Video footage of EPICA's Simone Simons and Isaac Delahaye performing an acoustic version of the song "This Is The Time" (which was written for the World Wildlife Fund) during a fan-club meeting on October 9, 2009 at Escape in Veenendaal, The Netherlands can be viewed below.

EPICA performed the band's new album, "Design Your Universe", in its entirety at the sold-out record-release party this past Saturday night (October 10) at Paradiso in Amsterdam, Holland. The group will also play all of the new CD on November 6 at the first of two shows at Élysée Montmartre in Paris, France.

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

"Design Your Universe" track listing:

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

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

Japanese extreme metal band SIGH will release its eighth studio album, "Scenes From Hell", on January 19, 2010 via The End Records. The CD's cover artwork was designed by Eliran Kantor (TESTAMENT, AGHORA, TO-MERA, GWAR, SICKENING HORROR) and can be viewed below (courtesy of MetalSucks). The group states, "We're truly proud of the artwork. This is the perfect description of what the album is about — namely war, hell and death!"

SIGH's Mirai Kawashima recently stated about "Scenes From Hell", "We were supposed to finish mixing it by the end of June, but it was not easy at all. Of course I knew it'd be tough to mix all those orchestral instruments properly, but it was much harder than expected. The brass section sounds very powerful by itself. Guitar, bass and drums sound powerful enough by themselves. However, once all are mixed, they could often kill each other's powerfulness! After having gone through numerous trials and errors, we finally succeeded in getting the proper result. And the album has been mastered by Maor Appelbaum, who also mastered our tribute to VENOM. He has worked with such artists as Yngwie Malmsteen and Rob Halford, so he knows how to master the metal stuff! 'Scenes from Hell' definitely sounds powerful, symphonic and relentless. This is the musical description of hell!"

"Scenes From Hell" final track listing:

01. Prelude to the Oracle
02. L'art de Mourir
03. The Soul Grave
Musica in Tempora Belli
04. The Red Funeral
05. The Summer Funeral
06. Musica in Tempora Belli
07. Vanitas
08. Scenes from Hell

Video footage of SIGH performing a cover version of the VENOM classic "Black Metal" at last year's Damnation Festival, which was held November 22, 2008 in Leeds, U.K., can be viewed below.

Reactivated legendary New Orleans metallers EXHORDER — cited by many as the originators of the riff-heavy power-groove approach popularized by PANTERA (photo) — have scheduled a show on November 14 at Southport Hall in Jefferson, Louisiana. This will mark the band's first live performance since EXHORDER's March 2001 reunion shows at Zeppelin's in Metairie, Louisiana.

EXHORDER's lineup for the Southport Hall date will be as follows:

Kyle Thomas - Vocals
Vinnie Labella - Guitar
Jay Ceravolo - Guitar
Chris Nail - Drums
Frankie Sparcello - Bass

Poland's Metal Mind Productions re-released the two albums (1990's "Slaughter in the Vatican" and 1992's "The Law") from EXHORDER in May 2008. Each limited-edition digipack title (limited to 2,000 copies) was made available on golden disc, digitally remastered using 24-bit technology.

Rare video footage of EXHORDER putting the finishing touches on their classic debut album, "Slaughter in the Vatican", in August 1990 at Morrisound Recording in Tampa, Florida can be viewed below.

MÖTLEY CRÜE guitarist Mick Mars contributed a guest solo to "InsideOut", the debut album from singer Dilana Robichaux, who is best known for her participation on the CBS reality show "Rock Star: Supernova". According to Dilana, Mars' solo "is blazing and we had too much fun doing it."

Due on November 17 via Kabunk! Records, "InsideOut" was produced by Dave Bassett and features NO DOUBT drummer Adrian Young. "Holiday" kick-starts the record, setting the pace (fast) and energy (lots of it). Dilana's gravelly voice and powerful delivery make her rock-star presence immediately known, and her vocal swagger is matched only by her lyrics. On the chorus of "Holiday" she sings: "Oh my life has changed/Like a holiday/Feels so damn good/Like Hollywood/I'm gonna, I'm gonna shove this life in your face/Gonna give you a taste."

Dilana, a deep-voiced fount of rock 'n' roll excitement, left her hometown of Johannesburg, South Africa a few years ago to escape what she has described as "madness and violence in the city," relocating to the Netherlands, where she became a local star, playing festivals and sharing a stage with Joe Cocker in front of 100,000 people.

Dilana, now a Los Angeles resident who still tours worldwide.

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

Former DEEP PURPLE keyboardist played his trademark Hammond organ and keyboards earlier tonight (Thursday, October 15) in Moscow, Russia together with the Moscow Symphony Orchestra and Hungarian band CRY FREE. They performed a "Concerto for Group and Orchestra" as well as famous DEEP PURPLE hits, including "Soldier Of Fortune" and "Child In Time".

Video footage of the performance can be viewed below.

In an interview with RussiaToday.com, Lord explained how the role of rock music changed over the years.

"When rock was young, it was a rebellion," he said. "But it was not a political rebellion. It was a rebellion of young people against their parents' generation. It was them saying 'This is our music. It's not yours!' The more the parents said, 'It's loud, it's horrible, we hate it,' the more young people said, 'Good!' Now you've got people of an older generation who are still playing rock 'n' roll music like me or THE ROLLING STONES or U2, for example. The rebellion of young against old has finished. Rock music has grown wider, I think. What it is still used for is, perhaps a little bit more, a political rebellion. Young people are saying ‘this is my voice, this is what I want you to understand about me as a young person'. And I think that is a rebellion that is in music now."

DOKKEN and LYNCH MOB (featuring former DOKKEN guitarist George Lynch) will share the stage for the first time ever on November 29, 2009 at the House of Blues in Anaheim, California. It is not presently clear if additional dates will be scheduled featuring the two acts.

In a recent interview with Kevin "Taz" Conklin of "The Big Dumb Radio Show" (web site), which airs on Kalamazoo, Michigan's 92.5 WZUU FM radio station, Lynch was asked about a possible LYNCH MOB tour in support of the band's comeback studio album, entitled "Smoke And Mirrors". "I'm talking a little preemptively here, but one of the things on the table is a potential DOKKEN-LYNCH MOB tour — kind of like that WWF spectacle where you come out with all that history and get people talking, and that's always good," George said. "And we'll play some DOKKEN songs as well in our set. And they're welcome to play some LYNCH MOB songs, but that's not gonna happen... I'm kidding."

Regarding whether he would make an appearance on stage with his former DOKKEN bandmates if LYNCH MOB were to tour with DOKKEN, Lynch said, "Absolutely. That's be part of the deal. I'd come out at the end and we'd have a little reunion, and it'd be awesome. Me and Don [Dokken] could come out, make out for a while, and then we'd dive into a couple of old DOKKEN songs for old times' sake."

Audio samples of all 13 songs that appear on "Smoke And Mirrors" are available for download at HeavyHarmonies.com (scroll down). The CD was released in Europe on September 18 (October 13 in the U.S.) via Frontiers Records.

LYNCH MOB's current lineup includes Logan and Lynch alongside bassist Marco Mendoza (WHITESNAKE, THIN LIZZY) and drummer Scot Coogan (BRIDES OF DESTRUCTION, ACE FREHLEY).

SLAYER guitarist Kerry King took part in an in-store signing session on October 13, 2009 at Kosmic Sound in Cannington, a southern suburb of Perth, Western Australia.

Video footage of his appearance can be viewed below.

King made several in-store appearances at select B.C. Rich retailers while on the 2009 Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival. The special events were co-sponsored by EMG pickups.

SLAYER's "World Painted Blood", the band's highly-anticipated new album set for a November 3 release (American Recordings), will initially ship with four special collector's edition CD covers. Each of the four covers will display one-fourth of a provocative continental map illustrated with human skulls and bones; when placed together, the four images form a complete and grisly map of the world.

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

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

NIGHTWISH frontwoman Anette Olzon makes a guest appearance on "October & April", the new single from Finland's THE RASMUS, which is scheduled for release on November 11. The song, which is available for streaming below, has been sent to radio stations in Europe and the video for the track will premiere on October 23.

In a September 2008 interview with Italy's Musica Metal, THE RASMUS singer Lauri Ylönen stated that the idea for the song came to him nine years ago when Tarja Turunen was still the lead singer of NIGHTWISH, but he only got around to recording the track during the sessions for last year's "Black Roses" CD. "I actually asked Tarja, but she said no!" Lauri revealed. "Then I called Anette, and she was like, 'Yeah, I would love to sing a song with you, I'm a big RASMUS fan, actually two years ago before I joined NIGHTWISH, I was singing THE RASMUS songs in karaoke bars!' so we went with her."

"October & April" was not included on "Black Roses" because the CD was a concept effort and the song didn't fit in with the overall idea for the album. Instead, the track will make its debut on THE RASMUS' "Best of 2001-2009", a compilation of all the hit songs from their four latest albums, including the million-selling "In The Shadows", most of the singles and a few rarities.

Due on November 25, "Best of 2001-2009" features the following track listing:

01. In The Shadows
02. No Fear
03. Guilty (U.S. mix)
04. October & April (featuring Anette Olzon)
05. First Day Of My Life
06. Livin' In A World Without You
07. F-F-F-Falling
08. Chill
09. Immortal
10. Justify
11. Shot
12. Funeral Song
13. Ghost of Love
14. Open My Eyes (acoustic version)
15. In My Life
16. Ten Black Roses
17. Sail Away

Commented Lauri: "We felt it was time to sum up these past ten years. Eero said, let's call the album, 'This is how I spent my twenties.' No matter how stupid it sounded, that is pretty much the truth. We went on this crazy rollercoaster ride; it has been an amazing time. We have travelled to more than 60 countries, from India to Siberia, met thousands of fans all over the world and enthusiastic people working with our records. And when I look back on these last four records, I feel very proud of them. We decided to include most of the singles to the album with a couple of our favorite album tracks, and the new song 'October & April'."

Fan-filmed video footage of DEFTONES performing a brand new song, "Rocket Skates", on October 13, 2009 at the Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Oregon can be viewed below.

DEFTONES bassist Chi Cheng is said to be "in semi-conscious state" following a November 2008 car accident in the middle of the recording sessions for the band's long-awaited new album, "Eros".

Filling in for Chi during the DEFTONES' recent live shows has been Sergio Vega, who previously played with QUICKSAND.

Regarding the current status of "Eros", the DEFTONES stated in a June 2009 online posting that had decided to start anew and begin tracking an entirely new album. "The songs recorded for 'Eros' are very special to us as they are the latest with Chi (and we certainly hope not the last); they have history and significant meaning to us," the band explained. "However, as we neared completion on 'Eros', we realized that this record doesn't best encompass and represent who we are currently as people and as musicians." The band hopes that the songs recorded with Chi will see the light of day eventually, but "we collectively made the decision that we needed to take a new approach, and with Chi's condition heavy on our minds while doing so."

The band added that they returned "to the studio to do what we felt was right artistically. Our inspiration and unity as a band is stronger than it has ever been before and we needed to channel that energy into our music, and deliver to our fans what you rightly deserve: the best DEFTONES record that we can make. The decision to hold off on releasing 'Eros' has no connection with Chi's condition or anything associated. This was, and is, purely a creative decision by the band to write, record, and deliver an amazing product. As a result, we feel like this is the best record we've ever written. And although Chi is not playing bass with us, his presence is dramatically felt in our hearts and on our minds every day when we step into that studio, and you will feel it in the music."

Cheng is 39 years old and is a poet as well as a musician. He released a CD of his poetry called "The Bamboo Parachute" in 2000.

Cheng has been a member of DEFTONES since its formation in 1988. The band released its debut disc, "Adrenaline", in 1995 and scored a platinum record with 2000's "White Pony".

On October 27, Eagle Rock Entertainment will add another gem to its stunning Montreux collection when STATUS QUO's "Pictures: Live At Montreux 2009" is released on DVD.

STATUS QUO's album "Pictures" (released in November 2008) celebrated 40 years of the band filling the U.K. charts with hit after hit. The album was an instant success, charting at #8 and selling over a quarter of a million copies in the U.K. alone. In July 2009, the "Pictures" live tour landed at Montreux in Switzerland as part of the world famous festival.

When STATUS QUO hit the stage, the usually reserved Swiss crowd knew they were in for a treat. Led as always by the twin telecasters of Francis Rossi and Rick Parfitt, they deliver a blistering set of hits and classic tracks from across their career, including no less than 18 U.K. Top 20 hits. This "Pictures" tour set list has been hailed by many as the band's best ever. Commemorating the 40-year celebration of the band, huge screens behind the stage illustrated high points from QUO's career. Exclusive interviews filmed backstage at Montreux with the always entertaining Rossi and Parfitt are included as bonus features.

STATUS QUO is one of Britain's most cherished and influential bands. With this DVD coming hot on the heels of their new CD, "In Search Of The Fourth Chord" (released stateside via Eagle Rock on September 15, 2009), "Pictures: Live At Montreux" is live and loud and serves as a timely reminder of what the QUO legacy is built on.

The track listing is as follows:

01. Caroline
02. The Wanderer
03. Rain
04. Don't Drive My Car
05. Mean Girl / Softer Ride
06. Beginning Of The End
07. Is There A Better Way
08. Proposing Medley: What You're Proposing / Down The Dustpipe / Little Lady / Red Sky / Dear John / Big Fat Mama
09. Pictures Of Matchstick Men / Ice In The Sun
10. The Oriental
11. Creepin' Up
12. In My Chair
13. Living On An Island
14. In The Army Now
15. The Killer
16. Roll Over Lay Down
17. Down Down
18. Whatever You Want
19. Rockin' All Over The World
20. Junior's Wailing
21. Rock ‘N' Roll Music / Bye Bye Johnny

TOOL frontman Maynard James Keenan's side project, PUSCIFER, is set to release its first new music in two years with a six-song EP titled "C is for (Please Insert Sophomoric Genitalia Reference Here) E.P." on November 10.

The track listing is as follows:

01. Polar Bear
02. The Mission (Renholder Mix) (feat. Milla Jovovich)
03. Momma Sed (Alive @ Club Nokia)
04. Vagina Mine (Alive @ Club Nokia)
05. Potions (Deliverance Mix)
06. The Humbling River

PUSCIFER will kick off its first tour with a swing through the Western U.S. on October 29 in Las Vegas (a Midwest/East Coast run is in the works for 2010).

In a recent interview with Noisecreep, Keenan stated that fans can expect nothing but to be surprised on the upcoming PUSCIFER tour, which runs through early December.

"Whenever you see a city with a double booking, it will be a different performance both nights," Keenan said. He went on to describe PUSCIFER as "a gathering place for other solo projects, as well as mine. Eventually, it will become more of a stable, core band, but initially it is definitely an experimental phase, with people coming and going."

Keenan was interviewed by Cort and Fatboy of Portland's Rock 101 KUFO on September 18. The program is available for download as an MP3 audio file at this location. It can also be streamed using the audio player below.

"Wicked Wonderland", the first album in 15 years from '80s hard rock queen Lita Ford, sold around 2,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. (Note: Internet/digital sales **ARE** included in the SoundScan totals.) The CD landed at position No. 31 on the Top Hard Music Albums chart.

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

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

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

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

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

Lita and her husband recently sat down with ABC News Radio entertainment correspondent David Blaustein to chat about "Wicked Wonderland", family life and her upcoming tour. Watch the six-minute chat below.

The new band calling itself FEAR FACTORY — featuring original FF members Dino Cazares (guitar) and Burton C. Bell (vocals) alongside bassist Byron Stroud (who played on the last two FEAR FACTORY albums in addition to touring and recording with STRAPPING YOUNG LAD and ZIMMERS HOLE) and legendary drummer Gene Hoglan (DETHKLOK, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, DARK ANGEL, DEATH, TESTAMENT) — has set "Mechanize" as the title of its new CD, tentatively due in February 2010. "[The name] fits the vibe of the album very, very well," Bell told Sergio Alvite of Mexico's Search & Destroy in a brand new interview, which can be streamed using the audio player below.

The CD, which was co-produced by the band with Rhys Fulber (FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY, PARADISE LOST), was recently mixed by Greg Reely (PARADISE LOST, FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY, SKINNY PUPPY).

Regarding "Mechanize"'s musical direction, Bell said, "It has the raw aggression of what 'Soul Of A New Machine' [1992] was but it has... I would say it has the maturity of 'Obsolete' [1998]. When I say 'maturity,' I mean that it has the songwriting skills that 'Soul Of A New Machine' did not have whereas 'Obsolete' did."

FEAR FACTORY has secured a brand new deal with an as-yet-undisclosed record company following a split with Liquid 8 Records, the label that issued the group's last two albums — 2004's "Archetype" and 2005's "Transgression".

In a June 14, 2009 appearance on the nationally syndicated radio program "Speed Freaks", FEAR FACTORY drummer Raymond Herrera — who is not part of the above-mentioned lineup — stated about the group's current status, "[Guitarist Christian Olde Wolbers and I are] actually still in FEAR FACTORY. There's a big legal battle going on right now. Essentially, what's happened is Dino and Burt have become friends again and they decided to start a new band, and furthermore, they decided to call it FEAR FACTORY. They never communicated with us about it, and they're acting like there was never any contract, but there's four members that are Fear Factory Incorporated — which is the four of us — so it's almost like them two against us two, so it's kind of a stalemate. Moving forward, I don't know what's gonna happen with the trademark, so to speak. It's kind of a weird situation, but it's not a situation that we created that was weird."

Regarding why Christian and Raymond aren't involved with the new FEAR FACTORY lineup, Bell told Rock My Monkey "The fact that I have not worked with Raymond and Christian for the past three years as FEAR FACTORY is for this one reason — it's that I did not want to be involved with their manager. Her name is Christy Priske and she happens to be Christian's wife. During the 'Transgression' mixing session, her and Raymond started a love affair that lasted for a couple years. As [she was the] manager of FEAR FACTORY, this was completely unacceptable to me."

Dino's tenure with FEAR FACTORY ended in March 2002 after Bell announced his departure from the group, allegedly telling his bandmates at the time, "Look, guys, I'm not into it anymore, I don't wanna play in the band anymore, I don't wanna play with you guys, and I especially don't wanna play with you, Dino."

FEAR FACTORY eventually reformed without Dino and released two more studio albums, the aforementioned "Archetype" and "Transgression".

ARKAEA — the new band featuring Wolbers and Herrera alongside vocalist Jon Howard (THREAT SIGNAL) and bassist Pat Kavanaugh (THREAT SIGNAL) — released its debut album, "Years In The Darkness", on July 14 via E1 Music (formerly Koch Records).

Burton C. Bell interviewed by Mexico's Search & Destroy (click on player below to launch audio):

Behind-the-scenes footage from the making of "Across Heracles Towards", the new video from Spanish death/black metallers NOCTEM, can be viewed below. The song comes off the band's debut album, "Divinity", which was released in April via Austria's NoiseHead Records. The CD features guest appearances by Christos Antoniou (SEPTICFLESH, CHAOSTAR) and Leal (FOREVER SLAVE). It contains 11 tracks based on the story of the disappearance of Atlantis "from a dark and subjective point of view, speaking about its blood's desire in the battle, the darkest rituals for reaching the immortality or its society based in a polytheistic theocracy with longings of glory," according to a press release.

"Divinity" track listing:

01. Atlas Death
02. In The Path Of Heleim
03. Realms In Decay
04. The Sanctuary
05. The Call Of Oricalco's Horn
06. Across Heracles Towards
07. In The Aeons Of Time
08. Necropolis Of Esthar's Ruins
09. Divinity
10. Religious Plagues
11. Under Seas Of Silence

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

Making of "Across Heracles Towards" video:



"Across Heracles Towards" video:

Canadian concert promoters Gillett Entertainment Group (Groupe Spectacles Gillett) have launched a countdown on their web site to a "major announcement" that will be made on Monday, October 19 at 7:00 a.m. EST. The accompanying image, which can be seen below, features a close-up of GUNS N' ROSES singer Axl Rose's mouth, which suggests that some Canadian dates may be in the works for the GN'R band.

GUNS N' ROSES is scheduled to play several shows in Taiwan, Korea nad Japan in December:

Dec. 11 - Taipei, Taiwan - Taipei County Stadium
Dec. 13 - Seoul, Korea - Olympic Park Gymnastics Stadium
Dec. 16 - Osaka, Japan - Osaka Dome
Dec. 19 - Tokyo, Japan - Tokyo Dome

"Chinese Democracy", the sixth and most recent album from GUNS N' ROSES, was released in its entirety to the Rock Band Music Store catalog of downloadable content on April 14.

The tracks are available for purchase as an album or individual tracks for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 system. The tracks are available for purchase as individual tracks only for Wii.

Aside from Billboard and Spinner interviews and answering a number of fan questions at a GUNS N' ROSES message board, Rose has done no promotion of any kind for "Chinese Democracy".

"Chinese Democracy" was officially certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on February 3, 2009 for shipments in the United States in excess of one million copies.

BLOOD DUSTER, TRAP THEM, CIRCLE OF DEAD CHILDREN, TOTAL FUCKING DESTRUCTION, JUCIFER, MALIGNANCY, DEFEATIST, SURROUNDINGS, ROTTENNESS and THE COMMUNION have been confirmed for next year's Maryland Deathfest, set to take place May 28-30 at Sonar in Baltimore.

The festival billing is shaping up as follows:

16
ASPHYX
AUTOPSY
BIRDS OF PREY
BLOOD DUSTER
CAPITALIST CASUALTIES
CAPTAIN CLEANOFF
CIRCLE OF DEAD CHILDREN
COFFINS
CONVERGE
DECEASED
DEFEATIST
ENTOMBED
EYEHATEGOD
FANG
FUCK THE FACTS
GORGUTS
GOROD
GRIDE
GRIDLINK
HAEMORRHAGE
HOWL
IMPALED
INCANTATION
INGROWING
JESUS CRÖST
JUCIFER
MAGRUDERGRIND
MALEVOLENT CREATION
MALIGNANCY
MASSGRAVE
MELECHESH
NAGLFAR
NAZXUL
NECROPHOBIC
OBITUARY
OBLITERATION
PENTAGRAM
PESTILENCE
PORTAL
POSSESSED
PUTRESCENCE
ROMPEPROP
ROTTENNESS
SADISTIC INTENT
SINISTER
SODOM
STORMCROW
SULACO
SURROUNDINGS
THE CHASM
THE COMMUNION
TOMBS
TOTAL FUCKING DESTRUCTION
TRAP THEM
VERBAL ABUSE
WATAIN
WOLFBRIGADE

The concept of Maryland Deathfest is simple: to bring to the United States the best and most extreme bands the underground has to offer. Never conforming to trends, or being limited by genre restrictions, Maryland Deathfest is a showcase of what extreme music, both new and old, is capable of. With an emphasis on diversity, the festival brings together the very best death metal, grindcore, black metal, thrash, experimental and hardcore bands from all around the world. With bands from all over the U.S. and Canada, and exclusive fly ins and rare appearances from some of the most in demand bands from Europe, Australia, and Japan, the diversity of the lineup is only surpassed by the diversity of Maryland Deathfest's rabid fan base, who annually travel from all over the world for a weekend of fun and music.

Since Maryland Deathfest's inception in 2003, festival organizers Ryan and Evan have continued to strive to bring together some of the most legendary bands in the scene and some of the most talked about up-and-coming bands in the underground for an unparalleled experience. Combining the DIY attitude of two young metal fans who are actually part of the scene instead of trying to exploit it, with a refreshing professional touch, Maryland Deathfest is year after year given high marks for being one of the best-run and most organized festivals around.

"Cosmic Egg", the second album from the Australian retro-rock combo WOLFMOTHER, is available for streaming in its entirety on the band's MySpace page. Due on October 27, the group's first CD since the departure of drummer Myles Heskett and bassist/keyboardist Chris Ross was recorded in Los Angeles with heralded U.K. producer Alan Moulder.

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

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

"New Moon Rising", the new video from WOLFMOTHER, can be viewed below. The kaleidoscope of visual feats features an onslaught of color, effects and cut up animation pieced together resulting in a journey to the decade of rock 'n roll. Prepared by New Zealand directors Special Problems, the clip is an arresting display of psychedelic voodoo and the perfect jump off point into the world of the band's new record, "Cosmic Egg".

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

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

According to Billboard.com, Anglo-Australian hard rock legends AC/DC are among the finalists for the 2009 Billboard Touring Awards, which will be handed out at a special reception in New York on November 5. The awards are based on global box office numbers reported to Billboard Boxscore from October 1, 2008 through September 30, 2009.

The finalists for the Top Tour and Top Draw awards, which acknowledge the top grossing and ticket selling tours, respectively, are the same three global treks: AC/DC's "Black Ice" tour, U2's "360" tour and MADONNA's "Sticky & Sweet" tour.

Other than the Boxscore-related awards, Ozzy Osbourne will be named 2009 Legend Of Live.

Read more from Billboard.com.

According to Examiner.com, hard rock legend Alice Cooper is among the celebrities taking part in the 2009 Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospital For Children Open at the TPC Summerlin course in Las Vegas.

Cooper, who sports a handicap of 3 or 4, is taking time off of his Theater Of Death tour to help raise money for the Shriners Children Hospital.

"When you see these kids, you want to play every day for them," Cooper said.

The event runs through Sunday, with coverage on the Golf Channel all weekend.

Read more from Examiner.com.

On Sunday, October 11, the legendary Roxy Theatre in West Hollywood, California hosted Rockstar Karaoke — a special one-night event that gave music fans an exclusive opportunity to watch well-known rock musicians as they performed classic rock tunes in a karaoke-type setting. The event, presented by designer Mark Nason, benefitted The Painted Turtle camp.

Among the musicians that took part in the event were Slash (VELVET REVOLVER, GUNS N' ROSES), Jason Bonham (LED ZEPPELIN), Jeff Pilson (DOKKEN, FOREIGNER, DIO), Dee Snider (TWISTED SISTER) and George Lynch (DOKKEN, LYNCH MOB).

Prior to doors opening, an exclusive invite-only silent auction took place upstairs at "On The Rox", featuring rock memorabilia and specialty items from Ronnie Wood, TWISTED SISTER, Royal Underground, Mark Nason, STAIND, pop artist Todd Goldman, Ari Soffer, M.A.C. cosmetics, Kieselstein-Cord, Skincare Services, Blue Microphones and Jägermeister — accompanied by artisanal cheese/wine tasting, compliments of The Cheese Impresario and Wente Vineyards. Additional sponsors included Access Pass & Design, Nicolina Royale, ONEHOPE Wine and SPIN magazine.

Fan-filmed video footage of the event can be viewed below (courtesy of Christy Borgman).

"Whole Lotta Love" featuring Slash, Jason Bonham, Jeff Pilson:



"Immigrant Song" featuring Slash, Jason Bonham, Jeff Pilson:



"We're Not Gonna Take It" featuring Dee Snider:



"Red House" featuring George Lynch, Jeff Pilson:

Swedish death metallers NOMINON have launched a vocalist search following the recent departure of Daniel Garptoft (who was in the band for five years). The band is seeking someone who "shares [its] vision of delivering disgusting death metal full of energy and hatred to all the inhabitants of the underground."

Interested parties can contact the group by writing to nominon@lycos.com (subject: "VoKill").

NOMINON will release a new mini-CD within the next couple of months, which will serve as "an appetizer" for the band's new album, to be made available early next year.

Entitled "Omen", the mini-CD will feature the following track listing:

01. Omen
02. Invocations
03. Through Dead Dreams Door
04. Submit To Evil (live)

NOMINON recorded its fourth album at Necromorbus Studio (WATAIN, NOMINON, AVERSE SEFIRA, FUNERAL MIST, NEX, ONDSKAPT, MORK GRYNING, ADORIOR) in Alvik, Sweden and is currently mixing the effort with producer Tore Stjerna. The group says, "We managed to record eleven songs and it all sounds really powerful and heavy, yet fast and with a certain raw edge, and at last it's definitely the most varied material so far from NOMINON."

The follow-up to "Terra Necrosis" will include nine songs.

"Terra Necrosis" was released August 21, 2007 by Ibex Moon/Deathgasm.

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

SKUNK ANANSIE vocalist Skin (real name: Deborah Dyer) and guitarist Ace (real name: Martin Kent) took part in an acoustic performance this past Tuesday (October 13) on the Italian radio station Radio Deejay during the "Tropical Pizza" show. Watch video footage of their appearance below.

The video for the new SKUNK ANANSIE single, "Squander", can be viewed at NME.com.

"Squander" will be released on October 26, 2009 in the U.K. and is the second single to be made available from the band's forthcoming greatest-hits album, "Smashes And Trashes" (which is due on November 2, 2009).

"Smashes and Trashes" is a 15-track career-embracing album. It features classic moments from SKUNK ANANSIE's three LPs — "Paranoid & Sunburnt" (1995), "Stoosh" (1996) and "Post Orgasmic Chill" (1999) — and includes three brand new tracks: "Because Of You", "Tear The Place Up" and "Squander".

SKUNK ANANSIE kicked off the "Greatest Hits Tour" in early October.

The band played two low-key shows London's Water Rats venue on April 2 and April 3 under the pseudonym S.C.A.M. (a combination of the first-name initials of the four bandmembers).

SKUNK ANANSIE — Skin, bassist Cass (Richard Lewis), Ace and drummer Mark Richardson — split up in 2001 but announced in September 2008 that they were writing new material together.

An EPK (Electronic Press Kit) for "An Acoustic Night At The Theatre", the new live album from Dutch female-fronted symphonic metallers WITHIN TEMPTATION, can be viewed below. Due on October 30 in Germany, Austria and Switzerland and November 2 in the rest of Europe, the CD will contain a brand new song called "Utopia" as well as acoustic live tracks that were recorded during the band's sold-out theater tour in November 2008. "These were very special concerts, as we added an acoustic set to our live show, making our show more intimate," the group says. "Besides this we used film projections emphasizing the great theatre ambiance."

"An Acoustic Night At The Theatre" track listing:

01. Towards The End
02. Stand My Ground
03. Caged
04. All I Need
05. Frozen
06. Somewhere (feat. Anneke van Giersbergen)
07. The Cross
08. Pale
09. What Have You Done (feat. Keith Caputo)
10. Memories
11. Forgiven
12. Utopia (feat. Chris Jones)

On October 23, WITHIN TEMPTATION will release a new single containing the "Utopia" track, which is a duet between WITHIN TEMPTATION singer Sharon den Adel and Chris Jones. The single will also contain "Restless", recorded live at WITHIN TEMPTATION's 2007 show in Eindhoven, Holland.

WITHIN TEMPTATION states: "In April next year we will be doing a rerun of [the acoustic] tour, where we will be doing this particular show for the last time. After that, we will prepare ourselves for the new album, new show, etc."

Sharon den Adel and WITHIN TEMPTATION guitarist Robert Westerholt welcomed their second child, Robin Aiden Westerholt, on June 1. The couple also has a three-year old daughter named Eva Luna den Adel.

WITHIN TEMPTATION released a double-DVD, titled "Black Symphony", on September 22, 2008. It is also available as a double-CD.

Germany's modern melodic death metallers DARK AGE will release their sixth album, "Acedia", on November 13 via AFM Records. The CD was recorded at Eikey Studio (owned by the band's vocalist/guitarist Eike Freese) and will be available in a standard jewel case version as well as a limited digipack (including a bonus track). The artwork, which can be viewed below, was once again created by Niklas Sundin (of Cabin Fever Media and DARK TRANQUILITY). According to the group, "You can expect the typical DARK AGE melodies and some surprises in our sound as well, mainly because every band member was involved in the songwriting stronger than ever before."

A teaser video for "Acedia" can be viewed below.

DARK AGE's last album, "Minus Exitus", was released in 2008 via Remedy Records.

The band's first DVD, "Live, So Far...", came out in 2006.

Swedish power metal band NOSTRADAMEUS will release its sixth album, "Illusion's Parade", on November 13 via AFM Records. The CD was once again produced by Anders "Theo" Theander at RoastingHouse Studios in Malmö, Sweden and "the result is a fresh mixture of speed, heaviness and thrilling intensity," according to a press release."

The first-ever official video from NOSTRADAMEUS, for the song "Not Only Women Bleed", can be viewed below. The track comes off the band's fifth album, "Pathway", which was released in January 2007 via AFM. The CD was recorded at RoastingHouse between May 2006 and September 2006.

NOSTRADAMEUS' fourth CD, "Hellbound", came out in May 2004 through AFM.

WILDESTARR, the band featuring original VICIOUS RUMORS bassist Dave Starr (now on all guitar and bass) and vocalist London Wilde, will be interviewed on Infernal Rock Radio on Sunday, October 18 at 4:00 p.m. EST.

To listen to the program live via the Internet, go to this location.

WILDESTARR released its debut album, "Arrival", on August 1. According to a press release, the CD contains "10 original tracks of searing melodic metal, in the vein of JUDAS PRIEST, VICIOUS RUMORS, SAVATAGE and EVANESCENCE."

Dave previously stated about "Arrival", "We have spent the last three years working on this record, and the results are just amazing. It has been a real labor of love for London and I, and this is by far the best record I have ever done in my career. Although I am very proud of my past with VICIOUS RUMORS and all the great records we did, I can honestly say that this new album is better than anything I have ever done before. Great songs, great playing, great production, and London is going to really turn some heads with her amazing vocals; I have never heard a woman sound like this before, she has pipes that people are comparing to Rob Halford, Geoff Tate, and Carl Albert."

"Arrival" was released on WILDESTARR's own label, Furnace Maximus Records. The video for the title track/first single will also be made available.

For more information and a free download of the album's title track, visit www.wildestarr.com.

Guitarist Bruce Kulick (KISS, GRAND FUNK RAILROAD, UNION) is heading to Holland, Switzerland and Norway for four appearances. At each stop, there will be a sneak peek of Bruce's upcoming "BK3" CD, guitar clinic, personal meet-and-greet event, question-and-answer session, and new merchandise available.

The details are as follows:

**Friday, November 27 at 20.30
Muziek Podium 3
Voetboogstr. 3
Amsterdam
Holland

**Saturday, November 28
Salle du centre de la Jeunesse
Serre 12
La Chaux-De-Fonds
Switzerland

**Monday, November 30 at 20.00
Backstage Musikk AS
Sandvika
Norway

**Tuesday, December 1
Glassheim
Jevnaker
Norway

Kulick's third solo album, "BK3", which follows 2001's "Audio Dog" and 2003's "Transformer", was mastered on July 16 at Precision Mastering in Hollywood, California. An official release date has not yet been announced.

"BK3" features guest appearances by legendary vocalist Doug Fieger (THE KNACK), Tobias Sammet (EDGUY, AVANTASIA), Nick Simmons (Gene Simmons' son), and former KISS cohorts Gene Simmons (singing lead vocals on a track co-written with Kulick called "Ain't Gonna Die") and Eric Singer (who contributed drums on the track vocalized by Sammet). It also includes the three songs that were featured on the limited-edition EP that was created especially for Kulick's last Australian guitar clinic tour, which took him to four cities during his brief one-week visit. Included on the disc were "No Friend of Mine" featuring guest vocalist John Corabi (MÖTLEY CRÜE, UNION, RATT, ESP), "And I Know" (featuring Kulick on vocals), and the instrumental track "Between The Lines" featuring a musical "supergroup" comprised of drummer Kenny Aronoff, bassist Jimmy Haslip, and the dual guitar attack of Kulick and Steve Lukather.

"BK3" track listing:

01. Fate
02. Ain't Gonna Die (featuring Gene Simmons)
03. No Friend Of Mine (featuring John Corabi)
04. Hand of the King (featuring Nick Simmons)
05. I'll Survive
06. Dirty Girl (featuring Doug Fieger)
07. Final Mile
08. I'm The Animal (featuring Tobias Sammet & Eric Singer)
09. And I Know
10. Between The Lines (featuring Steve Lukather)
11. Life

The limited-edition EP that was created especially for Kulick's last Australian guitar clinic tour can be heard on Kulick.net. The three tracks are also available for purchase via iTunes.

According to Examiner.com, POISON frontman Bret Michaels and Ozzy Osbourne's wife/manager Sharon Osbourne are among the celebrities taking part in the new season of "The Celebrity Apprentice", which started filming this week in New York.

Season 3 of "The Celebrity Apprentice" is scheduled to air in the spring of 2010.

Other cast members include singer Cyndi Lauper, former pro baseball player Darryl Strawberry, actress and singer Holly Robinson Peete and U.S. politician Rod Blagojevich.

Starting today (Thursday, October 15) Tokyo Sports, Japan's top sports/men's newspaper, will be running a series of articles on former MEGADETH guitarist Marty Friedman. The full-color/full-newspaper-page feature follows Marty to several exciting locations all throughout Japan. On newsstands now.

Due to overwhelming response to his TBS appearance promoting his new album, "Tokyo Jukebox", Friedman began his own new bi-weekly TBS live radio program last Friday, October 9 at the 7:00 p.m. time slot.

Friedman's ninth album, "Tokyo Jukebox", was released in Japan on May 20 via AVEX, "Tokyo Jukebox" was produced and arranged by Marty and it reflects the chaotic lifestyle of Tokyo, its unique music and Marty's futuristic interpretation of it. According to a posting on Marty's web site, "Sonically, it goes from his 'Loudspeaker' lineup all the way to a 70-piece symphony orchestra. Marty covers the most unlikely artists to get his guitar heavy treatment, including PERFUME, MAXIMUM THE HORMONE, AI, NAKASHIMA MIKA, IKIMONO GAKARI and seven other staples in the world of current Japanese music."

Check out "Tokyo Jukebox" audio samples at this location.

Friedman commemorated "Tokyo Jukebox"'s release by taking part in a "secret live event" atop Tokyo Tower on May 19. There were two shows, both filled to capacity, and all who attended were treated to Marty's first time performing these new songs in public, high above Tokyo's night skyline. Autograph sessions were held after each show.

TYPE O NEGATIVE has issued the following update:

"For the last several months, Josh Silver [keyboards] has been in school working towards certification as a paramedic. He is in the heart of the program and will be unable to tour with the band on the upcoming dates.

"Rest assured, Josh remains a member of TYPE O NEGATIVE and will continue working with the band going forward. With that said, we would like to announce that stepping in on keyboards for the dates will be Scott Warren from HEAVEN & HELL/DIO."

TYPE O NEGATIVE tour dates:

Oct. 16 - Sayreville, NJ - Starland Ballroom
Oct. 17 - Worcester, MA - Palladium
Oct. 18 - Hartford, CT - Webster Theater
Oct. 20 - Cleveland, OH - House of Blues
Oct. 22 - New York, NY - Nokia Theater
Oct. 23 - Allentown, PA - Crocodile Rock
Oct. 24 - Clifton Park, NY - Northern Lights
Oct. 26 - Cincinnati, OH - Bogart's
Oct. 27 - Atlanta, GA - Masquerade
Oct. 29 - Milwaukee, WI - Rave
Oct. 30 - Chicago, IL - Metro
Oct. 31 - Detroit, MI - Harpo's

Support on the trek will come from SEVENTH VOID, the new band featuring TYPE O NEGATIVE guitarist Kenny Hickey and drummer Johnny Kelly.

The three LP/DVD limited fan edition box set version of TYPE O NEGATIVE's latest album, "Dead Again", was released last year via Amazon.com. The package included "Dead Again" on high-quality 180-gram vinyl plus a bonus DVD, along with an exclusive t-shirt and mp3 files of the album.

TYPE O NEGATIVE in February 2008 released another special edition of its acclaimed new album, "Dead Again". The deluxe CD version contained a bonus DVD with exclusive live performances, interviews and studio videos. The discs were repackaged in a special red cover.