Columbus, Ohio radio station The Blitz WBZX 99.7 FM is currently auctioning a Washburn Dime V guitar autographed by all members of DAMAGEPLAN — including late guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott — at this location. Only ten of these guitars were autographed by the entire group and the entire proceeds from this auction will be given to the families of Erin Halk and Nathan Bray, who offered their lives to save Dimebag in the senseless nightclub tragedy that took place in Columbus early last month. The bidding will end at noon on Friday, January 21. The current bid is $5000.00, held by John Rankin.

SEVEN WITCHES, the band featuring former SAVATAGE guitarist Jack Frost and HELSTAR singer James Rivera, will be filming their February 12 show in Allentown, PA on for an upcoming DVD, "Year of the Witch", tentatively due later in the year. The band are expected to perform material from all five of their albums, including their most recent effort, also titled "Year of the Witch", available now on Sanctuary Records.

Upcoming SEVEN WITCHES shows:

Feb. 01 - Peabody's Downunder - Cleveland, OH
Feb. 04 - Club Rockit - Toronto, ONT
Feb. 05 - I-Rock Nightclub - Detroit, MI
Feb. 08 - Vnuk's Lounge - Cudahy, WI
Feb. 09 - Penny Road Pub - South Barrington, IL
Feb. 10 - JJ Kelley's - Lansing, IL

Dallas, TX-based A DOZEN FURIES beat out North Carolina's CYNDER (now CYN) in the "Battle for Ozzfest" finale to win a highly coveted tour spot on Ozzfest 2005, plus band gear and enough money to cover all their expenses. In addition, the band were presented with a recording contract from Sanctuary Records, which they are expected to sign before beginning work on their full-length debut.

Formed in late 2003, A DOZEN FURIES have recorded a self-produced EP ("Rip These Stars Down") and have toured extensively. A video of A DOZEN FURIES performing on the main stage of Ozzfest 2004 in Tampa can be viewed at this location.

Ironically, guitarist Marc Serrano, who was chosen to represent A DOZEN FURIES in the "Battle for Ozzfest" competition, had previously performed at Ozzfest 2003 as part of the now-defunct former Maverick recording artists UNLOCO — a fact that was never mentioned on the show.

For more information on A DOZEN FURIES, visit their official web site.

KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons attended the 2005 Adult Video News Awards on Saturday (Jan. 8) at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas and the 2005 AVN Adult Entertainment Expo on Saturday (Jan. 8) and Sunday (Jan. 9) at the Sand Expo Center in Las Vegas. Also present at the AVN Adult Entertainment Expo was BIOHAZARD frontman/adult film actor Evan Seinfeld (a.k.a. Spyder Jones) and his porn-star wife Tera Patrick. Check out pictures from Wire Image: AVN Awards (Gene, All), AVN Expo (Gene, All); Getty Images.

KAMELOT's new album, "The Black Halo", will be released in Japan on February 16 and will include two bonus tracks ("Epilogue" and "Soul Society" radio edit), according to the group's management. The European version, which is scheduled to it stores on March 14, will be a limited-edition digipak with two additional bonus cuts ("The Haunting" radio edit and "March of Mephisto" radio edit). The CD is scheduled for release in North America on March 15 via SPV Records.

"The Black Halo", which was recently named Album of the Month by the writers of Burrn! (Japan's biggest and most respected metal magazine), was produced by Sascha Paeth and Miro at Gate and Pathway studios in Germany. Guest musicians on the album include Shagrath (DIMMU BORGIR), Jens Johansson (STRATOVARIUS), Simone Simons (EPICA), Mari (MASQUERAID), as well as the KAMELOT choir, featuring Herbie Langhans (SEVENTH AVENUE), Amanda Somerville-Scharf, Miro, Gerit Göbel, Thomas Rettke (HEAVEN'S GATE) and Elisabeth Kjaernes, among others.

Swedish death metallers NOMINON have announced the addition of second guitarist Kristian Strömblad to the group's ranks. Strömblad, who is being described by the rest of the band as "a 1.95-meter tall fucker," has helped bring "an even more intense and heavier sound to the diabolical freaks of death metal," according to a posting on the group's web site.

In other news, NOMINON have revealed that their upcoming CD, "Recremation", will include nine previously unreleased tracks — "mostly new shit, written during 2004/05, plus an old track that NOMINON previously recorded late 2001, but with a new song lyrics, though," the band write on their web site. Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Condemned To Die", "Into Black", "The End Written In Blood", "Submit To Evil", "Sickening" and "Buried By Me".

"Recremation" is tentatively scheduled for release in March via Konqueror Records. The CD will be recorded between January 21 and January 30 at Necromorbus studio in Stockholm with engineer T. Stjerna. A limited edition (500 copies) 12" LP vinyl version will be made available through Blood Harvest Records. The artwork for the CD is being conceived by Chris Moyen (INCANTATION, BEHERIT, SATHANAS, VITAL REMAINS, MORTICIAN).

NOMINON, who recently announced the addition of ABSURDO CULTO singer Daniel Garptoft to the group's ranks, completed a European tour with BENEDICTION and GODHATE last October.

A brand-new TRIVIUM track, entitled "Pull Harder On The Strings of Your Martyr", has been posted online in MP3 format at this location (4.6 MB).

"Pull Harder On The Strings of Your Martyr" comes off the group's upcoming CD, "Ascendancy", due on March 15 via Roadrunner Records.

Formed in 2000 in Orlando, FL, by high school friends Travis Smith and Matt Heafy, TRIVIUM made a name on the local scene by winning several battle of the bands competitions. After various line-up changes, Beaulieu joined the group and they released "Ember To Inferno" on Germany's Lifeforce Records in 2003. Solidifying the line-up, Gregoletto joined the band for last summer's Road Rage tour with CHIMAIRA and MACHINE HEAD. In addition to the Road Rage tour, TRIVIUM have toured with KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, FEAR FACTORY, ICED EARTH, ILL NINO and others.

A wig purportedly used by KISS guitarist/vocalist Paul Stanley during the making of the group's 1989 video, "Rise to It", is currently being auctioned on eBay. A message on the auction page from the seller, Alexx Michael from the band SHAMELESS, reads as follows:

"This is a wig for the top of Paul's head that he used in the 'Rise to It' video. His initials are on the inside of the wig. This wig was just a part of his head. It was on top over his real hair. This is the real deal!!!! [Check out pictures: Photo#1, Photo#2, Photo#3, Photo#4]

"My name is Alexx Michael from the band SHAMELESS. I've been known in the KISS world for many many years. You can ask KISS dealers like Frank Caraglio, Kissfanshop.de, Kissmuseum.com, Keith Leuroux from Kiss Asylum or members of the band like Bruce Kulick or Eric Singer about my person.

"I've been a KISS fan myself for the last 28 years. I still love the band but I just don't have the time anymore to take care of my collection. So here is a chance to get your hands on a few unusual, rare pieces of KISStory.

"All the stuff came from Manning/Butterfield's when me and a friend bought a big lot of items that didn't sell in the KISS Auction 2000. The lucky winner will get a copy of the Manning receipt for the lot.

"This wig was in a little bag along with various other hairpieces."

The starting bid is $150.00. The auction ends on January 17 at 12:11:44 PST.

A limited-edition, collectible 2004 ESP Dave Mustaine Signature Series Electric Guitar signed by more than 30 music superstars was put up for auction on eBay today to benefit The Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports music education in schools across the country.

The guitar was signed by each music superstar live on NBC's "Today" show as part of its 2004 Toyota Concert Series. Following every performance, "Today" show hosts Katie Couric and Matt Lauer asked each musician to sign the guitar for the benefit of The Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation.

The auction began today at 8:30 a.m. ET and will end on Thursday, January 20 at 8:30 a.m. ET. The opening bid is $2,004 and there is no reserve on the item. The item can be found at Ebay.com/nbcguitar.

Among those who signed the guitar are: Marc Anthony, BON JOVI, Brandy, Jimmy Buffett, Kenny Chesney, LL Cool J, COUNTING CROWS, Sheryl Crow, Alan Jackson, Norah Jones, Alicia Keys, Lenny Kravitz, K.D. Lang, Queen Latifah, Avril Lavigne, Annie Lenox, MAROON 5, John Mayer, Martina McBride, Tim McGraw, Reba McEntire, THE REMBRANDTS, Bruce Springsteen and Rod Stewart.

"During the past few years, we have seen a steady decline in funding for music education in schools," said Felice Mancini, executive director of The Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation. "The money we raise goes directly toward putting instruments in the hands of students and helping music programs in local communities survive."

The Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation supports music education and its many benefits through the donation and repair of musical instruments to underserved schools, community music programs and individual students nationwide. The organization was inspired by the 1995 motion picture "Mr. Holland's Opus" and was founded by Michael Kamen, who composed the music for that movie and countless others. In the last seven years, new and refurbished instruments with a value of approximately $5 million have been donated to almost 600 school and community music programs across the country. More information can be found at www.mhopus.org.

HIGH ON FIRE have announced their first headlining tour of 2005 in support of their forthcoming new album, "Blessed Black Wings". HIGH ON FIRE will kick off a three-week trek beginning February 4 at the Knitting Factory in Los Angeles, CA. The tour is expected to conclude on February 24 in Salt Lake City, UT with additional dates pending.

Support on the HIGH ON FIRE tour will be provided by PLANES MISTAKEN FOR STARS and KYLESA. Immediately after, HIGH ON FIRE will make a high-profile appearance as part of the 2005 Noise Pop Festival in San Francisco, where the band will perform alongside acts such as THE POLYPHONIC SPREE, AMON TOBIN and THE FUCKING CHAMPS.

HIGH ON FIRE's "Blessed Black Wings" is set for a February 1 U.S. release via Relapse. The follow-up to the band's critically acclaimed "Surrounded By Thieves" was recorded at Chicago's Electrical Audio Studios with engineer Steve Albini (NIRVANA, NEUROSIS, JESUS LIZARD). The final track listing for "Blessed Black Wings" is as follows:

01. Devilution (mp3)
02. The Face of Oblivion
03. Brother In The Wind
04. Cometh Down Hessian
05. Blessed Black Wings
06. Anointing of Seer
07. To Cross the Bridge
08. Silver Back
09. Sons Of Thunder

HIGH ON FIRE "Blessed Black Wings" Tour 2005 w/ PLANES MISTAKEN FOR STARS and KYLESA (unless otherwise noted):

Feb. 04 - Hollywood, CA @ Knitting Factory
Feb. 05 - Tempe, AZ @ Big Fish Pub
Feb. 06 - Albuquerque, NM @ Launch Pad
Feb. 08 - Austin, TX @ Emo's
Feb. 09 - Houston, TX @ Fat Cat's
Feb. 10 - New Orleans, LA @ TwiRoPa
Feb. 11 - Memphis, TN @ Young Ave Deli
Feb. 12 - Atlanta, GA @ The E.A.R.L.
Feb. 13 - Hickory, NC @ Wizard Saloon
Feb. 14 - Baltimore, MD @ Otto Bar
Feb. 15 - Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church
Feb. 16 - New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
Feb. 18 - Columbus, OH @ Scully's Music Diner
Feb. 19 - Detroit, MI @ Alvin's
Feb. 20 - Chicago, IL @ Bottom Lounge
Feb. 21 - Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry
Feb. 23 - Denver, CO @ Cervantes Ballroom
Feb. 24 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Burt's Tiki (w/ KYLESA)
Feb. 26 - San Francisco, CA @ 12 Galaxies (w/ THE FUCKING CHAMPS, KYLESA as part of Noise Pop 2005)

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE frontman Howard Jones was forced to sit out the band's performance in Toronto on Sunday (Jan. 9) due to a "blown-out" throat (as guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz put it in a public announcement before their set). Trevor Phipps from support act UNEARTH joined KILLSWITCH ENGAGE on stage for a few songs, despite having little knowledge of the lyrics. Two fans who apparently knew the songs were also pulled from the crowd to help out in the vocal department, with one managing to sing the entire song "When Darkness Falls". But after four tracks, and a tired Phipps, the band called it a night.

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE's set list for the Toronto show on January 9 (without singer Howard Jones!):

01. Numbered Days
02. Life to Lifeless
03. Fixation on the Darkness
04. My Last Serenade

(Thanks: Anthony Durante)

MCBRAIN DAMAGE, the Florida-based band featuring IRON MAIDEN drummer Nicko McBrain and ex-BLACK SABBATH/GREAT WHITE bassist Dave "The Beast" Spitz, along with members of DEEPSET and FAILSAFE, have posted the following message on their web site:

"Unfortunately, due to continued schedule conflicts and simply a lack of time, no real tour will be taking place any time soon. As you all know MAIDEN is heading on tour soon and getting a MCBRAIN DAMAGE tour together was just not possible. We are working with BB Kings in NY for a date in late March and a possible three-date run in Texas. If we can get this together all dates will be posted."

MCBRAIN DAMAGE's live show concentrates on an IRON MAIDEN format, playing a set of the band's biggest hits, like "The Number of the Beast", "The Trooper", and "Run to the Hills".

The Korean version of DOMAIN's upcoming CD, "Last Days Of Utopia", will feature the bonus track "Only You Can", guitarist Axel Ritt's very own interpretation of the main theme of famous Korean TV series "Winter Sonata". The group's Korean label, Melodic Heaven, will also re-release "One Million Lightyears From Home" (2001), "New Horizons" (EP, 2001), "The Artefact" (2002) and "The Sixth Dimension" (2003).

"Last Days of Utopia" is scheduled for release in Europe on February 7 via Limb Music Products.

According to a posting on DOMAIN's web site, "Last Days of Utopia" is the group's "very first concept album, which tells a full story carried by new fantastic songs. We've taken a lot of time for epic symphonic elements, orchestration and huge choirs. A lot of hard work, but we're all absolutely satisfied with the result.

"The album artwork was designed by the fantastic Jason Juta, sleeve design by Thomas Ewerhard. It's the first album for our new label LMP, and we're really looking forward to that collaboration."

Members of AYREON, FLOWER KINGS, EXMORTEM, KOLDBORN, MERCENARY, MANTICORA, URKRAFT, THE PSYKE PROJEKT, MNEMIC, BLAZING ETERNITY, SPECTRAL MORTUARY, VOLBEAT, KONKHRA, BEHEMOTH and JERKSTORE have provided Denmark's Antenna magazine with their personal Top Five highlights and biggest disappointments of 2004. Read the results here. The entire staff of Antenna has likewise listed its personal Top 10 favorites of 2004 at this location.

MUDVAYNE have commented on their decision to play smaller venues on their upcoming North American tour, which is scheduled to begin Jan. 29 in Sacramento, Calif., and wrap Feb. 17 at New York's CBGBs.

"As a band, it's important to remain focused on your roots and remember the people who supported you during the early struggles," said lead vocalist Chad Gray, according to Billboard.com. "With that in mind, we're going to show our core of diehard fans and friends our appreciation by returning to the venues where we started and giving them a preview of some new songs from our upcoming album."

The set will find the group dispensing with its standard makeup and pseudonyms. "We're not apologizing for it or even saying that we won't wear it again in the future," said drummer Matt McDonough." But right now, this is how we're expressing ourselves."

The follow-up to 2002's gold-certified "The End of All Things to Come", "Lost and Found" is due in early April via Epic Records, according to Billboard.com. The disc was recorded at The Plant studio in Sausalito, California with producer Dave Fortman (former UGLY KID JOE guitarist), who has previously worked with SUPERJOINT RITUAL and EVANESCENCE, among others. Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Fucking Determined" (first single), "Just", "Happy" and "Pushing Through".

MUDVAYNE's North American tour dates:

Jan. 29 - Orangevale, CA @ Boardwalk
Jan. 30 - Henderson, NV @ Roadhouse
Jan. 31 - Los Angeles, CA @ Whisky a GoGo
Feb. 02 - San Antonio, TX @ Sanctuary
Feb. 04 - St. Louis, MO @ Creepy Crawl
Feb. 05 - Alsip, IL @ O'Malleys
Feb. 06 - St. Paul, MN @ the Lab
Feb. 08 – Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick
Feb. 09 – Cleveland, OH @ Peabody's
Feb. 10 – Toronto, ONT @ Reverb
Feb. 12 – Boston, MA @ Axis
Feb. 13 – Philadelphia, PA @ North Star Bar
Feb. 15 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Mr. Small's
Feb. 16 - W. Springfield, VA @ Jaxx
Feb. 17 - New York, NY @ CBGB

Norm Clarke of The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports:

Rapper MC Hammer announced, "It's Hammer time!" as he escorted MÖTLEY CRÜE frontman Vince Neil (Photo) down the aisle Sunday at the Four Seasons.

In front of a celebrity crowd that included Tommy Lee, Nikki Sixx, Dennis Rodman and Playboy playmate Brande Roderick, Neil and Lia Gerardini exchanged vows in an emotional ceremony with Hammer officiating.

Randy Kubota, who was supposed to have served as Neil's best man, was hospitalized with serious injuries after a mysterious accident Friday.

Kubota was found in a drainage ditch near the Las Vegas Beltway and Rainbow Boulevard after leaving a party at Neil's home, a choked-up Neil told me shortly before the wedding. He apparently had been pushed out of a car, a source said.

"We don't know what happened," Neil said.

Standing in as best man was Burt Stein, Neil's personal manager.

Others attending the ceremony were Palms owner George Maloof, "Baywatch" co-creator Michael Berk, Britney Spears' former manager Larry Rudolph, Miami Dolphins quarterback Jay Fiedler, Aladdin executive Mike Mecca and his wife, Sandy, the Hard Rock Hotel's Kevin Kelley and his wife, Terry, comedy impresario Jeff Beacher, Palms VIP host Marko Greisen, Kerry Simon, Neil's hairstylist Michael Boychuck and his wife, Karen, Dennis Haskins, Michael and Jenna Morton and artist Christian Lassen.

Sweden's NASUM have posted the following update regarding the group's singer/guitarist Mieszko Talarczyk, who is among the 637 Swedes still missing in Thailand following the massive undersea earthquake measuring 8.7 on the Richter scale and resulting tsunamis along South Asia's coasts:

"As of Monday January 10, we have nothing to report about Mieszko's whereabouts. We can report that his girlfriend has returned to Sweden and is at the moment getting all possible treatment for her physical and emotional wounds.

"We would also alert all customers of [Mieszko's] Soundlab Studios to read the message [posted on the band's web site].

"Again, thanks for the support in the guestbook during the last couple of
weeks. We appreciate it a lot and seek comfort in your concern.

"Sincerely, the members of NASUM."

(Thanks: Sean Rickerd / www.darksoul7.com)

Former QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE/current MONDO GENERATOR bassist Nick Oliveri has posted the following message on the MONDO GENERATOR web site:

"Hello, everyone, I got a terrifying message today. About my great niece. So I am going to ask each of you a favor. If you have ever thought about your contribution to making the world a better place, ever wondered how you could help. Now's your chance. My great niece is dying. Fast. She needs a donor. Please read the message below from her grandmother.

" 'Well, we thought we had three possible matches for Kayla [Photo]. But the results from the national list are back and there is NOT a match. I emailed you the link for where in your city you can go to donate and get on that national list, PLEASE GO A.S.A.P. Kayla's platelets are down to a 2 within three days. After receiving platelets at the hospital it only goes up to 40. They need to be at least in the 200 range. She is getting small broken blood vessels all over her body and is bleeding from her gums and sometimes her lips. She is starting to get broken blood vessels in her left eye and that is a very bad sign. SO PLEASE get all of your friends and family and go take the test. Kayla needs all of our help. I love you all, Jan.'"

"Okay, [here] are all the places where you can go to donate. We need a miracle. PLEASE. Help this beautiful little eight-year-old."

Australian tech-metallers DEVOLVED are currently preparing and recording material for the limited edition "Automation 002" EP, which is to be released exclusively in Australia. The band are currently in the process of relocating permanently to the USA and will be releasing a remixed/remastered version of their latest album, "Calculated", worldwide.

The follow-up to 2002's "Technologies", "Calculated" contains 12 tracks, including a cover of the METALLICA classic "Battery", and is being described by the band as "a step beyond anything we have written in the past in both intensity and complexity!"

Former SOUL SIRKUS drummer Deen Castronovo, who left the group last week because the workload between SOUL SIRKUS and JOURNEY left him little to no personal/family time, has commented on his replacement, Australian drummer Virgil Donati (STEVE VAI, PLANET X).

Said Castronovo in a posting on SOUL SIRKUS' web site: "Oh my God, Virgil Donati SERIOUSLY kicks my butt!!! He is the most unreal drummer I have ever seen...this guy is a studied musician and does things on a kit I had never witnessed...with 'this guy' in SOUL SIRKUS they are going to make some real noise in the music business. They couldn't have chosen a better guy — they just don't come any better than Donati."

SOUL SIRKUS will begin touring to support their debut album, "World Play", in the spring of 2005 before JOURNEY embark on their summer tour.

DEVILDRIVER, the Santa Barbara, California-based band featuring former COAL CHAMBER singer Dez Fafara, will release their sophomore album, "The Fury of Our Maker's Hand" on Roadrunner Records this coming spring. The follow-up to DEVILDRIVER's 2002 critically-acclaimed self-titled debut album, "The Fury of Our Maker's Hand" will be "a much more brutal, metal release" for the quintet, according to a press release. Commenting from the mixing board at Sonic Ranch Studios in El Paso, TX, Fafara says, "We all stepped it up for this album. It is way heavier and much faster. Expect brutality."

Produced by Colin Richardson (MACHINE HEAD, FEAR FACTORY, NAPALM DEATH), "The Fury of Our Maker's Hand" will feature such songs as "Grinfucked", "Pale Horse", and "End of the Line". "The new DEVILDRIVER material is a huge step up from the last record in every way imaginable, especially in terms of the guitar playing and the riffs," says Roadrunner Records VP of A&R Monte Conner. "Mark my words, it will go down as both a benchmark metal release and the album that DEVILDRIVER will be measured against for the rest of their career. I can't wait for people to hear it." Having already toured on the 2004 Ozzfest as well as with SUPERJOINT RITUAL, MORBID ANGEL, OPETH, IN FLAMES, CALIBAN and more, DEVILDRIVER will definitely have an extremely active tour schedule in 2005.

DEVILDRIVER is Dez Fafara (vocals), Jon Miller (bass), John Boecklin (drums) and Jeff Kendrick and Mike Spreitzer on guitar.

German power metallers RUNNING WILD will release their new album"Rogues En Vogue" (G.U.N./BMG Ariola) on February 21 — one week earlier than the previously announced February 28 release date.

To celebrate this event, the band are inviting everybody to attend their release party and pre-listen to the whole album together with guitarist/vocalist Rolf Kasparek and most of his bandmates on February 18 at Headbangers Ballroom in Hamburg, Germany. Tickets are available for 5 euros.

"Rogues En Vogue" (view cover here) track listing:

01. Draw the Line
02. Angel of Mercy
03. Skeleton Dance
04. Skulls & Bones
05. Born Dead, Dying Worse
06. Black Gold
07. Soul Vampires
08. Rogues en Vogue
09. Winged & Feathered
10. Dead Man's Road
11. The War
12. Cannonball Tongue (limited-edition bonus track)
13. Libertalia (limited-edition bonus track)

Susan Bray, mother of Nathan Bray, one of the four victims of last month's nightclub shooting in Columbus, Ohio, has sent the following message to BLABBERMOUTH.NET:

"This was a GREAT benefit concert held in Columbus, OH at the Newport Music Hall on January 7, 2005. It was held for the families of Nathan Bray and Erin Halk.

"Everybody who participated in the event donated their time and waived all profits. Many thanks to Promowest Productions, Newport Music Hall, Engine House #13, 99.7 The Blitz, all security, bartenders, crews, bands (VOLUME DEALER, NOISE AUCTION, LIQUID6TEEN, GONE UNTIL TOMORROW and THE STONIES) and all that donated for the auction.

"What I am asking is if anybody out there finds a frisbee disc signed by all the original members of PANTERA for sale to contact me, The Blitz (99.7) or anybody to get it back. You see, some scumbag stole it from the venue that night. This item was donated for auction. I just can't believe somebody would do such a thing.

"R.I.P. to all victims. God Bless.

"Love, Susan Bray"

If anybody has any information regarding the whereabouts of the missing PANTERA frisbee disc, please drop BLABBERMOUTH.NET a line at the e-mail address listed in the "Contact" section of the site.

Former SNOT/AMEN bassist John "Tumor" Fahnestock has launched an online clothing company at the following URLs:

313merch.com
313tshirts.com
313stickers.com

According to a posting on 313merch.com, the Huntington Beach-based 313 Merch is "an independent T shirt company specializing in "sub-culture" designs. Our designs are worn by bands, music fans, and anyone who loves to make a statement. All of our shirts are limited production runs and when discontinued they will never be made again."

U.K. progressive epic thrash metallers BIOMECHANICAL have confirmed that legendary knob-tweaker Andy Sneap (EXODUS, OPETH, ARCH ENEMY, NEVERMORE) will be mixing the group's sophomore album, "Empires of the World". "He was the band's first choice and luckily, Andy, having an unexpected gap in his schedule, allowed this to happen," the group write in a press release.

The mix will take place at Andy's own Backstage studios in England later this month, and the album is scheduled for a worldwide release in April via Elitist Records. A rough pre-mix version of the track "Disintegration" is available for download at this location.

In other news, BIOMECHANICAL have been confirmed as main support to NEVERMORE at the Hydrogios Club in Thessaloniki, Greece (vocalist Jon K's home country) on March 26.

BIOMECHANICAL's debut album, "Eight Moons", was released in 2003 through Revolver Records.

Rising from the ashes of Christian '80s thrash band VENGEANCE RISING, the band now known as ONCE DEAD have finished their first live DVD. Initial reports indicate that this will be one of the most well produced Christian Metal DVDs on the market to date. The pre-sale went well and the initial 100 autographed copies are sold out ahead of the disc's official March 19 release date.

The DVD recording was to be a one-time reunion, but interest from the Christian community was so great that ONCE DEAD have now signed on to play Cornerstone, the largest Christian music festival in North America. The band are currently working on a web site as well and are also tentatively discussing the possibilities of an EP.

For more information, visit www.roxxproductions.com.

Ex-EMBRACED vocalist Kalle Johansson's new band BURNING ENGINES will be backing former IRON MAIDEN singer Paul Di'Anno on a four-date Swedish tour starting in Stockholm on February 17. They will also act as support, performing songs from their forthcoming album "...And a Good Time Was Had By All". BURNING ENGINES have also recruited ex-MAJESTIC bassist Martin Wezowski.

PAUL DI'ANNO dates w/ BURNING ENGINES:

Feb. 17 – Mondo – Stockholm, SWE
Feb. 18 - S2 - Borlänge, SWE
Feb. 19 - Sticky Fingers - Göteborg, SWE
Feb. 20 – Inkonst - Malmö, SWE

Di'Anno's tour, dubbed "25 Years of Bestiality", marks the 25th anniversary of Paul's debut as recording artist. The album debut was, of course, IRON MAIDEN's multi-million selling first album. Tons of MAIDEN classics will be performed, as well as a few gems from Paul's extensive solo career.

Candlelight Records have announced the worldwide signing of London-based "extreme deathrashers" DAM.

Final studio work on the band's debut album, "Purity: The Darwinian Paradox", is currently underway and it is expected to see a March 2005 worldwide release date. Produced together with Antti Uusimaki (BRIAN ENO, BARRY ADAMSON), the album will showcase the band's visceral, unique, genuine and soul-driven concoction of forward-thinking madness.

Formed in 1997, DAM's skilfully crafted compositions and brutally compelling music have proven their enduring appeal to discerning listeners everywhere.

An advance track from the album should be made available in the near future. Meanwhile, check out the "Audio" section at Dam.cjb.net.

Israeli death metallers SALEM have made their "Ha'ayara Bo'eret" video, taken from their second release "Kaddish" (1994), available for free download from their official web site.

The cover song "Ha'ayara Bo'eret" (The Town is on Fire) was written in 1928 and has since been identified with the holocaust. The Israeli Parliament originally banned the broadcast of the video, claiming a metal cover of such sensitive material was inappropriate. After discussions at the Parliament, the band proved that this song was more than just a gimmick (most bandmembers' grandparents were Holocaust survivors), the ban was removed and the video was broadcasted on national television. This video is also available on SALEM's latest DVD, "Live Demise".

Bassist Marko Pukkila of the Finnish melodic metallers ALTARIA has revealed in an online posting that he and drummer Tony Smedjebacka have been busy writing and pre-producing material for the third ALTARIA album. "So far we have come up with a few great tunes and it looks like the third, as-yet-untitled album will be heavier than 'Divinity' but will still be melodic with catchy melodies," he writes.

As previously reported, the Japanese version of ALTARIA's sophomore album, "Divinity" (Marquee/Avalon Records), includes an exclusive bonus track, a cover of CACOPHONY's "Stranger". "The bonus track is not the same version as on the 'Warmth In The Wilderness Vol. II - A Tribute To Jason Becker' album, but a new one with [new singer] Taage [Laiho, ex-THERION, KILPI] on vocals, not to be found on anywhere else!" the band write on their web site.

"Divinity" was mixed at Tico Tico Studio (SONATA ARCTICA, SENTENCED, FOR MY PAIN…) and was initially made available as a limited-edition digipack, featuring one bonus track — a cover version of ACCEPT's classic "Balls To The Wall" (including a guest appearance by ex-LION'S SHARE singer Andy Engberg).