Radio Lynx has posted video footage of MY DYING BRIDE's press conference at this year's Artmania Festival, which was held July 17-19 in Sibiu, Romania. The question-and-answer session can be viewed below.

MY DYING BRIDE recently parted ways with violinist/keyboardist Katie Stone and replaced her with Shaun Macgowan.

The band's latest album, "For Lies I Sire", was released on March 23 via Peaceville Records. The follow-up to 2006's "A Line of Deathless Kings" was recorded with longtime producer Mags.

NOISE WITHIN, the project featuring singer/guitarist Boris Bouma (EPIDEMIC), bassist John "Tumor" Fahnestock (SNOT, AMEN) and guitarist Aaron Slipp (PRONG, TAD), has announced the addition of 25-year-old drummer Pedro Vasquez to the group's ranks. Vasquez joins the band as the replacement for Tommy Sickles (NOTHINGFACE, KNIVES OUT!), who left NOISE WITHIN for "practical reasons."

Video footage of Pedro Vasquez in action can be viewed below.

NOISE WITHIN will release new material in the fall. The band will also begin playing live later in the year.

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

Radio Lynx has posted video footage of OPETH's press conference at this year's Artmania Festival, which was held July 17-19 in Sibiu, Romania. The question-and-answer session can be viewed below.

OPETH will take part in the European installment of DREAM THEATER's Progressive Nation tour, set to take place throughout September, October and November 2009. Also appearing on the bill are UNEXPECT and BIGELF.

The OPETH three-CD box set called "The Candlelight Years", featuring the band's first three albums, was released in Europe on July 13 via Candlelight Records.

Fan-filmed video footage of DEATHRIDERS, the California-based band featuring former ANTHRAX frontman Neil Turbin, performing the ANTHRAX classic "Metal Thrashing Mad" at this year's Headbangers Open Air festival — which was held July 23-25, 2009 in in Brande-Hörnerkirchen, Germany — can be viewed below (courtesy of "stoneagelightning").

DEATHRIDERS last year posted a rough-mix version of a new song, "Riders Of The Apocalypse", on the group's MySpace page. The track comes off DEATHRIDERS' forthcoming album, "Back With A Vengeance", which is being recorded and mixed by Ken Orth at Alpine Sound in Mesa, Arizona.

DEATHRIDERS has already performed "Riders Of The Apocalypse" live at festivals and concerts in Europe, Japan and the U.S. The track features the kick-ass guitars of Sweden's Jonas Hornqvist of the band TREASURE LAND in collaboration with DEATHRIDERS guitarists Dave Watson and Mike Guerrero.

Radio Lynx has posted video footage of PAIN's press conference at this year's Artmania Festival, which was held July 17-19 in Sibiu, Romania. The question-and-answer session can be viewed below.

PAIN's "Monkey Business" video was shot on March 23 and March 24 at the Zenith in Paris, France during the band's European tour with NIGHTWISH.

The group's latest album, "Cynic Paradise", was released in Germany on October 31, 2008 via Nuclear Blast Records. The follow-up to "Psalms of Extinction" (which was released in 2007 via Roadrunner) features "eleven gems offering a vast variety of styles and influences which are even new for PAIN," according to a press release. NIGHTWISH singer Anette Olzon makes a guest appearance on two tracks — "Follow Me" and "Feed Us". The artwork was created by renowned artist Travis Smith (AMORPHIS, OPETH, NEVERMORE).

U.K.'s Coolhead Productions is putting the finishing touches on a new documentary about the legendary British heavy metal band SAXON called "Heavy Metal Thunder - The Movie". The film, which is expected to be released in November, celebrates the group's 30th anniversary. Produced by the makers of the critically acclaimed "Ian Gillan: Highway Star" (Universal, 2007), it not only has contributions from members of SAXON, past and present, but also from the likes of Lars Ulrich (METALLICA); Lemmy, "Fast" Eddie Clarke, Phil Campbell, Mikkey Dee (MOTÖRHEAD); Harvey Goldsmith, Danko Jones, Doro Pesch and many, many others. It will also feature plenty of rare archive material and previously unseen concert footage, from the classic 1980s lineup to the brilliant St. George's Day show in 2008 and Wacken Open Air in 2009. A special limited edition of "Heavy Metal Thunder - The Movie" will contain a feature-length documentary, at least two never-before-seen concert films and plenty of revealing extra content.

A two-minute trailer for the documentary can be viewed below.

For more information, go to this location.

Radio Lynx has posted video footage of NIGHTWISH's press conference at this year's Artmania Festival, which was held July 17-19 in Sibiu, Romania. The 14-minute question-and-answer session can be viewed below.

Bazillion Points Books is offering a free download of "Chapter 5. The Upward Spiral", excerpted from the newly released North American edition of "Once Upon a Nightwish: The Official Biography 1996-2006", by Mape Ollila.

Joining the book in progress at the start of 2000 during the aftermath of "Oceanborn", this chapter gives inside perspective on events including NIGHTWISH's early gigs with RAGE and future bassist Marco Hietala's early band SINERGY; singer Tarja Turunen's bloody battles with mosquitoes in the wilds of Finland; the band and chief songwriter Tuomas Holopainen's rarely discussed and ill-fated flirtation with the Eurovision song contest; and the creation of what would ultimately be the breakthrough "Wishmaster" CD.

The sample chapter can be downloaded from Bazillion Points Books at this location.

WHITESNAKE has been forced to cancel tonight's (Friday, August 7) concert at the Dodge Theatre in Phoenix, Arizona with JUDAS PRIEST and POP EVIL. According to a spokesperson for WHITESNAKE, the band's frontman/leader David Coverdale "has a case of laryngitis and his doctors insist that his show NOT go on tonight as planned. This will not affect other shows and they will be in Las Vegas tomorrow night as scheduled."

The spokesperson adds, "We are very sorry for the inconvenience but this sort of thing cannot be helped.

"I am sure you will join me in wishing David a very speedy recovery… and hope he stays out of the direct line of the air conditioning from now on."

JUDAS PRIEST and POP EVIL will both reportedly perform extended sets at the Phoenix concert to make up for WHITESNAKE's absence from the event.

Quality fan-filmed video footage of WHITESNAKE performing the song "Love Ain't No Stranger" at the California Mid-State Fair on July 29, 2009 in Paso Robles, California can be viewed below (courtesy of "lisapolisa").

WHITESNAKE and JUDAS PRIEST last toured together in South America during 2005 to great critical and commercial success and maintain a great friendship.

According to a posting on the web site of "House of Hair", the syndicated 1980s hard rock/heavy metal radio show hosted by TWISTED SISTER frontman Dee Snider, Rock Gone Wild — the four-day rock festival scheduled for August 20-23 in Northwood, Iowa — has officially been canceled. Just last month, the festival organizers had moved the Rock Gone Wild festival from Freedom Park in Algona to the Diamond Jo Casino in Northwood.

The Rock Gone Wild organizers have issued the following statement regarding the event's cancelation:

"Rock Gone Wild, an Iowa-based LLC was informed by Diamond Jo Casino, LLC legal counsel on August 5, 2009, that 'the event cannot take place anywhere on the licensed premises.'

"Due to Diamond Jo Casino, LLC refusing to honor its obligation to provide the venue, we are unable to produce the event as planned. This matter has been referred to legal counsel."

Among the bands that were scheduled to appear at Rock Gone Wild were SAXON, JACKYL, WARRANT, TWISTED SISTER, SKID ROW, LITA FORD, DOKKEN, GREAT WHITE, KIX, L.A. GUNS (featuring Phil Lewis), CANDLEBOX and SEVENDUST.

Canadian all-female heavy metal band KITTIE has scheduled the following tour dates:

Sep. 27 - B.B. King Blues Club & Grill - New York, NY
Sep. 30 - Ground Zero - Spartanburg, SC
Oct. 01 - Jesters - Fayetteville, NC
Oct. 02 - Hooligans - Jacksonville, NCa
Oct. 03 - Jaxx - Springfield, VA
Oct. 07 - Scout Bar - San Antonio, TX
Oct. 08 - Trees - Dallas, TX
Oct. 09 - Scout Bar - Houston, TX
Oct. 10 - Flytrap - Tulsa, OK
Oct. 13 - Gator's - Farmington, NM
Oct. 14 - Rialto - Tucson, AZ
Oct. 15 - Key Club - Hollywood, CA
Oct. 17 - The Clubhouse - Tempe, AZ
Oct. 21 - The Rock - Maplewood, MN
Oct. 24 - The Machine Shop - Flint, MI
Oct. 28 - Crocodile Rock - Allentown, PA
Oct. 29 - Northern Lights - Clifton Park, NY

Ken Brzezinski of Static Multimedia recently conducted an interview with KITTIE drummer Mercedes Lander. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Static Multimedia: Did you take lessons at all?

Mercedes: I only took lessons for three months. I had one really awesome drum teacher and one really not so awesome one. And after that, I just decided to teach myself and it's worked out a whole lot better that way. Also with us, Morgan [Lander; guitar, vocals] was learning the same time I was, so before we were a band, we still played together. It's a good way to learn your instrument because you always have somebody to jam with. Especially for a drummer because when you always playing with somebody, you have to keep good timing.

Static Multimedia: What was the music scene in Canada like when you guys first started playing shows?

Mercedes: London is a really small town, and we found it pretty hard to get shows. When we did start playing, we ended up playing with a lot of punk bands, because at the time there were only three metal bands who were in town, excluding us. They wouldn't play shows with us because they were elitist death metal bands. So we ended up playing a lot of shows with punk bands because the punk scene was huge. And now it's just the opposite — metal is huge here and there are only a few punk bands who are doing well.

Static Multimedia: Did playing with punk bands influence your style at all?

Mercedes: It was definitely different, but it didn't really influence us at all because that wasn't the type of music we wanted to play. I mean, we were just happy to play shows with anyone. We didn't necessarily like the bands we were playing with but we loved playing.

Static Multimedia: Have you guys had any "Spinal Tap" moments?

Mercedes: My whole fucking life is a "Spinal Tap" moment on tour. I've been lost going into my dressing room a hundred times. It's funny because I never had any idea what that movie was about. Then about 10 years ago I was watching it for the first time while I was on tour and I was like, "Wow...that is so me". Like we had just watched the movie and we were over in England and we all got lost going to the stage from the dressing room.

Static Multimedia: Have you ever opened for a band whose audience just didn't get KITTIE and was not hearing what you ladies had to say?

Mercedes: No. Well, we haven't opened for a band since 2000. And that's not by choice either; we really don't want to headline anymore. We want to broaden our fan base again. But really, you know, who fuckin cares?! I just want to play music and if you don't like it, too fucking bad.

Static Multimedia: Who would you like to open for if you could?

Mercedes: I think METALLICA, you know, because they are back being heavy again. I don't know, because I haven't heard that record, but yeah, METALLICA would be fun.

Static Multimedia: Do you think they sold out?

Mercedes: I don't think there is any kind of meaning to the word "sellout." Whatever, I'll sell my soul, I don't give a shit. Who cares, you know? As long as you have a good time, you make some money, and you aren't starving to death like a lot of bands at our level are, that's all that matters. So what if you make some money in the process. Who cares? I think "sellout" is cop-out for people to stop liking bands once they get too big.

Static Multimedia: Let's talk a little about "In The Black".

Mercedes: It's honestly my favorite album. I hate every other one! Normally I'm really, like super-hinky about production, and with the last few records, the production hasn't been very good. Sonically, they haven't sounded the best, but on this album, I have NOTHING to complain about.

Static Multimedia: What makes "In The Black" different from your other albums?

Mercedes: Honestly... we just took our time with it, and we did our best. We put forth our best effort, you know what I mean? It was really nice with the songwriting, because for the first time, we had Tara there and she put her two cents in. And it was really nice because, you know, we had another set of ears. And towards the end of the writing of this album, Ivy came in and she is just this amazing bass player. She has written some of the most wonderful bass lines. But I think, for the most part, this album is the most intricate yet sonically pleasing at the same time.

Static Multimedia: KITTIE have had a lot of lineup changes over the years; when you and your sister Morgan started the band, did you have the attitude of, "OK, it's gonna be us against the world?"

Mercedes: No, not at all. I mean, the thing is, people either grow up or they change, or whatever. You're not still friends with the same people you were friends with when you were 12, right?

Static Multimedia: Not really.

Mercedes: Well, there you go. People's opinions change. Also the road is not for everyone, and I realize this. The road can… it makes people crazy, I'll say that, and it makes people do crazy things. The reason Morgan and I are still in this band is because we kept a level head and we continued to keep focused on the task at hand. Plus dealing with women is COMPLETELY different than dealing with men. Women are… very different, I'll say that. But really, nobody gives a shit when someone in a guy band leaves. When someone from our band leaves, it's because they more focused on the aesthetic part of the band and not the music.

Read the entire interview from Static Multimedia.

Video footage of KITTIE performing the new songs "My Plague" and "Cut Throat" live on August 1, 2009 in Saginaw, Michigan can be viewed below. Both tracks will appear on KITTIE's new album, "In The Black", which will be released on September 15 through E1 Music (formerly KOCH Records).

SLIPKNOT/STONE SOUR frontman Corey Taylor has told BBC's 6 Music he was very impressed with ALICE IN CHAINS' performance at Sonisphere festival in Hertfordshire, United Kingdom last weekend. "It was gorgeous, man," he enthused. "I couldn't have asked for a better thing to happen to such a great band, to be honest, and their new stuff is sickeningly good.

He added, "I'm so ecstatic that they are going to continue. It's wonderful. In the face of adversity, they've come again."

As for ALICE IN CHAINS' new record, Taylor stated, "That's going to be album of the year for a lot of people. First of all, it's a long time coming; second of all, they've got a fantastic [new] singer. William [DuVall] is so good."

ALICE IN CHAINS' new album, "Black Gives Way To Blue", is scheduled for release on September 29.

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. All Secrets Known
02. Check My Brain
03. Last Of My Kind
04. Your Decision
05. A Looking In View
06. When The Sun Rose Again
07. Acid Bubble
08. Lessons Learned
09. Take Her Out
10. Private Hell
11. Black Gives Way To Blue

ALICE IN CHAINS has tapped U2 and WHITE STRIPES video director Alex Courtes to shoot a clip for "Check My Brain", the first single from "Black Gives Way To Blue".

Fans and members of the press heard "Black Gives Way To Blue" in its entirety at a private listening party in Los Angeles on July 14, followed by a three-song acoustic set by the band in which it debuted two songs from the album live — the title track and "Your Decision".

The group's tour starts on September 4 in Washington D.C.

Fan-filmed video footage of Taylor performing the ALICE IN CHAINS classic Them Bones" with the Los Angeles-based all-star "jam" group CAMP FREDDY — including members of ALICE IN CHAINS and JANE'S ADDICTION — on May 15, 2008 at The Roxy in West Hollywood can be viewed below.

Ryan Abel (guitar, vocals) and Andrew Heath (bass, vocals) have joined HELLEN, the Arizona metal band led by 17-year-old drummer/vocalist Mindy Lee DuPonte. The trio has just recorded several demos with engineer Brian Burrill is scheduled to make its live debut on August 14 in Tempe, Arizona.

Commented Mindy: "The new HELLEN lineup is completely different because it features guys, for one, and this is the first time that HELLEN has had a bassist in the lineup!!

"I'm looking forward to working with the new lineup and for the possibilities that having two members bring."

DuPonte was featured in Drumhead magazine and has also been working to produce her own documentary on the history of HELLEN (see video below).

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

DEVILS OF ROME, the new Minneapolis, Minnesota-based band featuring members of BLACK FLOOD DIESEL, has posted two songs — "Real Life" and "Human Nature" — on the group's MySpace page. The band says, "We have been working on about eighteen songs and we are very excited to get this new music out. It gives us a chance to reconnect with fans of BLACK FLOOD DIESEL and show them what we have been developing with this new entity, DEVILS OF ROME."

Formed last year, DEVILS OF ROME will make its live debut in Minneapolis soon. It will also give away 100 CDs of the two-song sampler for the first attendees of BLACK FLOOD DIESEL's show at the Cabooze in Minneapolis on Friday, August 7.

DEVILS OF ROME is:

Raymond Breed - Guitar, Programming
Greg Moog - Vocals
Kerry Dalton Hanson - Bass, Programming

Mississauga, Ontario, Canada-based metallers HALLOWS DIE have announced the addition of bassist Gabe "Master" Bateman (CORPSE BRIGADE, AS DAYLIGHT BURNS) to the group's ranks.

HALLOWS DIE's full-length debut, "World Of Ruin", is scheduled for release on August 21. The CD was recorded by Colin Attlesey (WILL OF THE ANCIENTS, DETOSORGEKALF) and was mastered by Dan Swanö (EDGE OF SANITY, NIGHTINGALE, BLOODBATH).

Formed in late 2006, HALLOWS DIE "has been forging a repertoire of songs trying as hard as possible to keep any one composition from sounding exactly like the next," according to the band's official bio. "The result: odd melodies intertwined with bizarre time changes, and unpredictable song structures. Considered by listeners to be a mixing pot of genres, they strive to play weird and original material that continues to evolve into a musical entity that cannot be classified under any one type of music."

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

HALLOWS DIE is:

Ryan Bovaird (Vocals/Guitar)
Dan Neil (Drums)
Pat Rogers (Guitar)
Gabe "Master" Bateman (Bass)

A new BARONESS song, "The Sweetest Curse", is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page. (Note: Also included is the intro titled "Bullhead's Psalm".) The track comes off the Savannah, Georgia group's second full-length album, "Blue Record", which is scheduled for release on October 13 via Relapse Records. The follow-up to 2007's critically acclaimed "The Red Album" was recorded in Dallas, Texas with producer/engineer John Congleton (EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY, THE POLYPHONIC SPREE, BLACK MOUNTAIN).

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Bullhead's Psalm
02. The Sweetest Curse
03. Jake Leg
04. Steel That Sleeps the Eye
05. Swollen and Halo
06. Ogeechee Hymnal
07. A Horse Called Golgotha
08. O'er Hell And Hide
09. War, Wisdom and Rhyme
10. Blackpowder Orchard
11. The Gnashing
12. Bullhead's Lament

Earache Records has announced the signing of the young death metal band called AND HELL FOLLOWED WITH. The group's new album is tentatively due in 2010.

Formed two years ago in Detroit, Michigan, AND HELL FOLLOWED WITH has taken great influence from death metal legends such as DECIDE and co-mingled them with modern touches popularized by the likes of WHITECHAPEL and OCEANO. The band has toured non-stop throughout middle America and the West Coast in support of an independently released 2008 CD entitled "Domain". Over the course of its relentless tour schedule, AND HELL FOLLOWED WITH has opened eyes, broken jaws and kicked the door down into scenes that many figured unreachable. With a solid combination of modern, sub-woofer smashing extreme music perfection and a classy, hands-on approach to their fanbase that's second to none, AND HELL FOLLOWED WITH looks forward to waving the Earache flag for some time to come.

Commented guitarist Kyle McIlmurray: "We are extremely excited to announce being a part of the Earache family. We are humbled, even, to be label mates with all the bands on the Earache roster, being as Earache is responsible for most of the legendary names in death metal. All the guys and girls at Earache in the U.K. and New York have made us feel more than welcome to the label and we are so excited to work with them. We feel more than confident in our ability to push ourselves, being backed by Earache, and know that there is no other label that will push us as far as they will."

AND HELL FOLLOWED WITH is:

Nick Holland - Vocals
Kyle McIlmurray - Guitars
Pat Hahn - Guitars
Andrew Tate - Bass
Billy Knoffsinger - Drums

For more information, go to www.myspace.com/andhellfollowedwith.

ORDER OF ENNEAD, the Florida extreme metal band featuring Steve Asheim (drums; DEICIDE), Scott Patrick (bass; RESURRECTION), Kevin Quirion (guitar, vocals; COUNCIL OF THE FALLEN) and John Li (guitar), has issued the following update:

"We are taking a break right now after touring for nine weeks on our self-titled debut album for Earache Records. We do plan on recording our next album before the end of the year, just waiting for some info from the label before we get started. The album is already done in pre-production form so the studio 'should be' a smooth experience. We plan on using Audiohammer Studios [in Sanford, Florida] again with Mark Lewis (THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, TRIVIUM) pressing buttons and yelling at us. The cover will be handled by Patrick Pidoux, who plays drums in Swiss band SLUDGE and also did the cover for SAMAEL's 'Above' album."

ORDER OF ENNEAD's forthcoming sophomore album, "An Examination Of Being", will feature the following track listing:

01. This Mortal Journey
02. Conduits To Eternity
03. Scriptures Of Purification
04. Lies Upon The Lips Of Judas
05. A Portal To Rapture
06. A Betrayal Of Self
07. ...In The Mirror
08. Concepts Of Our Extinction
09. An Examination Of Being

Fans can expect another piano piece by Steve Asheim and another instrumental.

Video footage of ORDER OF ENNEAD performing live at Studio Martin in Bucharest, Romania on May 7, 2009 can be viewed below.

"Payday Stuntman" of 98 KUPD, Arizona's "real rock" radio station, recently asked KILLSWITCH ENGAGE frontman Howard Jones 20 questions. Watch the results of the session at this location (Windows Media).

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.

Video footage of RATT's July 25, 2009 performance on the Toledo Harley Davidson parking lot in Toledo, Ohio can be viewed below (courtesy of "tzf2"). More clips are available at this location.

RATT will return to the studio in late August to resume recording its first studio release in 10 years. The CD is being produced by Michael "Elvis" Baskette, whose credits include PUDDLE OF MUDD, CHEVELLE, SALIVA, LIMP BIZKIT, ALTER BRIDGE and THREE DAYS GRACE, to name a few.

RATT was scheduled to spend a month or so recording the new album in Mathews, Virginia — the first time the band has stepped outside of Los Angeles to track a new CD in 20-plus years. An early 2010 release via Loud & Proud/Roadrunner Records is expected.

RATT and EXTREME recently teamed up to bring you this summer's most rockin' tour lineup. The tour, which features sets from both bands with RATT closing, kicked off on July 12 in Amarillo, Texas and runs through tonight (August 7) in Hampton Beach, New Hampshire. In celebration of the 25th anniversary of their landmark debut "Out Of The Cellar", RATT is playing the album in its entirety.

Over the past two years, RATT has toured the world in support of their releases "Tell The World - The Very Best Of Ratt" and their first-ever DVD, "Videos from the Cellar - The Atlantic Years". During this time, the current lineup of Stephen Pearcy, Warren DeMartini, Bobby Blotzer, Robbie Crane and Carlos Cavazo played shows in Australia, Colombia and Peru for the first time in their careers.

"Tormented Mind", the "controversial" new music video from BURNING HUMAN — the resurrected death metal band featuring SHADOWS FALL drummer Jason Bittner — was reportedly "banned" by MTV2's "Headbangers Ball" for being "too violent" for airing.

Commented guitarist Mike Stack: "As much as we love 'Headbangers Ball', we think it's way more metal to be banned by MTV! So [click below] to watch the video of 'Tormented Mind' that MTV didn't want you to see, and decide for yourself."

"Tormented Mind" comes off BURNING HUMAN's debut album, "Resurrection Through Fire", which sold around 190 copies in the United States in its first week of release, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

"Resurrection Through Fire", came out on April 21 through E1 Music (formerly Koch Records). The CD was produced and mixed by James Murphy (DEATH, OBITUARY, TESTAMENT) in his SafeHouse Productions studio in central Florida.

"Resurrection Through Fire" final track listing:

01. Throes of Dementia
02. Tormented Mind
03. As Good As Dead
04. Chemical Experimentation
05. Guilty of Insanity
06. The Final Conception
07. Self-Inflicted Crucifixion
08. Mass Murder
09. Imminent Demise
10. Resurrection Through Fire

Cover artwork for the CD (see below) was handled by Björn Goosses of Killustrations. "We are very excited to have Björn accept our request for artwork," said Bittner. "He has done some amazing artwork for some incredible bands, such as ABORTED, DEW-SCENTED, CARNAL FORGE and ZYKLON, just to name a few." The remaining layout for the CD was constructed by Kim Crosland of ChaosArt. "Kim did some art for our MySpace page and we were impressed with her work, so we decided to incorporate her talents and artwork into this project as well," says Jason.

BURNING HUMAN is:

Jason Bittner (Drums)
Jonah Radaelli (Vocals)
J. Sunkes (Guitar)
Jay VanDervoort (Bass, Vocals)
Mike Stack (Guitar)

In the latter half of the 1990s, BURNING HUMAN was a deathcore/death metal four-piece from the "Capital District" region of New York (Albany, Troy, Schenectady). Ignited in 1995, BURNING HUMAN's lineup consisted of Bittner (currently in SHADOWS FALL, ex-STIGMATA, CRISIS) on drums, Jason Sunkes (currently in DEAD RABBITS, ex-STIGMATA) on guitar, Jay VanDervoort on bass, and Jonah Radaelli on vocals.

Shortly after forming, BURNING HUMAN recorded and released a seven-song demo tape titled "Death is Mercy". These songs were later released on a compilation CD titled "We the People: A Compilation of Upstate NY's Hardest" with three other bands from the Troy/Albany, New York area (WAR-TIME MANNER, POLITICS OF CONTRABAND, DYING BREED). Although the band never issued a full-length album, a number of additional tracks were recorded and released on various compilation CDs, including a song called "Hazards to Humans" on a sampler titled "Capitol Punishment" in 1997. In addition, two songs — "As Good As Dead" and "Tormented Mind" — were featured on the "Frozen Dawn IV" compilation CD in 1998, and "Self-Inflicted Crucifixion" appeared on "United We Stand, Divided We Fall" in 1998.

For more information, visit the BURNING HUMAN MySpace page.

Original KISS guitarist Ace Frehley was interviewed for the latest episode of the "Rockin' Metal Revival". The program is now available for download in three parts at this location. (Note: The Frehley interview can be heard during the second part/hour.)

As previously reported, Frehley will perform at the Viper Room in West Hollywood, California on Saturday, September 12 during the Sunset Strip Music Festival.

Tickets are $25 and can be purchased via TicketWeb.com.

Frehley has inked a European deal with Season Of Mist for the release of his fifth solo album, "Anomaly". Due in the U.S. on September 15 via Ace's own Bronx Born Records, with Rocket Science providing a full label service platform, the CD was produced and recorded in Westchester County, New York between 2007 and 2009 and was mixed in Los Angeles.

The track "Outer Space" is available for streaming below.

Frehley last year spent time on the road fronting a band that featured second guitarist Derrek Hawkins, drummer Scot Coogan (ex-BRIDES OF DESTRUCTION) and bassist Anthony Esposito (ex-LYNCH MOB).

ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian says that he "never issued a denial" in response to Dave Mustaine's claim that Ian told the MEGADETH mainman METALLICA planned to fire drummer Lars Ulrich back in the mid-'80s.

In a recent interview with RollingStone.com, Mustaine was asked by reporter Greg Prato, "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 replied, "That's what Scott (Ian) told me. He said that when METALLICA got home, that James (Hetfield, frontman), Cliff and Kirk (Hammett, guitarist) were going to fire Lars."

In a short e-mail to Metal Hammer magazine, Ian said, "[I] never issued a denial on the ANTHRAX Twitter [in response to Mustaine's comments]. That was our webmaster [Brent Thompson]. I have my own [Twitter profile]."

Ian also addressed Mustaine's explanation that the only reason Dave brought up Scott's name in connection with the Ulrich-was-getting-fired story was to help Ian sell books.

Speaking to Classic Rock magazine, Mustaine was asked if he now regretted breaking the story about METALLICA's alleged proposed sacking of Lars Ulrich. "No," Mustaine replied. "It was something Scott told me. I was trying to help him promote his autobiography. I love Scott and would never do anything to hurt him — never. But it's what he told me and I know other people who've heard it, too. With all the things that are out there on the Net, I know that Scott's having a bad time. People are starting to say, 'We believe Dave and Scott's a liar. He lied about the thing with Dan [Nelson, the singer who controversially parted company with ANTHRAX].' That's the last thing I wanted. I love Scott. I wish I could just make this thing go away. But I didn't say it, he did."

In his e-mail to Metal Hammer magazine, Scott stated simply, "I don't have an autobiography coming out, nor does the band [referring to ANTHRAX — Ed.]."

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.

From ANTHRAX's official Twitter account (date of posting: July 29, 2009):

Powerhouse heavy metal singer Tim "Ripper" Owens (JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, BEYOND FEAR) has completed laying down vocals for the debut album from CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED, the new project led by acclaimed metal drummer Richard Christy. The recording sessions are taking place at Audiohammer Studios in Sanford, Florida with producer Jason Suecof, who has previously worked with TRIVIUM, ALL THAT REMAINS, BURY YOUR DEAD, AUGUST BURNS RED, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, DAATH, CHIMAIRA, DEVILDRIVER and GOD FORBID, among others.

Christy recently stated about CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED, "I must say that I'm totally blown away by how everything is sounding! Jason Suecof is playing guitar and producing and he did such an incredible job on the album. He's not only an awesome guitar player but he's an amazing producer, and I'm so psyched with how everything turned out. The drum sound that Jason and engineer Mark Lewis got for me is astounding! The bass god Steve DiGiorgio [SADUS, TESTAMENT, DEATH, SEBASTIAN BACH] also flew down to Florida to lay down some monster bass tracks that people will be blown away by when they hear!"

CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED's debut CD is tentatively due in early November via Metal Blade Records.

In the spring of 2009, Christy, former drummer for DEATH and ICED EARTH, finished writing the music for a new project. The music for album began to take shape roughly two years ago, after several years of Richard being on a musical hiatus. And though Richard is mostly known for his drumming prowess, he has also actively played guitar since 1992.

CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED is:

Richard Christy - Drums
Jason Suecof - Guitar, Producer
Tim "Ripper" Owens - Vocals
Steve Digiorgio - Bass

Altitude TV has posted a four-minute video report (see below) on Crüe Fest 2, the sequel to last summer's touring rock festival, which kicked off on July 19 in Camden, New Jersey.

Crüe Fest 2 stars MÖTLEY CRÜE with GODSMACK, THEORY OF A DEADMAN, DROWNING POOL and CHARM CITY DEVILS. Celebrating the 20th anniversary of "Dr. Feelgood", MÖTLEY CRÜE is performing the #1 album in its entirety in the band's self-created sanitarium followed by a completely separate set of the best of the rest of their hits, including the Grammy-nominated title track from their current album "Saints of Los Angeles". The tour also features the Monster Energy Stage, doubling the rock experience and value for fans by offering music from ten great bands between the two stages.

The 32-city trek will have its final performance on September 5 at the Darien Lake Performing Arts Center in Darien Lake, New York.

"This is a crazy tour unlike any we've ever done before," stated MÖTLEY CRÜE bassist Nikki Sixx. "Crüe Fest 2 has ten bands rocking two stages. MÖTLEY's doing two completely different sets — all of the songs from the 'Dr. Feelgood' album and then a whole different look, sound, lights, dancers and even microphones with the grime and slime of our greatest hits. We'll change up the set list a bit during the second half of the show, just really do something different this summer."

In addition to REV THEORY, CAVO, SHRAM and 16 SECOND STARE, the Monster Energy Stage features a band chosen locally in select markets.

Mike Metal of CHOM 97.7 FM's "The Metal File" was invited to take photos of the massive stage that was being constructed yesterday (Thursday, August 6) for AC/DC's August 8 concert at Montreal, Quebec, Canada's Olympic Stadium. He says, "The sound is going to be shockingly great! They have modern speakers with delay towers to carry the sound. The sound engineer has been there four times this week to tweak it. It takes 17 trucks and four days to put together the stage, so they have three stages touring at once. There will also be 40-foot screens, so no matter where you are, you'll get a great show!"

Check out the pictures at this location.

More than 50,000 tickets have been sold for AC/DC's Montreal concert.

Finnish folk metallers ENSIFERUM recently shot a video for the song "From Afar". The clip will make its online debut at the end of August.

"From Afar" is the title track of ENSIFERUM's fourth album, which will be released on September 9 via Spinefarm Records. The CD was produced by Tero Kinnunen (NIGHTWISH, AMORPHIS) and Janne Joutsenniemi ('Victory Songs' producer) and was mixed by Hiili Hiilesmaa (HIM, SENTENCED, AMORPHIS).

The track listing for the album is as follows:

01. By The Dividing Stream
02. From Afar
03. Twilight Tavern
04. Heathen Throne
05. Elusive Reaches
06. Stone Cold Metal
07. Smoking Ruins
08. Tumman Virran Taa
09. The Longest Journey (Heathen Throne Part II)
10. Vandraren (limited-edition bonus track; NORDMAN cover)

Check out the cover artwork below.

As previously reported, ENSIFERUM will embark on a European headlining tour in October. Support on the trek will come from METSATOLL and TRACEDAWN.

ENSIFERUM had its first two albums made officially available in the U.K. for the very first time. The records in question — "Ensiferum" (2001) and "Iron" (2004) — were released on March 30 via Spinefarm Records. Both albums come with bonus material.

After entering the studio for the first time in the latter part of the '90s, ENSIFERUM has been constantly sharpening its sound, dispensing epic music heavy in both atmosphere and attack, with its most recent "Victory Songs" opus (reissued in the U.K. last year as a two-CD set with the "Dragonheads" EP) taking "folk/viking melodic metal" to a whole new level of grandeur.

Video footage of LIFE OF AGONY frontman Keith Caputo at the Vondelpark in Amsterdam, Holland talking about the most recent developments in his musical career can be viewed below. Keith talks about his solo record, "A Fondness for Hometown Scars", and the videos made for that album — "Crawling" and the most recent one, "Bleed for Something Beautiful". He also talks about his new EP, "Cheat", which is available only on tour, and his poetry debut with the book "Black Scarlet Wounds".

Keith will be on tour from August until October. Do not miss the last 2009 show in Cologne, Germany on October 15, where Caputo and the rest of his band will be playing with a 15-piece orchestra.

Caputo's latest video, "Bleed For Something Beautiful", was directed by William Rot and was shot in Malibu and in Silverlake, California with Julie Becker, "the brilliant and infamous tattoo artist," according to Keith.

"Bleed For Something Beautiful" comes off Caputo's latest solo album "A Fondness For Hometown Scars", which was released in Europe in April 2008 via Suburban Records. The CD was produced by Martyn Lenoble (JANE'S ADDICTION, DAVE GAHAN, PORNO FOR PYROS, THE CULT) and features the following band lineup:

Keith Caputo - Vocals
Jochem Van Rooijen - Drums
Marcel Signor - Guitars
Michiel Rietveld - Bass/Acoustic Guitar

Guest musicians include:

Zac Rae (PEDESTRIAN) - Keyboards
Gerry Leonard (DAVID BOWIE) - Guitars
Craig Ross (LENNY KRAVITZ, SHERYL CROW) - Electric Guitars/Acoustic
Flea (RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS) - Trumpet

"Fondness for Hometown Scars" was mixed by Vincent Jones (SARAH MCLACHLAN, DAVID GAHAN, MORRISSEY) and Martyn Lenoble and was mastered by George Marino at Sterling Sound in New York City.

Baltimore death metallers DYING FETUS are streaming another new track, "Shepherd's Commandment", on their MySpace page. The song comes off the band's forthcoming album, "Descend Into Depravity", which is scheduled for release on September 15 via Relapse Records. The follow-up to 2007's "War Of Attrition" was recorded at Wright Way Studios in the group's hometown with producer Steve Wright.

"Descend Into Depravity" track listing:

01. Your Treachery Will Die With You
02. Shepherd's Commandment
03. Hopeless Insurrection
04. Conceived Into Enslavement
05. Atrocious By Nature
06. Descend Into Depravity
07. At What Expense
08. Ethos Of Coercion

DYING FETUS shot a video for "Shepherd's Commandment" last month in New York with director Kevin Custer (HATEBREED, TESTAMENT, SOULJA BOY, KINGDOM OF SORROW) of Toaster In The Tub.

DYING FETUS is currently taking part in a month-long North American trek alongside HATEBREED, CHIMAIRA, and TOXIC HOLOCAUST. DYING FETUS will then head to Europe in October for a four-week tour alongside CANNIBAL CORPSE. This jaunt will also include OBSCURA in the mainland followed by ANNOTATIONS OF AN AUTOPSY and TRIGGER THE BLOODSHED in the United Kingdom.

Sonic Excess conducted an interview with DYING FETUS on June 24, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. Watch the chat below.

AEROSMITH's Joe Perry gave an in-studio interview at WXRX-FM in Rockford, Illinois Friday morning (August 7) on his way back home to Boston. According to the Associated Press, the guitarist didn't say anything specific about singer Steven Tyler's condition or say where Tyler was following the frontman's fall from the stage at the Buffalo Chip Campground in Sturgis, South Dakota Wednesday. Tyler suffered head and shoulder injuries in the fall.

"I don't know what's happening with the tour. We're being told [it may take] anything from four weeks to two months [for Steven to be able to get back on stage]. So I don't know," Perry said in the interview.

He continued, "We've had some bad luck on this tour. Up until three years ago, since we came back we'd only cancelled two gigs. Then Steven had his foot thing, and I had my knee thing, and Tom [Hamilton, bass] had that thing with cancer. It's all hit at once — but we had 25 years of a good run.

"We did seven gigs then had to cancel seven, then we did seven more and then this happened. I don't know if we'll be able to finish this. I gotta play!

"It's breaking my heart — ZZ [TOP] are my second favorite band to play with. CHEAP TRICK is my first. Billy Gibbons has been up every night playing 'Rattlesnake Shake' with us and I want to keep doing that. We're the only three American bands to have the same members, still putting out albums. I keep asking, but if someone can think of another, let me know!"

AEROSMITH's next concert was scheduled for Friday in Winnipeg, Manitoba, but was postponed. The band's web site doesn't mention any other cancelations.

Meanwhile, Perry has told Classic Rock Revisited more about his upcoming album, which is due for release before the new AEROSMITH LP. He says: "It's going to be the JOE PERRY PROJECT rather than a solo one. David Hull played on the first two PROJECT albums and he's going to be on this one.

"We went online and my wife found a singer in Germany. We brought Hagen over, auditioned him, and he's singing half of the songs. I'm comfortable with singing lead, but I don't know how comfortable the rest of the world is with it!

"The drummer is from my son's band — I call him the Percussion Prodigy. Our keyboard player is a local guy, who also helped do the demo work."

(Thanks: Rock Radio)

San Francisco Bay Area metal veterans SKINLAB have once again parted ways with guitarist Glen "Glenny" Telford. The group says in a statement, "As many may know, we started jamming again two years ago and announced his return to the band. We all knew that it was something we were going to take day by day and just write the next [SKINLAB] album and have a good time jamming. Now that the album is done and the touring schedule is starting to fill, SKINLAB is planning on having a full tour schedule, which we are planning on heading over to Europe, Australia, and even South America. Unfortunately, Glenny is unable to commit himself to this type of touring schedule, so he has decided to bow out before things get too crazy.

"While it may come as news to some, it is something that we've known might be a reality eventually, and figured we'd deal with it when the time comes, and unfortunately, that time has come. So, with all respect, we wish Glenny all the luck in the world, as we are all good buds with no harsh feelings.

"As for his replacement, we are currently jamming with a sick new guitarist
from the Bay Area who has been a SKINLAB fan forever. We'll keep everyone posted as we begin crushing out some rehearsals this week for the DEATH ANGEL show [on August 29 in Oakland]."

Telford added in a statement: "Unfortunately, due to tough times, I have decided to leave SKINLAB again. It's either 100% to do that kinda schedule and commitment or none! And rather than give less than my all, I decided to sit it out!

"I'm stoked to have seen you all over the years and super-stoked on the new album, 'The Scars Between Us'. I'm sure y'all will be seeing SKINLAB killing it again out there in the universe!"

Upcoming SKINLAB shows:

Aug. 29 - The Uptown - Oakland, CA (w/ DEATH ANGEL)
Sep. 17 - Voodoo Lounge - San Jose, CA
Sep. 18 - Blake's - Berkeley, CA
Sep. 19 - The Silo- Modesto, CA
Sep. 21 - Whisky A Go Go - Hollywood, CA

SKINLAB's new album, "The Scars Between Us", 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 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.