MotherJones.com recently conducted an interview with filmmaker Joe Berlinger, who's best known for "Paradise Lost", a harrowing film about the case of the West Memphis Three — a trio of Arkansas teens convicted of murdering three eight-year-old boys based on flimsy evidence of satanism — and "Metallica: Some Kind of Monster", the 2004 rockumentary about group therapy for rock stars. An excerpt from the chat follows below.

MotherJones.com: Damien Echols [one of the West Memphis Three] says that METALLICA's "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)" is his favorite song. Did that make the connection with the band that led to "Some Kind of Monster"?

Joe Berlinger: One of the great ironies of my career is that people imagine me as some sort of hardcore metal guy because of the METALLICA film. But the reason we met METALLICA was that their lyrics were introduced into the trial. At the time I barely knew who METALLICA were. All I knew is that their music was on trial as well as Damien, and it's absurd in this country that your musical taste will define for a prosecutor that you must be a killer. So I reached out to METALLICA. We ended up really hitting it off. They gave us the music for nothing. It led to a relationship, which led to the film.

MotherJones.com: Did you get some benefit from the group therapy METALLICA went through?

Joe Berlinger: I actually did. After "Paradise Lost 2", I went and did the disaster of my career, the sequel to the "Blair Witch Project". It was not a small disaster; it was on a worldwide belly-flop level. The studio recut it and it bore zero resemblance to the film that I thought we were making. It just put me into a profound depression because it was a total disaster. So I called [METALLICA drummer] Lars Ulrich up and said, "You wanna make that film now?" I went out to San Francisco, started shooting, and within a week, the band was falling apart. Lars looked at me and said, "You know, I'm not sure, they're bringing in this performance enhancement coach." I said, "Lars, that's the film." I felt so grateful to be sitting there and listening to this because I felt like, "Look, here are incredibly successful people who are going through their own creative and existential crisis, just like me." I didn't know what my next move was, I felt like I fucked up my career, I was turning 40, just like these guys were. It just was this incredibly uplifting, inspiring experience to witness these guys going through it at a time when I really needed to hear some of that stuff.

So the METALLICA film was like this incredible life experience where I learned the most through guys that stereotypically you would think couldn't offer much to you. That's what I love about the film: It explodes your stereotype of them — they're not just a bunch of lugheads banging on the guitar.

Read the entire interview from MotherJones.com.

U.K.'s Guardian.co.uk reports: It was a throwaway statistic in an article about the heavy metal band SLAYER that got Jonathan Pieslak thinking. During the Gulf war, he read, some 40% of the band's fan mail came from soldiers stationed in the Middle East.

Professor Pieslak is a music theorist at the City College of New York. Over the past few years he has interviewed U.S. soldiers about the music they listen to and – more importantly — what they listen to it for.

You wouldn't expect much Chris de Burgh or Barry White to come floating over the barbed wire fences around military camps in Iraq or Afghanistan, and Pieslak's research confirms the hunch. The playlists are dominated by SLAYER, METALLICA, EMINEM and others.

Read the entire article from Guardian.co.uk.

Click on player below to hear Sergeant First Class CJ Grisham talking about METALLICA, which they played from a sound system rigged to their armored vehicle.

Altitude TV recently conducted an interview with Josh Todd and Keith Nelson of BUCKCHERRY. Topics discussed include how they really got the KISS tour, their new live CD, and how they two have managed to keep the BUCKCHERRY train rolling. Watch the four-minute clip below.

BUCKCHERRY's new live album, called "Live & Loud", was released on September 29.

The track listing is as follows:

01. Tired of You
02. Next 2 You
03. Broken Glass
04. Check Your Head
05. Lit Up
06. Talk To Me
07. Rescue Me
08. Rose
09. For the Movies
10. Ridin'
11. Lawless and Lulu
12. Everything
13. Sorry
14. Crazy Bitch
15. Cream

The album was released on Eleven Seven Music with distribution through RED.

When asked on a conference call with reporters why BUCKCHERRY wanted to open for KISS, singer Josh Todd said: "The reason we're touring with KISS is 'cause we wanna be involved in events, and this is a huge event. They've been 35 years out there and that's impressive for anybody to do. You know, they broke a lot of rules and we love that, you know, and they stuck to what they love to do and, you know, that's important to us. Plus we're huge KISS fans and they put on, like, an incredible show and we wanna be a part of that."

BUCKCHERRY reissued its fourth studio album, 2008's "Black Butterfly", in an enhanced edition on September 8. The new version swaps out the song "Too Drunk..." for the band's cover of DEEP PURPLE's "Highway Star", which the group recorded for NASCAR coverage on TNT.

Todd and guitarist Keith Nelson also told Billboard.com this month that there will be new BUCKCHERRY music next year, with Todd adding that the band is "working on a project we're kind of keeping secretive right now. It's definitely going to be a departure from what we do. It's definitely coming out great."

FOHonline.com reports that Gordon "Gungi" Paterson, a highly respected and well-liked FOH (front-of-house) engineer for such acts as JUDAS PRIEST, DEEP PURPLE and RAINBOW, died Monday, September 28 after a three-year battle with lymphoma. As per his wishes, there will be no memorial service in Seattle, where Gungi, his wife Bridget, and their children made their home.

Commented METALLICA's longtime soundman "Big" Mick Hughes: "I met Gungi many years ago, and I had always fondly thought of him as an originator of mixing techniques, some of which I still employ today. The world of live sound was a little in the dark ages in those days and Gungi was a founding member in the fight to make it what we enjoy today. Total respect. God bless, my old friend. Rest in peace."

Legendary guitarist Steve Vai said: "I first met Gungi on the DAVID LEE ROTH 'Eat 'Em and Smile' tour. He was our front of house mixer. Gungi was Scottish and a giant of a man at over seven feet tall with an even larger heart. I had the honor of working with him on my 'Fire Garden' tour where he tour managed and did front of house sound.

"Gungi was one of those people who was always smiling and never had a bad word to say about anyone. He was honest, professional and had a great sense of humor and joy about him. You could not help but feel uplifted being around him."

"Sending Signals", the new video from Jacksonville, Florida's EVERGREEN TERRACE, can be viewed below. The song comes off the group's new full-length album, "Almost Home", which was released on September 29 via Metal Blade Records.

Continuing its blistering combination of melodic hardcore and metal, EVERGREEN TERRACE has gone back to its roots on "Almost Home". "I think this record will surprise the new listeners as well as have the old ones stoked," stated guitarist Josh James. " I'd say its best described as a good mixture of 'Burned Alive by Time' [2002] and 'Wolfbiker' [2007]."

Splitting the recording process of the album in half, the band tracked all the music at Martell Studios and all of the vocals at AudioHammer (AUGUST BURNS RED, BURY YOUR DEAD, TRIVIUM, etc.).

"We've always had a lot of pop culture references in our song titles and this record is no exception," said James. "Before we even started writing new songs, we already have a list of titles from books, movies, and comedians. Half of the song titles on this record are pulled from the lyrics. The others are pop culture references that relate to the lyrical content."

"Almost Home" track listing:

01. Enemy Sex
02. Almost Home (III)
03. God Rocky is This Your Face?
04. We're Always Losing Blood
05. Sending Signals
06. Mario Speedwagon
07. Failure to Operate
08. Hopelessly Hopeless
09. The Letdown
10. I'm a Bulletproof Tiger
11. Not Good Enough

EVERGREEN TERRACE was just out on the road with EMMURE as part of the Hard Knock Life tour. Also on the bill were STICK TO YOUR GUNS, FOR TODAY, and OCEANO. The band will end the tour October 3 with a headlining CD-release show in Jacksonville and an all-star lineup, including THE CHARIOT, BURDEN OF A DAY, CASEY JONES, THICK AS BLOOD and HELLO DANGER.

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

Karlstad, Sweden-based metal/rock band SPARZANZA has issued the following update:

"On October 1, our new single will be released! This is the first cover that SPARZANZA has ever recorded, and it is probably the best version you have ever heard of BILLY IDOL's hit song 'Rebel Yell'. It will only be released as a digital single with two versions — full version and a radio edit! Buy it at iTunes or take a listen at Spotify."

SPARZANZA's fourth CD, "In Voodoo Veritas", was released in Finland on April 8 via Black Cult/Kabuki Records.

The band recently announced the addition of guitarist Magnus Eronen (MOANING WIND, SPACE PROBE TAURUS, CAPRICORN) to the group's ranks. Eronen joined SPARZANZA as the replacement for David Johannesson, who quit the band last year to join MUSTASCH.

The "final cut" of "Methadream", the latest video from SPARZANZA, can be viewed below.

SPARZANZA's third CD, "Banisher of the Light", was released in March 2007 via Black Cult Records. The album included the song "Dead Rising", featuring an appearance by THE HAUNTED frontman Peter Dolving.

Dolving previously worked with SPARZANZA as the group's producer.

Dutch death metallers TOXOCARA have issued the following update:

"As some might have noticed, some serious lineup changes have been going around in TOXOCARA lately. Former drummer Michiel van der Plicht joined the forces of GOD DETHRONED what will take all his time as a full-time musician. Guitarist Vince Zwarts is disarmed and has at this moment other musical interests and goals.

"TOXOCARA welcomes Romeo Gerrits (VICTIMIZER) as the replacement for Michiel van der Plicht and Petra Guijt (DEADCELL, SOULREAVER, THE 11TH HOUR) as the replacement for Vince Zwarts. The bass guitar will be abused by Barry Geerligs (DEATH SQUAD).

"As for now, the writing process of the third TOXOCARA album is almost finished. The album will again be released through Twilight-Vertrieb Records.

"From December 12, TOXOCARA will be performing live again, headlining the To Hellfest festival in Groesbeek, Holland."

TOXOCARA's second full-length album, "The Great Rebellious", was released in January 2008 via Twilight-Vertrieb.

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

St. Petersburg Times reports that Margaret Priebe is 85 years old and a huge METALLICA fan. She's going to the band's October 3 show at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Florida with her son, Jim Priebe.

While Margaret was fighting cancer — and getting chemo — she'd stay up late and listen to METALLICA on her MP3 player, especially the band's live recording with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra. She says the heavy metal band got her through the tough times. "I always liked rock music," Priebe said. "I love drums, and I like the way they play."

"I like METALLICA — there's nothing wrong with them," Margaret added. "People think I'm weird. But I'm sorry, I like it loud."

Read the entire report from St. Petersburg Times.

BROTHERS OF THE SONIC CLOTH, led by Seattle music legend Tad Doyle (TAD, HOG MOLLY), has joined with fellow Pacific Northwest heavies MICO DE NOCHE and Violent Hippy Records to bring you a very limited (500 copies) debut vinyl release. It is available for preorder now at www.taddoyle.com; select independent record stores will have copies for sale on October 13.

BROTHERS OF THE SONIC CLOTH fill Side A with over 12 minutes of epic riffage in the form of "Fires Burn Dim in the Shadows of the Mountain". At turns bludgeoning, charging, and psychedelic, Doyle and bandmates Peggy Tully (INCITING RIOTS) on bass and Aaron DC Edge (HIMSA, I AM THE THORN) on drums take the listener on a cinematically aural journey to Doomsville. Imagine a tribe of cro-magnon nomads inventing not the wheel, but giant loud-ass tube amps and finding alien blueprints for some pre-Bonham set of mammoth Ludwigs. Recorded by Tad at Studio Witch Ape, you could say it's heavy, and you'd be right.

MICO DE NOCHE drops two audio bombs on the B side — "Ganges" and "Misanthrope". Ripping and throbbing through themes of death and hate (metal?!?!?!), the Northwest's best kept secret unleash chooglin', galloping sludge like it was your goddamn birthday.

Formed in 2001, the duo of Donovan Stewart and Mike Clam have expanded Mico De Noche in recent years to include Chad Baker (bass) and Reno Dave (drums). Reno Dave is actually from…..wait for it… Reno. Tony Dallas Reed (STONE AXE, MOS GENERATOR) captured the band's angst and joy at Temple Sound in Port Orchard, Washington.

A record-release show is set for October 10 at Seattle's Comet Tavern. BROTHERS OF THE SONIC CLOTH and MICO DE NOCHE will be joined by MADRASO and BLACK ELK.

Fan-filmed video footage of VADER's September 28, 2009 performance at 013 in Tilburg, The Netherlands can be viewed below (courtesy of "letthedeathmetalflow").

VADER's new album, "Necropolis", was released in North America on September 22. The CD was recorded at Hertz studios in Bialystok, Poland with the Wieslawski Bros.. Tue Madsen, who previously worked with such bands as MOONSPELL, CATARACT, HEAVEN SHALL BURN and many more, mixed the CD at his Antfarm Studios in Denmark.

"Necropolis" was released in two formats: a regular jewel-case (11 tracks only) and a limited edition digipack with the following bonus tracks + bonus DVD.

VADER will embark on the 38-date "Decibel Presents: Nuclear Blast's Monsters Of Death Tour" through North America beginning November 4 in Baltimore, Maryland.

The complete billing for the trek is as follows:

VADER
DECREPIT BIRTH
WARBRINGER
THE AMENTA
AUGURY
SUCCESS WILL WRITE APOCALYPSE ACROSS THE SKY *

* To be replaced by SWASHBUCKLE on several dates

The "Monsters of Death Tour" will mark the North American debut of VADER's current lineup:

Piotr "Peter" Wiwczarek - Guitar/Vocals
Waclaw "Vogg" Kieltyka (DECAPITATED) - Guitar
Reyash - Bass
Pawel Jaroszewicz (SOUL SNATCHER) - Drums

St. Louis, Missouri's LYE BY MISTAKE will release its second album, "Fea Jur", on October 13 via Black Market Activities. A track from the CD, "Invincible Badass", is now available for streaming at this location.

According to a press release, "Invincible Badass" "showcases LYE BY MISTAKE's blazing prog-metal fusion (formerly with vocals, now instrumental) that has made fans out of members of BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME, among others." In an interview on MetalSucks.net in 2007, BTBAM bassist Dan Briggs was quoted as saying, "My buddies from St. Louis, LYE BY MISTAKE, I've just been listening to them so much lately. I can't get enough of them. They're honestly out of control... It's this balance of absolute insanity and really awesome, awesome brutality."
LYE BY MISTAKE have toured and played with the likes of BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME, INTRONAUT, PSYOPUS, and BEHOLD... THE ARCTOPUS. Look for them on tour soon in support of "Fea Jur".

LYE BY MISTAKE's debut album, "Arrangements For Fulminating Vective", was released in 2006 via Lambgoat Records.

Video footage of Vinnie Paul Abbott (PANTERA, DAMAGEPLAN, HELLYEAH) singing the W.A.S.P. classic "Blind In Texas" with SIN CITY SINNERS on September 19, 2009 at Ovation @ Green Valley Ranch in Las Vegas, Nevada can be viewed below (courtesy of Christy Borgman).

SIN CITY SINNERS — which consists of Brent Muscat (formerly of FASTER PUSSYCAT), Todd Kerns (AGE OF ELECTRIC), Mike Eliis, and Rob Cournoyer (RAGING SLAB) — is best known for having a special celebrity guest jam with the band each week.

The group has been taking Las Vegas by storm in 2009. They were voted "Best Local Band," second only to THE KILLERS in the Las Vegas Review-Journal's "Best Of Vegas" readers' poll.

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

Slovenian chaos black metallers BLEEDING FIST have finished recording a new mini-CD, "Macabrum Bestia Ex Abyssus", for an early 2010 release through Moribund Records. The effort will feature four completely new songs and a cover of a HELLHAMMER classic. Like the band's just-released Moribund album "Bestial Kruzifix666ion", the new CD will feature cover artwork by preeminent underground artist Sickness666 (IMPIETY, DEIPHAGO, BESTIAL MOCKERY, NUCLEAR DESECRATION). Preview tracks will be available shortly on BLEEDING FIST and Moribund's web sites.

For more information, visit www.bleeding-fist.com.

Video footage of KISS' "extremely hard-working crew" setting up the stage for the band's September 25-26, 2009 performances at Cobo Arena in Detroit, Michigan can be viewed below.

KISS kicked off its Alive 35 North American tour on September 25 at the Cobo Arena. The band played its classic album "Alive!" in its entirety, and introduced a new stage set, pyro effects that only the "hottest band in the world" could deliver, and all-new costumes. Fans were treated to a two-and-a-half-hour set of some of rock's greatest hits, including "Rock and Roll All Night" and "Detroit Rock City", as well "Modern Day Delilah", the first single from the band's new album, "Sonic Boom".

The band's setlist was as follows (Sept. 25, 2009):

01. Deuce
02. Strutter
03. Got to Choose
04. Hotter Than Hell
05. Nothin' to Lose
06. C'mon and Love Me
07. Parasite
08. She
09. Watchin' You
10. 100,000 Years
11. Cold Gin
12. Let Me Go, Rock 'n' Roll
13. Black Diamond
14. Rock and Roll All Night

Encore:

15. Shout It Out Loud
16. Lick It Up
17. I Love it Loud
18. Modern Day Delilah
19. Love Gun
20. Detroit Rock City

Check out a review from Billboard.com.

KISS filmed footage for the "Modern Day Delilah" video during the band's private warm-up show at Cobo Arena in Detroit, Michigan on September 24. Over 1,500 lucky fans attended the event, where the group also previewed its new stage and taped two songs for an upcoming episode of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!"

KISS' appearance on ABC-TV's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" will be broadcast on the Wednesday, October 7 episode (which will actually air the morning of Thursday, October 8).

KISS's new album, "Sonic Boom", will be released in Europe on October 5 via Loud & Proud/Roadrunner Records. The CD will be made available in the U.S. and Canada on October 6 exclusively via Wal-Mart, Walmart.com and Sam's Club retail locations.

Epic doom metallers WHILE HEAVEN WEPT will release their long-awaited new album, "Vast Oceans Lachrymose", on November 3 in North America and November 6 in Europe via Cruz Del Sur Music.

Commented the band: "After five tumultuous years, approximately 14 years after it was first discussed (albeit with a different tracklist), anyway, the bottom line it is done. There's no doubt we could've continued working on it, but perhaps the details and minutia that would be affected are ultimately irrelevant to anyone outside of the band and our engineer Chris Salamone. Further, we literally worked up to the very last possible minute given the time necessary to manufacture and ship in time for the release dates. We will also be making the album and various tracks available electronically via all the existing options, and more details will be made available regarding that soon. Additionally, a 180gm audiophile LP version (in a stellar gatefold sleeve) will be released via Maniacal Records in a limited edition of 500 copies. The actual release date of this will be determined after we've had the chance to listen to the test pressings and insure all is well. Expect it before the end of the year, however."

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

According to Interbridge.com's The Late Night TV Page, KISS will guest on CBS-TV's "Late Show With David Letterman" on Tuesday, October 6.

KISS filmed footage for the "Modern Day Delilah" video during the band's private warm-up show at Cobo Arena in Detroit, Michigan on September 24. Over 1,500 lucky fans attended the event, where the group also previewed its new stage and taped two songs for an upcoming episode of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!"

KISS' appearance on ABC-TV's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" will be broadcast on the Wednesday, October 7 episode (which will actually air the morning of Thursday, October 8).

KISS's new album, "Sonic Boom", will be released in Europe on October 5 via Loud & Proud/Roadrunner Records. The CD will be made available in the U.S. and Canada on October 6 exclusively via Wal-Mart, Walmart.com and Sam's Club retail locations.

"Sonic Boom", produced by guitarist/vocalist Paul Stanley in Los Angeles, is the centerpiece of a three-disc set that also features a completely re-recorded greatest hits CD (previously available in Japan) as well as a live DVD shot in Argentina during the band's recent, record-breaking KISS Alive 35 South American tour. The CD set will retail for $12, with pre-orders starting in September on Walmart.com.

Wal-Mart, one of America's largest music retailers, is finalizing its exciting plans now for its in-store and online destinations for KISS fans surrounding the launch of the new album and tour, and will host various KISS products in addition to their music in its stores this fall. More details on Wal-Mart KISS activity, announcements regarding album pre-sales, sweepstakes and KISS appearances will be shared shortly.

The "Sonic Boom" cover art was created by Michael Doret, who also designed the band's classic "Rock And Roll Over" album cover.

"Der Geistertreiber", the new video from Austrian blackened death metal outfit BELPHEGOR, can be viewed below. The clip was shot in Abtenau, Austria with director Walter Fanninger.

Commented frontman Helmuth: "The song is about the celebration on the 30th of April, better known as the Walpurgis Nacht, the occult celebrations on the broken mountain. It's the first time that we hired a professional camera team for a BELPHEGOR video, so the result is beyond amazing. We rented a cottage three days high in the mountains in middle of nowhere in the woods. There was nothing around. Just a lot of excess, alcohol, substances etc. Was a great intense time!"

"Der Geistertreiber" comes off BELPHEGOR's eighth full-length studio album, "Walpurgis Rites - Hexenwahn", which is scheduled for release on October 9 in Europe and October 20 in North American via Nuclear Blast Records. The follow-up to 2008's "Bondage Goat Zombie" was recorded at Andy Classen's (LEGION OF THE DAMNED, DEW-SCENTED, NEAERA, ASPHYX) Stage One Studios in Kassel, Germany.

"Walpurgis Rites Hexenwahn" track listing:

01. Walpurgis Rites
02. Veneratio Diaboli - I Am Sin
03. Hail The New Flesh
04. Reichswehr In Blood
05. The Crosses Made Of Bone
06. Der Geistertreiber
07. Destroyer Hekate
08. Enthralled Toxic Sabbath
09. Hexenwahn - Totenkult

Check out the cover artwork below.

The digipack version will include the video for the track "Der Geistertreiber" as well as making-of material.

Commented Helmuth: "With these nine compositions/arrangements, we continue to piss on the damn mainstream. It's BELPHEGOR to the highest; the hymns are extremely varied, more intense and epic than ever, [and] there are new elements and structures added. Also, we used some haunting samples here and there, to give the album a cold and ritualistic feel."

He continued, "On 'Walpurgis Rites - Hexenwahn', you will hear my most fucked up vocals to date; also the lyrical content is offensive and insane. The witch/devil concept is amazing to work with and we used alot of original chants/ incantations from archaic scripts."

BELPHEGOR has tapped Brazilian artist Marcelo Hvc to handle the graphics for the new album.

Added Serpenth: "The idea is to capture the okkultic orgiastic processions from the Broken Mountain, the Walpurgis night in the images."

Check out photos from the recording sessions at this location.

"Bondage Goat Zombie" entered the Austrian album chart at position No. 42 upon its release in early 2008. The CD also landed on the German chart at No. 81.

Stop Smiling magazine recently conducted an interview with original KISS guitarist Ace Frehley. An excerpt from the chat follows below.

Stop Smiling: The original members of KISS reunited in 1996 after 17 years. Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Peter Criss and yourself. What are memories of the reunion tour?

Ace Frehley: It started off great. It was really strange because we wearing our old costumes, and it wasn't that different from tours from the past. I remember a couple of times doing shows feeling like I'd really gone back in time. It was bizarre. But as the tour progressed, things got weird, people started saying the same old things, pushing people's buttons, and it wasn't fun anymore. It was like the early '80s all over again.

Stop Smiling: What, specifically, were people saying?

Ace Frehley: I don't want to get into specifics. People started doing a lot of the same things that they were doing around my first departure [in 1982]. Making decisions without me. Originally it was put together in the spirit of we were all gonna kind of do this together, and the next thing I know, I'm feeling like a hired gun and I don't have any say in anything. And that's not fun. The four of us invented KISS and brought it to the world. It just wasn't fun anymore.

Stop Smiling: After 17 years you were reunited. Was it all business or did you ever have moments were you hung out with the other guys in the band just as friends?

Ace Frehley: It wasn't like the old days. Pretty much everyone went their own way.

Stop Smiling: You and Peter didn't share your old bond?

Ace Frehley: Not like we used to. I wasn't really allowed to drink on that tour. It was a business. It was a machine. After we got into the day-to-day business of it, it made me remember why I quit the group in the first place [Laughs].

Stop Smiling: On one of the "Kissology" DVDs that came out a few years ago, they talk about a Southern California concert that you almost pulled a no show. What happened?

Ace Frehley: That was crazy. I was in New York and I had to fly in for the show and I'd missed a flight and I was having some family problems and my daughter ended up flying out with me. I think we had missed the second flight even. We were gonna land about an hour before the show. I know Tommy [Thayer, KISS's road manager at the time and current KISS guitarist] was already in make-up. They had a chopper waiting for me when I landed that took me to Irvine Meadows. I put the make-up on in a half-hour and did the show. [Laughs]. I feel bad because I gave a lot of people some tense moments. And that wasn't the only time. I feel bad about it, but I wasn't all there.

Stop Smiling: When did KISS go from being this glitter-punk New York street band to a business?

Ace Frehley: It wasn't one day, it's just the way things started getting more about merchandising and became more about marketing than the music. I got involved in rock and roll because I loved it. And it was fun. And for a time, I said, "I'm the luckiest fuckin' guy in the world. I'm doin' something I love to do and I'm getting paid a lot of money for it." And I was gettin' to see the whole world and it was great. And then all of a sudden when you start reading contracts and fine print and you realize that people are deceiving you about this and that and your lawyer tells you it's a lot more money than you thought, and it starts not being fun anymore. You think that everyone is doing it in the spirit that you think they are doing it, and then you find out there are ulterior motives.

Stop Smiling: Who are you speaking about?

Ace Frehley: I don't want to mention names. It was people who were handling us. We had to sue our record company. We had to sue our business managers. And then the IRS takes a crack at you. It wasn't fun anymore and it's all because of being mismanagement and people trying to take this and that they shouldn't be taking.

Read the entire interview from Stop Smiling magazine.

According to Hits Daily Double, the companion web site of music industry tip sheet HITS, "Dethalbum II", the new album by DETHKLOK — the animated band from Adult Swim's "Metalocalypse" — is on track to sell between 30,000 and 40,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release.

"Dethalbum II" was released on September 29 via Williams Street Records. The effort features 12 full-length tracks detailing DETHKLOK's exploits in murder, mayhem and all things brutal. Written by Small and recorded alongside legendary drummer Gene Hoglan, "Dethklok: Dethalbum II" was released as both a standard edition and a two-disc deluxe edition on CD and digital download. Additionally, a limited-edition vinyl of the album was released in to local record shops.

The track listing is as follows:

01. Bloodlines
02. The Gears
03. Burn the Earth
04. Laser Canon Deth Sentence
05. Black Fire Upon Us
06. Deth Support
07. The Cyborg Slayers
08. I Tamper with the Evidence at the Murder Site of Odin
09. Murmaider II: The Water God
10. Comet Song
11. Symmetry
12. Volcano

The deluxe edition includes a bonus DVD with 52 minutes of never-before-released music videos featured in the 2008 DETHKLOK tour.

Check out the cover artwork below.

Created by Brendon Small ("Home Movies") and Tommy Blacha ("Da Ali G Show"), the "Metalocalypse" television series launched in 2006 and is on its third season on Adult Swim. One of the most popular series on the cable network, "Metalocalypse" portrays DETHKLOK as a Norwegian band with unheard-of popularity, even ranking them as the seventh-largest economy on earth. In 2007, this phenomenal virtual success transformed into real-life success with the CD release of "Dethalbum". Constructed of full-length songs only partially heard during the show's episodes, "Dethalbum" took audiences by storm and has seen unparalleled success. Performed by a commanding assemblage of renowned metal musicians, the album debuted at No. 21 on The Billboard 200 and sold more than 33,000 copies within its first week, making "Dethalbum" the highest-selling death metal album ever, with more than 270,000 copies sold to date.

The real-life version of DETHKLOK will take part in an in-store signing session at Graywhale in Taylorsville, Utah on Friday, October 9 at 4:00 p.m.

Graywhale
1775 West 4700 South
Taylorsville, UT
Tel.: 801-964-5700

DETHKLOK will team up with Atlanta's hard rock icons MASTODON for a co-headlining tour in October/November. Also scheduled to appear are CONVERGE and HIGH ON FIRE. The 34-city trek will kick off October 2 and will scorch the nation coast to coast.

Fuzzy of Australia's "Video Hits" conducted an interview with guitarist/vocalist Steve "Lips" Kudlow and drummer Robb Reiner of Canadian metal legends ANVIL on the band's first visit to Australia. Watch the three-minute chat below.

ANVIL's re-release of the group's latest album, "This is Thirteen", sold around 1,400 copies in the United States in its first week of release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The CD landed at position No. 19 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.

"This is Thirteen" was finally given proper national distribution on CD and vinyl on September 15 via VH1 Classic Records. The collectible double vinyl LP boasts newly re-recorded versions of ANVIL classics "Metal on Metal" and "666". The album, originally recorded in 2007 and produced by Chris Tsangarides (JUDAS PRIEST, THIN LIZZY), was primarily available directly from the band via their web site and at their concerts.

ANVIL, considered a major influence for a generation of hard rockers including METALLICA, SLAYER, ANTHRAX, and GUNS N' ROSES, was the subject of a critically acclaimed, must-see rock-doc, "Anvil! The Story of Anvil", directed by Sacha Gervasi. And in the process, the film has made the group (led by Kudlow and Reiner — both founding members) a household name. But the group's story will certainly not end with the film.

According to RollingStone.com, ANVIL is currently re-recording several other classics with producer Chris Tsangarides, which will be included on a forthcoming "Anvil!" soundtrack. "What happened was the label that owns the old material wanted so much money to license the songs, that it became ridiculous," explained Lips. "In fact, it was far cheaper to go in and re-record in the same studio [Phase One], with the same producer, and re-do the songs. The new version of 'Forged in Fire' is amazing — I think the original version was played too fast. Remarkably, we're getting a second chance to record the songs."

Other freshly re-recorded tunes are "Winged Assassins", "March Of The Crabs", and "School Love". "It's going to be a true 'Best of Anvil', in a way," added Reiner.

According to Hits Daily Double, the companion web site of music industry tip sheet HITS, ALICE IN CHAINS's first all-new album in 14 years, titled "Black Gives Way To Blue", is on track to sell between 130,000 and 140,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD will likely land in the Top 5 of next week's The Billboard 200 chart, behind latest albums from PARAMORE, MARIAH CAREY, BARBRA STREISAND and BREAKING BENJAMIN.

Following its last, self-titled record in 1995, the once-mighty Seattle-based act went into a long period of inactivity, partially due to the drug problems of singer Layne Staley. Staley died in 2002, but it was another four years until the three remaining members of the band, guitarist Jerry Cantrell, bassist Mike Inez and drummer Sean Kinney, first regrouped for a benefit show and then officially returned with new frontman William DuVall.

Cantrell told The Pulse of Radio that with the completion of a new album — something he wasn't sure would ever happen — he thinks ALICE IN CHAINS is back to stay. "You know, the possibilities are limitless," he said. "The cool thing is, this band is alive, and we're alive. And we've had an amazing life. And we've lost some people along the way, and we've had to change, and we've had to dig within ourselves to answer some very serious questions about life. It's been a real meaningful journey, and we're really dedicated to going through the process, you know, and seeing what life has to offer."

ALICE IN CHAINS recruited pop legend Elton John to contribute piano to the CD's title track, which is written in tribute to Staley.

William DuVall had played with his own group, COMES WITH THE FALL, as well as in Jerry Cantrell's solo band, before joining up with ALICE IN CHAINS in 2006.

"Black Gives Way to Blue" was recorded with producer Nick Raskulinecz (FOO FIGHTERS, RUSH) at the Northridge, California studio of FOO FIGHTERS frontman Dave Grohl.

"The Curse Of The Antichrist - Live In Agony", the new double live album from German thrash metal veterans DESTRUCTION, will be released in North America on October 13. The CD was issued in Europe on September 25 via AFM Records.

The song "Curse The Gods" from "The Curse Of The Antichrist - Live In Agony" is now available for streaming on the band's MySpace page.

The limited digipack edition of the album will feature the following track listing:

01. The Butcher Strikes Back
02. Curse The Gods
03. Mad Butcher
04. The Alliance Of Hellhoundz
05. D.E.V.O.L.U.T.I.O.N.
06. Eternal Ban
07. Urge The Greed Of Gain
08. Thrash Till Death
09. Metal Discharge
10. The Damned
11. Cracked Brain
12. Soulcollector
13. Death Trap
14. Unconscious Ruins
15. Life Without Sense
16. The 7 Deadly Sins
17. The Antichrist
18. Thrash Till Death
19. Reject Emotions (three drumkits Wacken Inferno version)
20. Total Desaster
21. Bestial Invasion

DESTRUCTION recently completed the "D.E.V.O.L.U.T.I.O.N. - 25 Years Of Total Destruction" North American trek with KRISIUN and MANTIC RITUAL.

"D.E.V.O.L.U.T.I.O.N.", the latest studio album from DESTRUCTION, last year entered the Media Control chart in the band's home country at position No. 65. The CD was released on August 22, 2008 via AFM Records and features guest appearances by Gary Holt (EXODUS), Jeff Waters (ANNIHILATOR) and Vinnie Moore (UFO).

"Riptide", a brand new song from long-running German metallers PARADOX, is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page. The track comes off the group's fifth album, "Riot Squad", which is scheduled for release on October 16 via AFM Records. The cover artwork was once again created by Claudio Bergamin and can be viewed below.

"Riot Squad" was produced by Charly Steinhauer and it was mixed and mastered by Achim Köhler. It contains "10 crystal-clear and powerful sounding thrashers full of energy, speed, melody and originality," according to a press release.

"Riot Squad" track listing:

01. Suburban Riot Squad (5:07)
02. Hollow Peace (5:33)
03. Riptide (4:03)
04. Rise In Rank (4:26)
05. Evolution Reset (5:31)
06. Nothingness (5:24)
07. No Place To Survive (2:55)
08. Dream Hero (5:08)
09. Planet Terror (6:43)
10. Psychofficial (3:37)

A trailer for "Riot Squad" can be viewed below.

PARADOX is:

Charly Steinhauer (vocals, guitar)
Kai Pasemann (guit)
Olly Keller (bass)
Roland Jahoda (drums)

Original CANDIRIA guitarist Chris Puma passed away on September 20, according to a statement released by the band. "The cause is not known to us, as his family did not speak of it," the group says. "He leaves behind two children — 3-year-old Aislinn A'marie and 4-month-old Aidan Todd.

"Chris was a great friend to the founding members of the band, and a respected musician among his friends and peers. He was a kind and gentle person and he will be missed."

One of the founding members of CANDIRIA, Puma played guitar in the band from 1992 to 1997, in the process helping to create the unique sound that CANDIRIA is known for today. He can be heard on such CANDIRIA records as "Deep in the Mental" (1995) and "Surrealistic Madness" (1995).

The first two volumes of CANDIRIA's four-volume set of rarities and remixes, "Toying With The Insanities", was released on September 9 through Rising Pulse Records.

"Toying With The Insanities" features remixed songs from CANDIRIA's first three albums. The band brought on special guest remixers to help out with the project. "Faction" was taken from the band's 1997 release, "Beyond Reasonable Doubt", and was remixed by fellow New Yorker, and industrial/techno experimentalist, Edgey.

Each volume contains remixed tracks from CANDIRIA's first three albums, which were put together by special guest remixers from bands such as THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, DALEK, KAYO DOT, FISHBONE and more.

Duff McKagan (VELVET REVOLVER, GUNS N' ROSES, DUFF MCKAGAN'S LOADED), Dave Navarro (JANE'S ADDICTION), Tom Morello (RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE), Dave Kushner (VELVET REVOLVER), Chris Chaney (ex-JANE'S ADDICTION) and Wayne Kramer (MC5) are among the musicians who took part in the Scott Ford Benefit show this past Saturday (September 26) at The Roxy in West Hollywood, California. All money raised will go towards helping bassist Scott Ford (TWILIGHT SINGERS, THE GUTTER TWINS, CAMP FREDDY), who is suffering from an advanced bone loss medical condition resulting in severe blood infections.

Watch video footage of the performances below (courtesy of Christy Borgman).

For more information about this event, go to this location.

Lick Library, one of the world's biggest suppliers of guitar tuition DVDs, has just released a comprehensive series of Jimi Hendrix guitar tuition DVDs. These are essential for guitar players of all standards.

Widely considered as the greatest guitarist in the history of rock music, Jimi Hendrix was one of the most important and influential musicians of his era. The mere mention of his name will start many guitarists finger picking. His raw talent and creativity defined some of the most revolutionary music of the 20th Century, taking guitar playing to another level. For many though it was simply his ability to express raw emotion though music.

This new series of DVDs provides expert guitar tuition on some of Jimi Hendrix's most often requested tracks such as "Purple Haze", "All Along the Watchtower", and "Little Wing". With these DVDs you can put yourself in Jimi's shoes, learn how to play his songs, solo's, licks and riffs and see the techniques he used, then draw on the ideas and use them in your own songs!

"Learn to Play Jim Hendrix" is taught by Danny Gill, a former pupil of Joe Satriani. Volume 1 includes note-for-note guitar lessons to: "Purple Haze", "Little Wing", "Voodoo Child", "Hey Joe" and "The Wind Cries Mary". Volume 2 includes "All Along the Watchtower", "Foxey Lady", "Redhouse, Fire" and "Stone Free". You know you love these tunes; you have heard them countless times before, now you can learn to play them. Danny breaks them down into small sections, lets you learn at your own pace and shows you how to put the smaller pieces together. Simple!

"Jam with Jimi Hendrix" is also presented by Danny Gill. This DVD reveals loads of secrets including the "Hendrix Chord" which he used in so many songs. You can see how the songs are played, hear how they should sound and then try it yourself with the backing tracks. The seven tracks included, give away lots of the master's tricks and tips such as double stops, hammer-ons and those amazing Hendrix embellishments which make ordinary chords come to life. Also included is a CD of professionally recorded guitar jam tracks for each song allowing you to play along with a full session band. Tracks include "Purple Haze", "Little Wing", "All Along the Watchtower", "The Wind Cries Mary", "Crosstown Traffic", "Foxey Lady", "Hey Joe".

"Quick Licks Slow Blues in the style of Jim Hendrix" is again presented by Danny Gill. Then DVD takes a look at over 30 classic slow blues licks in the style of Jimi Hendrix. Each solo is demonstrated and explained by breaking it into "bite-sized," easy-to-follow segments. Danny also clearly describes essential key scales such as blues, major and minor pentatonic, and mixolydian as well as chord progressions and arpeggios. This DVD provides a goldmine of ideas and cool tricks that can be taken and used anywhere in your own music.

All these Jimi Hendrix products are available to purchase through www.licklibrary.com
along with over 20,000 other guitar tuition products.

Audio samples of three tracks from "El Rostro de la Muerte" ("The Face of Death"), the long-awaited new studio album from California metallers HIRAX, can be streamed using the audio players below.

"El Rostro de la Muerte" is scheduled for release on October 6. It is the veteran thrash band's first full-length since 2004's "The New Age Of Terror".

"El Rostro de la Muerte" is a dual-studio effort, combining the skills of two HIRAX producers which the band has worked with on their past three releases. The ten new tracks were recorded and engineered by John Haddad at Trench Studio in Corona, California, and mixed by Michael Rosen at Speed Semen Clove Factory in North Hollywood. The new CD will also contain one bonus track from the "Chaos and Brutality" EP, which was previously unavailable in the U.S.

"The combination of Haddad and Rosen's recording and production are perfect for the vision that we had for the sound of this album," said Katon W. De Pena. "We worked with Haddad on the last two HIRAX EPs, 'Assassins of War' and 'Chaos and Brutality'. He has a great understanding of the power and speed of HIRAX, and he knows how to bring the best of our talents to the surface. We have a lot of respect for him. HIRAX first worked with Michael Rosen back in 2004 on 'The New Age of Terror' album and it's great to be working with him again. His experience in mixing and production are what we need to complete the mega-epic sound that we are striving for. It's the first time HIRAX has ever brought two of our producers together, but it seemed like the logical thing to do since they both have an ear for detail and a certain work ethic which brings out the best in the band. Musically, it combines everything that HIRAX is known for and much, much more! TRUE THRASH METAL!!"

"El Rostro de la Muerte" will be released on Black Devil Records and Deep Six Records and will be distributed through CMDistro.com. It will be pressed in CD and vinyl formats as well as a limited-edition picture disc.

The HIRAX title "Not Dead Yet" (the band's two classic thrash metal albums "Raging Violence" and "Hate Fear And Power" together) is now available digitally through iTunes, along with "Thrash and Destroy", "Assassins of War", "The New Age of Terror", and "Barrage of Noise". The band plans to release make more of their extensive back catalog digitally by the end of the year.

"El Rostro de la Muerte":



"Broken Neck":



"Eradicate Mankind":

"Ego Anthem", the sophomore album from the Finnish metal band TRACEDAWN, has entered the official chart in the group's home country at position No. 29. The CD, which was released on September 23 via Redhouse FMP, was produced and engineered by Janne Joutsenniemi at Redhouse FMP Studio and it was mixed by Mikko Karmila at Finnvox. The cover art by Gyula Havancsák can be viewed below.

According to a press release, with "Ego Anthem" sees "TRACEDAWN redeem[ing] the high expectations their well received debut set upon them and tak[ing] it even further. The new album represents a self-assured band that combines strong melodies and furious riffs into a progressive, dynamic and contagious metal music."

Commented singer Antti Lappalainen: "This time we chose to let it all out without thinking that much and taking ourselves too serious. I think these are the biggest reasons why 'Ego Anthem' combines various influences from power and thrash to death metal. The songs can change from calm and beautiful into full blown mayhem in a blink of an eye."

"Ego Anthem" track listing:

01. Make Amends
02. Part Of The Wounded
03. Scum
04. In Your Name
05. Your Way Is Not For Me
06. Dirt Track Speedball
07. Repeating Mistakes
08. Brain Attack
09. The Forsaken

"The Forsaken", the new video from TRACEDAWN, can be viewed below.

TRACEDAWN is currently on the road in Europe as the support act for ENSIFERUM. Also appearing on the bill is METSATÖLL.

TRACEDAWN is:

Antti Lappalainen (vocals)
Tuomas Yli-Jaskari (guitar)
Roni Seppänen (guitar)
Perttu Kurttila (drums)
Pekko Heikkilä (bass)
Vili Itäpelto (keyboards)

TRACEDAWN's self titled debut album entered the Finnish chart at position No. 29.

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

(Thanks: Melica / Night Elves)

Manuel Munoz, vocalist of the French metal act THE OLD DEAD TREE, recently conducted an interview with Gregor Mackintosh, guitarist of British gothic metal pioneers PARADISE LOST. The chat can now be viewed at NRV-TV.

"Faith Divides Us - Death Unites Us", the new album from PARADISE LOST, is being released via Century Media Records on the following dates:

Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Benelux, Italy: September 25
Spain, Portugal: September 29
Sweden, Finland, Hungary: September 30
Rest Of Europe: September 28
USA: October 6

The limited formats of this landmark gothic metal opus will include two orchestral versions of the album tracks "Faith Divides Us - Death Unites Us" and "Last Regret", which were recorded by the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra in July 2008.

The limited-edition deluxe two-CD includes special packaging (DVD-sized Mediabook with O-Card in a special leather look) and a bonus track, "Cardinal Zero", on Disc 1 plus a separate bonus CD featuring the "Lost In Prague" tracks. All vinyl lovers will be delighted to hear that the album is going to be available as limited edition gatefold LP, including the bonus track "Cardinal Zero", the orchestra mixes on a separate bonus 7" EP, the entire album on CD (in a blank sleeve), and an exclusive poster.

The highly anticipated follow-up to 2007's "In Requiem", "Faith Divides Us - Death Unites Us" was recorded at Fascination Street Studios in Örebro, Sweden with producer Jens Bogren.

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. As Horizons End
02. I Remain
03. First Light
04. Frailty
05. Faith Divides Us - Death Unites Us
06. The Rise Of Denial
07. Living With Scars
08. Last Regret
09. Universal Dream
10. In Truth

The album's artwork (see below), which is based upon a "Danse Macabre" woodcut by Hans Holbein the Younger (first published in 1538), was created by Stefan Wibbeke at Medialogistics (LACUNA COIL, POISONBLACK).

PARADISE LOST's "Faith Divides Us - Death Unites Us" video can be viewed below (clip created by Nathan T Heys / Link Productions).

"Skeletons In The Closet", the new album from Finnish metallers CHILDREN OF BODOM, has entered the official chart in the band's home country at position No. 9.

"Skeletons In The Closet" was released on September 23 through Spinefarm. The follow-up to last year's "Blooddrunk" is a selection of cover versions, some of them existing recordings, others specially laid down for this release.

CHILDREN OF BODOM has been recording covers since the early days of its career, some predictably heavy ("Silent Scream" by SLAYER, for example), others reflecting an altogether broader taste ("Talk Dirty To Me" by POISON).

"Skeletons In The Closet" track listing (split by territory):

Europe:

01. Lookin' Out My Back Door (CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL)
02. Hell Is For Children (PAT BENATAR)*
03. Somebody Put Something In My Drink (RAMONES)
04. Mass Hypnosis (SEPULTURA)
05. Don´t Stop At The Top (SCORPIONS)
06. Silent Scream (SLAYER)
07. She Is Beautiful (ANDREW W.K.)
08. Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In) (KENNY ROGERS)
09. Bed Of Nails (ALICE COOPER)
10. Hellion (W.A.S.P.)
11. Aces High (IRON MAIDEN)
12. Rebel Yell (BILLY IDOL)
13. No Commands (STONE)
14. Antisocial (TRUST/ANTHRAX)*
15. Talk Dirty To Me (POISON)
16. War Inside My Head (SUICIDAL TENDENCIES)**
17. Ooops!… I Did It Again (BRITNEY SPEARS)

USA:

01. Lookin' Out My Back Door (CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL)
02. Hell Is For Children (PAT BENATAR)*
03. Somebody Put Something In My Drink (RAMONES)
04. Mass Hypnosis (SEPULTURA)
05. Don´t Stop At The Top (SCORPIONS)
06. Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In) (KENNY ROGERS)
07. Hellion (W.A.S.P.)
08. Aces High (IRON MAIDEN)
09. Rebel Yell (BILLY IDOL)
10. No Commands (STONE)
11. Antisocial (TRUST/ANTHRAX)
12. Talk Dirty To Me (POISON)
13. Ghost Riders In The Sky (STAN JONES)
14. War Inside My Head (SUICIDAL TENDENCIES)**
15. Ooops!… I Did It Again (BRITNEY SPEARS)

Japan:

01. Lookin' Out My Back Door (CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL)
02. Hell Is For Children (PAT BENATAR)*
03. Somebody Put Something In My Drink (RAMONES)
04. Don´t Stop At The Top (SCORPIONS)
05. Silent Scream (SLAYER)
06. She Is Beautiful (ANDREW W.K.)
07. Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In) (KENNY ROGERS)
08. Bed Of Nails (ALICE COOPER)
09. Aces High (IRON MAIDEN)
10. Antisocial (TRUST/ANTHRAX)*
11. Talk Dirty To Me (POISON)
12. Ghost Riders In The Sky (STAN JONES)
13. War Inside My Head (SUICIDAL TENDENCIES)**
14. Ooops!… I Did It Again (BRITNEY SPEARS)

* Previously unreleased track recorded at Beyond Abilities studios, summer 2009
** Previously unreleased track recorded at Petrax studios, fall 2007

CHILDREN OF BODOM's video for the band's cover version of the CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL classic "Lookin' Out My Back Door" can be viewed below.

CHILDREN OF BODOM is currently headlining a massive, month-long North American tour. The 20-city trek launched on Friday, September 18 at Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel in Providence, Rhode Island and will run through October 14 in Honolulu, Hawaii. Support is being provided by THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER and SKELETONWITCH.

CHILDREN OF BODOM recently released a 79-song digital box set exclusively through iTunes. It retails for $49.99.

To view the complete track listing, which does not include any previously unreleased material, go to this location.

(Thanks: Melica / Night Elves)