Photojournalist Stephanie Roose of the Hidden Agenda conducted an interview with guitarist Al Glassman of Arizona extreme metallers JOB FOR A COWBOY at the Clarkston, Michigan stop of this year's Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival on August 2, 2009. The nine-minute chat can be viewed below.

"Ruination", the sophomore album from JOB FOR A COWBOY, sold around 10,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 42 on The Billboard 200 chart. The 10-song follow-up to 2007's "Genesis" was tracked and mixed at AudioHammer studios in Sanford, Florida with producer Jason Suecof (THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, DEVILDRIVER, TRIVIUM).

"Ruination" marks the JOB FOR A COWBOY recording debut of Rice, who has toured with the band since the release of "Genesis" and features ten tracks of state-of-the-art heavy metal music.

According to a press release, "Ruination" "sees JOB FOR A COWBOY advance by leaps and bounds; the record is a concentrated hotbed of astounding dexterity, scorching attack, sleek arrangement and thundering musical muscle. Infectious riffs, keen dynamics and the assertive vocals of rising star frontman Jonny Davy combine to produce an album that is at once powerful, expressive, confident and commanding."

"Unfurling a Darkened Gospel", the new video from JOB FOR A COWBOY, was shot on location in downtown Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and at the city's distinguished music venue, The First Unitarian Church. The clip was lensed by Doug Spangenberg for Space Monkey Studios (LAMB OF GOD, MAROON 5) and features JOB FOR A COWBOY doing what the band does best; bringing its electrifying live show directly to a crowd of rabid music fans.

JOB FOR A COWBOY is currently on the road as one of the featured acts of the 2009 Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival alongside SLAYER, MARILYN MANSON and more. The 27-date North American trek launched on July 10 in Sacramento, California.

Metal-Experience.com recently conducted an interview with Jed Simon (STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, ZIMMER'S HOLE) about his TENET project, which also features Steve "Zetro" Souza (EXODUS) on vocals, Glen Alvelais (FORBIDDEN, TESTAMENT) on lead guitar, Byron Stroud (STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, FEAR FACTORY) on bass and Gene Hoglan (DEATH, DARK ANGEL, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD) on drums. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Metal-Experience.com: How and when did you launch into writing material for [TENET's debut album] "Sovereign" and how much time did you spend on the songs?

Jed: I've been writing these songs for a few years now. After I signed with Century [Media] back in 2004, that is when I really started to work hard on getting them together. There was so much material written over the course of years, but in the end, these nine songs are the ones that tell the story of this album. There are lots of other tunes I wrote that could have gone on to the album, but these nine were the ones that belonged together to me. I am constantly writing, it never stops, and the stuff I write is random... whatever comes naturally is how I work. So some stuff gets put into the "thrash" pile and other stuff goes into the "death metal" pile, and some stuff goes into the "rock" pile...you know? Eventually, the songs find a home somewhere, and that is how I have always written.

Metal-Experience.com: What approach did you take to make this album, did you go for a more raw exposition.. or something more reminiscent of your previous other works, or something all together different?

Jed: This is my roots, pure and simple. I wanted to start a band that was like the bands I was in back in the '80s... very straight-up, right-in-your-face style of metal. That is really the kind of music I love most — pure aggression, with feeling. This is honest metal, and as much as I have loved playing (and still play) in other bands, this is what really gets my blood roaring.

Metal-Experience.com: What were the goals you had in mind when you started to record "Sovereign"? Any elements you definitely wanted to have on the album?

Jed: As I mentioned above, simplicity above all. The songs are heavy enough without the need for multi-layering, or keyboards, or over-production. Guitar, bass, drums and vocals. Pure metal. I admit we spent a good deal of time in production, but that is only because I wanted it to sound good, and I wanted it to be organic... none of the pasting and editing craziness that you see so often now. For example, Gene's drums are pure acoustic drums, no triggers, no fakery... but it takes time to mix that kind of thing. Same with guitars and bass... it's very stripped down, but it doesn't make it any easier when it comes to mixing.

Metal-Experience.com: In your opinion, how was your experience with your previous band [STRAPPING YOUNG LAD] helpful in your compositional skills and how does that affect the way you write now ?

Jed: I can't even begin to describe how much I have learned over the years with STRAPPING YOUNG LAD and watching Devin [Townsend] especially. It has been a monumental help to me, but I still have a very different vision of how I want things to sound. The biggest help I think from working with STRAPPING YOUNG LAD for that long has been in the writing department... particularly in arranging songs, where Devin is just brilliant at. He knows how to put a song together and get all the parts of the song to make sense. So he has been very helpful in that aspect, for sure. I would throw a riff at him, and in a very short time he could turn it into the skeleton of a killer song. We worked very well together in that way, and I learned much. I learned much from all those guys, and I hope they learned some things from me too. They are forever my brothers.

Metal-Experience.com: Could you please describe the implications of the title "Sovereign"? What does it stand for and is there a special meaning behind it?

Jed: "Sovereign" is a reference to the long inner battle I've had over the years. The anger and resentment has been all-consuming, and that anger is what fueled this album. So "Sovereign", the title song, the artwork are closure to that anger. I had to overcome all that hate, I had to do it by myself, I had to stand tall as one... sovereign. I'm quoting some of the lyrics from the title song there, [since] helps me to explain it a bit better. It's a very powerful song for me; it represents the end of a period.

Metal-Experience.com: What inspired your lyrics and can you tell me a little more about them?

Jed: Anger has driven just about everything I've ever done, apart from ZIMMER'S HOLE, and it is the prime motivator behind TENET. There was a bad period of time when I was a young child — divorce, court battles, not knowing who really cared, or what was really happening. It was really traumatic, and add to that a step-parent who got in between everything, and it was just terrible. I didn't even know a lot of the things that went on until my father started telling me what had happened back then. I was kept from seeing my dad, who is my hero, for over nine years... Anyway...it's a long story, but TENET just felt like the right outlet for all the pent-up anger and frustration I had been feeling for so many years. TENET is my therapy. TENET is my release.

Metal-Experience.com: How did the recording process proceed? Did you work differently this time than you did with your previous works?

Jed: It was different, for sure. I mean, this was my first production gig where I had the final say in everything, so I was very determined to make it sound the way it sounded in my head... and that took some work. I appreciate all the guys that were helping me, because I wouldn't have been able to do it without them. Especially Vincent Wojno; he was amazing to work with and I can't wait to work with him again. We spent a lot of time mixing this. Recording was fairly straightforward, but in mix we really worked hard on it. I wanted everything to be very organic... Gene's drums are completely acoustic, no triggers, the guitars and vocals were done with as few punch-ins as possible... so unlike many bands today that cut and paste an album together, we didn't want to do that. This is us as we really are...no over-editing, or sampling, or multi-layering... just straight-up, stripped down, no-holds-barred metal. And it took some hard work to make it all come together. I wanted it to be organic, yet modern-sounding...so we had our difficulties for sure. But I'm really fuckin' happy with the result, and all the work seems worth it now man. Fuck yeah.

Read the entire interview from Metal-Experience.com.

Photojournalist Stephanie Roose of the Hidden Agenda conducted an interview with bassist Orion (real name: Tomasz Wróblewski) of Polish extreme metallers BEHEMOTH at the Clarkston, Michigan stop of this year's Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival on August 2, 2009. The seven-minute chat can be viewed below.

BEHEMOTH's ninth full-length studio album, "Evangelion", is scheduled for release on August 11 in North America through Metal Blade. The CD was mixed at Miloco Studios in London, England by Colin Richardson, who has previously worked with MACHINE HEAD, SLIPKNOT, NAPALM DEATH and BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE, among many others.

"Evangelion" track listing:

01. Daimonos
02. Shemaforash
03. Ov Fire And The Void
04. Transmigrating Beyond Realms Ov Amenti
05. He Who Breeds Pestilence
06. The Seed Ov I
07. Alas, Lord Is Upon Me
08. Defiling Morality Ov Black God
09. Lucifer

The digipack edition will include a bonus DVD with behind-the-scenes footage and expanded artwork.

The track "Ov Fire And The Void" is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page.

BEHEMOTH is currently on the road as part of the second annual Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival. The band is performing on the Hot Topic stage alongside CANNIBAL CORPSE, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, JOB FOR A COWBOY and WHITECHAPEL.

Bob Suehs of Rock N Roll Experience conducted a short interview with SLAYER drummer Dave Lombardo at the Camden, New Jersey stop of this year's Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival on August 7, 2009. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Rock N Roll Experience: With a lot of the '80s hair bands, you see a situation where they have one or two original members still in the band and the rest are "new" members. If one of the core members of SLAYER were no longer in the band, would the band carry on?

Dave Lombardo: Well, that's really hard to say. Obviously, if it's Tom [Araya, bass/vocals], I think it would be very difficult and maybe the easiest position to fill for them was when I left; they just got another drummer and continued. But I don't see it quite that easy, maybe, with getting another member in SLAYER. I mean, you can't replace Tom — Tom is Tom, the sound of his vocals... and the guitar playing is the same way. You could probably find some guitar player that could mimic what Jeff [Hanneman] plays, or what Kerry [King] plays, but it wouldn't have their soul or their spirit in the way that they play, so you could copy it, but you can't really duplicate their performance.

Rock N Roll Experience: I actually saw the Clash of the Titans tour years ago with SLAYER, ALICE IN CHAINS, MEGADETH and ANTHRAX. Would you ever consider doing a Clash of the Titans reunion tour with the same billing?

Dave Lombardo: Maybe not with that lineup, but there are rumors going around that we might be doing something in the States with [Dave] Mustaine... with MEGADETH.

Rock N Roll Experience: So is the feud totally patched up now? Because there was a feud [between] Kerry and Dave Mustaine.

Dave Lombardo: You know, there was, but I don't really think there's anything going on right now, because we did, like, four shows with MEGADETH up in Canada and Kerry didn't come across Mustaine at all, so I guess everything is OK.

Rock N Roll Experience: So when you left SLAYER, did you get the same satisfaction in your music that you did with SLAYER?

Dave Lombardo: Absolutely! Yeah, I loved doing the stuff with Mike Patton, I loved doing the all the avant-garde music that I did and the jazz stuff, the classical stuff, some of the movies that I did, but that doesn't stop... things are continuing. Right now I am in the process of closing a deal to put some drums down on a skateboard video for Volcom Entertainment, for Geoff Roley; he's like a famous skateboarder, so it's really exciting. There's a movie that I'm gonna do soundtrack stuff for when I get back home... rhythmic, tribal kinda shit.

Rock N Roll Experience: So would you ever do a Dave Lombardo solo record?

Dave Lombardo: Yes. It would be very avant-garde, very left-field, very strange, very weird and it would revolve around drums alone and rhythms and maybe moods and textures, but everything involving drums. I mean, it's in the works — I am working on it — but I don't know when I'm gonna release it... hopefully by 2010. Who knows?

Read the entire interview from Rock N Roll Experience (scroll down to bottom of the page).

The cover artwork for the forthcoming self-titled debut album from the Orlando, Florida-based power metal band SEVEN KINGDOMS can be viewed below. The group will enter the studio later this month to begin recording the CD, which will mark the recording debut of new singer Sabrina Valentine and will include a guest appearance by Wade Black (CRIMSON GLORY, LEATHERWOLF). According to guitarist Camden Cruz, "Seven Kingdoms" will feature "perfect production, classic power metal sing-alongs and enough epic-ness to make our mark this time around."

The projected track listing for the album is as follows:

01. Intro
02. Somewhere Far Away
03. The Ones Who Breath The Flame
04. Open The Gates
05. Vengeance by the Sons of a King
06. A Murder Never Dead
07. Wolf in Sheeps Clothes
08. Eyes to the North
09. Into the Darkness
10. Thunder of the Hammer
11. Seven Kingdoms (feat. Wade Black, Glen Alvelais)

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

The family of late DEATH/CONTROL DENIED mastermind Chuck Schuldiner has launched a web site, www.chuck-schuldiner.org, to help raise funds for the completion and eventual release of the long-awaited second CONTROL DENIED album. After you join the members-only site for a $25 fee, you will receive an exclusive commemorative T-shirt and be given an opportunity to participate in a memorabilia giveaway (by writing and submitting your essay on the subject of "What Chuck's music meant to me"). The winners of the giveaway will be announced on December 13, 2009.

Chuck — who passed away in December 2001 after a battle with pontine glioma, a rare type of brain tumor — began work on the second CONTROL DENIED album (tentatively titled "When Machine and Man Collide") in 2001 but never managed to complete the effort before his health quickly deteriorated in the months leading up to his tragic death. The remaining members of the group — bassist Steve DiGiorgio, vocalist Tim Aymar, guitarist Shannon Hamm, and drummer Richard Christy — subsequently announced their desire to complete the CD and release it in Chuck's memory, but legal hassles between Schuldiner's family and Hammerheart Records (to whom Chuck was signed at the time of his death) put the entire project on hold. (Karmageddon Media — formerly Hammerheart Records — have since issued various incomplete demo recordings as two separate low-quality albums, "Zero Tolerance" and "Zero Tolerance II".)

Chuck's mother, Jane Schuldiner, had previously stated about the unfinished recordings: "[Chuck's] last masterpiece deserves more than to be released as unfinished bits of rehearsal room recordings on CD, or to be grabbed for free on the Internet. It deserves to be finished by the rest of the band and to be released on a full-length album, titled: 'When Machine and Man Collide'."

To coincide with what would have been DEATH mastermind Chuck Schuldiner's 40th birthday (Chuck was born on May 13, 1967), the official DEATH web site Empty Words posted the Schuldiner tribute article (entitled "Lust for Life") which was published in Guitar World magazine's April 2007 issue. Check it out at this location.

Chuck Schuldiner memorial video made by his mother (and which was shown at his funeral):

HEAVEN & HELL — the band featuring BLACK SABBATH members Tony Iommi (guitar), Ronnie James Dio (vocals), Geezer Butler (bass) and Vinny Appice (drums) — kicked off its North American tour last night (Friday, August 7) at UBC Thunderbird Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

The group's setlist was as follows:

01. E5150 / The Mob Rules
02. Children Of The Sea
03. Bible Black
04. Fear
05. Drum Solo
06. I
07. Falling Off The Edge Of The World
08. Time Machine
09. Follow The Tears
10. Die Young
11. Heaven And Hell
----------------------------
12. Country Girl (snippet) / Neon Knights

Fan-filmed video footage of last night's concert can be viewed below.

COHEED AND CAMBRIA is providing support for HEAVEN & HELL on all U.S. shows except tonight's (August 8) Seattle date, which will feature NEUROSIS in the supporting slot.

"The Devil You Know", the new album from HEAVEN & HELL, has sold around 70,000 copies since its April 28 release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. It debuted at position No. 8 on The Billboard 200 chart with first-week sales of 30,000 units.

HEAVEN & HELL was forced to cancel its June 21 appearance at the Metalway Festival in Zaragoza, Spain due to back pain suffered by guitarist Tony Iommi.

MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine has issued the following update:

"Well, I am over in London and the funny thing is that when I come to London, the weather is usually pretty cruddy, and within a few hours, the sun almost always breaks through. The first day I was here was Tuesday at 1:30 p.m., and by second day the sun was out and it was steaming hot. It was sunny like this until late Thursday night when the clouds just couldn't support me anymore and they had to let loose with a torrential downpour. Friday was overcast, until night time when the sky was totally clear, and this morning it was sunny and bright again.

"I still have faith in the sun and they don't call me the Sunshine Boy for nothing. I got a good feeling that we are going to see some more sun while we are over here. The funny thing is, it doesn't work in Europe or anywhere else for that matter; only England.

"The overall press has been surreal. It seems that I have regained my stature in the heavy metal world with most of the journalists, and I am so unbelievably surprised! I mean, when you are recording something, it sometimes feels really good and you HOPE for something good. Sometimes you have recorded a dud and you just THINK it is good. I knew from the outset of this record [the upcoming MEGADETH album, 'Endgame'], that we had to really deliver the goods on this one; that I may need to put something in Chris' [Broderick, guitar] water to make him forget about the outside world, and just become one with me as a guitar team. Well, there was nothing put in the water, and I think that the two of us becoming 'one' as a guitar team happened.

"We are also experiencing a phenomenon with selecting our new crew. It appears that all of a sudden that there are many, many seasoned veterans that want to come to work for us. This is another great milestone for us. We have the support of the U.K. press, and after yesterday, we also have a lot of support internationally. Add that with the fact that we have won the confidence of many industry insiders that do the work behind the scenes, too; there is a whole other world on the road when it comes to the touring staff — just like there are musicians that are better or worse . . . crew personnel are just the same. There are B-level guys and then there are the A-level guys, and then there are the guys that we can't afford; guys like the tour and production managers for the superstar acts like U2, SPRINGSTEEN, OZZY, MADONNA, etc.

"On another note, I finished approving my autobiography, and that was a labor of love. I got to the last page and I was so amazed as I was nearing the end, that by the time I got to the last page I started to have this amazing sense of completion. I felt like someone had finally gotten me into print, good and bad, with a sprinkling more of bad just for good measure. And by the time I got to the last two words of the book, I started to have an overwhelming wave of emotions; finally I feel like someone has looked into me; what makes me tick; why I am upset about the things that upset me; what makes me happy; why I have upsetting things in my life that I can't seem to shake; how I can continue to come back from the dead, etc., etc., etc.

"A really amazing occurrence that is happening too, is that people over here that have been open about their feelings about me (meaning they pretty much reamed me in the past), and have been very open about listening to us now, and now is the time to be professional, to be honest, to work extra hard, and to try my very best in everything I do.

"I am back to my fighting weight, and I have brought all of my physical therapy contraptions out here with me for my back. For example, I have a crazy shirt that is like an Under Armor t-shirt with strategically placed Velcro and some very strong Velcro and elastic straps which when put on and the straps are stretched into place, it will set me up so that I stand straight while my back learns to be a back again and not a heavy metal question mark for a spine!

"? - See what I mean?

"Ouch! I have also been reading a lot again, and my son Justis has to read the classic 'Frankenstein' by Mary Shelley for his English class in 12th grade at school this next month and I wanted to read it along with him so that if he needed to that he can ask me some questions and that I would be able to help if needed. Justis has conducted several interviews for the 'Head Crusher' video and I am just waiting to hear from the studio that the guys have uploaded and started to edit the footage that Justis and his crew did there.

"I have to say that, as excited as I am for me, for you and for MEGADETH, I am even more excited to see what is going to happen with my boy, because he is a shredder, he is very fun to hang out with, he has a cool personality — pizzazz — and persona. I just wish I could see your faces the first time that hear him finally play. A big part of the reason that he is working at The Vault (Vic's Garage; MEGADETH's studio in San Marcos, California) is so he can start to prepare for his first record. He has some really good parts, and the studio is going to set him up for success. It's not every day that a guitarist, no matter how young or how 'set-up' they are, can get access in a studio at anytime. And that is why I decided that I wanted to start a small class at the studio and call it Dave Mustaine's Metal Academy. Of course, I watched Jack Black do it and he made it look so fun, and that is what I want to do with myself. I want to give back to the music business, to the fans and young musicians, and to the friends and family that are interested in music, that are my fans or friends and want to start playing an instrument — not just guitar. This will be such a great feeling for me to do this for you.

"Today is a day off, and we are still trying to sort through a lot of bird's nests in the Land-of–all-things-MEGA. I am intent on bringing you the best MEGADETH show that I can and hopefully we will get all of these things fixed or at least addressed before we start up rehearsal. Then that way we will be able to tackle these problems as a group and come together with some kind of solution. We have our stage, or staging, our light and sound, our setlist, our backline or set-carts, and our backdrop.

"I have some great ideas, but we have been unable to start making any progress because of the mountain of work I have been trying to deal with.

"I am the only one that has made this trip, and I wished that I could have had another band guy with me. Besides the answers blurring into the same answer for everything and the beauty of having someone else step in when you are tired or angry, it's also cool to have someone else there to share another perspective with the press, and so that you don't get into a funk, or that you don't accidentally tell a story that may be missing a page from the 'book' [Big Grin]

"Anyway, like I mentioned, the autobiography is done, the record is done, the artwork is done, the merchandise line is done, the touring line is done, the video is done, and we are now moving to another stage.

"Now we are starting to assemble our team for touring. Things are status quo with the upper management people, we are making some changes to our crew, and in some cases we have lost some great talent, but there is also more great talent out there. We are looking for a tech for Chris and James [Lomenzo, bass], and we have a great guy named Fred Kowalo, who does both, and I would like to get a guy to help Fred split his workload, but I don't know if we can do that (afford that luxury) yet. My tech is coming back from a tour that kept him from being at the Canadian Carnage tour and replacing . . . Dave McRobb as my tech. Thank you, Dave, for saving the day and stepping in as my tech for that tour. [Wink]

"Hopefully this gives you something to chew on for a while.

"Upcoming stuff: I still need to program my radio show, the book is coming out next year, we have the MEGA/SLAYER tour coming up in October, dates in the States and Canada near the end of the year, and then a really big year after the holidays. We are also starting to confirm the summer festival dates that we want to do next year. Throw in South America, more Euro dates, and a proper U.K. tour again like we did with JUDAS PRIEST and we are right up to the spring of 2010. So with a small break in between, we should be booked up through next autumn."

Ryan of Road Crew Magazine conducted an interview with guitarist Joel Stroetzel of Massachusetts metallers KILLSWITCH ENGAGE at the Denver, Colorado stop of this year's Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival on July 19, 2009. Watch the chat below.

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

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

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

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

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

Swedish black metallers MARDUK will take part in a signing session and meet-and-greet on Friday, August 14 at Duff's Brooklyn in Williamsburg, New York beginning at 9:00 p.m.

The address is:

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

**Note: This is a 21-and-over event.

For more information, visit www.duffsbrooklyn.com.

MARDUK will release its eleventh album, "Wormwood", in late September via Regain Records. The CD was recorded at Endarker Studios in Norrköping, Sweden with engineer/producer Magnus Devo Andersson. The album's release will be followed by a world tour, dubbed "Funeral Nation 2009/2010", which will kick off in Europe.

"Wormwood" track listing:

01. Nowhere, No-One, Nothing
02. Funeral Dawn
03. This Fleshly Void
04. Unclosing The Curse
05. Into Utter Madness
06. Phosphorous Redeemer
07. To Redirect Perdition
08. Whorecrown
09. Chorus Of Cracking Necks
10. As A Garment

The CD artwork can be viewed below.

Check out photos from the "Wormwood" recording sessions at this location.

MARDUK's last CD, "Rom 5:12", was released in North America in May 2007 via Regain/Koch.

MARDUK was formed by guitarist Morgan Steinmeyer Håkansson with the goal of becoming the "most blasphemous band in the world." The group's musical style started out as straight-forward, death metal-influenced black metal, but as the years went by progressed into a fast and intense form of black metal.

German black metallers ENDSTILLE have parted ways with vocalist Iblis. According to the band, "All upcoming shows will continue as scheduled and will be played with Mannevond [KOLDBRANN, URGEHAL] on vocals."

ENDSTILLE, GOD DETHRONED and HOLLENTHON will embark on a "triple-headliner" tour in late October.

ENDSTILLE released its sixth album, entitled "Verführer", in April via Regain Records. The CD was recorded at Jak's Hell studio in Germany.

Finnish folk metallers ENSIFERUM will release their fourth album, "From Afar", 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 audio samples:

* "Smoking Ruins": Audio
* "Twilight Tavern": Audio

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

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

According to a posting on the official WARRANT Twitter profile, the California rockers have entered the studio with producer Pat Regan (KISS, MR. BIG, DEEP PURPLE) to begin recording some of their new material. Songtitles set to appear on the group's forthcoming CD include "Dusty's Revenge" and "Life Is A Song".

Joey Allen and Erik Turner of WARRANT were interviewed by the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma radio station KATT-FM 100.5 on July 10 at the Rocklahoma festival in Pryor, Oklahoma. Watch the chat below.

WARRANT released a statement in June regarding the reports that the band's former lead singer, Jani Lane, was arrested on June 17 in Los Angeles for a misdemeanor DUI traffic accident. The statement read as follows: "Jani Lane, who was officially dismissed from the band WARRANT in 2008, is in no way affiliated with WARRANT at present. It is to be known that Jani Lane's actions should not be misrepresented as those of the lead singer of WARRANT. WARRANT, whose lineup consists of Jerry Dixon, Joey Allen, Erik Turner, Steven Sweet and Robert Mason, express concern for the possible dangers that Mr. Lane's actions pose. WARRANT, represented by the William Morris Agency, are embarking on new ventures, including touring and recording. WARRANT wish to avoid any negative opinions and publicity that wrongful association to Mr. Lane might cause resulting from his poor judgment."

WARRANT announced in September 2008 that it was splitting with Jani Lane six months after the band first reunited with the troubled vocalist. He has since been replaced by Robert Mason (LYNCH MOB, CRY OF LOVE, BIG COCK).

Ex-MORE and original IRON MAIDEN vocalist Paul Mario Day has formed a new hard rock band called CRIMSON LAKE. The group has already scheduled some gigs in Australia and is working on European shows as well.

Check out audio samples at this location.

Paul Mario Day, 53, was the original lead vocalist of IRON MAIDEN (from 1975 to 1976). He later formed a band called MORE that played at the U.K.'s Monsters of Rock festival in 1981. He was also the lead singer of WILDFIRE (1983-1984) and he recorded a live album at the Marquee club in London as the frontman of THE SWEET in 1986.

On IRON MAIDEN's "Early Days" DVD, it was mentioned that Day was sacked because he didn't have enough stage charisma. He was replaced by Dennis Wilcock, who compensated for his lack of vocal prowess with onstage theatrics in the style of KISS.

Paul Day now lives in Australia (since 1986) and sings with two bands in Newcastle, CRIMSON LAKE and DEFACED.

For more information, visit www.paulmarioday.com.

Seattle-based psychedelic stoner rock outfit LETHE (featuring members of SAMOTHRACE) has completed work on its debut album, "Mnemosyne", for a late 2009 release via instrumental music giants Reptile Records. The CD was recorded at Black Lodge studio and Mixtape Soundlabs in Lawrence, Kansas by Eric Graves from THE ESOTERIC.

Commented bassist Dylan Desmond: "We have a full-time drummer now named Adrian Guerra who also plays drums in the Seattle band SOD HAULER. He's kicking ass and we're writing a lot of new material with him. We're officially a three-piece now, and Adrian's input and style is a huge step up for our songwriting!

"We're in the process of planning a November/December tour, and are probably going to begin recording a new full-length sometime early next year."

"Mnemosyne" track listing:

01. Mother Milk Eyes
02. Therefore Let Us Feed The Beast
03. New Queen's
04. Open Harvest
05. Mnemosyne

The songs "Mother Milk Eyes" and "Therefore Let Us Feed the Beast" are available for streaming on the LETHE MySpace page.

LETHE was started by Dylan Desmond and Joe Proffitt of SAMOTHRACE in 2004. They enlisted a score of friends and guest musicians to aid in the completion of "Mnemosyne", including contributions from John Momberg (who has played with UNWED SAILOR, KELPIE, APPLESEED CAST and KOUFAX), JC Cirese (THE OLD BLACK), Mat Grader (THE COSMOPOLITICS), and Adam Kruckenberg on synth/noise. SAMOTHRACE drummer Joe Proffitt handles all the guitars and plays the didgeridoo on the song "Open Harvest", while SAMOTHRACE bassist and part-time BATTLEFIELDS touring member Dylan Desmond holds it down on bass.

Swedish "death 'n' roll" band THE GENERALS has signed a record deal with Metalcentral Records. The group's debut album, "Stand Up Straight", was recorded at Sunlight Studios with producer Tomas Skogsberg (ENTOMBED, THE HELLACOPTERS, DISMEMBER) and is tentatively scheduled for release in early November. The CD's cover artwork is being created by Kristian Wåhlin (BATHORY, KING DIAMOND, AT THE GATES).

An unmastered version of the song "Blessing in Disguise" — taken from the upcoming album — is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page.

THE GENERALS are:

Hedna (BRUTE) - Vocals/Bass
Rickard - Lead Guitar
Dick - Guitar/Vocals
MetalMartin (INVASION) - Drums

Seattle, Washington-based heavy rockers THE FLOOD are preparing to resume recording their debut full-length album with Grammy Award-winning producer Sylvia Massy (TOOL, SYSTEM OF A DOWN, JOHNNY CASH, SMASHING PUMPKINS) at her Radiostar Studios in Weed, California. The CD will be released via the independent label Deify.

According to a press release, "THE FLOOD pours every ounce of sweat and blood into its music. The five-piece band layers intense visual effects into a dark vortex for its audience to dive inside, drawing comparisons to TOOL, KORN and the DEFTONES."

THE FLOOD is:

Chris Johnson - Vocals
Ajay Marshall - Guitar
Nate Minick - Drums
Jeff Eason - Bass
Darrick Jones - Beatboxer

THE FLOOD's video for the song "The Flood" was directed by Hans Kuester and can be viewed below. A major tour for this fall is in the works.

Finnish melodic metal band LEVERAGE has finished recording its third full-length album for a late 2009 release via Spinefarm Records. The as-yet-untitled new CD will be mixed and mastered during August.

The group's online studio diary, which includes video footage from the recording sessions for the new album, can be found at this location.

LEVERAGE's second album, entitled "Blind Fire", was released in the U.S. on October 21, 2008 via Blistering Records USA, Inc. with Ryko distribution.

LEVERAGE came out of nowhere in 2006, causing a stir with the release of its debut album, "Tides". The group's blend of modern metal sound and old-school, melody-based songwriting earned rave reviews from the media and created a fanbase both in Finland and throughout the rock community in many countries.

"The warm welcome for 'Tides' was a pleasant surprise for us," the band's guitar player and main composer Tuomas Heikkinen previously said. "We got good radio airplay in Finland, even climbed to the charts, all before our very first gig with our own material! Since then, we’ve played throughout Finland at clubs and festivals. Our music has been described as melodic metal or melodic heavy rock, which is fine by us."

LEVERAGE is:

Pekka Heino - vocals
Tuomas Heikkinen - guitar
Torsti Spoof - guitar
Pekka Lampinen - bass
Marko Niskala - keyboards
Valtteri Revonkorpi - drums

LEVERAGE's "Mr. Universe" video can be viewed below (taken from "Blind Fire").

Belleville News-Democrat recently conducted an interview with DROWNING POOL guitarist C.J. Pierce. A few excerpts from the chat follow below.

On the band's current status:

"We have definitely had our share of setbacks, but things are going great right now. We have this great single, a spot on the Crüe Fest 2 tour, and we're working on songs for a new album. We really have finally found the right combination that will take us further."

On the Crüe Fest 2 tour:

"It's been a lot of fun so far out here. I wish there were some really cool gossip to tell you, because it could happen on a big tour like this, but it's really easy. Everybody gets along really well, and the shows have been great. We were part of the Ozzfest tour in 2001, but these crowds seem even bigger."

On the band's upcoming album:

"We have been in the studio recording, so that we can get a record out this fall. In fact, I have Sunday and Monday off, and I will be in the studio. I'm also going to get some ink (tattoo), because it's been a while."

"I don't know exactly how the album is going to come out. I can say that there will be some heavier stuff than what we have done before, and some lighter things too, because we want to give the best to our fans that have stuck with us through thick and thin. They really have been our support, and we want to give them the very best record that we can, I promise that."

On how the single "37 Stitches" did for the band, giving them their first Top 5 hit:

"This song just took off and was moving like crazy. Our new song, 'Shame', is coming out of the box just like that one did. We are expecting great things from it too."

On recording the band's second album with lead singer Ryan McCombs:

"Ryan has fit in perfectly, and that has made it all easier. Of course, Steve, Mike and I have known each other for years (they have been a band since 1996), but with Ryan, we have been able to collaborate fully on our second album."

On the songwriting process:

"Some bands tend to allow one or two members be the main songwriters, but that is not the case with us, we all work on new material together. . . We all agreed to agree on everything we work on. If something comes along that is not acceptable to all of us, then we set it aside and work on something else, it's just that simple. We have all been through so much together as a group and personally, that we have plenty of material to draw from."

"Shame", the new video from DROWNING POOL, is available for viewing below.

Singer Pamela Moore, best known for her performance as Sister Mary on QUEENSRŸCHE's 1988 epic release "Operation: Mindcrime" and 2006's sequel "Operation: Mindcrime II", has announced via her official web site that she will perform with German melodic metallers PRIMAL FEAR on three of the band's upcoming North American shows:

Sep. 10 - Atlanta, GA - Center Stage (ProgPower USA X pre-party)
Sep. 12 - New York, NY - Blender Theater
Sep. 13 - Montreal, QC - Foufounes Électriques

Pamela Moore's latest CD, "Stories from a Blue Room", was helmed by Grammy Award-winning producer Neil Kernon and features 11 songs that were co-written by Benjamin Anderson (ex-RORSCHACH TEST). The recording and mixing took place at Sonic Ranch Studios and Robert Lang Studios with Jason Kowalski (N17, ABIGAIL WILLIAMS) on drums, Jeff Loomis (NEVERMORE) on guitar, Michael Wilton (QUEENSRŸCHE, SOULBENDER) and Anderson, Brian Gordon (ION VEIN) on bass and even some backing vocals provided by Terri Nunn (BERLIN).

"16.6 (Before The Devil Knows You're Dead)", the new album from PRIMAL FEAR, was released in Europe on May 22 and was made available in the U.S. in early June via Frontiers Records.

"16.6 (Before The Devil Knows You're Dead)" was recorded at House Of Music studios in Winterbach, Germany with Dennis Ward and Achim Köhler. The CD marks the group's first release with Magnus Karlsson (ALLEN/LANDE, STARBREAKER), who replaced Stefan Leibing last year. Returning guitarist Henny Wolter and Karlsson participated in the songwriting and pre-production, which took place at Karlsson's Stuntguitar Studio in Sweden. The band spent four weeks at House Of Music recording the effort, which was mastered by Ted Jensen at the Sterling Sound in New York City.

Several audio samples from "16.6: (Before The Devil Knows You're Dead)" are available for download at Frontiers.it.

"Six Times Dead (16.6)", the latest video from PRIMAL FEAR, can be viewed below.

Treble Radio conducted an interview with Pamela Moore on August 4, 2009. The chat is now available for streaming using the audio player below.

WOLFMOTHER frontman Andrew Stockdale recently spoke to Artisan News Service about his collaboration with Slash on a song that will likely appear on the former GUNS N' ROSES guitarist's upcoming solo album.

"Well, he just reached out," Stockdale explained when asked how the collaboration came about. "His manager sent an e-mail through and asked if I'd be interested and I was honored. Honored to play with Slash. So when we got to L.A. to make the WOLFMOTHER record, after the session of doing WOLFMOTHER songs, Slash dropped in one night and we just sat there with an acoustic and went through the song."

He continued, "It was really, really like an incredible experience to write with Slash. He's a cool guy. He moves really fast too. His creative process had me on my toes. He's very alert with what he's looking for and how a song needs to move."

Video footage of Andrew Stockdale talking about his collaboration with Slash can be viewed at this location.

Slash is tracking his solo record with former NINE INCH NAILS drummer Josh Freese and ex-JANE'S ADDICTION bassist Chris Chaney. Confirmed guest singers so far include Ozzy Osbourne and AVENGED SEVENFOLD's M. Shadows. The CD is being produced by Eric Valentine (GOOD CHARLOTTE, QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE) and features additional appearances by ex-GUNS N' ROSES drummer Steven Adler and RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS bassist Flea. Freese told MusicRadar.com that Iggy Pop, Fergie (a.k.a. Stacy Ann Ferguson) of the BLACK EYED PEAS and Chris Cornell (SOUNDGARDEN, AUDIOSLAVE) will also appear on the LP. Working songtitles include "We're All Gonna Die", "These Last Words", "Crucify The Dead" and "Beautiful, Dangerous".

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

VELVET REVOLVER is currently searching for a replacement for Weiland, who was dismissed in April 2008.

OZZY OSBOURNE/ex-ROB ZOMBIE bassist Rob "Blasko" Nicholson, JUDAS PRIEST guitarist K.K. Downing, Steve Vai and MUSHROOMHEAD drummer Steve "Skinny" Felton will guest on tonight's (Saturday, August 8) edition of the "Maximum Threshold" show beginning at 8:00 p.m. EST.

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

To hear the program live, go to this location.

Nicholson in 2007 launched a new company called Hard Market Authority. He is also a co-owner of Mercenary Management, which represents IN THIS MOMENT and INTRONAUT, among others. Hard Market Authority is a sub-division of Mercenary Management, Inc., focused on underground, signed or unsigned bands and musicians motivated to take the next step in their career but that currently feel lost and directionless.

JUDAS PRIEST's August 17, 2009 performance at the Hard Rock Live at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida will be filmed for a DVD that will be included in a forthcoming expanded 30th-anniversary edition of their 1980 classic, "British Steel".

As they have done at all of their U.S. summer dates this year, PRIEST will perform the "British Steel" album in its entirety at the Seminole Hard Rock Arena.

CAGE's Sean Peck will contribute lead vocals to a song from the San Diego up-and-coming progressive death metal band OBSEQUY which will be included on the soundtrack to "The Toxic Avenger 5" movie (Troma Studios). The track will also include a guest solo by a local guitar virtuoso, Rob Bachman, as well as a possible guest monologue by the father of Toxie himself, Lloyd Kaufman. The recordings will take place the end of the month during the recording sessions for OBSEQUY's debut EP, "Thoughtcrime".

"Thoughtcrime" tracklisting:

01. An Obsequy For Thought
02. Destruction Complete
03. What Is But Cannot Be (BELIEVER cover)
04. Distant
05. Pascal's Triangle

"Thoughtcrime" is due out in the fall of 2009. An initial run of less than 100 copies will be issued through CDbaby and independent retailers, as well as iTunes.

Although demo versions of several tracks from "Thoughtcrime" are currently available on the OBSEQUY MySpace page, guitarist Alex Fidel states, "Those are sub-par compared to what is to come. This will be our vision made to its fullest potential, now that we have a professional studio at our disposal."

OBSEQUY will do scattered mini-tours in support of "Thoughtcrime", mostly in California.

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

Danish extreme metallers ILLDISPOSED will be signing copies of their new album, "To Those Who Walk Behind Us", at the following Stereo Studio locations in the band's home country:

Friday, September 4 - 16.00 (4:00 p.m.)
Odense
Vestergade 82

Saturday, September 5 - 13.00 (1:00 p.m.)
Aarhus
Ryesgade 8


"To Those Who Walk Behind Us" will be released on August 28 via Massacre Records. The CD was recorded at AB Studio in Aarhus, Denmark and was mixed at Fredman Studio in Sweden with Fredrik Nordström. 11 tracks will appear on the new ILLDISPOSED LP (out of a total of 16 that were completed during the songwriting sessions), which will be available as a jewel case CD, limited digipack with bonus material and strictly limited box set with exclusive t-shirt. The group says, "We guarantee you won't be disappointed!"

"To Those Who Walk Behind Us" track listing:

01. Blood On Your Parade
02. For The Record
03. Just Come And Get Me
04. Seeking Truth - Telling Lies
05. Sale At The Misery Factory
06. To Those Who Walk Behind Me
07. If All The World...
08. My Number Is Expired
09. Johnny
10. This Unscheduled Moment
11. Nu Gik Det Lige Så Godt

The limited digipack edition will include two bonus tracks.

The cover artwork for "To Those Who Walk Behind Us", which was created by by René Asmussen (EVERGREY), can be viewed below.

ILLDISPOSED's two out-of-print albums which were originally made available on Roadrunner Records — "1-800 Vindication" (2004) and "Burn Me Wicked" (2006) — will be re-released on Massacre Records on August 28. Both discs will include bonus tracks.

ILLDISPOSED recently inked a new publishing deal with Warner Chappell. The band was previously partnered with EMI Music Publishing.

"The Prestige", the last album from ILLDISPOSED, was released in North America on July 29, 2008 via Locomotive Records. The CD, which entered the album chart in the band's home country at position No. 44, was mixed at Studio Fredman in Gothenburg, Sweden with Fredrik Nordström and features cover artwork by Mattias Norén.

Keyboardist/guitarist Bob Katsionis (FIREWIND, OUTLOUD) will record all the keyboards for the upcoming album from 21-year-old Greek guitarist Gus Drax (BIOMECHANICAL). Gus says, "Bob already started working on the songs and the results are brilliant!"

As previously reported, Steve Smyth (FORBIDDEN, ex-NEVERMORE, TESTAMENT) will record a guest guitar solo on Drax's upcoming CD. According to Gus, "Steve is one of those guitarists that I was listening since the days I was starting to play guitar and is a HUGE honor for me that he is a part of this album!"

Gus Drax (pictured below) was born on September 21, 1987 in Larissa, Greece. He has been playing guitar since he was 14 years old and is now considered to be one of the most talented Greek guitar players.

SLIPKNOT/STONE SOUR frontman Corey Taylor will get hitched to his fiancée Stephanie in November 2009. This will be Taylor's second marriage.

Taylor told Daily Star on August 4, "I'm getting married on November 13 and a couple of the guys from [SLIPKNOT] will be there.

"My fiancée has worked in entertainment for five to six years so she comes on tour with me.

"All I need to do on the day is turn up and look half decent."

Video footage of Corey and his wife-to-be during a recent appearance on the nationally syndicated "Loveline" radio show with hosts Stryker and Dr. Drew Pinsky can be viewed below.

Taylor, 35, has two children: A daughter named Angie, born in 1992, and a son named Griffin, born in 2002, whom he had with his first wife, Scarlett.

Taylor divorced Scarlett — whom he married on March 11, 2004 in a small ceremony at the Botanical center in Des Moines, Iowa — in early 2007. In the November 2008 issue of Revolver magazine, he is quoted as saying, "After I got sober, I realized my relationship wasn't right for me. My wife and I had damaged each other too much."

Corey Taylor and his fiancée Stephanie on "Loveline" radio show:

Ryan of Road Crew Magazine conducted an interview with guitarist/vocalist Matt Heafy of Florida metallers TRIVIUM at the Denver, Colorado stop of this year's Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival on July 19, 2009. Watch the chat below.

TRIVIUM and Hot Topic have announced the "Into the Mouth of Hell We Tour", an extensive, 63-date trek which marks the band's first solo headline tour since 2006. WHITECHAPEL, DARKEST HOUR and DIRGE WITHIN serve as support for the first leg of the run. The tour kicks off in September and will run through October. More dates for the first leg will be announced in August, while additional dates and support for the second leg will be announced in September.

TRIVIUM are currently headlining the Jägermeister stage of the second annual Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival. They are known for being voracious road dogs, having toured America relentlessly, separately supporting SLIPKNOT and LAMB OF GOD. They have also appeared as part of KORN's "Family Values" package and have also supported IRON MAIDEN.

TRIVIUM has come up with a "brilliant" way to allow its live show be something that the fans are able to enjoy repeatedly. This tour will feature a special promotion, where at participating venues, each ticket buyer will be able to re-live their experience at the show, as they will have the option to use their ticket stub, via a unique code, to redeem a free, full digital soundboard recording of the TRIVIUM show that they attended. Fans will be able to use the bar code number on their ticket as their unique code to redeem their music at www.trivium.org.

Commented Heafy: "North American headline tour... we meet again. It's been far too long since we've toured North America as a headliner and we're back with a vengeance. It's our time to come in for the final waves of the 'Shogun' touring and party with our friends in the USA and Canada. Our live show, without a doubt in my mind, is now the strongest it has ever been; our sets are more diverse, tighter than ever and we've got some of the sickest current metal bands out with us to bring you one hell of a tour. This very well could be the last one for a while, so let's do this in style... we'll see you soon."

Professionally filmed video footage of LACUNA COIL's entire July 30, 2009 performance at the Wacken Open Air festival in Wacken, Germany can be viewed at this location. A couple of the clips are available below.

LACUNA COIL's latest album, "Shallow Life", has sold 63,000 copies in the United States since its April 21 release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The CD was recorded in September/October 2008 at NRG Studios in North Hollywood, California with producer Don Gilmore, who has previously worked with LINKIN PARK, TRAPT, AVRIL LAVIGNE, GOOD CHARLOTTE, THE VERONICAS, PEARL JAM, TRUST COMPANY and DURAN DURAN.

LACUNA COIL kicked off its headlining "American Spellbound Tour" on July 4. Support on the trek came from KILL HANNAH, SEVENTH VOID and DOMMIN. The "American Spellbound Tour" marked LACUNA COIL's first U.S. headlining run in more than two years and the first tour the band has been on since they rocked the main stage of the Music as a Weapon Tour IV this past spring alongside DISTURBED, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE and CHIMAIRA.

Ryan of Road Crew Magazine conducted an interview with drummer Michael "Moose" Thomas of Welsh metallers BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE at the Denver, Colorado stop of this year's Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival on July 19, 2009. Watch the chat below.

Regarding how the new BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE song — which the band has been played at some of its recent shows — compares to the group's previous material, guitarist/vocalist Matt Tuck recently told the German edition of Metal Hammer magazine, "It's kind of completely new. I don't think it's like anything on 'Poison' [2005] or 'Scream Aim Fire' [2008], is it?" Moose concurred, "It's kind of more classic, if you ask me. It's not speedy, it's not thrashy." Tuck added, "It's not thrashy or really intense metal or anything. It's just like a mid-tempo kind of really nice, hard rock song. I don't even class it as metal, really. It's got metal influences and a really cool metal riff, but the song, as a vibe, is more hard rock."

BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE recently entered a Malibu, California studio with producer Don Gilmore (LINKIN PARK, LACUNA COIL) to begin recording the band's third CD for an early 2010 release. According to Tuck, the as-yet-untitled effort will mark a slight departure from the more aggressive sounds of "Scream Aim Fire", which has sold 319,000 copies in the United States since its January 2008 release. "On the last [album], we tried to be a bit more thrashy, and that was cool, but we just wanna go back to more kind of classic sound now," he said. "We want people to [think] it's a good blend of what we've done in the past.

He continued, "It's a lot more mature-sounding. The record, as a whole, is a lot more mature-sounding, it's a lot more classic. It'll stand the test of time [more] than both the previous things we've done.

"I haven't done the vocal session yet, but it's something I'm really gonna put everything I have into. The last record was what it was 'cause I had loads of problems with my throat — I had an operation and all that shit. So that's why it kind of sounds a bit weird compared to the first one — 'cause I wasn't doing good. But this time, the voice is back, it's firing, it sounds like me again, and I'm really gonna make it a great vocal rock/metal album."

DISMEMBER's Tobias Cristiansson will play bass for fellow Swedish death metallers GRAVE at the Finn Hits festival, set to take place August 14-15, 2009 in Pori, Finland.

Commented Cristiansson: "Once again I will have the pleasure to play bass with the mighty GRAVE!

"Fredrik Isaksson is busy playing with the newly reformed old-school band EXRUCIATE on the Thunders Over Miriqidi festival in Germany and therefore he is not able to do the gig in Finland.

"The day after the Finland gig, I will accompany GRAVE on a flight down to Germany to the Summer Breeze festival where Fredrik will join up with the band again. So my part on Summer Breeze will be to hang out, drink lots of beer, watch GRAVE play and just have a blast!"

The Finn Hits festival billing is as follows:

Friday, August 14:

GRAVE
NICOLE
PROFANE OMEN
MURDERSHOCK
DAUNTLESS
DEPRESSED MODE
CONCRETE WORDS
DEPICT THE ILLEGAL ABUSE

Saturday, August 15:

SCAR SYMMETRY
OMNIUM GATHERUM
MASTERSTROKE
DEAD SHAPE FIGURE
MANUFACTURER'S PRIDE
PRESSURE POINTS
CRUCIAL INCH
RETALIATORY MEASURES
LAHOPAPPI
OCEAN WITHIN

Cristiansson last performed with GRAVE at two shows in Mexico in early March. Video footage from the Mexico City concert can be viewed below.

Tobias previously stated about the opportunity to play with GRAVE, "The guys are very good friends of mine and DISMEMBER have done several tours and gigs together with GRAVE.

"I remember being like 14 years old sitting in my room and blasting out the 'You'll Never See...' album on high volume and some year later seing the awesome video for 'Soulless' on MTV's 'Headbangers Ball'. So it will feel special for me to play these old songs together with GRAVE."

GRAVE's eighth album, "Dominion VIII", was released in April 2008 via Regain Records.