Bunch TV has uploaded video footage of THE RED CHORD's performance at the Rock Am Bach festival, which was held July 10-11, 2009 at the Zeltpalast in Merzig, Germany. The clip can be viewed below.

THE RED CHORD is hard at work on its fourth album, "Fed Through The Teeth Machine", which is tentatively due this fall via Metal Blade Records. The CD is being recorded at Jonny Fay Backyard Studios, which is owned by the band's former guitarist Jonny Fay, and it will be mixed and mastered by Chris "Zeuss" Harris, who has previously worked with HATEBREED and SHADOWS ALL, among others.

Regarding the new album title, vocalist Guy Kozowyk told Revolver magazine, "It's from the Discovery Channel show 'How It's Made'. They were talking about this machine they feed zippers through, but we just though the name was creepy."

The disc will be the band's first since the mid-2007 departure of Faye, whom the group chose not to replace. "With the economy being so bad, we figured it was time to downsize," Kozowyk said, only half-joking. "Writing as a four-piece is actually more efficient because there's one less opinion you have to deal with."

Kozowyk says the new songs are more intense and mature than those on 2007's "Prey for Eyes". "It's faster and heavier, but it's definitely groove-oriented and melodic where it needs to be," he said.

Mark Thompson of SMNnews conducted an interview with guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz of Massachusetts metallers KILLSWITCH ENGAGE on July 12, 2009 at the San Bernardino, California stop of this year's Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival. Watch the chat below.

The new, self-titled album from KILLSWITCH ENGAGE sold 58,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 7 on The Billboard 200 chart.

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE's third album, "As Daylight Dies", which was released in November 2006, has just been certified gold by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) for shipments in excess of 500,000 copies). That album featured the group's highest-charting radio singles to date, including "My Curse" and the fan favorite, a cover version of DIO's "Holy Diver".

"As Daylight Dies" opened with just under 60,000 units to debut at position No. 32 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD was the follow up to 2004's Grammy-nominated album "The End of Heartache", which was also certified gold.

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE's self-titled fourth album was released on June 30 via Roadrunner Records. The CD was produced by Brendan O'Brien (AC/DC, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE) and co-produced by guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz.

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE will team up with IN FLAMES for a co-headlining tour of Canada in September. Support on the trek will come from PROTEST THE HERO and BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME.

Mark Thompson of SMNnews conducted an interview with drummer Paul Mazurkiewicz of Florida death metallers CANNIBAL CORPSE on July 12, 2009 at the San Bernardino, California stop of this year's Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival. Watch the chat below.

CANNIBAL CORPSE has just released its ENTIRE discography in one digital package on iTunes. A Metal Blade Records press release states: "We know a lot of you probably have either worn out your copies of 'The Bleeding' or you just might need to fill out your collection. Plus, CANNIBAL CORPSE has always been a band that plays songs from their entire catalogue while on tour so here's your chance to learn the rest of the songs you might not know! Head over to iTunes to grab this digital bundle for an incredibly low price. In total, you'll receive 16 albums and 196 songs."

Albums include:

"Eaten Back To Life" (12 tracks)
"Butchered At Birth" (10 tracks)
"Tomb Of The Mutilated" (10 tracks)
"Hammer Smashed Face" (3 tracks)
"The Bleeding" (11 tracks)
"Vile" (11 tracks)
"Gallery Of Suicide" (14 tracks)
"Bloodthirst" (11 tracks)
"Live Cannibalism" (18 tracks)
"Gore Obsessed" (11 tracks)
"Worm Infested" (6 tracks)
"The Wretched Spawn" (13 tracks)
"Kill" (13 tracks)
"Evisceration Plague" (12 tracks)
Bonus Demo Tracks (18 tracks)
Bonus Live Tracks (23 tracks)

Purchase on iTunes here.

As previously reported, CANNIBAL CORPSE issued a limited-edition 96-page comic book exclusively at the Hot Topic booth on this summer's Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival. Drawn entirely by Vince Locke, who illustrated the acclaimed graphic novel "A History of Violence" and each of the band's album covers, the "Evisceration Plague" comic graphically depicts a story for every song on the band's album of the same name — arranged in order, no less. As an added bonus, each copy comes with a copy of the album.

CANNIBAL CORPSE will embark on the European Plague Tour in the fall. Direct support will come from DYING FETUS. On the mainland, the package will be completed by EVOCATION and OBSCURA, while TRIGGER THE BLOODSHED and ANNOTATIONS OF AN AUTOPSY will support the bands in the U.K.

CANNIBAL CORPSE's latest album, "Evisceration Plague", has sold 31,000 copies in the United States since its February 3, 2009 release, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Norwegian melodic power metal band PAGAN'S MIND has been confirmed as direct support for STRATOVARIUS on their North America tour in September and October.

Confirmed dates are as follows:

Sep. 12 - Atlanta, GA - Centre Stage (ProgPower USA festival) *
Sep. 16 - New York, NY - Nokia Theater
Sep. 18 - Toronto, ON - Opera House
Sep. 19 - Quebec City, QC - Imperial de Quebec
Sep. 20 - Montreal, QC - Medley
Sep. 21 - Boston, MA - Middle East
Sep. 23 - Baltimore, MD - Sonar
Sep. 24 - Cleveland, OH - Peabody's
Sep. 25 - Mokena, IL - Pearl Room
Sep. 26 - St. Paul, MN - Station 4 *
Sep. 27 - Winnipeg, MB - Garrick Centre
Sep. 28 - Regina, SK - The Riddell at University
Sep. 29 - Calgary, AB - Warehouse
Sep. 30 - Edmonton, AB - Starlite Room
Oct. 02 - Vancouver, BC - Plaza Club
Oct. 03 - Victoria, BC - Sugar
Oct. 04 - Seattle, WA - El Corazon
Oct. 06 - San Francisco, CA - The Grand Ballroom at the Regency
Oct. 07 - Los Angeles, CA - Key Club

* PAGAN'S MIND only

PAGAN'S MIND has just completed work on its first DVD, to be released by the band's own label and distributed by Indie Distribution. A street date will be announced shortly. The DVD will be released in three different versions: an audio-CD and -DVD containing footage/recording of PAGAN'S MIND's November 1, 2008 show at Rockefeller Music Hall in Oslo; a double DVD with the Rockefeller show as well as a disc with bonus material; and a limited-to-1000-copies hand-numbered three-disc version with the audio CD, the two DVDs — including more bonus material — plus an autographed photo and a guitar pick.

Video footage of PAGAN'S MIND's November 16, 2008 performance in Munich, Germany can be viewed below (courtesy of "eblinternational").

The band's latest album, "God's Equation", in 2007 entered the Norwegian domestic chart (featuring only Norwegian artists) at position No. 14. It also landed on the international chart (featuring all artists) at No. 35. The CD, which was released in the U.S. in January 2008, was recorded by Espen Mjøen at his Mediamaker Studio in Skien, Norway, and mixed at Toy Town Studios in Stockholm by Stefan Glaumann (RAMMSTEIN).

"Fire Eaters", the new video from the Portuguese metal act VERTIGO STEPS — the ambitious offspring of Bruno A (ARCANE WISDOM, UNDERSTREAM, REDSTAINS) — can be viewed below. The track comes off VERTIGO STEPS' self-titled debut album, which was recorded at UltraSoundStudios with Daniel Cardoso. The material, according to its author, "travel[s] through a melancholic and cinematic metal, with moments of groovy dementia shifting with others of pure, almost post-rock introspection."

"Vertigo Steps" track listing:

01. Steps to Vertigo (In.Through)
02. Vultures in My Dying Bed
03. The Swarming Process
04. Fire Eaters
05. Serpent's Irony
06. Scarheart
07. The Gruesome Smile
08. Pain Inc.
09. I of the Storm
10. Synapse (Sleepwalking Metaphorms)

The project's recording lineup consists of the following musicians:

* Bruno A - All music & vertigo words. guitars, loops & samples, keys, programming, mind-jerking
* Niko Mankinen (MISERY INC) - vocals
* Daniel Cardoso (HEAD CONTROL SYSTEM) - drums, backing vocals
* Alexandre Ribeiro (BLEEDING DISPLAY, LAST EXIT, DESIRE, GROG) - fretless bass

Guest musicians:

* Stein Roger Sordal (ex-GREEN CARNATION) - guest vocals
* Sophie (UNDERSTREAM) - guest vocals
* Rui Viegas (A STORY OF DUST, ARCANE WISDOM) - guest vocals and flute
* André L Vasconcelos (ex-HORDES OF YORE, ARCANE WISDOM) - guest vocals

For more information, visit the band's MySpace page.

Video footage of METALLICA frontman James Hetfield getting covered in cream pies for his birthday at the conclusion of the band's performance at the Sonisphere festival on Sunday, August 2 at the legendary Knebworth Park, United Kingdom can be viewed below.

Hetfield turned 46 on Monday (August 3). One of the most influential figures in hard rock and heavy metal of the past 25 years, Hetfield was born in Los Angeles, California to parents who were devout Christian Scientists. A strict religious upbringing, which included seeing his mother die of cancer because their religion forbade medical treatment, fueled the lyrics of many METALLICA songs, including "Until It Sleeps", "The God That Failed" and "Fade to Black".

Hetfield learned to play piano and drums before picking up a guitar at the age of 14. His early bands during his high school years included OBSESSION, PHANTOM LORD and LEATHER CHARM. When LEATHER CHARM's drummer left, an ad that Hetfield placed in a local paper for a new drummer led him to meet Danish-born Lars Ulrich. The pair formed METALLICA in 1981 and remain its two original members. The group has since become one of the biggest rock bands in history, selling 59 million records in the U.S. and over 100 million worldwide. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this past April along with JEFF BECK, RUN-DMC and others.

Hetfield battled for years with addictions to alcohol and drugs, finally entering rehab in 2001 during the turbulent sessions for the band's "St. Anger" album. He emerged clean and sober and remains so to this day.

Hetfield's struggle and the band's near-demise during that period was chronicled in the 2004 documentary "Some Kind of Monster".

The Pulse of Radio asked Hetfield if he ever worried whether the fans would still be there after the band's near-breakup and the lukewarm response to "St. Anger". "We're not gonna not tour or write because people don't like it," he said. "We would continue to do our best, and that's all we can ask of ourselves and, you know, the creative juices flow, you can't stop them. I can sit here and say, 'We wrote this for ourselves and we always have written for ourselves,' but when other people give you kudos, they enjoy it, they say it relates to them, it makes their life better, of course it's gonna make you feel even more satisfied."

Hetfield has been married to Francesca since 1997. They have three children, Cali, Castor and Marcella.

His hobbies include skateboarding, hunting, water sports, snowboarding, collecting guitars and customizing classic automobiles.

Hetfield has listed some of his main musical influences as BLACK SABBATH, THIN LIZZY, AEROSMITH, MOTÖRHEAD, QUEEN and LED ZEPPELIN.

METALLICA's ninth studio effort, "Death Magnetic", came out in September 2008. The band begins a North American tour this September in Nashville.

BareBonesMusic.com conducted an interview with Blake Bunzel (guitar), Jesse Landry (bass) and Jeff Fabb (drums) from Southern California's IN THIS MOMENT during the 2009 Vans Warped Tour. Watch the nine-minute chat below.

As members of IN THIS MOMENT spend their entire summer as part of this year's Warped Tour lineup, they have returned with a new offering, "The Dream (Ultra-Violet Edition)", which features their version of "Call Me".

Released on June 30, "The Dream (Ultra-Violet Edition)" includes a bonus disc which features "Dying Star" and "Sailing Away", which are two unreleased studio tracks from "The Dream" recording session. It is rounded out by the "Forever" radio edit and "Call Me" instrumental version, alongside a slew of bonus video material.

IN THIS MOMENT kicked off 2009 with a bang embarking on a massive North American trek alongside MUDVAYNE and NONPOINT. The MUDVAYNE run came on the heels of the band's most successful year yet which saw singer Maria Brink landing major cover features in Inked, Revolver and Metal Edge as "The Dream" debuted at No. 70 on The Billboard 200 chart, marking the group's first Billboard entry.

Drummer Tomas Nilsén has left Swedish metallers MACHINAE SUPREMACY due to "personal reasons."

Commented the band: "As unfortunate as this is, Tomas could not have picked a better time [to leave]. We are currently focused on producing material for our upcoming album and can therefore take our time finding a replacement for Tomas without it interfering too much with our plans for the near future."

MACHINAE SUPREMACY's video for the song "Edge and Pearl" can be viewed below. The track comes off the group's third album, "Overworld", which was released in February 2008 via Spinefarm Records.

Based in Luleå, Sweden, MACHINAE SUPREMACY's first commercial album was released in 2004 through U.K.'s MBD Records.

Dean Goodman of Reuters reports that AEROSMITH guitarist Joe Perry has set "Joe Perry … Have Guitar Will Travel" as the title of his fifth solo CD, tentatively due in November. Perry sings on four of the tracks on the album, which follows a self-titled, Grammy-nominated effort that came out in 2005 and sold 31,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Five of the tracks are sung by a relatively unknown German musician, Hagen, who was discovered by Perry's wife, Billie, on YouTube.

Read more from Reuters.

Carl Forgues, host of the Canadian syndicated radio show "Metal7080", conducted an interview with bassist Ian Hill of British heavy metal legends JUDAS PRIEST on July 31, 2009. The 13-minute chat is now available for streaming below.

JUDAS PRIEST's "A Touch of Evil: Live" live album sold around 5,300 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 87 on The Billboard 200 chart.

PRIEST chose 10 songs not previously released in live album form for "A Touch of Evil: Live", which was released on July 14, in the midst of the band's U.S. summer tour.

"A Touch of Evil" includes live renderings of longtime fan favorites such as "Painkiller", "Dissident Aggressor", "Riding on the Wind", "Between the Hammer & the Anvil" and "Eat Me Alive", as well as "Hellrider" from "Angel of Retribution", the group's 2004 reunion album with frontman Rob Halford, and two tracks — "Death" and "Prophecy" — from last year's rock opera "Nostradamus".

Recorded by Martin Walker and Brian Thorene during JUDAS PRIEST's mammoth 2005 and 2008 world tours, "A Touch Of Evil: Live" marks the first PRIEST album that producer Tom Allom has worked on since 1988 (co-producing along with the band). It was such Allom-produced albums as the aforementioned "Unleashed In The East", as well as "British Steel" and "Screaming For Vengeance" (among others) that made PRIEST not only one of the premier metal acts, but one of the leading global rock acts.

Official Metallica.com footage from METALLICA's July 30, 2009 concert in Oslo, Norway — including clips of pre-show meet-and-greet, tuning-room jam and the actual performance — can be viewed below.

As previously reported, ex-METALLICA guitarist Dave Mustaine claims in a new interview with Rolling Stone that the band wanted to fire co-founder and drummer Lars Ulrich after the group finished touring in 1986 — but the plan was disrupted by the death of bassist Cliff Burton in a tour bus accident. Reporter Greg Prato asks, "As far as you know, is it true that on the last METALLICA tour Cliff Burton was on before he died, the band was planning on firing Lars Ulrich at the tour's end?" Mustaine replies, "That's what Scott (Ian, ANTHRAX guitarist) told me. He said that when METALLICA got home, that James (Hetfield, frontman), Cliff and Kirk (Hammett, guitarist) were going to fire Lars."

However, Scott Ian refuted Mustaine's statement in a post on ANTHRAX's official Twitter profile, writing, "Story's not true. Little does anyone know but Lars actually owns the (METALLICA) name. Good luck ever kicking him out."

Mustaine himself was a member of METALLICA for less than two years, from 1981 to 1983, before being dismissed and replaced by Hammett. He did not play on any METALLICA albums and did not attend their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame earlier this year.

Mustaine went on to form MEGADETH. The band's 12th studio album, "Endgame", is due out in September.

No one has every seriously speculated that Ulrich could be dismissed from the band he started with Hetfield more than a quarter century ago. But he told The Pulse of Radio himself that being in a band that long has its ups and downs. "Being in METALLICA for 27 years, part of the ride is that it's got to go on these kind of ups and downs and these dynamics, and now people like you, and now people like you a little more, and now people like you a little less and now people complain about this, and now people are really excited about that . . . it's all part of the ride."

METALLICA is currently touring behind its ninth studio album, "Death Magnetic", and starts a North American run of shows in September.

The 27th installment of the "Shockwaves Skull Sessions" podcast features a discussion between host Bob Nalbandian, regular contributor Ed Rivadavia and "Beyond Thunder" filmmakers Kurt Squiers and Gregg Ferguson.

"Beyond Thunder" is a documentary attempting to answer the question of how millions of AC/DC fans sparked a global cultural institution.

Listen to the podcast below.

MetalSymphony.com recently conducted an interview with vocalist Joey Tempest of Swedish hard rockers EUROPE. The chat is now available for streaming at this location.

"Last Look At Eden", the new album from EUROPE, will be released in Germany on September 18 via earMUSIC/Edel Germany GmbH. The CD will be issued in the U.K. on September 14.

"Last Look At Eden" track listing:

01. Prelude
02. Last Look at Eden
03. Gonna Get Ready
04. Catch that Plane
05. New Love in Town
06. The Beast
07. Mojito Girl
08. No Stone Unturned
09. Only Young Twice
10. U Devil U
11. Run With the Angels
12. In My Time

From the epic title track to the melodic ballad "New Love in Town", this album is on another level, less extreme than previous offering, 2006's "Secret Society", and with matured sound, "Last Look at Eden" is a mix of all the elements that have made EUROPE famous the world over.

Commented Tempest: "This time we're taking a new direction with our songs, and we're exploring different styles. There is a definite classic rock vibe on several tracks on this album — a tip of the hat to groovin', funkin' '70s rock songs, with a modern twist."

He added: "We've got a couple of great ballads, plus some thundering rock tracks that will put you flat on your ass! We've taken the best bits from our recent albums and taken it to a new level 'Last Look at Eden' is more of a EUROPE album than 'Secret Society' or 'Start From The Dark'. We had to make those albums in order to do this."

Reunited Norwegian black metallers IMMORTAL will perform at next year's Hellfest and Wacken Open Air festivals, set to take place June 18-20 in Clisson, France and August 5-7 in Wacken, Germany, respectively.

IMMORTAL will release its new album, "All Shall Fall", in North America on October 6 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD, which will be issued in Europe on September 25, was recorded at Grieghallen and Abyss studios in Norway and Sweden, respectively.

James Minton of U.K.'s Terrorizer magazine recently posted an exclusive track-by-track breakdown of "All Shall Fall".

"All Shall Fall" track listing:

01. All Shall Fall
02. The Rise Of Darkness
03. Hordes To War
04. Norden On Fire
05. Arctic Swarm
06. Mount North
07. Unearthly Kingdom

Check out the cover artwork below.

BLABBERMOUTH.NET has received word from a couple of different sources that 28-year-old Greek guitarist Gus G. (FIREWIND) has been tapped to play with OZZY OSBOURNE at the upcoming BlizzCon convention in Anaheim, California. It should be noted, however, that this information has not yet been corroborated by anyone in the Osbourne camp and should be treated as a rumor only.

In addition to his current axe-slinging duties with FIREWIND, Gus (real name: Kostas Karamitroudis) has played in MYSTIC PROPHECY, NIGHTRAGE, ARCH ENEMY and DREAM EVIL.

Ozzy told Classic Rock magazine in a June 2009 interview that he was on the lookout for a new guitar player, apparently to replace Zakk Wylde. He also indicated that he was auditioning a guitarist from Greece, but declined to give further details.

As for why he wanted to break away from Wylde, who has played with Ozzy on and off since 1988, Ozzy said, "I haven't fallen out with Zakk, but Zakk's got his own band, and I felt like my stuff was beginning to sound like (Wylde's band) BLACK LABEL SOCIETY. I just felt like I wanted a change, y'know?"

In an interview with a Eugene, Oregon radio station on July 29, Zakk slammed Ozzy over his Classic Rock comments, saying in part, "I've gotta be honest with you. The boss hasn't even given me a phone call, so I mean... I'm just like... I don't know what's going on over there. Are we doing this thing or are we not doing it? . . . I mean, it's like, dude, you don't wanna play with me anymore? Fine. Play with whoever the hell you wanna play with. I couldn't give a rat's ass. Like I'm gonna get all jealous or whatever. But you know what?! Man up and give me a phone call and tell me what the hell's going on."

Wylde's answer after that abruptly turned into an obscenity-filled rant directed at Ozzy that had to be heavily bleeped by the station.

The former BLACK SABBATH singer has been working on his latest solo album at his home studio in Los Angeles, He said that Wylde had recorded material for the project, but added, "I don't know if I want to use it."

BlizzCon is a semi-regular convention held by Blizzard Entertainment to celebrate their major franchises: Warcraft, StarCraft and Diablo. This year's event will be held August 21-22 at the Anaheim Convention Center.

ARKAEA — the new band featuring FEAR FACTORY members Christian Olde Wolbers (guitar) and Raymond Herrera (drums) — recently filmed a video for the song "Gone Tomorrow" with Dale "Rage" Resteghini (HATEBREED, TRIVIUM, MUDVAYNE) and Dan Dobi (BLEEDING THROUGH, CANNIBAL CORPSE, WARBRINGER) at the helm. The clip is expected to make its online debut soon.

"Years In The Darkness", the debut album from ARKAEA sold 980 copies in the United States in its first week of release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The CD landed at position No. 39 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.

"Years In The Darkness" was released in the U.S. on July 14 via E1 Music (formerly KOCH Records). The CD was produced by Christian Olde Wolbers and ARKAEA and mixed by legendary producer Terry Date, best known for his work with the DEFTONES, SLIPKNOT, WHITE ZOMBIE, SOUNDGARDEN and PANTERA. The album was mastered at Sterling Sound by Ted Jensen, who mastered FEAR FACTORY's gold-certified 1998 release "Obsolete".

Vocalist Jon Howard has been a part of the FEAR FACTORY family ever since Wolbers served as producer for THREAT SIGNAL's debut, "Under Reprisal". Given that connection, the chemistry was there the instant the band started jamming. Howard has managed to push himself as a singer with the help of the veteran musicians. "I always try to do new things and experiment with my voice, and this project has been challenging," said Howard. "It always takes a little time to get comfortable working with new people and a new style of music, but I got over that really fast with Christian and Raymond, and I feel very comfortable where we're going right now."

"Locust", the debut video from ARKAEA can be viewed below.

Commented Herrera: "'Locust' was our first pick for a music video and as the opening track for the album because it really sets the tempo of the album and is a strong track that shows a great introduction to what ARKAEA is all about. We knew that we needed to come out swinging and 'Locust' definitely offers that punch."

According to ContactMusic.com, SLIPKNOT and METALLICA have been honored with the top prizes at the 2009 Kerrang! Awards in London.

SLIPKNOT walked away with "Best Live Act" and "Best International Band" at Monday's (August 3) event, which frontman Corey Taylor co-hosted. He branded the double award win "really gratifying" and added, "I can't think of many bands that have worked harder, and it really feels good that people are starting to turn around and really see what we're about and appreciating it for what it is."

METALLICA won "Best Album" for "Death Magnetic", while THE PRODIGY walked away with the "Best Single" honor for "Omen".

Kerrang! editor Paul Brannigan stated: "SLIPKNOT and METALLICA are the two monsters of rock who have been picked out by the Kerrang! readers this time around. They've both had a really good year, No. 1 albums in the States and No. 1 and No. 2 albums over here, sold-out arena tours, headlining major rock festivals in this country... it's not really a surprise that they're up for every single category they're eligible for."

BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE scooped "Best British Band" for the second year in a row and San Francisco, California band MACHINE HEAD were handed the night's "Inspiration Award" for their contribution to heavy metal.

Reunited grunge rockers ALICE IN CHAINS and reformed LIMP BIZKIT were presented with the night's "Icon Award" and "Hall of Fame" prize, respectively.

Check out pictures from Wire Image.

The full list of Kerrang! Awards 2009 winners:

Best British Newcomer: IN CASE OF FIRE
Best International Newcomer: THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM
Best Single: THE PRODIGY - "Omen"
Best Video: MASTODON - "Oblivion"
Classic Songwriter: LINKIN PARK
Spirit Of Independence: THE WILDHEARTS
Icon: ALICE IN CHAINS
Best Album: METALLICA - "Death Magnetic"
Best Live Band: SLIPKNOT
Inspiration: MACHINE HEAD
Hall Of Fame: LIMP BIZKIT
Best British Band: BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE
Best International Band: SLIPKNOT

Atlanta's hard rock icons MASTODON will team up with the lifesize version of DETHKLOK, the animated band from Adult Swim's "Metalocalypse", for a co-headlining tour in October/November. Also scheduled to appear are CONVERGE and HIGH ON FIRE. The 34-city trek will kick off October 2 and will scorch the nation coast to coast. Ticket pre-sale begins Tuesday, August 4, at 10:00 a.m. General public ticket sales begin Friday, August 7, at 10:00 a.m.

The dates are as follows:

Oct. 02 - Roseland Theater - Portland, OR
Oct. 03 - WaMu Theater - Seattle, WA
Oct. 04 - Orpheum Theatre - Vancouver, BC
Oct. 06 - Big Four Building - Calgary, AB
Oct. 07 - Shaw Conference Centre - Edmonton, AB
Oct. 09 - Great Saltair - Salt Lake City, UT
Oct. 10 - Fillmore Auditorium - Denver, CO
Oct. 12 - Uptown Theater - Kansas City, MO
Oct. 13 - The Pageant - St. Louis, MO
Oct. 14 - Val Air Ballroom - Des Moines, IA
Oct. 16 - Myth - St. Paul, MN
Oct. 17 - Aragon Ballroom - Chicago, IL
Oct. 18 - Eagle's Auditorium - Milwaukee, WI
Oct. 20 - LC Pavilion - Columbus, OH
Oct. 21 - The Fillmore - Detroit, MI
Oct. 23 - Sound Academy - Toronto
Oct. 24 - The Fairgrounds - Buffalo, NY
Oct. 25 - Armory - Albany, NY
Oct. 27 - House of Blues - Boston, MA
Oct. 30 - Hammerstein Ballroom - New York, NY
Oct. 31 - Patriot Center - Washington, DC
Nov. 01 - Electric Factory - Philadelphia, PA
Nov. 05 - Tabernacle - Atlanta, GA
Nov. 06 - House of Blues - Myrtle Beach, SC
Nov. 07 - Hard Rock Live - Orlando, FL
Nov. 08 - Pompano Beach Amphit - Pompano Beach, FL
Nov. 11 - House of Blues - Dallas, TX
Nov. 12 - Verizon Wireless Theater - Houston, TX
Nov. 13 - Austin City Music Hall - Austin, TX
Nov. 14 - Brady Theater - Tulsa, OK
Nov. 16 - Pan American Center - Las Cruces, NM
Nov. 17 - Mesa Amphitheater - Mesa, AZ
Nov. 18 - House of Blues - Las Vegas, NV
Nov. 19 - Palladium - Los Angeles, CA

MASTODON will perform live on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" on Thursday, October 29. Tune in 12:35 a.m. and 11:35 p.m. CT on NBC stations.

The band is currently touring Europe with METALLICA in support of its latest album, "Crack The Skye", which sold 41,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 11 on The Billboard 200 chart.

MASTODON fans have responded with manic enthusiasm to the band's new LP, snapping up every available copy of various limited edition artifacts including the deluxe tunnel book CD+DVD package, both color and double-disc 180 gm gatefold vinyl pressings, plus a pair of CD single/T-shirt bundles; all long gone. Act fast and you just might still find a pair of the "Blood Mountain" or "Blade Catcher" design MASTODON Vans shoes, available online and in Vans shops now.

Tour co-headliners Nathan Explosion, William Murderface, Skwisgaar Swigelf, Toki Wartooth and Pickles — better known as DETHKLOK — will take to the road in support of the band's latest CD release from Williams Street Records, "Dethklok: The Dethalbum II", which will be released as both a standard and deluxe edition on September 29. Bringing the animated band to life on stage each night will be series co-creator and composer Brendon Small along with an all-star band, including legendary drummer Gene Hoglan (STRAPPING YOUNZG LAD, TESTAMENT, DARK ANGEL, DEATH), Bryan Beller and Mike Keneally. These real life-musicians will perform live while dark-lit and playing underneath a giant projection screen featuring all-new animation and music videos from DETHKLOK to create a truly unique concert experience.

Considered one of the most intense, important, and influential metal/hardcore bands ever, CONVERGE will release its anticipated new album, "Axe To Fall", on October 20 via Epitaph Records. The release is the follow-up to the highly acclaimed "No Heroes" CD, released on Epitaph in 2006.

Universally recognized as one of the most potent acts in music today, HIGH ON FIRE creates "bad-ass" modern metal that merges primal fury and aggression, skyscraping riff explosions and hesher bombast with a monolithic heaviness. Described as "a supersonic exercise in conquest by volume and sheer heaviness," HIGH ON FIRE has burned the hard rock rulebook since its formation in 1998, forging a style and sound that is both unique and absolutely crushing.

'80s hard rock queen Lita Ford will release her first new studio album in 14 years, "Wicked Wonderland", in Europe on October 2 via earMUSIC/Edel. The CD will be issued in the U.S. on October 6 through Lita's own JLRG Entertainment label.

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Love
02. Piece
03. Crave
04. Scream
05. Sacred
06. Wicked Wonderland
07. Indulge
08. Patriotic Snob
09. Everything
10. Inside
11. Truth
12. Betrayal
13. Bed
14. Garden
15. Push
16. Indulge (Remix)
17. Scream (Remix)

"It's harder and sexier than anything I've ever done," says Lita of the record, which was co-produced by Ford, her husband and former NITRO singer Jim Gillette, and Greg Hampton, the songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer known for his work with ALICE COOPER, his band SCIENCE FAXTION (with Bootsy Collins and Buckethead and Brain from GUNS N' ROSES) and other rock notables. Lita is backed on the record by drummer Stet Howland, formerly of W.A.S.P., Hampton on bass, rhythm guitar and keyboards, Gillette on background vocals, and its vivid cover art is by ROB ZOMBIE bassist and solo artist Piggy D.

The songs brim with a passionate adult eroticism and über-hard rock sound highlighted by Lita's trademark searing guitar riffs. The album includes a keen and timely slice of social commentary on "Patriotic SOB", sexy rave-ups like "Piece (Hell Yeah)", duets with Gillette on numbers like the aptly titled "Indulge", and "Betrayal", which will be featured in the upcoming video game Brütal Legend, in which Lita also voices one of the characters alongside Jack Black, Lemmy Kilmister of MOTÖRHEAD and Rob Halford of JUDAS PRIEST. The recordings find her rocking, playing and singing with an amped-up fury and power like never before that's also informed by her personal growth as a wife and mother as well as legendary rocker.

After Lita and Gillette married, she left her stiletto heels on the stage and moved to a large home on a deserted Caribbean island and devoted her life to raising the couple's two sons, who she has also home schooled. At the urging of her friends like Dee Snider of TWISTED SISTER, devoted fans and even her sons, both of them budding musicians, Lita now reclaims her place as the First Lady of Heavy Metal with an album sure to thrill her many followers and win her new listeners with music that's more fiery and assured than ever before.

(Thanks: NJthrasher)

Los Angeles-based heavy metal act WHITE WIZZARD has entered Skimo Studios in Phoenix, Arizona with producer Ralph Patlan (MEGADETH, UFO, MICHAEL SCHENKER) to begin recording its full-length debut. The as-yet-untitled CD follows on from the recently released "High Speed GTO" mini-album, which was recorded with the band's old lineup.

Commented bassist/founding member Jon Leon: "We are headed to Phoenix, Arizona to begin recording our full-length album with producer Ralph 'Talladega' Patlan. He earned the nickname Talladega (from the American raceway) from Dave Mustaine of MEGADETH when they worked together. He lives up to the name... Ralph is a quick, efficient producer with a great ear and one of the best in the world for recording rock and metal. He has worked with UFO, MICHAEL SCHENKER and MEGADETH, to name a few. We will track at his personal studio, Skimo Studios, in Phoenix and then mix at the legendary Prairie Sun Recording in Northern California, where many huge albums in the last 30 years were cut.

"I am excited to get into the studio and finally complete an album with the new lineup. I have been in writing mode for the last two months, just putting all the pieces together of lyrics and melodies and trying to create an album that has a good variety of songs. I think we have a great bunch of material to record now, and I look forward to seeing how it all sounds when the record is completed.

"The goal of WHITE WIZZARD is to always stick to our roots of main influences and inspiration, while trying to create our own sound and identity. I am confident this record is going to turn some heads. Some great in-your-face, good times, melodic metal, some epic stuff and some of the crossover hooky stuff that made the mini album so fun too. I am happy with the balance of songs."

WHITE WIZZARD's "High Speed GTO" mini-album, is available now in Europe on limited-edition CD with a bonus music video for the "High Speed GTO" track, as well as limited-edition vinyl LP.

The "High Speed GTO" mini album is due to be released in the USA on September 8, but you can get the European import now exclusively from the Earache U.S. webstore.

STEEL PANTHER, the '80s metal/hard rock tribute band formerly known as METAL SKOOL, will release its first collection of original material, "Feel The Steel", in the U.S. on October 6. The CD, which was issued in the U.K. in June, was produced by Jay Ruston and will be available via iTunes on September 29 before finding its way to store shelves nationally the following week.

This mythical musical masterpiece has been 20 years in the making, with the band retuning in 2009 to reclaim their rightful place among metal music's heavyweights. Powered by audacious frontman Michael Starr's (real name Ralph Saenz; ex-L.A. GUNS) fearless vocal charge, the group ignites audiences from every walk of life with their unbridled valentine that goes right for the jugular of the heavy metal repertoire. Joining the effervescent Starr are STEEL PANTHER's Stix Zadinia on drums, Satchel (real name Russ Parrish; ex-FIGHT) on guitar, and bassist Lexxi Foxxx.

As word of STEEL PANTHER's return began to spread around the music community, a who's who of musical artists stepped up to join the band in reclaiming metals place among the top of the music landscape. Allison Robertson of THE DONNAS and Justin Hawkins from THE DARKNESS make an appearance on the STEEL PANTHER mantra number, "Party All Day". ANTHRAX's Scott Ian shows up on the soon-to-be international hit "Asian Hooker" alongside SLIPKNOT's Corey Taylor, who also appears on the soon-to-be classics "Eyes Of A Panther" and the first single, "Death To All But Metal".

The four-member band, known for its outrageous stage presence and gargantuan guitar riffs, has been entertaining fans and scores of rock and entertainment VIPs with its raucous antics via L.A.'s longest-running heavy metal show on the Sunset Strip for nearly a decade (now running at the infamous Key Club every Monday night). The band also holds residencies at the Green Valley Resort and Casino on Friday and Saturday in Las Vegas and the Typhoon Saloon in San Diego every Wednesday.

"The Scars Between Us", the new album from veteran San Francisco Bay Area metallers SKINLAB, will be released on September 15 via Stand And Deliver Records.

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Face of Aggression
02. Amphetamine Gods
03. Scream at the World
04. Wolvesblood
05. Karma Burns
06. In For The Kill
07. Paper Trails
08. Still Suffering
09. Bloodclot
10. My Vendetta
11. The Scars Between Us

The cover artwork can be viewed below.

The band's video for the song "In for the Kill" can be viewed below. The clip 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.

SKINLAB's current lineup:

Paul Hopkins - Drums
Glen Telford - Guitars
Steev Esquivel - Bass/Vocals
Snake - Guitars

SKINLAB's last studio album, "ReVolting Room", came out in 2002. A double-disc set, entitled "Nerve Damage", featuring alternate versions of studio tracks, several live tracks recorded on the band's "ReVolting Room" tour, plus two new songs, came out in 2004.

LEAVES' EYES — the German/Norwegian band formed by ex-THEATRE OF TRAGEDY singer Liv Kristine Espenaes Krull and members of ATROCITY — has commenced work on the video for the new single, "My Destiny", with Patric Ullaeus (DIMMU BORGIR, LACUNA COIL) of Revolver Film Company in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Commented the group, "The scenes with the band are already done and the first impressions look fantastic. Right at the moment, the storyline will be shot."

An audio sample of "My Destiny" is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page.

"My Destiny" will be released in the U.S. on September 22 via Napalm Records.

The track listing for the effort is as follows:

01. My Destiny
02. The Battle of Maldon (non-album track)
03. Scarborough Fair (acoustic version; non-album track)
04. Northbound
05. Nine Wave Maidens (non-album track)
06. My Destiny (remix; non-album track)

According to a posting on the Napalm web site, "The sweeping title track begins with an emotive and mystic interlude that soon turns into sonorous ear candy — a true delicacy for all fans of symphonic rock music. The opulently produced orchestral and choir-filled compositions resonate with a fresh, powerful, and energy laden force. As always the case with LEAVES' EYES, expect the ensuing tempest with its impressive musical variety and dynamics to emphasize the band's world-class status, including 'The Battle of Maldon' and 'Northbound', two smashing tracks to be found on the EP. With the acoustic version of 'Scarborough Fair', familiar to some fans from past unplugged shows, and the atmospheric 'Nine Wave Maidens' the tone takes a more subdued turn. Liv Kristine once again bewitches the listener with her one-of-a-kind vocals and the package is completed with a remix of the title track."

LEAVES' EYES will release its new full-length album, "Njord", via Napalm Records on the following dates:

Finland, Spain: August 26
Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, Benelux, France, Italy: August 28
Rest Of Europe: August 31
Canada: September 1
USA: September 29

"Njord" cover artwork courtesy of HeavyLaw.com

A new ECHOES OF ETERNITY track entitled "Ten Of Swords" is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page. The song comes off the Los Angeles female-fronted progressive metallers' second album, entitled "As Shadows Burn", which is scheduled for release in North America on September 22 via Nuclear Blast Records (the LP will be 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.

Commented singer Francine Boucher: "Sometimes we can be our own worst enemies — constantly judging and criticizing ourselves. When I wrote the lyrics to 'Ten Of Swords', I was inspired by the personal struggles of life. It's about letting go of your pain and digging yourself out of the dark hole we seem to sometimes fall into. It's about coming to terms with your mistakes and accepting them. You can't banish your demons: they are part of you. You must find a way to embrace your darker side and co-exist with it. The Ten of Swords is the grimmest card in the Tarot deck. It's about hitting rock bottom, but it's also a card of hope. Sometimes it's necessary to hit the bottom before you can make your way back up.”

Added guitarist/songwriter Brandon S. Patton: "I had the riffs [for 'Ten Of Swords'] written when I showed up to band rehearsal about two years ago. Kirk [Carrison, drums] and I developed the initial skeletal framework for the song and the other members played a big role in arranging it and adding harmonies and details. By far the biggest standout part of the song occurs 2:10 into the track, when we launch into a killer 'gallop-picked' riff that would make Jon Schaffer [of ICED EARTH] proud. The vocal melody that Francine sings over that part is unbelievable!!! The chorus of this song is also catchy as fuck... a definite anthem.”

"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

In other news, ECHOES OF ETERNITY has 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

SAXON and ANVIL have been confirmed for the Hellfire II festival, set to take place November 6-8, 2009 at the NEC in Birmingham, England.

The festival billing is shaping up as follows::

SAXON
ANVIL
FIELDS OF THE NEPHILIM
TESSERACT
VIKING SKULL
RISE TO REMAIN
SPIT LIKE THIS
SACRED MOTHER TONGUE
OCTOBER FILE

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

NME.com conducted an interview with LIMP BIZKIT's Wes Borland and Fred Durst backstage at the Sonisphere festival on Sunday, August 2 at the legendary Knebworth Park, United Kingdom. Watch the four-minute chat below.

Durst, Borland, Sam Rivers, John Otto, and DJ Lethal are gearing up to record their first new studio album with the original lineup since 2000's "Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water". Durst recently told the NME.com, "I'm having a great feeling about going in and doing our record, more than I have about any of our albums before. It's not going to be a watered-down version of LIMP BIZKIT, it's going to be a more explosive, more addictive, more driven version of LIMP BIZKIT."

Flip/Interscope Records will announce more details and a release date in the coming months.

The band's first three albums have sold more than 20 million copies in the U.S. alone, and another 13 million in the rest of the world.

Canadian hard rock veterans HELIX were interviewed by "Wyldside Radio" on July 10, 2009 prior to the band's performance at the Rocklahoma festival in Pryor, Oklahoma. Watch the question-and-answer session below.

HELIX has set "Vagabond Bones" as the title of its new album, tentatively due in the fall in Europe through AOR Heaven. According to singer Brian Vollmer, the first three tracks to be completed for the new CD, "which have been heard by several people in the industry now, have been getting high marks. Notable in this regard is Derek Oliver of Rock Candy Records, which over the past several years has released remastered versions of 'Walking The Razor's Edge' and 'No Rest For The Wicked'. Derek was also a writer for Kerrang! magazine back in the day. Derek thinks this is some of the best stuff he's ever heard from us."

Vollmer added, "Sean [Kelly; CRASH KELLY] is leaving HELIX [where he played bass] to become the new guitarist for NELLY FURTADO. However, Sean is committed to continued writing with me (and occasionally Moe Berg) and to finishing this CD. I would like to think that the relationship will continue for years. Sean is one of the most likeable guys in the business and comes highly recommended by almost everyone who meets him."

HELIX has been active in the past several years with several releases. The band's most recent collection of original material, "The Power of Rock and Roll", came out in 2007. Their latest CD, "A Heavy Mental Christmas", was made available in all Canadian Wal-Mart stores last November and received airplay worldwide. The CD also received great reviews from the critics.

The billing dispute between MACHINE HEAD and LIMP BIZKIT was the subject of much Internet chatter prior to this past weekend's U.K. edition of the Sonisphere festival, with Robb Flynn and Co. pulling out of their slot at the event after having been bumped down the lineup with the addition of Fred Durst and his LB bandmates.

While MACHINE HEAD eventually returned to the bill in the slot below LIMP BIZKIT as the "special guests", many people had their own opinions on the situation, one of those being LAMB OF GOD guitarist Willie Adler.

Komodo Rock's Krissy Elliott spoke with Adler at the festival and asked for his views on the MACHINE HEAD/LIMP BIZKIT controversy.

Komodo Rock: What do you think of the whole issue surrounding MACHINE HEAD refusing to play then coming back on the bill?

Willie Adler: I'm glad they came back on. It's a matter of… they just didn't wanna open up for LIMP BIZKIT, and I agree with them. I wouldn't wanna open up for LIMP BIZKIT! They've been out of the scene for so long, I mean, who cares? Who cares about LIMP BIZKIT?

Komodo Rock: So why does it seem that although other bands such as KORN think Fred Durst has had it, everyone suddenly seems interested in LIMP BIZKIT again?

Willie Adler: I don't know, I'm not interested in LIMP BIZKIT! You tell me man! Is that crowd interested?

Komodo Rock: They played Download festival and drew a big crowd. Maybe it's the nostalgia element?

Willie Adler: I guess so…. I'm the wrong guy to ask because it's not my thing. I have no fucking idea!

Komodo Rock: So you don't support it then?

Willie Adler: No! Fuck those dudes! Fuck that band, and fuck all the people who work for that fuckin' band!

Read the entire interview at www.komodorock.com.

Former MAYHEM frontman Maniac (also of SKITLIV, SEHNUCHT, BOMBEROS) has teamed up with Andrew Liles (CURRENT 93, NURSE WITH WOUND, SEHNSUCHT) and Czral (VIRUS, VED BUENS ENDE, AURA NOIR, DØDHEIMSGARD) to release an album that he and Czral began working on in 1996. The 14-track LP will have the title "Det Skjedde Noe Når Du Var I Belgia" (English translation: Something Happened While You Were In Belgium) and will be made available on the U.K.'s Dirter label.

Commented Maniac: "It wasn't something we expected to do at all. Czral and I had recorded the original material all those years ago but other commitments had meant that we were never able to get round to finishing it off and releasing it, and I'd brought it with me to the U.K. for my manager to listen to just out of interest, but it was a DAT tape and she didn't have the right equipment for it. I was also visiting Andrew Liles who was mastering the new SKITLIV album, and preparing to master the new SEHNSUCHT album, so we converted the tape in his studio. Andrew's enthusiasm for what he heard got the better of him, and we started working on it straight away. By the end of the day we'd knocked it into shape, expanded it, and were ready to go with it, and Dirter immediately expressed an interest. It all happened very fast and the album was on the way to the printing plant within days, so we had to come up with a name for the band, and the only one we could think of was MANIAC/LILES/CZRAL. Perhaps not the most original name, but that's who we are after all. As to what kind of music it is, well, I think 'quirky' and 'eclectic' just about sums it up."

A track from the album can be heard on the band's MySpace page.

"Det Skjedde Noe Når Du Var I Belgia" will be one of four releases from Maniac during 2009. "Skandinavisk Misantropi", the first full-length album from his blackened/doom project SKITLIV, is due for release on Season Of Mist in October. Cold Spring Records is currently putting the finishing touches to a limited-edition SKITLIV picture disc that will feature a specially written track from CURRENT 93 as well as artwork by David Tibet, and will also release the first album from SEHNSUCHT, the noise/ambient project whose line up comprises Maniac, Andrew Liles, SKITLIV guitarist Ingvar and GALLHAMMER's Vivian Slaughter. Maniac is also planning to take SKITLIV on the road for a European tour in November with PANTHEON I and DEN SAAKALDTE, whose vocalist, SHINING's Niklas Kvarforth, is an integral part of SKITLIV.

Swedish death metallers NOMINON have issued the following update:

"The pre-production recordings of the new material for the forthcoming album are moving on. So far, three songs has been taped and it all feels fucking cool to finally get some new shit recorded, even though it's all roughly done on a basic four-tracker by the band itself.

"We can now reveal that there will actually be two new NOMINON CD releases out within the coming 6-7 months. Here's the story: As soon as possible after the hellish recordings of the fourth full-length album at Necromorbus in September, the record company Deathgasm Records will unleash a four-song MCD. This release most likely including one song of the coming full album, one exclusive song that will only be on this particular mini-CD, one re-recorded older song and perhaps some live stuff that were recorded during the BENEDICTION tour that NOMINON did back in September last year. The whole album will then be released worldwide in early 2010 (most likely in mid-February) through Deathgasm Records (CD) and Blood Harvest Records (LP)."

Video footage of NOMINON's October 16, 2008 performance in Bucharest, Romania can be viewed below.

NOMINON's third album, "Terra Necrosis", was released August 21, 2007 by Ibex Moon/Deathgasm.