SUICIDE WAR, the hardcore/metal/thrash hybrid from New Orleans, Louisiana featuring two members of VALUME NOB — Frey Thieler on guitar and Sammy Molina on bass — alongside BLACK LABEL SOCIETY/ex-CROWBAR drummer Craig Nunenmacher and vocalist Ben Falgoust (GOATWHORE, SOILENT GREEN), has tapped engineer Eddie Mapp (STONE TEMPLE PILOTS, EVANESCENCE, PAPA ROACH, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, OZZY OSBOURNE) to mix some of the band's recent recordings.

Two teaser tracks featuring guitar, bass and drums have been posted on the band's MySpace page.

SUICIDE WAR is:

Frey Thieler (VALUME NOB) - Guitar
Craig Nunenmacher (BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, ex-CROWBAR) - Drums
Sammy Molina (VALUME NOB) Bass
Ben Falgoust (SOILENT GREEN, GOATWHORE) - Vocals

Cleveland thrash metal veterans DESTRUCTOR have been forced to cancel their September 22 hometown show at Now That's Class due to illness. The band was scheduled to open the final date of the North American Nightmare 2009 Tour featuring ENFORCER, CAULDRON and MANTIC RITUAL.

According to a press release, DESTRUCTOR guitarist/vocalist Dave Overkill has been feeling ill for the past week and developed laryngitis. His condition has taken a turn for the worse and has not improved. "The last thing I wanted to do is pull out of this show," says Overkill. "Unfortunately, I simply cannot sing. I have experienced trouble talking for a week and it has not improved. I was hoping I would get better and be able to pull it together but it's just not possible."

Replacing DESTRUCTOR on the bill on short notice is veteran Cleveland metal band H.A.T.E. "We're ready to pound some metal and help our brothers in DESTRUCTOR out," says H.A.T.E. frontman Greg Wagner. "We wish Dave a speedy recovery".

H.A.T.E.'s new album, "Inject The Infection", will be released early next year on Auburn Records. The CD was recorded at guitarist Curran Murphy's (SHATTER MESSIAH, NEVERMORE, ANNIHILATOR) Smiley Sound Studios in Akron, Ohio. Additional tracks were recently laid down at Noise Floor Studios in Cleveland, Ohio with engineer Mark Klein (BREAKER).

H.A.T.E. consists of:

Greg Wagner (BREAKER, SHATTER MESSIAH) - vocals/guitar
Michael Miller (ex-WINTERS BANE) - guitar
Michael Harris - drums
Michael Gallagher - bass

Gallagher replaced Vincent Pileggi on bass a few weeks ago. Tomorrow's concert will be his first live performance with the band.

Video footage of DESTRUCTOR's September 10, 2009 performance at Peabody's in Cleveland can be viewed below.

Los Angeles metallers FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH have issued a statement claiming that their guitarist, Zoltan Bathory, who was supposedly "missing" since Friday night's (September 18) show in Las Vegas, has now been "found." The band added, "We just talked to him and although he sounded somewhat incoherent, he says he'll be fine and the tour will start as planned tomorrow!! Sorry if he worried anyone!"

No further information was made available as to where Zoltan supposedly spent the last three days and why the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department apparently had no record of Bathory ever having been reported missing.

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH is scheduled to begin "The Shock And Roar Tour" on Tuesday (September 22) in San Francisco, finishing up sometime in early November. Joining them on the bill will be SHADOWS FALL, OTEP and 2 CENTS.

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH's new album, "War Is The Answer", is scheduled for release in the U.S. on September 22 via Prospect Park Records. The CD was produced by the band and Kevin Churko (OZZY OSBOURNE, IN THIS MOMENT), and was mixed by Randy Staub (METALLICA, MÖTLEY CRÜE, NICKELBACK). According to a press release, "the record evolves the band's already mature sound, ranging from the undeniable melodies in 'Hard to See' to the brutally nihilistic 'Burn It Down' — destined to please fans both new and old."

"War Is The Answer" track listing:

01. Dying Breed
02. Hard To See
03. Bulletproof
04. No One Gets Left Behind
05. Crossing Over
06. Burn It Down
07. Far From Home
08. Falling In Hate
09. My Own Hell
10. Walk Away
11. Canto 34
12. Bad Company (BAD COMPANY cover)
13. War Is The Answer

"Hard to See", the new video from FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, can be viewed below. The clip was shot in July with director Matt Silverman (AIMEE ALLEN, RAMI DEAREST).

Bathory recently stated about the "Hard To See" track, "It's about seemingly irresolvable differences. It's valid in just about any setting: politics, religion, relationships… Everything is 'only an opinion' based on limited information, yet people sometimes get attached to their point of views to the extreme…in fact, to the point they would launch wars over them."

Regarding the upcoming CD, Bathory stated, "In terms of the overall style, I would say that we've continued the journey we started on the first album, so there's a healthy balance of melody and aggression, and as always we concentrated on writing strong metal songs in the traditional sense. There's some epic moments on the record, and there's some straight-up home-wreckers, too. All I can say is, those who liked our first album are going to LOVE this one!"

On September 25, the KISS Alive 35 tour will kick off in North America in Detroit, Michigan. Each of KISS' 42 shows will be exclusively recorded by Concert Online and available to purchase as a USB leather wristband with a KISS metal buckle or an instant live CD set, consisting of two CDs in a collector's box. To ensure maximum quality, all tracks are recorded live and are mixed with state-of-the-art recording technology by Concert Online.

The original leather KISS USB wristband contains the audio recording of the show of your choice in highest MP3 quality (320 kBit/s) and KISS bonus multimedia material. Just plug in your wristband to a USB port on your computer and start the embedded KISS multimedia player to listen to your MP3s and enjoy the bonus features. Of course you can copy your MP3s to your computer, your MP3 player, etc. to listen to KISS Alive 35 wherever you want! The wristband can also be used as a standard 1GB USB flash drive.

The KISS Alive 35 digipak contains two discs with the complete recording of one concert of your choice in CD quality.

USB wristband and two-CD set are available on location at every KISS Alive 35 North American Tour show or online at Concert Online.

STONE TEMPLE PILOTS has scheduled the following dates:

Oct. 02 - Mobile, AL - Bayfest
Oct. 03 - St. Augustine, FL - St. Augustine Amphitheatre
Oct. 04 - Orlando, FL - Hard Rock Live
Oct. 06 - Myrtle Beach, SC - House of Blues
Oct. 07 - Greensboro, NC - Memorial Auditorium
Oct. 09 - Portsmouth, VA - nTelos Wireless Pavilion
Oct. 10 - Reading, PA - Reading Eagle Theater
Oct. 11 - Columbus, OH - LC Ampitheatre
Oct. 13 - Denver, CO - Fillmore Auditorium
Oct. 15 - Fresno, CA - Fresno Fair
Oct. 18 - Phoenix, AZ - Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Oct. 20 - Oakland, CA - Fox Theatre
Oct. 22 - San Manuel, CA - San Manuel Bingo & Casino Hall
Oct. 23 - Primm, NV - Star of the Desert
Oct. 25 - Concho, OK - Lucky Star Casino
Nov. 07 - Victoria, BC - Save on Foods Memorial Centre
Nov. 09 - Kelowna, BC - Prospera Place
Nov. 11 - Edmonton, AB - Shaw Conference Centre
Nov. 14 - Regina, SK - Brandy Centre - Evraz Place
Nov. 15 - Winnipeg, MB - MTS Centre
Nov. 19 - London, ON - Labatt Centre
Nov. 21 - Kingston, ON - K-Rock Centre
Dec. 29 - Biloxi, MS - Hard Rock Live
Jan. 01 - Thackerville, OK - WinStar Casino

STONE TEMPLE PILOTS has spent the last few months working on a new studio album with producer Don Was. According to singer Scott Weiland, the CD should be ready for release sometime in early 2010.

The upcoming release of PILOTS' sixth studio album and first since 2001's "Shangri-La-Dee-Da" has been complicated by a contractual dispute between Weiland, drummer Eric Kretz and STP's label, Atlantic Records.

STONE TEMPLE PILOTS were reactivated in 2008 after a six-year layoff, during which time Weiland recorded two albums with VELVET REVOLVER before being dismissed in April 2008.

Weiland issued a second solo effort, called "Happy In Galoshes", last November and has been touring on his own behind that release.

The Pulse of Radio reports: Guitar Hero CEO Dan Rosensweig was asked by NME.com about the controversy surrounding the avatar of NIRVANA frontman Kurt Cobain included in Guitar Hero 5, which can be made to sing songs by artists like BON JOVI and BUSH. Cobain's widow, Courtney Love, has threatened legal action against the company, while the surviving members of NIRVANA have also expressed their disapproval. Rosensweig, however, said, "I do know that there's absolutely a contract and we know that the check has been cashed. I can only deal with the facts. It's very clear what the terms are."

Regarding the statement by NIRVANA members Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic, Rosensweig added, "We care about the artists more than anyone else and we would like to make artists happy in every circumstance. I'm disappointed in this case that there seems to be confusion between the band and the estate. It's really not Guitar Hero's confusion. We went and spoke directly to the estate and made it crystal clear, got the rights, paid for the rights, and really we've done what we've always done. The fact that the rest of the band and the estate did not communicate . . . I can't speak for everybody being happy."

Neither Love, Grohl nor Novoselic have commented on Rosensweig's remarks yet.

Meanwhile, Jon Bon Jovi has come down on the side of NIRVANA and Love, telling the BBC, "I don't know that I would have wanted it either. To hear someone else's voice coming out of a cartoon version of me? I don't know. It sounds a little forced."

Danish thrashers HATESPHERE have scheduled the following dates in Turkey:

Nov. 06 - Kemanci Bar - Istanbul, Turkey
Nov. 07 - If Performance Hall - Ankara, Turkey
Nov. 08 - Punta Bar - Izmir, Turkey

HATESPHERE's latest album, "To The Nines" entered the official chart in the band's home country at position No. 36. The CD was recorded over a nine-day period at Antfarm Studio in Aarhus, Denmark with producer Tue Madsen (THE HAUNTED, MOONSPELL, DARK TRANQUILLITY, GOREFEST).

The limited-edition version of the album includes three bonus tracks and a bonus video clip.

Audio samples of all the tracks that appear on "To The Nines" are available at JPC.de.

HATESPHERE's video for the song "To The Nines" can be viewed below.

MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine will guest on "Eddie Trunk Live" tonight (Monday, September 21) on Sirius (channel 19) / XM Radio (channel 53). The program airs from 6:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. EST, but Mustaine is expected in around 8:15 p.m.

In related news, Mustaine and MEGADETH guitarist Chris Broderick will be featured on Liquid Metal's "Thrash Attack" week this week. "Thrash Attack" on Sirius XM features half-hour blocks of thrash metal every hour for seven days straight! You'll hear stories and music from the legends of thrash and those that are helping to push the genre today.

For more information, go to this location.

MEGADETH's new album, "Endgame" was recorded at MEGADETH's brand new, self-built studio in San Marcos, California — Vic's Garage — which was named after the legendary and iconic Vic Rattlehead character. The CD was helmed by Mustaine and British producer Andy Sneap (EXODUS, NEVERMORE, ARCH ENEMY, MACHINE HEAD).

(Thanks: NJthrasher)

"The Prophecy", the new video from U.K. heavy metal warriors CONQUEST OF STEEL, can be viewed below. The song comes off the band's third album, "Storm Sword (Rise of the Dread Queen)", which was released in March.

"Storm Sword (Rise of the Dread Queen)" is a concept effort which charts the rise and fall of an empire. Recording took place once again at Priory and Red Flag Studios.

"Storm Sword (Rise of the Dread Queen)" track listing:

01. Conquest through Fire & Steel
02. The Prophecy
03. Scourge of the Land
04. Lamentations of the Women
05. A People Betrayed
06. An Unholy Union (Enter the Swan)
07. The Smile of the Hanging Man
08. Spirit of War
09. Jocasta Rises
10. Even the Gods may be Overthrown
11. Raise Your Fist
12. Lament of the Steel
13. An Empress is Born

For more details, head to www.conquestofsteel.co.uk.

DIVINE HERESY — the California-based band featuring FEAR FACTORY guitarist Dino Cazares — has replaced SAMAEL as direct support to MOONSPELL on the Portuguese group's upcoming North American tour, which kicks off on October 14 in Tampa, Florida. Also appearing on the bill are BOOK OF BLACK EARTH and SECRETS OF THE MOON.

SAMAEL has issued the following statement regarding the band's withdrawal from the trek: "We've checked into every possibility with our booking agent and partners at Nuclear Blast but the financial costs are too deep into the red to make things work. We'd like to apologize to all our fans who were looking forward to seeing SAMAEL live but rest assured that we are looking into coming over again in early 2010. We also want to express our deepest regret to our friends in MOONSPELL."

Cazares had the following to say regarding DIVINE HERESY's addition to the MOONSPELL tour: "We have been waiting patiently for the perfect touring opportunity to present itself and we couldn't possibly be more pleased to be direct support to the mighty MOONSPELL this fall. This North American tour is exactly what we were looking for as we wanted a chance to perform in front of a lot of new faces that might not have been exposed to our band. This tour marks the kick-off of a massive worldwide touring campaign to support the new 'Bringer of Plagues' album.

"DIVINE HERESY is better than ever and we are embarking on this tour with only one, simple goal in mind: to annihilate everything in our path. Expect an unrelenting set and if your jaw isn't on the floor when we finish, then we haven't done our job, but that won't be the case. Be sure to come by the merch booth each night to say hello to us all and we look forward to seeing everyone soon. It's certainly been way too long."

The dates are as follows:

Oct. 14 - Tampa, FL - Czar
Oct. 15 - Atlanta, GA - Masqueerade
Oct. 16 - Springfield, VA - Jaxx
Oct. 17 - Allentown, PA - The Sterling Hotel
Oct. 18 - New York, NY - B.B. King Blues Club
Oct. 19 - Montreal, QC - Les Foufounes Electriques
Oct. 20 - Toronto, ON - The Mod Club
Oct. 21 - Cleveland, OH - Peabody's
Oct. 22 - Detroit, MI - Blondie's
Oct. 23 - The Pyramid Club – Chicago, IL
Oct. 24 - Kansas City, MO - Beaumont Club
Oct. 25 - Denver, CO - Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom
Oct. 27 - Vancouver, BC - The Venue
Oct. 28 - Seattle, WA - Studio Seven
Oct. 29 - Portland, OR - Satyricon
Oct. 30 - San Francisco, CA - Thee Parkside
Oct. 31 - San Marcos, CA - The Jumping Turtle
Nov. 01 - Hollywood, CA - The Roxy
Nov. 02 - Tempe, AZ - The Clubhouse
Nov. 03 - Albuquerque, NM - The Launchpad
Nov. 04 - Tulsa, OK - The Marquee
Nov. 05 - Dallas, TX - The Ridglea Theater
Nov. 06 - San Antonio, TX - Warehouse Music

"Facebreaker", the new video from DIVINE HERESY can be viewed below. The clip was helmed by renowned director Brian Thompson (KILLSWITCH ENGAGE) and features the band's frenetic live performance surrounded by an apocalyptic background setting.

"Facebreaker" comes off from DIVINE HERESY's sophomore album, "Bringer of Plagues", which sold around 3,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 148 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD landed at No. 4 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

DIVINE HERESY's first album, "Bleed The Fifth", opened with 2,700 units back in September 2007.

"Bringer of Plagues" was released in North America on July 28 via Century Media Records.

According to MEGADETH drummer Shawn Drover, the band's new album, "Endgame", has registered the following first-week chart positions so far:

Australia: #11
Germany: #21
U.K.: #24

Drover says: "For Canada, we are receiving word that 'Endgame' will be a Top 20 record, which, of course, please me greatly (I am hoping for a single-digit chart position, just as 'United Abominations' was — we'll see).

"We have to thank all of YOU who support the cause, and get out there to purchase the record (what a concept, eh??). Without your support, these chart positions simply cannot happen, so we are grateful, believe me.

"By week's end, we should receive a lot more information on other chart positions throughout planet earth.

"With all this said, keep at it, people. Your help here is proof positive that spreading the word is making a difference. So many of you here on the boards are stepping up and making a big difference. When the other chart numbers come in, you will see it for yourselves. Again, a big THANK YOU!!!"

According to Hits Daily Double, the companion web site of music industry tip sheet HITS, "Endgame" is on track to sell between 40,000 and 45,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release.

MEGADETH's previous album, "United Abominations", opened with around 54,000 copies to land at position No. 8 on The Billboard 200 chart. This was more than the 46,000 first-week tally registered by its predecessor, "The System Has Failed" (which debuted at No. 18 on The Billboard 200 chart), and was a bit less than the 61,000 opening number of 2001's "The World Needs A Hero" (No. 16).

"Endgame" was recorded at MEGADETH's brand new, self-built studio in San Marcos, California — Vic's Garage — which was named after the legendary and iconic Vic Rattlehead character. The CD was helmed by MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine and British producer Andy Sneap (EXODUS, NEVERMORE, ARCH ENEMY, MACHINE HEAD).

Vicky Bradley (a.k.a. Vix the Angel Of Metal) conducted an interview with U.K.-based black metallers ABGOTT at this year's Bloodstock Open Air festival, which was held August 14-16, 2009 at Catton Hall in Derbyshire, England. Watch the chat below.

ABGOTT's new album, "Godfather In Black", was released on September 7 via Code7/PHD.

The band's previous CD, "Artefact Of Madness", came out in 2006.

The Iron City Rocks podcast recently conducted an interview with WHITESNAKE and WINGER guitarist Reb Beach. The chat can now be streamed using the audio player below.

Iron City Rocks is a podcast devoted to promoting Pittsburgh-based rock, hard rock, heavy metal and blues music.

WHITESNAKE was forced to cancel a number of shows on its summer U.S. tour with JUDAS PRIEST due to WHITESNAKE singer David Coverdale being diagnosed with "severe vocal fold edema and a left vocal fold vascular lesion."

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

WHITESNAKE's appearance at U.K.'s Download festival in June coincided with action-packed re-releases of the multi-platinum albums "Slip Of The Tongue", marking its 20th anniversary, and "Slide It In", which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.

Original KISS guitarist Ace Frehley was recently interviewed on Australia's "The Jono & Dano Show". The chat is now available for streaming using the audio player below.

According to Hits Daily Double, Ace Frehley's new solo album, "Anomaly", is on track to sell between 12,000 and 15,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release.

In addition to the standard CD release, unique "Anomaly" packages were made available at Wal-Mart and Best Buy locations. The Wal-Mart version includes an Ace autographed tattoo while the Best Buy edition is printed on silver stock, like the KISS "Double Platinum" album.

Released on September 15 via Ace's own Bronx Born Records, with Rocket Science providing a full label service platform in the U.S., "Anomaly" was produced and recorded in Westchester County, New York between 2007 and 2009 and was mixed in Los Angeles.

Ace Frehley interviewed on Australia's "The Jono & Dano Show" (click on player below to launch audio):

A new FU MANCHU track, "Bionic Astronautics", is available for streaming on AOL Music's Noisecreep. The song comes off the Southern California heavy fuzz rock band's eleventh full-length album, "Signs of Infinite Power", which is scheduled for release on October 20, 2009 via Century Media Records.

Recorded at Maple Studios in Santa Ana, California by the band and producer Sergio Chavez (MOTÖRHEAD, HELMET) and mixed by Andrew Alekel (FOO FIGHTERS, DANZIG), "Signs of Infinite Power" could well be dubbed "a reawakening" of FU MANCHU as the record delivers monstrous doses of the group's punk energy, hard rock drive and psychedelic crunch in spades. From the instant the album's lead track "Bionic Astronautics" soars from the speakers, it is undeniably evident that FU MANCHU is as primed and hungry as ever before. The record holds the sound of a band rocking purely for the sheer joy of rocking; amps cranked to 11 and revved to maximum overdrive.

"Signs of Infinite Power" track listing:

01. Bionic Astronautics
02. Steel.Beast.Defeated
03. Against the Ground
04. Webfoot Witch Hat
05. El Busta
06. Signs of Infinite Power
07. Eyes x 10
08. Gargantuan March
09. Take It Away
10. One Step Too Far

"We're stoked to unleash 'Signs of Infinite Power' because we feel that it's the best record that we've ever made," states FU MANCHU vocalist/guitarist Scott Hill. "We're can't believe that we're going into our twentieth year as a band. The excitement and energy levels that we're feeling right now are as high as they've ever been."

In celebration of its 20th anniversary, FU MANCHU has a number of very special events planned for 2010. The band will unveil a host of plans that include rolling out both one-of-a-kind live events and extra special vinyl releases. Additionally, the VIRULENCE (pre-FU MANCHU) recordings will be remastered and packaged with the band's "1985-87 demos" and both live songs and video footage from 1987-89 under the title "If This Isn't A Dream…1985-1989". The package will be made available on both CD and LP and is slated for a winter 2009 release via Southern Lord Records.

FU MANCHU will tour the U.S. this fall in support of "Signs of Infinite Power".

Baltimore death metallers DYING FETUS will be the special guest hosts on "Beyond The Pit", Sirius XM Liquid Metal's nightly death/grind/black metal show, starting tomorrow, Tuesday September 22 through Saturday.

"Beyond The Pit" airs nightly on Sirius channel 27 and XM channel 42 from 12 midnight to 1:00 a.m. EST.

"Shepherd's Commandment", the new video from DYING FETUS, can be viewed below. The clip was shot in July in New York with director Kevin Custer (HATEBREED, TESTAMENT, SOULJA BOY, KINGDOM OF SORROW) of Toaster In The Tub.

"Shepherd's Commandment" comes off DYING FETUS' new album, "Descend Into Depravity", which was released on September 15 via Relapse Records. The follow-up to 2007's "War Of Attrition" was recorded at Wright Way Studios in the group's hometown with producer Steve Wright.

"Descend Into Depravity" track listing:

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

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

South Carolina death metallers THROUGH THE EYES OF THE DEAD have set "Skepsis" as the title of their third full-length album. The CD, which will be released via Prosthetic Records, was recorded at New York's Gellar Cellar Studios and will be mastered by Alan Douches (CONVERGE, MISFITS, THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, HATEBREED, MASTODON) at West West Side Music in New Windsor, New York.

"Skepsis" track listing:

01. Parasite Throne
02. Dementia
03. No Haven
04. Perpetual Defilement
05. Inherit Obscurity
06. The Manifest
07. Defaced Reality
08. Siphonaptera From Within
09. Insomnium
10. Skepsis

Commented guitarist Justin Longshore: "The recording process for 'Skepsis' has been going really well. We really focused on writing a record that will satisfy fans of our previous two records along with pushing new boundaries. Danny is currently finishing up vocal tracking and we couldn't be any more satisfied with the way things are sounding. I'm really stoked for everyone to hear these new songs."

The cover art for the album was created by Paul Romano, who has previously worked with THE ACACIA STRAIN, MASTODON, and THE RED CHORD.

Stated Longshore, "We had Paul Romano do the artwork once again and it is easily one of my favorite pieces he has done. It really captures the concept and music that is behind the album. We wanted the art to really project and not look like every other metal album that you see at your local record shop."

Slovakian metallers VINDEX have completed work on their new album, "Ultima Thule". A total of 13 songs were recorded during the sessions, ten of which will be mastered by Greg Reely (FEAR FACTORY, MACHINE HEAD, IMPELLITTERI) in October.

One of the three non-album tracks, "Polar Ride", can be downloaded in full quality from the band's web site in the media/download section.

A slideshow video for "Polar Ride" can be viewed below.

A promotional video for TWISTED SISTER's fourth annual "Twisted Christmas" concert — featuring an updated version of the band's Christmas show — can be viewed below. (Note: The clip features highlights from last year's concert.)

The next "Twisted Christmas" concert will take place on Sunday, December 6 at the Nokia Theater in New York City.

Tickets go on sale on Friday, September 25.

TWISTED SISTER's last "Twisted Sister, A Twisted Christmas On Broadway" holiday extravaganza was held on December 5, 2008 at the Nokia Theatre in New York City. The show featured the band performing songs its now-classic rockin' holiday CD and DVD, "A Twisted Christmas", with a special guest appearance by '80s hard rock queen Lita Ford, including "I'll Be Home For Christmas", "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas", "Deck The Halls", and "Oh Come All Ye Faithful" inspired by their biggest hit, "We're Not Gonna Take It".

The promotional "I'll Be Home For Christmas" clip, which was released in November, features Lita Ford in her first video in 20 years. The video intersperses live concert footage of TWISTED SISTER and the TS bandmembers on their tour bus (and, of course, a hilarious twist of an ending), and it's by far the biggest production of all the "A Twisted Christmas" videos.

Formed in 1973, TWISTED SISTER dominated the radio airwaves and MTV with such monster hits as "We're Not Gonna Take It" and "I Wanna Rock", still staples at classic rock radio and television. To date, the band has sold over 10 million albums worldwide, boasts 34 silver, gold and platinum certifications from eight countries and has toured in 22 different countries. TWISTED SISTER has given over 9,000 performances in its thirty-plus-year career.

Rob Zombie will release his fourth solo studio album, "Hellbilly Deluxe 2: Noble Jackals, Penny Dreadfuls and the Systematic Dehumanization of Cool", on November 10. "Hellbilly Deluxe" was the name of Zombie's first and most successful solo outing, issued back in 1998.

"Hellbilly Deluxe 2" track listing:

01. Jesus Frankenstein
02. Sick Bubble-Gun
03. What?
04. Mars Needs Women
05. Werewolf, Baby
06. Virgin Witch
07. Dream Factory
08. Burn
09. Cease to Exist
10. Werewolf Women of the SS
11. The Man Who Laughs

Check out the cover artwork below.

Rob Zombie will kick off his upcoming North American tour on October 29 in Phoenix, Arizona, according to a press release. he will hit the road with the same band that toured behind his 2006 CD, "Educated Horses", consisting of guitarist John 5, bassist Piggy D. and drummer Tommy Clufetos. Although Zombie is also busy these days directing movies, he told The Pulse of Radio he can always count on his current bandmates to return. "Whenever I'm making a movie they go off and do whatever they want, but they're all part of this band," he said. "We just did all of our photos for the tour and stuff. It's the same band, it's just that I know those guys get itchy to play."

Support on the tour will come from NEKROMANTIX and CAPTAIN CLEGG & THE NIGHT CREATURES. The latter band appeared in Zombie's latest film, "Halloween II".

The trek will include a very special Halloween event on October 31 in Hollywood, California hosted by Uncle Seymour Coffins, also seen in "Halloween II".

The "Hellbilly Deluxe 2" tour will mark Zombie's return to the road after moderate box office success as the writer and director of "Halloween II" (Dimension). His R-rated, animated feature, "The Haunted World Of El Superbeasto", will be available everywhere on DVD and Blu-ray September 22.

Zombie will return to the stage on October 18, when he co-headlines Loud Park festival in Japan with SLAYER that will also feature PAPA ROACH.

"Halloween II", the follow-up to Zombie's successful 2007 remake of the original 1978 horror classic, came in at No. 3 in its opening weekend, earning $17 million at the box office. That's far less than the $31 million his first "Halloween" flick did two years ago.

Zombie's next film will be a remake of "The Blob", which he is slated to begin shooting in the spring of 2010.

Video footage of OMEN performing the song "Teeth Of The Hydra" at the Swordbrothers Festival VIII on September 12, 2009 at JUZ Live Club in Andernach, Germany can be viewed below.

OMEN recently spent time in the studio recording the band's next album, "Hammer Damage", for a late 2009/early 2010 release. The CD will feature all-new songs performed by the group's new lineup and will mark a return to OMEN's roots.

OMEN last year released a live album, "Into the Arena: 20 Years Live", which contained previously unreleased recordings of the band's original lineup.

On September 29, Legacy Recordings will release "The Music Of Korn" box set as part of "The Music Of" series, a specially priced line of three-CD releases packed with huge hits and top tracks by the biggest names in music history. For the first time, the classic recordings by these household names appear in a box set that virtually any household can afford.

"The Music Of Korn" track listing:

Disc 1:

01. It's On!
02. Right Now
03. Here To Stay
04. Ball Tongue
05. Good God
06. Falling Away From Me
07. Pretty
08. Somebody Someone
09. Helmet in the Bush
10. Sean Olson
11. Thoughtless
12. Predictable
13. Word Up!

Disc 2:

01. Blind
02. Got The Life
03. Alive
04. A.D.I.D.A.S.
05. Dead Bodies Everywhere
06. Bottled Up Inside
07. Trash
08. Shoots and Ladders
09. Wicked
10. My Gift to You (Live at Woodstock '99-Explicit)
11. One More Time
12. Y'all Want A Single
13. All In The Family

Disc 3:

01. Twist
02. Chi
03. Did My Time
04. Freak On A Leash
05. Another Brick In The Wall (Parts 1, 2 , 3)
06. Alone I Break
07. Make Me Bad
08. Clown
09. No Place To Hide
10. Dirty (live)
11. Faget
12. Play Me (featuring Nas)
13. Jingle Balls

For more information, visit Amazon.com.

Video footage of ACHERON's September 18, 2009 performance at the Billiard Club in Columbus, Ohio can be viewed below.

ACHERON's new album, "The Final Conflict: Last Days of God", was released on April 30 via Displeased Records. The CD was once again recorded at Mars Recording Compound with Bill Korecky and was mastered at West West Side Music in New Windsor, New York. The follow-up to 2003's "Rebirth: Metamorphosing into Godhood" is a concept album based on the fall of the three major white light religions, Christianity, Islam and Judaism.

Check out audio samples on the band's MySpace page.

On September 29, Legacy Recordings will release "The Music Of Ted Nugent" box set as part of "The Music Of" series, a specially priced line of three-CD releases packed with huge hits and top tracks by the biggest names in music history. For the first time, the classic recordings by these household names appear in a box set that virtually any household can afford.

"The Music Of Ted Nugent" track listing:

Disc 1:

01. Baby Please Don't Go
02. Journey To The Center Of The Mind
03. You Talk Sunshine, I Breathe Fire
04. Stranglehold
05. Stormtroopin'
06. Snakeskin Cowboys
07. Just What The Doctor Ordered
08. Motor City Madhouse
09. Where Have You Been All My Life
10. Hey Baby
11. Dog Eat Dog
12. Writing On the Wall

Disc 2:

01. Street Rats
02. Free For All
03. Hammerdown
04. Turn It Up
05. Cat Scratch Fever
06. Wang Dang Sweet Poontang
07. Death By Misadventure
08. Live It Up
09. Out Of Control
10. Homebound
11. Weekend Warriors
12. Need You Bad
13. One Woman
14. Smokescreen

Disc 3:

01. Paralyzed
02. Want To Tell You
03. State Of Shock
04. Snake Charmer
05. Take It Or Leave It
06. Wango Tango
07. Scream Dream
08. Hard As Nails
09. Terminus Eldorado
10. Yank Me Crank Me (live)
11. Gonzo (live)
12. Great White Buffalo (live)
13. I Take No Prisoners (live)

For more information, visit Amazon.com.

Legendary German progressive thrash outfit MEKONG DELTA will take time off from recording its new album to perform at the Hard Rocker Festival II, set to take place September 26, 2009 at Mega Club in Katowice, Poland.

According to bassist Ralph Hubert, MEKONG DELTA's forthcoming CD, entitled "Wanderer On The Edge Of Time", will be a 50-minute concept piece that will be structured as a rondo, an instrumental form characterized by the initial statement and subsequent restatement of a particular melody or section, the various statements of which are separated by contrasting material.

MEKONG DELTA last year announced the addition of vocalist Martin LeMar (TOMORROW'S EVE) and drummer Alex Landenburg (AT VANCE, ANNIHILATOR) to the group's ranks.

MEKONG DELTA's current lineup:

Ralf Hubert - Bass
Alex Landenburg - Drums
Benedikt Zimniak - Guitar
Erik Adam H. - Guitar
Martin LeMar - Vocals

"Lurking Fear", the latest album from MEKONG DELTA, was released in North America on April 22, 2008 via Locomotive Records. It was the first all-new studio album from the band since 1997.

"Lurking Fear" was made available in Europe in August 2007 as a standard jewelcase as well as a double vinyl album. The limited-edition digipack included a bonus DVD containing the band's December 21, 1991 concert in Frankfurt, Germany.

MEKONG DELTA's lineup on "Lurking Fear" included mainman/bassist Ralf Hubert alongside drummer Uli Kusch (ex-MASTERPLAN, HELLOWEEN), singer Leo Szpigiel (ANGEL DUST, CROWS, SCANNER, DUKE) and guitarist Peter Sjöberg (also known as Peter Lake from THEORY IN PRACTICE).

Video fotoage of MEKONG DELTA's November 22, 2008 concert at club Tochka in Moscow, Russia (where the band was supporting DIE APOKALYPTISCHEN REITER) can be viewed below.

More shows have been announced for the third leg of DEF LEPPARD's highly successful 2009 tour, which will feature support from CHEAP TRICK and MAN RAZE, the rock outfit featuring Phil Collen of DEF LEPPARD, Simon Laffy from GIRL and Paul Cook of the SEX PISTOLS.

So far the following dates have been released:

Oct. 22 - Reno, NV - Events Center
Oct. 24 - Boise, ID - Idaho Center
Oct. 25 - Spokane, WA - Spokane Arena
Oct. 27 - Vancouver, BC - Pacific Coliseum
Oct. 31 - Edmonton, AB - Rexall Place
Nov. 02 - Calgary, AB - Pengrowth Saddledome
Nov. 04 - Winnipeg, MB - MTS Centre
Nov. 06 - St. Paul, MN - Xcel Energy Center
Nov. 12 - Ottawa, ON - Scotiabank Place
Nov. 13 - Hamilton, ON - Copps Coliseum
Nov. 18 - Montreal, QC - Bell Centre

DEF LEPPARD recently released deluxe editions of its classic albums "Pyromania" and "Adrenalize". The albums feature never-before-released B-sides and live recordings as well as nine Top 10 singles from the legendary rock band. The deluxe edition of "Pyromania" features a 15-track live show recorded at The Forum in Los Angeles in 1983. The deluxe edition of "Adrenalize" features demo tracks, live tracks and acoustic tracks.

Guitarist/vocalist Andrew Stockdale of the Australian retro-rock combo WOLFMOTHER was interviewed at the Beatday 09 festival, which was held August 14-15, 2009 in Valbyparken, Denmark. Watch the chat below.

WOLFMOTHER's second album, "Cosmic Egg", will be released on the following dates:

Japan: October 8
Australia, Germany, and New Zealand: October 9
Europe: October 12
USA: October 13

The group's first album since the departure of drummer Myles Heskett and bassist/keyboardist Chris Ross, "Cosmic Egg" 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

WOLFMOTHER will embark on the "New Moon Rising Tour" of Australia in September. Support on the trek will come from fresh-faced Brisbane rockers YVES KLEIN BLUE and recent Australian Music Prize winner, Sydney troubadour JACK LADDER.

WOLFMOTHER will support AC/DC on their upcoming tour of Australia.

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

NME.com reports: Jimi Hendrix's sister has stated that there is still "another decade" of unreleased music and video to come from the guitarist.

Janie Hendrix, also president and CEO of Experience Hendrix and Authentic Hendrix (the companies that deal with his legacy), revealed that she wants to release new material every 12 to 18 months for the next ten years.

"We probably have another decade of music, including video. Every 12 to 18 months we'll continue to have new releases and Dagger [Experience Hendrix's label for live recordings] official bootlegs," she told Gibson.

Read the entire article from NME.com.

Custom-made leather pants and Crüe Fest t-shirt worn by Vince Neil of MÖTLEY CRÜE on the Crüe Fest tour, and an outfit by Junker Designs worn by Rob "Blasko" Nicholson of ROB ZOMBIE fame during the 2005 Ozzfest tour will be on display at the newest member of the Hard Rock family: Hard Rock Hotel Penang and Hard Rock Cafe Penang. Located in Malaysia, within one of Asia's most popular island destinations, Hard Rock is infusing new excitement and energy into the market, underscoring the brand's strategy to accelerate expansion worldwide.

"We plan to continue our Asian expansion of the Hard Rock brand with unique, new properties — including urban hotel and destination resorts and cafes," commented Hamish Dodds, President and CEO, Hard Rock International. "We have a long-standing and successful partnership with HPL Hotels & Resorts through the Hard Rock Hotel properties in Bali and Pattaya and we are excited to open our third Asian property with them here in Penang."

Hard Rock Hotel Penang is situated on five acres along the famous beaches of Batu Ferringhi, on the northern coast of Penang. The six-story Hard Rock Hotel Penang recently completed a multi-million dollar renovation bringing together superb service, unparalleled amenities and well-appointed accommodations with a rock 'n' roll edge. The renovation added additional rooms and suites, a full-service luxury spa and the highly anticipated Hard Rock Cafe Penang.

Read the entire press release at this location.

Norwegian black metallers SATYRICON will headline a 24-city North American tour which begins on September 25 in Baltimore, Maryland. The influential outfit will also release a special-edition, two-CD version of its critically acclaimed latest album, "The Age Of Nero", on September 29 via E1 Music (formerly KOCH Records). The bonus material on this special "The Age Of Nero" package has never been available in North America before. Featuring eight live and rare recordings, this set is a must-have for SATYRICON fans.

In an April 2009 interview with Sweden's Loudfarmer web site, SATYRICON drummer Kjetil-Vidar "Frost" Haraldstad stated about the group's split with bassist Victor Brandt, "We had to [part ways with him]. Being in a live band means that you have to be a team player in addition to being an individual artist, and if you cannot really manage that talent and if you can't understand what it takes of you, then it's simply not possible to go on. You will, sooner or later, get into insolvable problems regarding attitude and how the band works together and eventually it will start to have a destructive impact on the music and the performance. You can only go so far with a very deconstructive air in the band, and we felt that we were getting there. If he comes to us and says, 'I don't really feel motivated to give my best now,' and 'I don't like the vibe in the band,' it's better that we just part ways, I think. And that's what he came to us and said. He was really at a point where he was telling us out straight that he couldn't really give us what we want. And, I mean, we're SATYRICON, and we cannot have an attitude like that, and I think that he cannot live with that either. So we have had a good co-operation; his style has been very suitable for SATYRICON. But sometimes when you work with musicians in a live band, you'll come to a point where the co-operation doesn't really work out anymore. And then you just have to end the co-operation and part ways, and that's what we did. Nothing very dramatic. We hoped to have a more stable lineup that would last for awhile, but we will move on and so will he."

SATYRICON's current session bassist is Anders Odden, whose experience includes stints with such bands as APOPTYGMA BERZERK and CADAVER, as well as touring with CELTIC FROST.

Commented Frost: "[Anders is] a very skilled musician. He has a very profound musical understanding and a very solid platform. It's a temporary solution, but . . . it's tight and he goes into this with everything he's got and the band has never sounded better, really, so it's good to have him there."

Video footage of SATYRICON's performance at this year's Bloodstock Open Air festival, which was held August 14-16, 2009 at Catton Hall in Derbyshire, England, can be viewed below (courtesy of Dave Ingham a.k.a. YouTube user "triptykon").