W.A.S.P. will hit the road in the U.S. in February 2010. Exact cities and dates will be announced soon.

W.A.S.P.'s new album, "Babylon", entered the U.K. "Rock Albums" chart at position No. 15. The CD was released on October 12 through Global Music (via Demolition Records).

"Babylon" is themed around biblical visions of "The Four Horseman of the Apocalypse," and is described in a press release as "a metal masterpiece that will make fans both old and new craving for more."

Audio samples of all the tracks that appear on "Babylon" are available at Amazon.co.uk.

"Crazy" was made available for download via various digital service providers from September 28.

Frontman Blackie Lawless commented on the track: "Although like it may sound like a man talking to a woman, 'Crazy' is about a performer talking to an audience; the dangers of idol worship and elevating musicians and politicians to a level that's dangerous!"
Fan-filmed video footage of W.A.S.P. performing the song "Wild Child" on October 28, 2009 at Byscenen in Haugesund, Norway can be viewed below.



(Thanks: NJthrasher)

Legendary BLACK SABBATH singer Ozzy Osbourne was interviewed on the October 8, 2009 edition of "The Paul O'Grady Show" a British comedy chat show hosted by comedian Paul O'Grady. The format is a teatime chat show that consists of a mixture of celebrity guests, comic stunts, musical performances, and occasionally viewer competitions.

Watch video of Ozzy's appearance below.

Ozzy and his wife/manager Sharon will guest-host this week's edition of "WWE Raw", the professional wrestling television program for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) that currently airs on the USA network in the United States.

As previously reported, Ozzy joined METALLICA for their October 30, 2009 performance at Madison Square Garden as part of the 25th-anniversary celebration of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Hachette Audio has just released the audiobook version of "I Am Ozzy". The book, which was originally slated to arrive almost two years ago but was delayed twice, was published in the U.K. on October 1.

"I Am Ozzy" chronicles the star's humble beginnings in the U.K. to his current position as international music and TV celebrity.

Publisher Antonia Hodgson called the book "fantastic," adding that it was "very much in the tone of his voice, very funny and a very full story."

Sharon Osbourne published her own best-selling memoir in 2005, called "Extreme: My Autobiography". A second volume was rushed out in 2008 after Ozzy's book was delayed.

Ozzy is working on a new album that he expects to release next year.

Steve Wildsmith of The Daily Times recently conducted an interview with LACUNA COIL frontwoman Cristina Scabbia. A a couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

On her image in magazine covers and publicity photos and on the stage:

"Women are beautiful just in general, and no matter what, other guys and humans will always be looking at the sexy part and the feminine part of me. As long as I use that image in a sexy way and not a vulgar way, I'm fine with it. People who know me know that I'm completely different than how you see me in pictures. ...

"They have no idea how I am in real life — I don't wear makeup, and I don't dress the way I do on stage. I smile about that, and I'm pleased and flattered, but I have my own private life."

On the band's new album, "Shallow Life", which moved more toward straight-ahead rock:

"We didn't want to repeat ourselves over and over. It's not like we don't like what we did in the past, but we did it already. For the new album, we didn't want to do 'Karmacode Part 2', so we went with a different producer who would bring something new to the table.

"I think this album is a good rock album. There are still some melancholy parts — call them 'goth parts,' if you want to — but at the same time, I think we added a lot more to the table. The songs are tight, and the lyrics are more direct than ever. There's a lot more power coming out of the album, in my opinion."

"I've always hated descriptions of music — people say, 'I like this band because they're really metal,' or, 'I like this band because they're really rock.' To me, I don't care. If I listen to the music and it gives me chills, then I like it. I can like classical music to relax, and I can like rock music to get some energy. Why get stuck on just one kind of music?

"Honestly — on my iPod, you will find everything from Beethoven to LAMB OF GOD. I have no problem listening to different styles, because at the same time, I can never listen to the same style over and over and over. Music is so different nowadays and can be confusing, but if you take that in terms of, 'I like this band and the music they make,' then it's fine.

"Who cares about names? If I like the band, that's it. That's all that matters."

Read more from The Daily Times.

Swedish death metallers NOMINON will release a new mini-CD in December via Deathgasm Records. The CD will serve as "an appetizer" for the band's new album, to be made available early next year.

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

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

Check out the cover artwork below.

Audio samples of all the studio tracks are available for streaming on the band's MySpace page.

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

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

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

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

Former MEGADETH/current F5 bassist David Ellefson is among the "celebrities" featured on Hollywood Is Calling, a site that offers personalized messages, birthday greetings, etc. from your favorite star. A description of the service reads as follows: "Now for the first time ever you can have a real celebrity make a live phone call to someone you know for just $19.95. You can also purchase an email video greeting card with a message from your favorite star for just $5. [The site has] also just added a new Celebrity Video Press Release service which you can use to create a celebrity-hosted video of your next press release. Whether it's for a special occasion or business, there's no better way to impress a client, sweetheart or a friend then to use HollywoodIsCalling.com."

Hollywood Is Calling's mission statement: "Hollywood Is Calling was created to make it possible for people all across the globe to be inspired and entertained by live phone calls from actual celebrities. As most modern day celebrities are unique in their ability to affect and enhance the lives of others we thought this service would be an extraordinary opportunity to make that possible on a global scale.

"In addition to being tremendously accomplished the one thing all the celebrities we choose for this service have in common is an unprecedented appreciation for their growing legion of fans.

"Hollywood Is Calling is dedicated to enhancing the lives of people everywhere with the kind of magic, motivation and fun that can be created when a real celebrity calls you."

A short video clip of David Ellefson talking about the Hollywood Is Calling service can be viewed below.

THE RED CHORD bassist Greg Weeks and BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME guitarist Paul Waggoner were interviewed on the October 28 edition of the Metal Injection Livecast. The episode can be streamed in its entirety using the audio player below.

THE RED CHORD shot a video for the song "Demoralizer" on October 31 with director David Brodsky, who previously helmed the band's "Dread Prevailed" clip. The song comes off THE RED CHORD's fourth full-length album, "Fed Through the Teeth Machine", which was released on October 27 in the U.S. via Metal Blade Records. The CD was recorded at Jonny Fay Backyard Studios, which is owned by the band's former guitarist Jonny Fay, and it was mixed and mastered by Chris "Zeuss" Harris, who has previously worked with HATEBREED and SHADOWS ALL, among others.

BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME will kick off a North American headlining tour on January 8, 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee. Support on the trek will come from CYNIC, THE DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT and SCALE THE SUMMIT.

BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME played a record-release show for its new album, "The Great Misdirect", on Halloween at the Orange Peel in Asheville, North Carolina. The band performed the entire new CD "plus some oldies" at the concert, which featured additional appearances by GLASS CASKET (featuring BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME drummer Blake Richardson and guitarist Dustie Waring), BRAVEYOUNG and TORCHRUNNER (featuring BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME's merch/light guy Chuck Johnson).

"The Great Misdirect" was released on October 27 via Victory Records.

FaceCulture recently conducted an interview with Kristian "Gaahl" Espedal (WARDRUNA, ex-GOD SEED, GORGOROTH). The chat can now be viewed in four parts below.

WARDRUNA has scheduled the following dates:

Jan. 14 - EuroSonic - Groningen, NETH
Feb. 18 - by:Larm festival - Oslo, NOR

"Runaljod - Gap Var Ginnunga", the debut album from WARDRUNA, was released on January 19 via Indie Recordings.

Nearly six years in the making, WARDRUNA's debut album is the first part of the planned "Runaljod" trilogy which will musically interpret the runes of the elder futhark. This highly visual music is hard to place into any specific genre, and there isn't really much to compare it to. The style can perhaps be described as a curious blend of folk, world and ambient music, but without being limited by the sometimes restricted scope of these genres.

"Runaljod - Gap Var Ginnunga" has a very profound and unique sound that consists of a wide array of instruments, some of which are rarely used. A few examples: deer hide frame drums, mouth harp, goat horns, lur, Hardanger fiddle and tagelharpe ("viking fiddle"). Sounds of more unorthodox ‘instruments’ like trees, stones and fire are also incorporated into the music, and it's all topped off with powerful vocal performances from no less than three vocalists.

The album was produced and engineered by Kvitrafn himself in his own Fimbulljóð studio. Many of the recording sessions were executed outdoors at carefully selected locations with instruments or natural sounds that are relevant to the different runes.

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Austrian death metallers HELLSAW have been confirmed for next year's Ragnarök Festival, set to take place April 30 - May 1, 2010 at Ostbayernhalle in Rieden/Kreuth, Germany.

The festival billing is shaping up as follows:

AGATHODAIMON
AKREA
ARKONA
HAGGARD
HEATHEN FORAY
HELFAHRT
HELLSAW
HELRUNAR
KROMLEK
OBSCURITY
SÓLSTAFIR
THE VISION BLEAK

For more information, visit www.ragnaroek-festival.com.

Video footage of Canadian metal legends ANVIL taking part in a meet-and-greet following the October 20, 2009 Japanese premiere of their acclaimed documentary, "Anvil! The Story of Anvil", can be viewed below.

ANVIL is set to launch its first major tour in more than a decade — "The Anvil Experience" — a full-on, 30-date North American trek in support of "This is Thirteen" and "Anvil! The Story of Anvil". The tour kicks off in earnest on January 7, 2010 in the city of rock 'n' roll, Cleveland, Ohio, will include dates in New York and Los Angeles, and will culminate in Vancouver on February 13.

But this will not be any ordinary concert tour, as audience members will be treated to a screening of "Anvil! The Story of Anvil", before the group will take the stage for a set of heavy ANVIL classics.

And if that's not enough metal for you, well, the lads are prepared. For the serious metalhead, a limited number of 50 "VIP Anvil Experience" packages will be made available for each show, which includes a ticket to the concert, a copy of the "This Is Thirteen" CD, a copy of the "Anvil! The Story of Anvil" DVD, a fanny pack (a constant fashion companion of Reiner's, as seen in the film), and a meet-and-greet with the band.

For a list of dates, visit www.myspace.com/anvilmetal.

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.

Bassist Marcus Riewaldt of German melodic folk/death metallers SUIDAKRA will be forced to sit out the band's upcoming U.K. tour with SAXON and ANVIL because he "has to take care of some important personal stuff at home," according to a statement release by the group. A temporary replacement will join SUIDAKRA for the six-date trek, which kicks off on November 4 in Whitehaven.

A list of dates can be found on the poster below.

SUIDAKRA's ninth album, "Crógacht", was released in the U.S. on March 3 through Wacken Records/SPV.

Over its fourteen-year history, SUIDAKRA has stayed true to its roots and the sound that it has become known for. Combining fast melodic death metal, Irish folk music, and a torrent of harmonies, SUIDAKRA proves yet again that it possesses the ability to blend several different influences into its unique sound. To put a spin on things, new elements have been introduced, like traditional instruments (bagpipes, banjo, tin whistles), a sixteen member choir and epic orchestral arrangements.

Recorded at Gernart Studios with producer Martin Muchwalter, "Crógacht" delivers an aural assault. In addition to that, the eyes and mind of the listener will also be pleased, as famous Belgian graphic artists Kris Verwimp is responsible not only for the magnificent artwork in the digipack and 16-page booklet, but also for the lyrics of this fascinating concept album. "Crógacht", meaning bravery, is based on one of the most dramatic tales in Irish mythology. It tells the story of the hero Cuchulainn's epic journey to the Isle of Skye, where he seeks to learn the arts of war from the Scythian warrior woman Scathach. The decisions he then has to make set the events in motion that will lead up to his son Conlaoch's tragic fate…

With overwhelming reactions to their 2006 release, "Caledonia", and their November 2008 DVD/Best of CD, "13 Years of Celtic Wartunes", SUIDAKRA has performed over 200 live shows (including the Wacken Open Air festival five times), and successfully completed several tours in Europe, Russia, and a first-ever American tour.

German metallers EMERGENCY GATE have parted ways with drummer Chris "The Machine" Widmann and have replaced him with Dominik "Capricorn Khaos" Scholz. The band says, "Dominik has been the session drummer of LACRIMAS PROFUNDERE and the former drummer of ZOO ARMY. He already played with us as a session drummer during the Chaos Over Europe Tour with KREATOR."

"Gold & Glass", the latest video from EMERGENCY GATE, can be viewed below. The song comes off the group's most reent album, "Rewake", which was released in January via Silverwolf Productions.

EMERGENCY GATE last year announced the addition of singer Matthias Kupka (ex-SUIDAKRA) to the group's ranks.

The band's previous CD, "Nightly Ray", was released in 2006 via The Electric Co./ Universal.

For more information, visit www.emergency-gate.com.

One of the greatest genre-defining hardcore bands of all time, AGNOSTIC FRONT has changed the face of music throughout their 25 year long career. The two records that started it all, "United Blood" and "Victim in Pain", are legendary New York hardcore releases and some of the most sought-after pieces of vinyl for record collectors. Finally, these two releases are coming back to life via Bridge Nine Records.

On November 17, 2009, Bridge Nine will release a CD version with both albums combined, and additionally will re-release "United Blood" on 7" and "Victim in Pain" on 12" LP. "Victim In Pain" has been given extra special treatment, with a gatefold LP cover, complete with a dirty gold metallic ink and embossed logo and title. The gatefold opens up to the original handwritten layout of the first pressing, and the original cover — which was subsequently censored — is printed full size on the front and back of the dust sleeve. "United Blood" has a similar metallic ink and embossed logo front cover, and also has the original cover design printed in black and white on the enclosed dust jacket. Gold vinyl is the limited color, and comes first-come-first-served with each package deal. Packages include a 12"x18" poster and a limited edition "Victim In Pain" t-shirt. Both are also available to the first few people who elect to grab the "all three" or "all six" vinyl package deals. Orders will ship prior to street date. Want it on CD? Get the 21-track disc featuring both recordings.

Commented Bridge Nine owner Chris Wrenn, "AGNOSTIC FRONT's debut EP and LP are seminal New York hardcore recordings. To have the opportunity to bring them back to life and make them available again to a new generation of hardcore fans is an incredible honor for Bridge Nine Records. We're excited to do these reissues justice and look forward to helping AGNOSTIC FRONT celebrate the 25 years since the original release of 'Victim In Pain'."

Originally released in 1983, "United Blood" was AGNOSTIC FRONT's first release and was followed shortly thereafter by "Victim In Pain" in 1984. These albums were a blast of pure New York hardcore that confirmed AF's status as leaders of the New York hardcore movement alongside precursors the CRO-MAGS and MURPHY'S LAW. 25 years later, both releases will be made available once again on all formats. Special packaging, vinyl pressings, and more information to come soon.

For more information and to pre-order, go to this location.

The Reverend of the "Rock n' Roll Breakfast Show", which airs on Victoria, British Columbia, Canada's CFUV 101.9 FM radio station, recently conducted an interview with vocalist Brian Vollmer of Canadian hard rockers HELIX. The chat can now be streamed in three parts using the audio player below.

The original '80s lineup of HELIX — Brent "The Doctor" Doerner on lead guitar, Greg "Fritz" Hinz on drums, Daryl Gray on bass, and Brian Vollmer on vocals — plus newcomer shredder Kaleb Duck, has scheduled the following dates:

Nov. 18 - Fredericton, NB - Rock Nightclub
Nov. 19 - Barrington, NS - D34 Entertainment Bar
Nov. 20 - Moncton, NB - The Rockin' Rodeo
Nov. 21 - Chester, NS - Chester Dooly's
Apr. 16 - Uncasville, CT - The Wolf Den - Mohegan Casino
Aug. 07 - Lewisporte, NL - Lewisporte Recreation Complex

HELIX will release its new album, "Vagabond Bones", on November 17 in Canada via Universal/Fontana and in the U.S. through Perris Records. Vollmer has been collaborating with Sean Kelly (CRASH KELLY) on material for the CD, which was mixed by engineer Aaron Murray.

"Vagabond Bones" track listing:

01. The Animal Inside (Won't Be Denied)
02. Go Hard or Go Home
03. Vagabond Bones
04. Monday Morning Meltdown
05. When The Bitter's Got The Better Of You
06. Hung Over But Still Hanging In
07. Best Mistake I Never Made
08. Make 'Em Dance
09. Jack It Up

Vollmer's track-by-track description of "Vagabond Bones" can be found on the band's officialweb site.

HELIX has been active in the past several years with several releases. The band's most recent collection of original material, "The Power of Rock and Roll", came out in 2007. Their latest CD, "A Heavy Mental Christmas", was made available in all Canadian Wal-Mart stores last November and received airplay worldwide. The CD also received great reviews from the critics.

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"Project Runway" season three model Amanda Fields is featured in the new video from ALICE IN CHAINS, "Your Decision", which was recently filmed in California. In a posting on Blogging Project Runway, Fields writes, "I just shot a music video today for the song 'Your Decision' by ALICE IN CHAINS! It was so much fun and I felt like I was dreaming — the location was so surreal! It was this giant house between Santa Monica and Malibu off of the Pacific Coast Highway. You look out the window and see the beautiful blue Pacific!

"The band members, Jerry, Sean, Mike and William, were fun to work with and the director had such an incredible vision. The stylist, a friend of mine, Cory Savage, really knows how to make a rock video couture! The band members all wore crisp expertly tailored suits and the string quartet wore flowing white dresses with black lace blindfolds!! My wig was made out of feathers!"

Check out of a photo from the video set below.

The "Your Decision" video is being directed by Stephen Schuster, who previously worked with ALICE IN CHAINS on the "A Looking In View" clip.

To coincide with the band's European tour, ALICE IN CHAINS will release the "Your Decision" single on November 16 in the U.K.

"Your Decision" is the second single to be lifted from band's first all-new album in 14 years, titled "Black Gives Way To Blue", which sold 126,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 5 on The Billboard 200 chart (behind latest albums from PARAMORE, MARIAH CAREY, BARBRA STREISAND and BREAKING BENJAMIN).

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

Singer 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.

Photo below courtesy of Blogging Project Runway

On September 18, MUEN Talk 525 Power Tracks conducted an interview with DIVINE HERESY frontman Travis Neal. The chat is now available for streaming using the audio player below.

DIVINE HERESY is the California-based band featuring FEAR FACTORY guitarist Dino Cazares.

DIVINE HERESY's sophomore album, "Bringer of Plagues", 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.

Video footage of DIVINE HERESY's October 19, 2009 performance at Les Foufounes Electriques in Montreal, Quebec, Canada as part of the "Night Eternal Above America Tour" with MOONSPELL can be viewed below.

Travis Neal interviewed by MUEN Talk 525 Power Tracks (click on player below to launch audio):

Otep Shamaya, singer/songwriter for the band OTEP, recently sat down with the Evil G. of BareBonesMusic.com to discuss the group's move to Victory Records for OTEP's latest release, "Smash The Control Machine", her responsibilities as an artist and citizen in everything she does. Watch the chat below.

OTEP's new album, "Smash The Control Machine", sold around 10,400 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 47 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD was released on August 18 via Victory Records.

The "Smash The Control Machine" deluxe CD/DVD package includes:

* DVD includes interviews, poetry readings and more
*CD/DVD deluxe edition includes: holographic cover, digipack, 52-page booklet with lyrics, poems and illustrations from Otep Shamaya

Shamaya previously said of the album, "The economic crisis is hitting every working family in this country. The album and its title track, 'Smash The Control Machine', will lay bare the greed and corruption that fostered this calamity, but will also focus on the undying spirit of the working class that always fights the good fight. The title is a line from a William S. Burroughs poem. It is my intention to create an album that serves every head of the hydra that is OTEP. From poetry, to politics, to shock and awe, to sex and righteousness, to standing up and fighting back. Like the mystical symbol of the Ouroboros (the sacred serpent swallowing its tail) all things will be brought back to circle."

MOTÖRHEAD frontman Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister told ABORT Magazine's E.S. Day in a new interview that the band will hit the studio in February "to rehearse, write and record" its next album. The forthcoming CD will be the follow-up to "Motörizer", which sold a little more than 6,400 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 82 on The Billboard 200 chart. The album was recorded in part (drums only) at FOO FIGHTERS frontman/ex-NIRVANA drummer Dave Grohl's Studio 606 in Northridge, California with producer Cameron Webb, who also worked on "Kiss of Death" and 2004's "Inferno".

On November 2, U.K.-based publisher John Blake Publishing Co. will release the authorized book "Motörhead: In The Studio" by biographer Jake Brown, featuring exclusive interviews with MOTÖRHEAD mainman Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister.

"Motörhead: In The Studio" is described in a press release as "the first comprehensive study of the in-studio making of MOTÖRHEAD's legendary catalog — including such classics as 'Overkill', 'Bomber', 'Ace of Spades', 'Orgasmatron', 'March or Die' and 'Motörizer', among others — told via first-hand interviews with engineers and legendary producers as Tony Platt, Trevor Hallesy, Will Reid, Thom Panunzio, John Burns, Howard Benson, Ryan Dorn, Mark Dearnley, Chuck Reed, Peter Solley, Arabella Rodriguez, Cameron Webb, and former drummer Pete Gill." The book's cover was conceived by Kilmister and features the band's classic warpig logo sporting sunglasses and headphones.

"Motörhead: In The Studio" is available for pre-order at Amazon.com.

MOTÖRHEAD performed its classic song "Iron Fist" on the October 8 edition of ABC-TV's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!". Video of the band's appearance can be viewed below.

MOTÖRHEAD drummer Mikkey Dee finished third in the reality-TV competition "Kändisdjungeln", the Swedish version of the popular U.K. and U.S. show "I'm a Celebrity…Get Me out of Here!". Dee was eliminated during the series' fifteenth episode, which aired on September 25.

Dee, 45, sat out most of MOTÖRHEAD's recent North American tour in order to take part in "Kändisdjungeln", which was filmed in the jungles of Malaysia. Filling in for him on the dates that he missed was former GUNS N' ROSES and current VELVET REVOLVER drummer Matt Sorum.

VELVET REVOLVER/ex-GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Slash will release a two-track CD single in Japan on November 11 containing the song "Sahara" (featuring singer Koshi Inaba of the Japanese hard rock duo B'Z) and a version of the GN'R classic "Paradise City" (featuring CYPRESS HILL and Fergie [a.k.a. Stacy Ann Ferguson] of the BLACK EYED PEAS).

"Sahara" is expected to appear on Slash's forthcoming solo album, which will be released under the "Slash & Friends" banner. According to the guitarist, "the [record] is in its mixing stage and the mixes to this point sound great. We have recorded 18 songs, with one more I want to track." He added, "the record is still slated for a February/March release."

Video footage of Slash talking about his collaboration with Koshi Inaba during a Japanese TV interview can be viewed below. (Note: The "Sahara" track can apparently be heard in the background.)

Slash tracked most of the CD with former NINE INCH NAILS drummer Josh Freese and ex-JANE'S ADDICTION bassist Chris Chaney. Other confirmed guest singers so far include Ozzy Osbourne, AVENGED SEVENFOLD's M. Shadows and Chris Cornell (SOUNDGARDEN, AUDIOSLAVE). The CD was produced by Eric Valentine (GOOD CHARLOTTE, QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE) and features additional appearances by ex-GUNS N' ROSES drummer Steven Adler, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS bassist Flea and former NIRVANA drummer and current FOO FIGHTERS frontman Dave Grohl.

Slash left GUNS N' ROSES in the mid-'90s, forming SLASH'S SNAKEPIT before later assembling VELVET REVOLVER with several other ex-members of GUNS N' ROSES and STONE TEMPLE PILOTS singer Scott Weiland (who was dismissed in April 2008).

Reactivated German thrashers ASSASSIN will headline the True Thrash Fest on March 27-28, 2010 in Osaka, Japan. Also scheduled to appear are AT WAR (USA), WARPATH (U.K.) and several to-be-announced Japanese bands. ASSASSIN will perform on both days.

ASSASSIN recently parted ways with drummer Frank Nellen ans replaced him with Björn Sondermann (WICKED KEMAO). The band has also acquired a new bassist in the shape of Joachim Kremer (SKINNY BOLD etc.).

"The band is busy finishing songs for the next album and are currently searching for a new record label." According to the group, the upcoming CD will feature "old-school thrash with a modern touch!"

ASSASSIN took part in the "Chris Witchhunter Memorial Concert" on April 11, 2009 at Turbinenhalle in Oberhausen, Germany. The event honored late SODOM drummer Chris Dudek (a.k.a. Witchhunter), who died on September 8, 2008 due to vital organ failure.

CKRL 89.1FM metal radio show "Démentièllement Vôtre" has posted more than 60 pro-shot photos of METALLICA's October 31, 2009 concert at Colisée Pepsi in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. The pictures, which were taken by well-known photographer Olivier Jean, can be found at Dv-metal.com.

The band's setlist was as follows:

01. That Was Just Your Life
02. The End Of The Line
03. For Whom The Bell Tolls
04. Holier Than Thou
05. One
06. Broken, Beat And Scarred
07. Cyanide
08. Sad But True
09. Turn the Page
10. All Nightmare Long
11. The Day That Never Comes
12. Master Of Puppets
13. Damage, Inc.
14. Nothing Else Matters
15. Enter Sandman
- - - - - - - -
16. Breadfan
17. Phantom Lord
18. Seek and Destroy

METALLICA's two shows at the Colisée Pepsi in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada on October 31 and November 1 are being filmed by the band's longtime friend and collaborator, famed video director Wayne Isham. It is not presently clear if there are any plans to release the footage.

Wayne Isham, 51, is an American movie director who has directed music videos of many popular artists such as MÖTLEY CRÜE, SIMPLE PLAN, AVENGED SEVENFOLD, PANTERA, 'N SYNC, SHANIA TWAIN, GODSMACK, BRITNEY SPEARS, LEONA LEWIS, PINK FLOYD, SHERYL CROW, JOSS STONE, MADONNA, AVRIL LAVIGNE, DEF LEPPARD and BON JOVI, among others.

Previous METALLICA videos that were directed by Wayne Isham:

* "Enter Sandman"
* "Wherever I May Roam"
* "Sad But True"
* "Fuel"
* "No Leaf Clover"
* "Nothing Else Matters" (from "S&M")
* "I Disappear"
* "Frantic"
* "Broken, Beat And Scarred"

METALLICA has set November 23 as the release date for "Francais Por Une Nuit", or "French For One Night", the full-length concert DVD that the band filmed in Nimes, France on July 7, 2009. The show took place at a historic Roman amphitheatre called the Arenes de Nimes. In addition to the band's complete 18-song set, the disc also includes interviews with the group and five video clips shot by members of the audience. Although initially announced as a France-only release, fan demand has led to Metallica also making the set available through their web site, Metallica.com, as well as the site of the French branch of the band's record company.

A statement posted on the band's web site said, "ALL aspects of the project are French as the show was filmed, recorded, and edited with French camera and recording crews, the artwork on the package and special box set (more on that in a minute!) were created by a French design team; even the credits are in French."

The DVD will come in three formats: standard DVD or Blu-ray in a digipack including a 16-page booklet, and a deluxe limited edition box set that includes the DVD, a copy of "Death Magnetic" on CD, a T-shirt, laminated pass, and five exclusive photos.

BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, featuring legendary OZZY OSBOURNE guitarist Zakk Wylde, played a free concert last night (Saturday, October 31) at the Hard Rock Café New York in Times Square to promote his new limited-edition Epiphone Graveyard Disciple guitar. Fan-filmed video footage of the performance can be viewed below (courtesy of Fullshred).

In addition to the concert performance, Zakk hosted a special "meet-and-greet" at New York's renowned 48th street Sam Ash music store on October 30.

Designed by Zakk in cooperation with Epiphone, the new Graveyard Disciple combines killer sound with equally killer looks. Shaped like a coffin, the edges of the body are tapered and pin-striped in silver giving it a striking visual appearance and depth while providing for a comfortable feel.

As with most all Zakk's guitars, the neck is made of Hard Maple for bright attack and glued into a solid Mahogany body adding a touch of warm and of course, sustain. The neck features a "D" profile, SlimTaper neck with a smooth, satin finish for fast and effortless lead work. It is topped off with a bound, Ebony fingerboard and medium-jumbo frets with easy access to all 22 frets.

Zakk Wylde's wife Barbaranne revealed in a Twitter update that the BLACK LABEL SOCIETY frontman had been 63 days sober as of Wednesday, October 28.

Wylde is reportedly suffering from "a rare genetic clotting disorder" for which he is currently receiving treatment in California.

Zakk stated in an August 2009 Twitter message that he "was given a CT scan where they found three clots. I was then told each one of the clots passed through my heart. . . My left leg has a clot above the side and behind my knee, my calf and running into my heel. My right leg has a clot in between my calf and ankle."

BLACK LABEL SOCIETY was forced to drop off the "Pedal To The Metal Tour" due to Zakk's condition. The rest of the bands on the trek — MUDVAYNE, STATIC-X, SUICIDE SILENCE and BURY YOUR DEAD — carried on with the remaining dates on the tour after BLS's departure.



(Thanks: Fullshred)

SCAR FOR LIFE — the Portuguese project led by Alex S (VYRUZ, REDSTAINS) — has made a new acoustic album available for free download at this location.

Comments Alex: "When we started promoting this album on an acoustic format at FNAC stores, we thought it would be a great idea to record some of these shows and keep them for us as a souvenir. These shows were a great experience for us and the response was outstanding and we even sold out our CDs the first night. Everyone kept asking when do we release acoustic versions. Well, I think this live album is a good answer for now.

"After listening these recordings over and over again, I've chosen the best performance / sound quality to include on a possible bootleg and after I've mastered these songs I've founded the result good enough to release it... and so it is! Plus, we've decided to include two new songs, 'Never Smile Again' and 'Lost' from our second album coming later next year.

"The sound was captured and sent directly to the mixing table and recorded directly to the computer in one track so it was impossible to have separate tracks for each instruments. The sound you'll hear here is the same that came out from the speakers. That's why we consider this release as an bootleg and not an official release because of its sound quality. This is more of a 'thank you' to everyone that was there and a gift to everyone who couldn't be there and supported SCAR FOR LIFE over the last and first year of existence. Remember, this album has no overdubs and you'll hear everything that was played those nights."

The track listing is as follows:

01. Kill The Past *
02. The Bleeding Gun *
03. Never Smile Again **
04. Insomnia **
05. A Scar For Life **
06. My Last Words *
07. Lost In Fire **

* Recorded at FNAC Cascaishopping - Oct. 24, 2009
** Recorded at FNAC Almada Forum - Oct. 26, 2009

Total running time: 38 minutes

Rez - Vocals
Alex S - Rhythm and Lead Guitar
David - Rhythm and Lead Guitar
André - Bass
Hélio - Drums

* - mixed by FNAC - Gonzaga
** - mixed by FNAC - Diogo

"My Last Words", the latest video from SCAR FOR LIFE, can be viewed below. The clip was shot on November 26-27, 2008 at the Hospital de Bonecas (Doll's Hospital).

SCAR FOR LIFE last year made its entire self-titled debut album available for free download at www.scarforlife.com.

"Scar For Life" was recorded in June/July 2008 at UltraSoundSystem studio with Daniel Cardoso handling the mixing duties. According to Alex, "each track is like a recollection of something that was already lived, a sound memory. Ethereal, melancholy, deep and touching, vehicled in a varied and layered taste, yet always intertwined with a strong heavy riff drive, hard indeed it will be not to be scarred by this adventurous new project."

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

Planet Metal is now streaming the ZÜÜL song "Warriors" on its MySpace page. The track comes from the southern Illinois-based band's recently-completed debut album, "Out of Time". Nearly a year in the making and produced by the band themselves, the album "harnesses the freshness, power, and integrity of such classic debut records as JAGUAR's 'Power Games' and DIAMOND HEAD's self-released white label album," according to a press release.

"Out of Time" is scheduled for a December release via Planet Metal on CD. A deluxe vinyl version will follow in early 2010.

ZÜÜL is:

Baron Wolf Batteau - Vocals
Michael Butcher - Guitar
Hateful Jared - Guitar
Bob Scott - Bass
The Mosquito Hawk - Drums

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

On July 11, Magic Circle Festival IV will take place at Metalcamp 2010 in Tolmin, Slovenia. Located in the heart of Europe, only 95 kilometers from Ljubljana (Slovenia), 97 kilometers from Udine (Italy), 105 kilometers from Villach (Austria) and 240 kilometers from Zagreb (Croatia), this partnership with Metalcamp celebrates the first Magic Circle Festival outside German territory. The show coincides with the final game of the FIFA World Cup in South Africa, which will be broadcast LIVE at the event on a gigantic screen. Immediately following the game, MANOWAR hits the stage!

The World Cup/concert combination promises to make "Magic Circle Festival at Metalcamp 2010" the greatest football-meets-metal party ever for those in attendance!

In addition to MANOWAR, special guests include Magic Circle Music recording artists HOLYHELL and METALFORCE. Other acts and program details to be announced soon.

The Death To Infidels World Tour 2010 is MANOWAR's first full-length world tour in over a decade and "Magic Circle Festival at Metalcamp 2010" is a must-see event. As the Kings of Metal descend upon Slovenia, they will be conquering new territory in their ongoing pursuit of world domination!

Please note: Tickets for Metalcamp 2010 (July 5-10) cannot be used for "Magic Circle Festival at Metalcamp 2010" (July 11).

Tickets for "Magic Circle Festival at Metalcamp 2010" are on sale now. Parking and camping are free.

Live-Metal.net's Jeff Maki recently conducted an interview with guitarist Michael Amott of Swedish/German extreme metallers ARCH ENEMY. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Live-Metal.net: OK, first, the obvious question. Why re-record these songs for "The Root of All Evil" instead of focusing and writing new material? Or was the process of updating these songs basically similar to writing and recording new material?

Amott: It was very different than writing or recording new material. We rented the studio and selected a bunch of old songs we wanted to record. The ingredients were already there — everything's already kind of there. We just have to play them to the best of our ability and do something cool with them. And when you record brand new material, you have a lot of choices that you have to make all the time. But these songs have already been written and recorded once before, so it's kind of a little bit easier.

Live-Metal.net: The basis is already there.

Amott: Exactly. And the reason for us doing it is basically from fans and stuff, people asking if we were going to record some of the old stuff. And currently we were playing some really old songs from the first three records and we tried incorporating them into the live set a few times. And we noticed that the recognition factor was just way lower compared to our current material. From those albums onwards, I think we just became a more popular band. And when people go back and check out ARCH ENEMY stuff, they don't seem to go as far back as our first three records. Because we had a different singer and it was almost like we adapted ourselves with Angela joining. The first three records have some great songs on them. And we wanted to, if possible, put them back in the live set. We tried and it wasn't really possible, so then somebody came up with the idea to re-record and re-release them like this with our current lineup. So yeah, why not? And then it was the matter of finding the time because we are always touring or focusing on new material. We actually had a little window there earlier in the year, at home for a few weeks to get this together. It wasn't that hard, just finding out what songs to do — we had to argue that out, rehearse a little bit, find out what the hell we we were doing 10-plus years ago on the old albums. Yeah, I mean it's been fun and the reaction's been really good. In a way, it's a mixed reaction but mostly positive.

Live-Metal.net: Was everyone on board right away for this project? Was there any convincing that had to be done within the band?

Amott: No, we were all really positive about it. Angela was really into it because she hadn't sung on the originals and she was a big fan of the original albums, so she thought it 'd be cool. I was into it — I think everybody was. We had time off in January and it was fun. We don't have a big master plan or anything like that for every step of a record. We get an idea into our heads and just do it. We all do our recordings and produce ourselves and all this kind of stuff — we just do what the hell we want really and now I'm here talking to you about it [laughs]. It's our project.

Live-Metal.net: Is it me or do Angela's vocals sound different to me on "The Root of All Evil". If you listen to this side by side with "Wages of Sin" or "Anthems of Rebellion", there's seems to be a noticeable difference. Maybe more extreme?

Amott: Yeah, to me, she's kind of doing different stuff on every album. Somehow, she's experimenting. I think every album she's sounds a little bit different, yeah. Time travels between every recording we do, so the voice changes. So along the way, she doesn't sound identical from album to album. So yeah, I think it's a progression and I think that's cool.

Live-Metal.net: So now that "The Root of All Evil" is done and you're about to go out on tour, when can we expect an album of all new material?

Amott: We've got lots of ideas, jams — we've been rehearsing today and this week. We've been doing some new stuff but ... We don't really want to rush into it.. We don't see the need to do that. We just have this record out now, a live album out last year, the year before that "Rise of the Tyrant".. So we're going to go out and play some shows and have some fun with that. A brand new album, realistically I'd say we record next year sometime and maybe release it in 2011. That might all change [laughs]. Depending on how quick we are, how fast we are.

Live-Metal.net: Between this release and playing with CARCASS, you've been playing older songs for a while now. A lot of people or bands don't want to look towards the past. But this seems to be something that you not only do not have a problem with but you seem to embrace it. Why do you think that is?

Amott: Yeah, it's been pretty much a retrospective couple of years now. We started doing the CARCASS reunion in the summer of 2008 — you're right. This is the first time I've ever gone back. I've always been looking forward, just writing new stuff. I've never really looked back at all. But at one point someone just tapped me on the shoulder and said, "Hey, look back. You've been a part of a very metal legacy." You know, helping to create melodic metal, which today has been very influential on a lot of bands. So we did the CARCASS reunion and had a lot of fun with it.

Live-Metal.net: Speaking of CARCASS, what's going on with the band right now? Do you think there's any chance of a studio album in the future? Maybe a live album at the least?

Amott: I guess we could release live material from the touring we did. I think it'd be a waste not to. Maybe a DVD or live album. I don't really steer the CARCASS ship in that sense. I'm not as heavily involved as I am with ARCH ENEMY. But we definitely talked about some sort of live release. I know we filmed a bunch of shows and recorded audio at a bunch of shows, so anything is possible. But then somebody has to take the time to crawl through all the tapes. And nobody every wants to deal with that [laughs]. But something will happen at some point, yes. As far as new CARCASS material, that's not something we're working on right now. And I've been asked that question quite a lot in the last year, and my answer is never say never because you never know what's gonna happen. We're not in the studio now making any new CARCASS record [laughs].

Read the entire interview at Live-Metal.net.

Jon Bream of StarTribune.com recently conducted an interview with KISS guitarist/vocalist Paul Stanley. A few excerpts from the chat follow below.

StarTribune.com: Why did you decide to go with a Wal-Mart exclusive for "Sonic Boom"?

Stanley: The reality is that the music retail store has pretty much dried up. The music industry is in a tumble, to say the least. And Wal-Mart offered us the opportunity to put out a package that kind of followed our philosophy of giving more than just an album. There was a time when we would include a "Love Gun" or a poster or a tattoo — something to just take it over the top. We were able to put together a package that [also] has a CD of re-records of 15 songs and a DVD of excerpts from our most recent stadium show in Buenos Aires. To be able to do that for 12 bucks, it's a no-brainer. Plus, there are a lot more Wal-Marts at this point than there are record stores.

StarTribune.com: There had to be pent-up demand after not releasing an album since "Psycho Circus", your 1998 reunion project.

Stanley: There's pent-up curiosity, but there's also room for people to be weary or leery of a new album. There was a lot of anticipation for the last one, and it turned out to fizzle instead of sizzle. It's virtually impossible to make a band album when you're dealing more with members' attorneys than with members. The last time I checked, the attorneys don't play instruments too well. The days of entitlement and demanding songs on an album and how to be featured, those days are over, at least in this camp. The premise of this album was vastly different; you had four people very committed to making a statement, taking what we do live into the studio.

StarTribune.com: For the first time on tour, Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer are wearing the same makeup designs Ace Frehley and Peter Criss did. Why?

Stanley: It's very simple. To do anything else would be to cheat the public. The four characters have grown into iconic status. To dilute that because somebody has left the band or was asked to leave the band is to compromise the band.

StarTribune.com: How do you feel about finally being nominated for the Rock Hall of Fame?

Stanley: It means much more to the fans than it means to me. That being said, I would embrace the opportunity for them. I've always been ambivalent about it. The problem with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is there is no criteria for getting in. You don't have to sell X amount of albums, you don't have to play X amount of concerts. It's a vague concept based on some people's partisan feelings toward certain artists or certain kinds of music. But I am as proud to have the people fighting against us as I am of the people fighting for us. It's all part of KISS. The fact that we can annoy or irritate people so much is kind of funny. I bask in it sometimes. But it's only music.

StarTribune.com: If KISS gets elected, will Ace and Peter participate in the induction ceremony?

Stanley: They would have to. The monument may have needed some renovation and redefining, but that's the foundation, the four of us. Absolutely. It would be as absurd as us not being in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

StarTribune.com: do you think is KISS' contribution to music and culture?

Stanley: You'd have to ask all the people influenced by us, and that doesn't necessarily mean rock bands. Country artists, doctors, policemen. ... I think people aspire to greater things and perhaps look to us for support when they're going on a lonely road where everyone else thought they would fail, and they succeed. As a rock band, we became a wakeup call to fans of what they shouldn't take less than and what they should expect from bands. And the respect that fans should get. And the fact that the audience does the band a favor by showing up, not vice versa. Our obligation when we hit the stage is to give everyone their money's worth and to live up to everything they expect. If we raise the bar in that way, great.

Read the entire interview at StarTribune.com.

WOLF, THE HAUNTED, GLITTERTIND and ATROPOS have been confirmed for the KarmøyGeddon metal festival, set to take place April 23-24 at Byscenen in Haugesund, Norway.

The festival billing is now shaping up as follows:

ARCH ENEMY
ATROPOS
EVIG NATT
GLITTERTIND
THE HAUNTED
TÝR
WOLF

More acts will be announced soon.

For more information, visit www.karmoygeddon.no.

Live-Metal.net's Jeff Maki recently conducted an interview with Max Cavalera (SOULFLY, CAVALERA CONSPIRACY, SEPULTURA). A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Live-Metal.net: I was actually listening to "Roots" on the way here and I think it's an amazing album. Is it in your opinion that "Roots" is lesser of an album or is that just what you hear from fans' perspective?

Max: You have SEPULTURA fans that like different records. Some of them like "Arise", some of them like "Chaos A.D.", some of them like "Beneath the Remains". Some of them like "Roots" — different albums for different people. I'm glad that they like it — they like the album, so I think that's what matters.

Live-Metal.net: Like NAILBOMB, "Roots" was kind of unexpected — it was full of surprises for me.

Max: We took a different approach to it. The whole trip to the Indians [the Xavant tribe in Mato Grosso, Brazil] and the whole thing was really unique — the look of the album cover with the Indian, that was unheard of in metal. I think even Dave Grohl said that that was the album for him that changed metal. He said that on an interview, so I thought that was cool, coming from someone as high as him. So I'm glad that the album did all that and I still play "Roots [Bloody Roots]" every night — the song "Roots" is a classic, it's something that I gotta play — a "mandatory Max" song. I have a kick doing it, really.

Live-Metal.net: What has been your highest and lowest point of your career with SEPULTURA or SOULFLY?

Max: Lowest was the death of [stepson] Dana [Wells] and the breakup of SEPULTURA, which happened both at the same time. That was the lowest point. At that time, I even thought about giving up music for a while — just really depressive times. Highest ... I think with SEPULTURA it was the tour with the RAMONES in Brazil. That was awesome. That was only five shows — it was the "Chaos A.D." tour and the promoter decided to bring the RAMONES to do five shows, co-headline, SEPULTURA and the RAMONES. And it sold out, spread out like wildfire. And for me it was a legendary tour, touring with a legendary band like the RAMONES, sharing the stage with them. They were real nice guys, really cool guys. That tour was great. It was in my country. And I played my hometown. I think the hometown show was probably the highest point. Five thousand people show up in my hometown, all SEPULTURA fans, so that was great.

Live-Metal.net: Talking about the new SOULFLY album, I've seen a few things recently but any song titles or album names you wanna throw out there?

Max: No, it's kind of early. I don't have anything yet. I'm working on the riffs right now. I'm separating the riffs that are gonna become songs. So I made a CD for everybody that everybody has listened to on the bus. And then in November we're going to go in the studio and those riffs are gonna become songs. And then I'm gonna name them and everything, so it's too early right now.

Live-Metal.net: CAVALERA CONSPIRACY, is that another thing like NAILBOMB? A one-off thing?

Max: No, actually, CAVALERA CONSPIRACY is actually gonna to continue. It's something that I'm gonna carry on for a long time—I think for as long as I can. It's great to play with Igor [Cavalera]—it's my brother and it's a huge connection to the past. And it's great to make records with him. I loved doing the "Inflikted" album. It was so much fun to record with him again. No pressure, it was just fun. It's fun to be in a studio with him and bang those songs out and just watch the album come alive. And a lot of people are asking me for the second one. It's in the works. Sometime next year or whenever.

Live-Metal.net: Obviously, you're really busy, but you've had a lot of collaborations in the past, so is there anything you can see in the future? Any particular bands or artists that you'd like to work with?

Max: At the moment, I'm just still getting ready to think of a new SOULFLY album. But there's some people I'd like to have on the album, but I haven't talked to them yet. Like [Mike] Muir from SUICIDAL TENDENCIES. This was one of the ideas I thought would be really cool. I love SUICIDAL TENDENCIES. I think that bridge between metal and punk could be even cooler. Because I did that with SEPULTURA with [ex-DEAD KENNEDYS vocalist] Jello Biafra on "Biotech Is Godzilla". So I still believe in that bridge between punk and metal, and that's still alive today. So to do something with [Muir] might be cool, but I haven't had the time to ask him yet.

Read the entire interview from Live-Metal.net.

Finnish death metal combo SURVIVORS ZERO has parted ways with drummer Reima Kellokoski and replaced him with Seppo Tarvainen (THE SCOURGER, TUKKANUOTTA). According to the group, "The change was due to Reima's commitments with his main band, IMPALED NAZARENE. . . As 2010 will be an anniversary year for IMPALED NAZARENE, [Reima's] allegiances, of course, lie with his band of 15 years. As both bands will tour actively and will not settle for compromises, both SURVIVORS ZERO and Reima felt this was the best decision and this departure is not in hostile terms in any way."

SURVIVORS ZERO's debut album, "CMXIX", was released on September 9 via Cobra Records. The CD was mixed at Black Lounge Studio in Avesta, Sweden while the mastering was handled by Pelle Henricsson at Tonteknik Recording in Umeå, Sweden.

SURVIVORS ZERO is:

Sami Jämsén (Studio Perkele) - Guitar
Tommi "Rotten" Virranta (ex-DEATHCHAIN) - Vocals
Tapio Wilska (ex-FINNTROLL) - Bass
Jani Luttinen (THE SCOURGER) - Guitar
Seppo Tarvainen (THE SCOURGER, TUKKANUOTTA) - Drums

SURVIVORS ZERO's "Reclaim My Heritage" video can be viewed below.

The "Reclaim My Heritage" limited-edition CD-single, which also includes a cover version of the classic KREATOR song "People Of The Lie", was released on June 6. It was sold only in Finland but the digital version is available worldwide.

SURVIVORS ZERO and HATESPHERE have been confirmed as the support acts for HYPOCRISY's upcoming European tour, which is scheduled to kick off on January 24, 2010 in Hamburg, Germany.

SLAYER's video graphic novel "Playing With Dolls" can be viewed below. The clip is available for viewing only through the weekend, and then on Tuesday as part of the "deluxe-edition" version of the band's new album, "World Painted Blood". (Note: The video will be removed from MySpace after this weekend.)

No mere music video, the 20-minute "Playing with Dolls" was created and directed by Mark Brooks ("Metalocalypse") and is a stark, 12-part nightmare that breathes corrupt life into SLAYER's latest syllabus of stalkers, psychopaths and serial killers, merging their aberrant psyches into the supremely focused desire of a single, merciless malcontent. A methodical distillation of one man's lethal frenzy, the film follows the gruesome outbursts of a nameless protagonist. He is not an indiscriminate murder junkie, but rather a highly creative snuff-artist with a deeply personal sense of purpose — a man for whom murder is the only conceivable way forward. With a black heart hardened by tragedy, he chooses his victims carefully. His methods are as grisly and varied as they are poetic.

Inspired by the songs on "World Painted Blood" — in particular Jeff Hanneman's "Playing With Dolls", from which the horror short takes its title — the film blends elements of animation and still-photography into a visual style similar to that of a graphic novel. The soundtrack for the "Playing With Dolls" short features clips from all 11 of the songs on "World Painted Blood"; in addition, the music bed for episode No. 7 is taken from "Atrocity Vendor", a new song that is not on the album.

"It's not live action and it's not animated," Brooks explains. "It's a weird hybrid of the two, and I haven't seen a lot of things done this way."

"It's a little weirder than your regular blood n' guts type thing," he says of the storyline, "which I think is a reflection of SLAYER's music."

But make no mistake: There is blood, and plenty of it. As the real-life boyfriend of one of the film's "victims" told Brooks after a private screening, "I almost threw up while I watching that. And I think that's a compliment."

SLAYER — bassist/vocalist Tom Araya, guitarists Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman, and drummer Dave Lombardo — started recording "World Painted Blood", the band's 10th studio album, last October in a Los Angeles studio with producer Greg Feldeman, and completed it this past May. Recording "World Painted Blood" was a unique experience for SLAYER who has historically begun the recording process with all songs written and fully rehearsed. This time, they did the bulk of writing and song development while in the studio. According to drummer Dave Lombardo, "On this record, we worked a lot more collectively, we were more attentive to each other's ideas and willing to try them, which only benefited the album." "World Painted Blood" is indeed a SLAYER album, and consequently deals with topics such as death and destruction, war, serial killers, and the Apocalypse. "Psychopathy Red", leaked online a year ago, was inspired by the heinous Russian serial killer Andrei Chikatilo, a.k.a. the Rostov Ripper, who confessed to brutally murdering 56 children. "Beauty Through Order" (Kerry King: "one of Jeff's songs, it has a very heavy 'do me' intro to it then explodes with a really cool vibe,") "Unit 731", "Playing With Dolls" (Lombardo: an awesome track, great song structure, great vibe"), "Public Display of Dismemberment", and "Americon", a King composition. Of "Americon", King explains, "It's about what I think the rest of the world thinks of America. We may not be big on a lot of people's lists, but I don't care what you think of my government, of my economy, or whatever. I live here and this is one of the best places that I've ever found to live. So fuck you if you don't like it."

"World Painted Blood" will initially ship with four special collector's edition CD covers. Each of the four covers will display one-fourth of a provocative continental map illustrated with human skulls and bones; when placed together, the four images form a complete and grisly map of the world. All four of the initial CD packages will include a special blood-red, see-through top panel with the map displayed beneath it.

Log on to www.slayer.net to pre-order your copy of "World Painted Blood".