online to get people to come out and put them up themselves. When we got to Europe, every show was sold out. So we started it in Phil's barn during rehearsals and we ended up having over 50,000 people coming. That's when we decided to do a third record.

Ultimate-Guitar.com: How many hours of footage did you get?

Pepper: I think we have 80 hours of footage or something.

Ultimate-Guitar.com: Will you be touring up until the end of the year?

Pepper: We tour until the end of September, I think. Then we're done because I'm getting ready to have a baby. I've got to get my ass on home.

Read the entire interview from Ultimate-Guitar.com.

Austrian symphonic melodic metal act SERENITY has issued the following update:

"We are in the middle of the songwriting process for the next big SERENITY release and we are already working with our producer Oliver Philips of EVERON and our artworks designer Gustavo Sazes on the new material. We will take some more time right after the THRESHOLD tour for finishing all new songs and for polishing structures, voice changes, soloing, vocal lines and of course lyrics. This will probably take time till January and we will head to the studio when we are ready. Luckily, we are in a position where we are able to enter studio without a fixed time schedule a year ahead. And our pre-production will already include all orchestrations and voicings, so we won't need that much time for orchestrations and these things. This will save us at least two months!!!!

"We do everything to make this release the best SERENITY album ever and there's defenitely the potential therefor. But there's still a hard way to go. The recordings itself are not the biggest problem, but the songwriting seems to be a bit harder this time round... maybe because of our increased quality understanding. Who knows..."

SERENITY is currently supporting U.K. progressive metallers THRESHOLD on their European tour.

SERENITY's latest album, "Fallen Sanctuary", was released in August 2008 via Napalm Records. The CD was mixed by Jacob Hansen (RAUNCHY, INVOCATOR), who "has provided a state-of-the-art sound for SERENITY's brilliant new offerings," according to a press release.

SERENITY's debut album, entitled "Words Untold & Dreams Unlived", came out in April 2007.

For more information, visit www.myspace.com/serenitybandtyrol.

Mexico's Search & Destroy recently conducted an interview with GORGOROTH/OBITUARY bassist Frank Watkins (a.k.a. Bøddel). The chat is now available for streaming using the audio player below.

"Quantos Possunt ad Satanitatem Trahunt", the Norway-based black metallers' ninth album, was released on October 21 in Europe via Regain Records. The CD, which will be made available in the U.S. on November 11, was recorded at Tomas Asklund's Monolith Studio and features Infernus on guitar, Watkins on bass, Pest on vocals and Tomas Asklund on drums.

"Quantos Possunt ad Satanitatem Trahunt" will receive a limited-edition picture disc vinyl release on Infernus' own label, Forces of Satan Records.

"Quantos Possunt ad Satanitatem Trahunt" was produced by Infernus and co-produced/engineered by Tomas Asklund. It was mastered at the Cutting Room in Stockholm.

Since Infernus wrote all the music for the album and extensive rehearsals and a pre-production recording had also been completed before second guitarist Tormentor rejoined the band last year, it was decided that it would be more convenient for Infernus to record all the guitars on the LP.

Frank Watkins interviewed by Search & Destroy:



"Aneuthanasia" sample (click on player below to launch audio):



"Prayer" sample (click on player below to launch audio):

Swedish black metallers MARDUK have announced the second leg of thier "Funeral Nation Tour". The trek will be split into three parts:

* 15 dates covering mostly Eastern Europe and the Balkans, with VADER as special guests and MASTIC SCUM and SINATE in the support slots
* Four shows in Belgium and the Netherlands, with support from EDGE OF SERENITY and SINATE
* 10-date U.K./Ireland tour with ANAAL NATHRAKH as special guests and ARTISIAN and ZEBADIAH CROWE in the support slots.

For a list of dates, go to this location.

Video footage of MARDUK performing live in Ljubljana, Slovenia on October 25, 2009 can be viewed below.

"Wormwood", the eleventh album from MARDUK, sold around 650 copies in the United States in its first week of release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The CD landed at position No. 99 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.

"Wormwood" was released in the U.S. on October 13 via Regain Records (September 24 in Europe). The CD was recorded at Endarker Studios in Norrköping, Sweden with engineer/producer Magnus Devo Andersson.

Following three very special U.S. appearances in August in Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York (effectively breaking their streak of visa issues), MARDUK will return for a full North American headlining tour this November. The band will be joined by NACHTMYSTIUM, MANTIC RITUAL, MERRIMACK and BLACK ANVIL (on select dates).

Dubbed U.S. Plague Tour 2009, the trek will kick off on November 20 at the Palladium in Worcester, Massachusetts and run through 21 more dates before coming to a close in New York City on December 16 at the Gramercy Theater, where the band recently played to an overwhelming crowd response.

Several photos of Ozzy Osbourne (BLACK SABBATH) and Ray Davies (THE KINKS) rehearsing with METALLICA on Thursday (October 29) at SIR Studios in New York for tonight's Rock And Roll Hall of Fame 25th anniversary concert at Madison Square Garden can be found below. Also scheduled to perform with METALLICA at the show is Lou Reed.

On Monday (October 26), METALLICA guitarist Kirk Hammett spoke with ExploreMusic about the band's appearance at the second of two concerts in New York City celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. He said, "The people behind the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame were so impressed by our induction and our attitude toward the induction and all the good, positive things we had to say about the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame that they actually asked us back to participate in this benefit . . . We're gonna be playing with Ray Davies — we're gonna be playing 'You Really Got Me' with him; we're gonna be playing with Lou Reed, we're gonna be playing a Lou Reed song; and then we're gonna be playing with Ozzy, we're gonna be playing a BLACK SABBATH song. And it should be a lot of fun."

METALLICA was inducted into the Hall of Fame this past April.

Tonight's show will also feature U2, BECK, BUDDY GUY, ARETHA FRANKLIN, ANNIE LENNOX, LENNY KRAVITZ and JERRY LEE LEWIS.

Guitarist/vocalist James Hetfield explained that when METALLICA was inducted into the Rock Hall earlier this year, they bypassed all the politics that most bands usually get mired in: "Rock And Roll Hall of Fame was always so notorious for the drama and the 'oh, he's out of the band, and he's not showing up 'cause of this and that' and all that crap. And we didn't want that. So we invited everyone and everybody, and whoever showed up, it was up to them."

Highlights of both nights' Madison Square Garden concerts will be part of a four-hour broadcast next month on HBO.

San Francisco Bay Area metallers TESTAMENT performed on August 10, 2009 at the New York City studios of Sirius XM as part of the satellite radio service's "Artist Confidential" series.

"Artist Confidential" features the most important and timeless artists in music sitting down for candid interviews, intimate conversations with fans and live performances.

The show premiered on October 5 on Sirius XM's Liquid Metal, Sirius channel 27 and XM channel 42.

Watch excerpts from the episode below.

TESTAMENT recently canceled its previously announced South American dates in September in order to focus on recording the follow-up to its acclaimed 2008 album, "The Formation Of Damnation".

TESTAMENT has been touring non-stop in support of "The Formation Of Damnation", including this year's Priest Feast tour in Europe with JUDAS PRIEST and a phenomenal run on the Metal Masters tour last year with HEAVEN & HELL and MOTÖRHEAD.

Two classic albums by TESTAMENT — 1997's "Demonic" and 1999's "The Gathering" — were reissued on gatefold double vinyl by Prosthetic Records on February 3. Each features etched artwork on Side D and is limited to 1,000 copies worldwide. Additionally, 100 copies of "Demonic" feature red vinyl, while 100 copies of "The Gathering" feature gold vinyl.

"More Than Meets the Eye" performance:



TESTAMENT's "Spinal Tap" moment + "Into The Pit" performance:

JUDAS PRIEST singer Rob Halford was a guest on this week's edition of the "Maximum Threshold" show. The interview was recorded this past Monday night (October 26) and can be streamed using the audio player below.

"Maximum Threshold" is an Internet radio show dedicated to presenting up-and-coming hard rock bands and successful bands as well as interviews, news and music reviews.

For more information, go to MaximumThreshold.net.

Halford will debut his first holiday CD "Halford III - Winter Songs" on his new label Metal God Records, distributed globally by ADA Global/Warner Music Group, Fontana/Universal Music Group, Conveyor/Universal Music Canada and Sony Music Japan.

"Halford III - Winter Songs" revised release dates:

North America: November 3
U.K. and European Union (except Germany): November 9
Germany: November 13

"Halford III - Winter Songs" will begin shipping from MetalGodShop.com on November 3. A limited-edition radio promo will be included in all orders while supplies last.

"Halford III - Winter Songs" is Rob's first solo release in more than seven years, and includes a collection of new Halford-penned tracks plus traditional holiday favorites presented with original arrangements by HALFORD (Rob Halford on vocals, Roy Z. on guitar, Metal Mike Chlasciak on guitar, Mike Davis on bass and Bobby Jarzombek on drums).

Written, arranged and recorded during 2008 and 2009, "Halford III - Winter Songs" celebrates one of the most exciting holiday periods of the year.

"Well, I've always said I wanted to produce a Christmas CD," commented Halford. "The HALFORD band has assembled a fantastic release, and we're excited to have produced a collection of holiday tracks which all of us have enjoyed from a very early age."

"Halford III - Winter Songs" debuts new HALFORD tracks "Get Into The Spirit", "When Christmas Comes For Everyone", "Light Of The World", "What Child Is This", "Oh Holy Night", "Come All Ye Faithful" and more.

HALFORD's last studio album, "Crucible", came out in 2002. "Metal God Essentials, Vol. 1", a 2007 collection containing 15 songs spanning Rob Halford's solo career, featured two new songs, "Forgotten Generation" and "Drop Out".

Rob Halford interviewed on "Maximum Threshold" (click on player below to launch audio):

Veteran death metallers IMMOLATION recently entered Millbrook Sound Studios in New York with longtime producer Paul Orofino to begin recording their eighth album, due in early 2010 via Nuclear Blast Records.

Video footage of IMMOLATION drummer Steve Shalaty laying down several tracks for the CD can be viewed below (courtesy of SickDrummerMagazine.com).

IMMOLATION's new album will contain "10 songs of the strongest material we have ever written," the band said in a statement. "The new material is more violent and aggressive, with fast sections that take us to a new level of speed and intensity, while complementing the dark and sullen heavier moments. There are plenty of miserable and militant movements to please the diehard and new IMMOLATION fans alike."

The CD will be mixed by Zack Ohren, who has previously worked with DECREPIT BIRTH, SUFFOCATION and ALL SHALL PERISH, among others.

Catch IMMOLATION as direct support to NILE on the "Those Whom The Gods Detest Tour" in January/February.

The upcoming album will be the third consecutive release featuring IMMOLATION's current lineup:

Ross Dolan - Bass, Vocals
Robert Vigna - Guitars
Bill Taylor - Guitars
Steve Shalaty - Drums

IMMOLATION's seventh release, "Shadows in the Light", came out in May 2007 via Century Media Records. The CD was recorded at Millbrook Sound Studios with producer Paul Orofino.

Along with bands like SUFFOCATION, INCANTATION and MORTICIAN, IMMOLATION is one of the all important forefathers of New York death metal. Not only has the band developed its musical capabilities over the years, but it has also become one of the most intense live acts in the industry.

Massachusetts-based metallers HELL WITHIN have inked a multi-album worldwide deal with Thorp Records. The band will enter Damaged Studios (BURY YOUR DEAD, SEAMLESS, UNEARTH) in January with producer Pete Rutcho to begin recording its new album for a May 2010 release.

Commented Thorp Records co-founder Duane Miller: "HELL WITHIN plays a killer blend of metal, thrash and hardcore that is a natural extension of the more aggressive albums we've released over the last ten years. Plus, as Thorp Records is the home of hard-working music, we have tremendous respect for the tireless work ethic J.J., Tony, Derek, Isaias and Derek have demonstrated, playing hundreds of shows every year.'

The track "Condemning the Bloodline" from the upcoming effort is available for streaming using the audio player below.

HELL WITHIN in 2007 parted ways singer Matt McChesney, who left to front Daytona Beach, Florida's THE AUTUMN OFFERING. The group has since found a replacement vocalist in the shape of J.J. Long.

HELL WITHIN's last album, "Shadows of Vanity", was released in May 2007 on Lifeforce Records. The CD was tracked with longtime producer John Ellis and diligently mixed by Mark Lewis of AudioHammer Studios (TRIVIUM, BURY YOUR DEAD, GOD FORBID). Cover artwork was handled by acclaimed graphic designer and artist Paul Romano (MASTODON, TRIVIUM, THROUGH THE EYES OF THE DEAD).

Valley News reports: Two Riverside County men who contend poor security was to blame for injuries they suffered at the 2007 Ozzfest concert can take their case to trial next year, a Los Angeles judge said today.

Concertgoers Michael McClelland and Stephen Holloway filed their lawsuit in January 2008, maintaining the security guards hired to work at the concert were "too young and under-trained to act as security guards at a heavy metal concert."

Holloway says he entered the Glen Helen Pavilion in San Bernardino County about 1 p.m. A few hours later, according to the suit, he was attacked by a young man with a shaved head and tattoos who was soon joined by other assailants, who grabbed Holloway's hair from behind and kicked him in the face, breaking his jaw in several places.

Read more from Valley News.

This past summer while co-headlining the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival tour, the members of SLAYER sat down on their tour bus backstage in Camden, New Jersey and talked about the eleven tracks on their upcoming album, "World Painted Blood". In the latest clip — which can be viewed below — Jeff Hanneman (guitar), Kerry King (guitar) and Tom Araya (bass, vocals) give us the backstory on "Playing With Dolls"" (clip courtesy of Fangoria.com).

The official CD-release and listening party for "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.

Starting tonight at midnight, SLAYER will commandeer MySpace.com's Music homepage and brand new Music Video homepage for the entire Halloween weekend.

The first SLAYER Halloween treat will be the exclusive premiere of "World Painted Blood", which is due in stores next Tuesday, November 3. You've probably heard a few morsels from it — "Psychopathy Red", "Hate Worldwide", and the title track — but now you'll be able to hear "Snuff", "Public Display of Dismemberment", "Not of This God", and "Beauty Through Order" — the whole thing, start to finish and on demand - until Tuesday when you can own your very own copy.

But if you really want to get creeped out this Halloween, then check out the video graphic novel "Playing With Dolls", which will be exclusively available for viewing on MySpace Music only through the weekend, and then on Tuesday as part of the "World Painted Blood" deluxe edition.

No mere music video, the 20-minute "Playing with Dolls" (which is included in the "World Painted Blood" deluxe edition) was created and directed by Mark Brooks ("Metalocalypse") and is a stark, 12-part nightmare that breathes corrupt life into SLAYER's latest syllabus of stalkers, psychopaths and serial killers, merging their aberrant psyches into the supremely focused desire of a single, merciless malcontent. A methodical distillation of one man's lethal frenzy, the film follows the gruesome outbursts of a nameless protagonist. He is not an indiscriminate murder junkie, but rather a highly creative snuff-artist with a deeply personal sense of purpose — a man for whom murder is the only conceivable way forward. With a black heart hardened by tragedy, he chooses his victims carefully. His methods are as grisly and varied as they are poetic.

To complete this seizing of MySpace Music, every slot on the MySpace's Music Video homepage will be filled with SLAYER music videos, shout-outs, digital clips of the band providing some behind-the-scenes perspective on "World Painted Blood", and other terrifying tidbits.

California rockers PAPA ROACH have partnered with WHY (World Hunger Year) to continue their mission to raise funds and awareness for organizations who are working towards finding answers to hunger, poverty and homelessness. Led by frontman Jacoby Shaddix, who revealed earlier this year that he was homeless as a child, the band is on the road supporting its latest CD, "Metamorphosis", which addresses many of the current social and economic themes prevalent today. PAPA ROACH joins BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, MICHAEL MCDONALD, JACKSON BROWNE, CROSBY STILLS & NASH, CHICAGO, EARTH WIND & FIRE, JOSS STONE, DARRYL MCDANIELS, O.A.R, and many others as part of WHY's Artists Against Hunger & Poverty program.

Launching on the current co-headlining tour with JET beginning with the November 7 show in Youngstown, Ohio at the Wedgewood Entertainment Center, PAPA ROACH's partnership with WHY will feature an auction in their tour markets where fans bid on an exclusive experience including an interview with the band, side-stage tickets, soundcheck access and much more — with all proceeds going to WHY.

To bid now and for more information, please visit www.paparoach.com.

In addition to raising money, PAPA ROACH will build awareness from the stage and visit local food banks and homeless shelters to lend their support. Shaddix explains, "We're proud to work with World Hunger Year to help those in need. We've been fortunate enough to have a voice and we want to use it by giving back. We encourage everyone to help out their local communities."

Hillary Zuckerberg of WHY adds, "WHY is honored to welcome PAPA ROACH to our Artists Against Hunger & Poverty program. As many as 3.5 million people experience homelessness in a given year and over 36 million people are living in hunger and poverty in the United States. These issues are clearly a priority for the band and Jacoby who have personally taken on the fight to end hunger, poverty and homelessness across the country by engaging their fans in the cause. We are excited to have them as an ally in this mission."

Known for its electrifying live shows, PAPA ROACH has been touring nonstop behind its new album and fifth studio recording, "Metamorphosis", which debuted at #8 on The Billboard 200 chart earlier this year. "Metamorphosis" has already spawned the #1 rock hit "Lifeline" and "I Almost Told You That I Loved You", with "Had Enough" impacting radio now. "Had Enough" illustrates the traumatic impact of the war in Iraq, the foreclosure epidemic and the overall economic and social downturn affecting so many — themes the band identified almost 2 years ago when writing the album.

The members of Santa Barbara, California's DEVILDRIVER talk about their favorite movies in the latest edition of the Kerrang! video podcast, which can be viewed below.

DEVILDRIVER's new album, "Pray For Villains", sold around 14,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 35 on The Billboard 200 chart.

DEVILDRIVER's previous album, 2007's "The Last Kind Words", shifted a little more than 14,000 copies during its first week of release to debut at No. 48 — around 40 percent more than the opening-week number of 2005's "The Fury of Our Maker's Hand", which premiered at No. 177 with sales of 10,400.

"Pray For Villains" was released on July 14 via Roadrunner Records. The effort — which was also made available as a special-edition CD/DVD package featuring three bonus tracks, a behind-the-scenes DVD and expanded artwork — was recorded at Edge of the Earth studios in Los Angeles with producer Logan Mader (FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, GOJIRA, DIVINE HERESY).

Ray Waddell of Billboard.com reports: Billboard will fete Ozzy Osbourne with the "Legend of Live" award at the 2009 Billboard Touring Awards, set for November 5 at New York's Roosevelt Hotel. The "Legend of Live" award recognizes an individual who has made significant and lasting contributions to live music and the touring business, and acknowledges the recipient's commitment to the art of performing live and reaching fans through the concert experience.

Ozzy recently moved his booking responsibilities to William Morris Endeavor Entertainment, where his responsible agent is contemporary music head Marc Geiger — one of the founders of Lollapalooza. "WME is thrilled that we get to work with Ozzy," says Geiger. "I don't even know what to say, as he has accomplished so much in so many areas, let alone his influence on thousands of rock musicians and fans. We are just lucky to be able to work with him…and by the way, the new record sounds incredible. Ozzy rules."

Ozzy would be the first to admit he's not perfect. And the road can become a grind these days. "I want to give the audience my heart and soul every night, but sometimes I pull it off and sometimes I don't," he says. "We're human. I don't use any tricks, I don't lip synch my voice, what you see is what you get. I've done my fair share of bad gigs, and I'm not embarrassed to say that."

Read the entire article from Billboard.com.

Virginia's melodic/technical death metal band ARSIS has unveiled the cover artwork (by Mark Riddick) for its fourth studio album, "Starve For The Devil", due in North America on February 9, 2010 via Nuclear Blast Records. Check it out below.

"Starve For The Devil" was recorded at Planet Z Studios in Hadley, Massachusetts with producer Chris "Zeuss" Harris, who has previously worked with MUNICIPAL WASTE, AGNOSTIC FRONT and HATEBREED, among others.

"Starve For The Devil" track listing:

01. Forced to Rock
02. A March for the Sick
03. From Soulless to Shattered (Art in Dying)
04. Beyond Forlorn
05. The Ten of Swords
06. Closer to Cold
07. Sick Perfection
08. Half Past Corpse O'Clock
09. Escape Artist
10. Sable Rising
11. Pound Of Flesh (For The Hell Of It) (bonus track)

ARSIS' recording lineup:

James Malone - Guitars/Vocals
Mike Van Dyne - Drums
Nick Cordle - Guitars
Nathaniel Carter - Bass

ARSIS will take part in the North American "Tyrants Of Evil" tour with ARCH ENEMY, EXODUS and MUTINY WITHIN beginning January 20, 2010. Malone said, "Not only will it be our first tour in support of our new album, but it will also be the first time that ARSIS toured in the United States in well over a year.

"I hope to see many familiar faces; I have greatly missed hanging out with all the ARSIS fans at shows."

ARSIS is currently on the road in in Europe as part of the Neckbreakers Ball tour with BEHEMOTH, DEVILDRIVER, and SCAR SYMMETRY.

ARSIS' previous album, "We Are the Nightmare", was released in April 2008 through Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was produced by Zeuss at Planet Z Studios and was mastered by Alan Douches (KATAKLYSM, UNEARTH, SHADOWS FALL).