KITTIE frontwoman Morgan Lander has posted the following message on the band's official message board:

"Alright, I know that what has happened with Lisa [Marx, ex-KITTIE guitarist] comes as a shock to all of you. It was a shock to all of us too. Things haven't been said in a press release up until this point with good reason however. Not only has Lisa decided to leave the band, but Jennifer [Arroyo, bass] has decided to leave too. I figured we should get this all out into the open while we still can.

"We discussed Jennifer's departure with her, and with a heavy heart, she said she can no longer continue with KITTIE, so she will be continuing on with SUICIDE CITY full-time.

"There was no press release for Lisa when she decided to leave because we had decided with Jen that we should wait until April 1st to let this all out of the bag, both from her end and ours. This is an amicable departure!

"Now the reasons...I feel that there are only a few real factors that came into play regarding this happening with both Lisa and Jennifer...

"For the past few years, Artemis Records has denied us critical things like tour support, movie soundtracks, advertisement placement and other critical things that help a band to keep making money and pay the people that needed to be paid, like Jen and Lisa. Within the last 6 months, things became so financially bad that we were no longer able to keep the girls on retainer, that is give them a salary while we are not touring. Not only were we not able to pay them, but we came home from the last tour not knowing what was next for the band.

"It is a sad fact, but ALL of this is happening because our label is destroying us, and these girls jumped from the sinking ship while they still could. Unfortunately for Mercedes [Lander, drums] and I, we have to continue on if Artemis renews our option, whether our hearts are in it or not...

"Jen has been with us for 3 years, and she has seen the hardship, and experienced the pain and sadness in knowing that as long as we are with the label, we will never be where we know KITTIE can be. She is a smart girl, and a hungry person, and she knows the trouble with the label first hand...

"We don't blame the girls for leaving. Financially and emotionally, our troulble with the label has done nothing but break our spirits. How can we insure a future for them when we DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT OURS WILL BE? As long as we are with Artemis, I can't guarantee anything...

"We love all of the girls, and wish them the best of luck...It's just so sad."

Ozzy Osbourne was on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" to promote the new season of "The Osbournes" and his new box set, entitled "Prince of Darkness". Ozzy discussed how he's been sober for nearly a year, the recent break-in at his home in England, his son Jack's latest plans on becoming a firefighter, smiley face tattoos on Ozzy's knees that he talks to, and his wife Sharon's obsession with moving into new homes. Read the complete transcript at RockDirt.com.

JUDAS PRIEST's "Angel of Retribution" has entered the Greek national album chart at position No. 1 — the first time PRIEST have topped the national album chart anywhere in the world. View the entire Greek album chart at this location.

"Angel of Retribution" first-week chart positions (updated):

#1 - Greece
#3 - Sweden
#4 - Japan
#4 - Germany
#6 - Norway
#6 - Spain
#10 - Austria
#12 - Canada
#13 - U.S.
#19 - Switzerland
#26 - Italy
#39 - U.K.
#40 - Ireland
#43 - France
#45 - Czech Republic
#46 - Holland

Singer Rob Halford's first album with JUDAS PRIEST in 15 years, "Angel of Retribution" was produced by Roy Z, who has previously worked on solo albums from Halford and IRON MAIDEN's Bruce Dickinson. The set is bundled with a concert DVD shot in a bullring in Valencia, Spain.

Full band history, discography, global gig guide and archived chart positions can be found at Rockdetector.com.

According to a message from SEVENDUST guitarist Sonny Mayo in the group's latest newsletter, SEVENDUST will be debuting two brand new songs during their upcoming U.S. tour. Said Mayo, "There are a lot of things in the works for SEVENDUST and it would be premature to start talking about them right now."

SEVENDUST's tour with SKINDRED and BOBAFLEX is scheduled to kick off April 6 in Tampa, Florida.

Mayo (ex-SNOT, AMEN) joined SEVENDUST earlier this year as the replacement for Clint Lowery, who left the group mid-tour in December, citing "personal issues." Lowery has since become a full-time member of DARK NEW DAY, the new "supergroup" also featuring Brett Hestla (ex-CREED, VIRGOS MERLOT) on vocals, Will Hunt (ex-SKRAPE, TOMMY LEE) on drums, Clint's brother Corey Lowery (ex-STEREOMUD, STUCK MOJO) on bass, and Troy McLawhorn (ex-DOUBLE DRIVE) on guitar.

The Smoking Gun is reporting that the Minnesota teenager responsible for Monday's (March 21) high-school shooting spree created a violent, blood-soaked video last year that included an animated character shooting four people and blowing up a police car before committing suicide. Using the alias "Regret," Jeff Weise, 16, last October posted online a 30-second animation entitled "Target Practice". Click here to view Weise's crudely animated Flash production. Weise posted a second short, "Clown", several weeks after uploading "Traget Practice" to a popular multimedia web site. The 50-second "Clown" ends with one character apparently being strangled by the clown.

In a brief bio accompanying his Flash animations, Weise described himself as "nothin but a Native American teenage-stoner-industrialist," whose favorite movies included "Dawn of the Dead", "Thunderheart", and "Lakota Woman". His favorite recording artists included KORN, MARILYN MANSON, RAMMSTEIN, and JOHN LENNON.

The web page with links to Weise's two Flash animations includes his photo and an e-mail address that the teen used when posting 34 comments on a neo-Nazi web site, where Weise used the handles "nativenazi" and "todesengel," which translates to "angel of death" in German.

According to police, Weise's killing rampage began with the murder of his grandfather and the man's female companion and ended at Red Lake High School, where he killed an unarmed security guard, a teacher, and five fellow students before apparently committing suicide. Seven others were wounded, including two teenage victims who remain in critical condition at a North Dakota hospital.

(Thanks: Korn Unleashed)

Guitarist guitarist Lisa Marx (formerly of the Seattle hardcore band TO SEE YOU BROKEN) has officially quit KITTIE. In a posting on the group's official message board, Marx writes, "I quit the band in February. I was not given a press release for reasons I have no idea about. There was a post on here the other day from someone I talked to at a show that has now mysteriously disappeared. Interesting. I have not heard from Morgan [Lander, guitar/vocals] or Mercedes [Lander, drums] since the tour in Mexico, so I don't know what is happening with the band. I can only speculate based on the same reasons that I was no longer able to continue with the band. I wish them the best of luck... based on what they told me, they'll need it.

"Thank you to all the fans for everything, I had a blast while it lasted. I'm sorry management didn't inform you of my resignation sooner, I have been waiting myself to hear about a press release. Now that people are talking, I wanted to clear up any confusion."

As previously reported, KITTIE are currently "on hold" while the group's record label, Artemis, decides whether or not it will be renewing the band's option for the fourth album cycle. The band's most recent album, "Until the End", was released in July 2004.

MÖTLEY CRÜE and MOTÖRHEAD will be teaming up for an Australian tour in December 2005. Confirmed dates are as follows:

Dec. 03 - Sydney, AUS @ Entertainment Centre
Dec. 04 - Brisbane, AUS @ Entertainment Centre
Dec. 06 - Melbourne, AUS @ Vodaphone Arena
Dec. 08 - Adelaide, AUS @ Entertainment Centre
Dec. 10 - Perth, AUS @ Bindoon Outdoor Festival

HALLOWS EVE, BLOODLUST, ATTACKER and UNEARTHED (composed entirely of ex-PURGATORY/ICED EARTH members) are among the artists confirmed to appear at Classic Metal Festival 5, set to be held on May 13-14 at JJ Kelley's (2455 Bernice) in Lansing (suburb of Chicago), Illinois. Other groups scheduled to perform at the festival include DR. MASTERMIND/WILD DOGS (Matt McCourt's bands, including his reunion with guitarist Kurt James), HERALDRY (Italian prog/power metal), STONE VENGEANCE (California true metal, born in 1978), WITHOUT END (featuring former BLOOD FEAST/HEADLOCK members), ROTTWEILER (early '80s Seattle metal), IRON CROSS ('80s Florida die-hards), OCTOBER 31 (featuring DECEASED's King Fowley), TWISTED TOWER DIRE (10th anniversary of resurrecting true metal), GOAT HORN (doom meets thrash from Canada), SKULLVIEW, GARDY LOO (featuring former NASTY SAVAGE members, comedic metal), FRANKENSHRED, CATCH 22, STORM WITHIN, HELL I FEEL, KNIGHTS OF TETHYS, BEYOND GLORY and NECRODEMON.

Tickets are available at the door for $15.00 on Friday, May 13, and $20.00 on Saturday, May 14. They can be pre-ordered from the Classic Metal Festival web site at this location. More information about the venue/motels, band links, and updates are also available at the site.

In celebration of the 20th anniversary of the release of "Battle At Helm's Deep", reunited New Jersey metallers ATTACKER will perform this classic album in its entirety at an exclusive engagement to be held at the Headbanger's Ballroom on Sunday, July 10 in Hamburg, Germany.

Vocalist Bob Mitchell commented: "This is our way of saying thank you to all of our fans in Europe for their years of support and for making our debut at last year's Keep It True Festival in Germany an experience we will never, ever forget."

In addition to this special show, ATTACKER will also appear at these festivals:

Jul. 09 - Headbangers Open Air Festival - Brande-Hoernerkirchen, GER
Jul. 15 - Thrash 'Til Death Festival - Wendessen, GER

Two more dates will be announced soon.

IRON MAIDEN fan site MaidenFans.com has uploaded the artwork for the new solo album from MAIDEN singer Bruce Dickinson, entitled "Tyranny of Souls". Check it out at this location.

As previously reported, "Tyranny of Souls" is scheduled for release on May 24 (one day earlier internationally) via Sanctuary Records.

"Tyranny Of Souls", Bruce's new solo venture, sees him return once again to collaborate with guitarist/producer/writer Roy Z. The album's cover is adorned with a 15th century depiction of hell by Hans Hemling and the music continues along this path to explore dark, apocalyptic themes. Delving into science, theology and of course, his love of flight, with thought provoking, intelligent and menacing lyrics that are sure to leave the listener's mind unsettled, "Tyranny Of Souls" is pure Dickinson. Heavy riff-laden songs and explosive virtuoso guitar work from Roy joined with the definitive Dickinson soaring vocals, makes this ground breaking album a tour de force of modern metal.

It was following on from the end of the last MAIDEN tour that Bruce saw an opportunity to work alongside Roy again.

"With MAIDEN, once the band has finished up on the tours, we all tend to go our separate ways and do our own thing for a while until it's time to saddle up again for the next album," Dickinson explained. "I knew I could seize the chance to work with Roy in between his work on the new JUDAS PRIEST album. We both work quickly together which I like and the recording is very organic so it came together quite easily. I'm very proud of it."

"Tyranny of Souls" track listing:

01. Mars Within (Intro)
02. Abduction
03. Soul Intruders
04. Kill Devil Hill
05. Navigate the Seas of the Sun
06. River of No Return
07. Power of the Sun
08. Devil on a Hog
09. Believil
10. A Tyranny of Souls

Buenos Aires, Argentina-based record label Rockaway Records has released "Todos Somos Ramones", the first-ever worlwide conceptual tribute album to THE RAMONES.

Featuring unique performances from acts like SYLVAIN SYLVAIN, BLACKFIRE, ED STASIUM, THE BOYS, SENZA BENZA, STOP, AL MADDY, IVAN JULIAN, BARBARA ZAMPINI, THE BULLYS, THE FUZZTONES, THE NUTLEY BRASS and THE BOYS, ninety percent of the bands on the CD have a direct bond to THE RAMONES.

Within the 58 songs included (divided into a double-CD set with more than two hours of music total), listeners will find an eclectic mixture of RAMONES versions in all music styles: synth-pop, irish string band, metal, country/hillbilly, rockabilly, brit-pop, hardcore, folk, acoustic, ska, psychedelic, even lounge music! The music comes on a box set including the two discs with an incredible 60-page booklet featuring liner notes by Tommy Ramone and Donna Gaines plus testimonials of all bands involved and lots of never-before-seen original photos of THE RAMONES and friends. To give a special plus for the same value, the one and only Ed Stasium has mastered the disc.

"Todos Somos Ramones" features tracks from all 13 RAMONES original studio albums covered (even b-sides and unreleased tracks!) and bands from over a dozen countries: Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Chile, USA, Spain, Italy, France, England, Ireland, Japan, Belgium and Germany.

For more information, visit www.rwyrcds.com.ar.

Renowned hard rock guitarist/composer Iain Ashley Hersey is showcasing his new album, "The Holy Grail", this Saturday, March 26 at 10:00 p.m. at Paladino's (6101, Reseda Blvd.) in Reseda, California. "The Holy Grail" is the follow up to the widely acclaimed "Fallen Angel" (2001, Frontiers) and features superb songwriting and performances which run the spectrum of the classic hard rock genre.

Iain's backing band at Paladino's will be the much respected David "Swan" Montgomery (LED ZEPAGAIN) on vocals, Philip Wolpe (IMPELLITTERI) on keyboards, Jerry Beller (JOSHUA) on drums and Paulo Gustavo (JACKIE DESHANNON) on bass.

There will also be a special guest in the form of legendary rock vocalist Graham Bonnet (RAINBOW, MSG, ALCATRAZZ, IMPELLITTERI), who also features on three tracks on "The Holy Grail".

John S. Hausman of The Grand Rapids Press has issued the following report:

Rocker Ted Nugent's career suffered after Muskegon Summer Celebration canceled his scheduled June 2003 show, his booking agent said.

He said a press release blaming Nugent's "use of ... potentially offensive racial terms" during a radio interview led to a lack of concerts in 2004.

After that, "The phones died. It seemed like Ted was a pariah," testified agent Adam Kornfeld, the first witness at the jury trial of Nugent's breach-of-contract lawsuit against the Muskegon festival.

Muskegon's version of a celebrity trial Tuesday drew more attention than the county's typical court case, but public interest was far from the scale of a Hollywood celebrity court case.

Cameras and reporters from West Michigan television stations and newspapers were in court, but there was no presence from news media outside West Michigan. And Nugent drew a small circle of loyal fans throughout the day, but hardly a crowd.

A cluster of fewer than a dozen admirers waited for him to leave after the day in court ended at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

Nugent obligingly posed for photos and signed autographs.

The 56-year-old rocker, outdoorsman and bowhunting enthusiast dressed casually for court, wearing black jeans, boots, a dark shirt, no tie and an outdoor jacket with camouflage shoulders.

Read more at The Grand Rapids Press.

British heavy metal legends SAXON have officially cancelled their previously announced dates in the USA, South America and United Arab Emirates.

According to the group's management, the cancellation came about as a result of frontman Biff Byford wanting to stay by his family's side after suffering a major loss in February when his house in the Normandie area of France burned down. In that incident, Biff, his wife and their children got out of the house at the very last minute and nobody was hurt.

SAXON are hoping to make up the cancelled dates in late 2005 or early 2006.

Legendary guitarist Rod Price, founding member of the blues boogie band FOGHAT, passed away on March 22, 2005 at the age of 57 in Wilton, New Hampshire. Price sustained a massive head trauma in an accidental stairway fall.

Born November 22, 1947 in London, England, Price gained notoriety for his signature slide and blues based playing earning him the reputation as "the magician of slide." His instantly recognizable solos drove FOGHAT to three platinum and eight gold records during their quarter century career.

In addition to his playing with FOGHAT, Price has worked with Champion Jack Dupree, Duster Bennett, Eddie Kirkland, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Willie Dixon and Honey Boy Edwards.

Price's two solo CDs, "Open" and "West Four", allowed Rod to expand his quite capable songwriting abilities and showcase not only his incomparable slide work but his lead vocals and heartbreakingly beautiful acoustic abilities.

Rod Price is survived by his wife Jackie and children Rory, Jessie, David, Robin and Sarah.

There will be an open memorial service at Nelson Funeral Home in Wilton, NH on Saturday, March 26 at 2PM.

Swedish death metallers NOMINON have finalized the track listing for their new album, "Recremation", due this spring via Konqueror Records (CD) and Blood Harvest Records (12-inch vinyl).

"Recremation" was recorded and mixed at Necromorbus Studio in Stockholm with engineer Tore Stjerna. The complete track listing for the effort is as follows:

01. Submit to Evil
02. Hordes of Flies
03. Buried by Me
04. The End Written In Blood
05. Mirror of Dead Flesh
06. Sickening
07. Under the Five-pointed Star
08. Into Black
09. Condemned to Die
10. Spit On Your Grave (WHIPLASH cover, bonus LP track)

In other news, the band have posted the following message on their official web site:

"After more than two years, the long-awaited 'Blaspheming the Dead' 7" vinyl EP has been released on the already classified cult underground label Nuclear Winter Records from Greece. This recording was done in December 2002 and has previously been released on an cassette-EP by the same label. Now it's finally available and you can order your own copy directly from NOMINON. The 7" EP is only printed in 500 copies, so don't waste any time!!"

Billboard.com is reporting that NINE INCH NAILS has drafted Photek and DFA to remix tracks from the group's upcoming album, "With Teeth", due May 3 via Interscope. Photek has remixed first single "The Hand That Feeds", while it is unknown what tracks DFA has tackled.

"I met Rupert [Parkes of Photek] during the mixing of 'With Teeth'. I've always loved his work and [he] was the first person I thought of when the top of remixing came up," NIN's Trent Reznor wrote on the band's official web site. He added that DFA is "doing the most interesting production work out there, in my opinion."

Reznor also revealed that "With Teeth" will be available as both a regular CD and a DualDisc, the latter of which will feature "higher resolution stereo mixes as well as surround mixes I was involved in." The video for "The Hand That Feeds" will also be included.

"As far as the packaging, we're doing something that feels right to me but deviates from the norm," Reznor said. "I have always thought the format of the CD effectively put an end to album artwork. [So] we designed something that feels in touch with how people experience music in 2005. We will be opening ourselves up for criticism here but I assure you when you see the big picture, it will all make sense."

Blistering.com has uploaded photos from the "The Devil's Rejects" advance first-look genre screening, which took place Tuesday (March 22) at the Lions Gate Screening Room in Santa Monica, CA. Check them out at this location.

As previously repored, ComingSoon.net has uploaded the trailer for Rob Zombie's second project as a feature film director, "The Devil's Rejects", due in theaters on July 22. Check it out at this location. A number of production stills from the movie can be viewed here.

"The Devil's Rejects" is the sequel to Zombie's directorial debut, 2003's "House of 1000 Corpses". The rocker-turned-filmmaker has said that this movie will be much darker and nastier than its predecessor.

"The Devil's Rejects" follows "House"'s evil Firefly family as they flee from a cop bent on revenge for the murder of his brother in the first movie, according to Launch Radio Networks.

In addition to returning cast members like Sid Haig, Bill Moseley, and Zombie's wife, Sheri Moon Zombie, "The Devil's Rejects" boasts an assortment of actors long associated with the horror genre, including "Halloween"'s P.J. Soles, Ken Foree from the original "Dawn of the Dead", Michael Berryman from "The Hills Have Eyes" and Steve Railsback of "Helter Skelter" and "Ed Gein" fame.

Metal Blade Records has officially inked a worldwide deal with the Tampa, Florida's THE ABSENCE. Having previously self-released an EP, THE ABSENCE will enter Mana Studios in Tampa on April 10 with producer Erik Rutan (INTO THE MOAT, SOILENT GREEN, HATE ETERNAL) to record their first full-length release for Metal Blade, due out in the fall of 2005. THE ABSENCE will be touring relentlessly both nationally and abroad in support of their debut release.

Commented the band: "We are very excited to be on Metal Blade Records, a label we have all grown up listening to and look forward to joining the ranks of such heavy hitters as AMON AMARTH, KING DIAMOND, CANNIBAL CORPSE, THE CROWN and so many other great metal bands."

Added Metal Blade President Mike Faley: "It is a pleasure to add THE ABSENCE to the Metal Blade Records roster. Their aggressive form of metal is fresh and heavy. They must put something in that Florida water, because they follow in the footsteps of SIX FEET UNDER, CANNIBAL CORPSE, and our young band INTO THE MOAT in presenting a fresh new sound to metal."

THE ABSENCE is:

Patrick Pintavalle - Guitar
Jamie Stewart - Vocals
Jeramie Kling - Drums
Peter Joseph - Guitars
Nicholas Calaci – Bass

For more information, visit www.theabsence.com.

Early next month GOD FORBID will begin their final round of touring in support of their critically acclaimed and highly successful "Gone Forever" album. This will be the group's first national headlining U.S. tour supporting their latest offering and it will feature CALIBAN, IT DIES TODAY and FULL BLOWN CHAOS in the support slots. This trek marks their first U.S. tour since last year's Ozzfest. The upcoming four-week run, which kicks off on April 1, also includes a stop at the esteemed New England Metal And Hardcore Fest.

Straight on the heels of a highly successful east-coast run with SOULFLY, the group proceeded to enter the studio to begin pre-production on their highly anticipated new album, "IV: Constitution Of Treason", with Jason Suecof (TRIVIUM) at Audiohammer Studios. In May, GOD FORBID will join back up with Suecof and Eric Rachel (ATREYU, THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN) at Trax East to begin tracking the new effort. The album is tentatively set for an October release.

For more information, visit www.godforbid1.com.

Sweden's BLINDSIDE have inked a deal with DRT Entertainment. The band is currently in the studio working on their as-yet-untitled new album, expected out this summer. Lasse "Lars" Marten, who produced the band's debut, is back on board and working with the band at Decibel Studios in Stockholm. BLINDSIDE's first two albums, their self-titled debut and "A Thought Crushed My Mind", will be re-issued in late May, along with a new DVD, "Ten Years Running Blind". Both albums have been digitally remastered and contain four additional bonus tracks. In addition, lead singer Christian Lindskog has designed special new artwork for the packaging of both the albums and the DVD.

"Blindside" (1997), will feature original demos of "Superman", "Liberty", "Forgiven" and "Stolen", previously only available as a limited edition released only in Stockholm in 1996. "A Thought Crushed My Mind", originally released in 2000, will include two songs only available on 7" vinyl, "Knocking On Another Door" and "All You Need Is", as well as the never-before-released tracks "Desert Flower" and "Sunrise". "Ten Years Running Blind", the group's premier DVD, is over 2 ½ hours long and chronicles the band's 10-year run. It features a 40-minute documentary with exclusive band interviews, five live performance videos, six music videos and extensive behind-the-scenes footage.

"We were supposed to go all the way with our own label and release the new record ourselves when DRT showed up," says BLINDSIDE's Tomas Naslund. "They were genuinely interested in the band and had the knowledge that we did not. It seemed like the perfect match and we are excited to work with them." Adds Simon Grenehed, "(DRT co-principal) Derek Shulman kept coming back to us, and even flew out to Oklahoma to meet with our management. I had a chance to speak with him over the phone and he wasn't the typical record executive that we were tired of."

"We are absolutely ecstatic to have a band of BLINDSIDE's caliber on DRT," commented DRT's Milo Pacheco. "They are truly one of the most inspiring rock bands working in music today, and we are committed to expanding their base as they continue to make albums that are both powerful and passionate."

BLINDSIDE formed in Stockholm, Sweden in 1994 and have done extensive headline tours of both Europe and the U.S. with such acts as LINKIN PARK, HOOBASTANK and P.O.D. They have sold over 250,000 units in the U.S. with their latest release, 2004's "About A Burning Fire", which debuted in the Top 40 on the Billboard album chart. The band will embark on an extensive tour beginning in June 2005 and will be re-launching their official website, www.blindsideonline.com, soon.

Long-running Polish death metallers VADER have inked a deal with Sweden's Regain Records. Commented the band: "We would like to thank to our previous label Metal Blade for years of cooperation and other labels, who were interested in signing us. Regain Records is a great label so we hope for the best!"

The band will enter Hertz Studio in Bialystok in early July to record a brand new mini-CD under the working title of "The Art of War". The CD will be produced by the Wieslawscy brothers and will contain "three extremely intense and fast cuts and one song in the vein of the band's typical style," according to a posting on the group's web site. "The Art of War" will also contain a special bonus video clip for the title track. "It's going to be something really new, unconventional and powerful, expect the unexpectable (the production itself has taken almost 5 months)!" reads a posting on the band's web site.

VADER recently parted ways with longtime drummer Doc. Replacing him in the group's lineup is Daray, who appeared on VADER's last effort, "The Beast" (2004), in addition to having toured with the band for the past year.

SOULFLY's live video for the SEPULTURA classic "Roots Bloody Roots", taken from the band's recently released "The Song Remains Insane" DVD, will premier on MTV2's "Headbanger's Ball" this Saturday, March 26.

SOULFLY mainman Max Cavalera will return to the recording studio next Monday (March 28) to finish up a couple of tracks for the group's fifth full-length CD, tentatively due this fall via Roadrunner Records. Mixing duties will be handled in early April by Terry Date, who has previously worked with PANTERA and DEFTONES, among others.

Ozzy Osbourne stopped by Tower Records Village in New York City on Tuesday, March 22, the day of the release of his "Prince of Darkness" box set. Ozzy did not sign any items, but he took pictures with about 350 fans. Check out pictures from Wire Image, Film Magic.

In other news, Ozzy and his wife Sharon made an appearance on MTV's "TRL" on Monday (March 21). Check out pictures from Film Magic.

Korea's metalcore act VASSLINE won the "Best Rock" prize at this year's Korean Music Awards (the Korean Grammy equivalent) for their 2004 release "Blood of Immortality". VASSLINE were the only metal act to be nominated at this year's event, which was held Tuesday (March 22) at the GeonGuk University Hall in Seoul. The band performed two songs ("An Ode to My Friend" and "Assassin of Death") during the ceremony, which will be broadcast in early April on the major music channel M.net TV.

As previously reported, Dope Entertainment has set an April 11 release date for the reissue of VASSLINE's debut album, "The Portrait of Your Funeral". The currently out-of-print CD has been reworked to include new artwork and bonus tracks in the form of songs from the group's first EP, "Bloodthirsty" (originally issued in 2000). The reissue will also feature a brand new studio track, entitled "ValcanPo".

For more informaion on VASSLINE, visit their PureVolume.com page.

Montreal-based quintet ION DISSONANCE have inked a deal with Abacus Recordings.

ION DISSONANCE have kept busy most of 2004 by relentlessly touring all over the U.S. and Canada in support of their debut record, "Breathing Is Irrelevant". The band's future plans are to tour and play as much as possible, with scheduled dates in Canada with PREMONITIONS OF WAR and DESPISED ICON, followed by several dates in the U.S., including the New England Metal and Hardcore Festival and the Maryland Death Fest, after which they will be touring the States again in June with FROM A SECOND STORY WINDOW, REFLUX and ON BROKEN WINGS.

ION DISSONANCE will be recording their new album, entitled "Solace", during the month of May with producer Pierre Rémillard (CRYPTOPSY, KRISIUN, THE END). A fall release is expected. A demo track from the upcoming record, "She's Strychnine", is available for listening at PureVolume.com.

For more information, visit www.iondissonance.com.

TRIVIUM's latest CD, "Ascendancy", has sold 6,976 copies in its first week of release to debut at No. 151 on next week's The Billboard 200 chart (No. 4 on Heatseeker chart, No. 21 on Top Hard Music Albums chart).

TRIVIUM are currently on the Road Rage tour with 3 INCHES OF BLOOD, THE AGONY SCENE and STILL REMAINS through the end of March. The band have also been confirmed for the second stage at this year's Ozzfest beginning on July 15 in Boston. Massachusetts.

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

ABC ePrep is reporting that the Hard Rock Casino in Las Vegas recently honored MÖTLEY CRÜE for two concerts there by featuring the band on limited-edition casino chips. The $5 (picture) and $25 (picture) chips are legal tender at all Hard Rock gaming tables. CRÜE performed last Sunday (March 20) at the Hard Rock's concert venue The Joint, and will return this Sunday (March 27).

A 30-second audio clip of the new HOLY MOSES track "Angel Cry" is available for streaming at HolyMoses.de.

"Angel Cry" comes off the German thrashers' new album, "Strength Power Will Passion", due on May 23 via Armageddon Music/Soulfood. 22 songs and over 80 minutes of music were reportedly laid down at the band's Absurd studio in Hamburg for their tenth album, which is the follow-up to 2002's "Disorder of the Order" (Century Media Records).

"Strength Power Will Passion" track listing:

01. Angel Cry
02. End Of Time
03. Symbol Of Spirit
04. Examination
05. I Will
06. Space Clearing
07. Sacred Crystals
08. Lost Inside
09. Death Bells II
10. Rebirthing
11. Seasons In The Twilight
12. Say Goodbye

LACUNA COIL's critically acclaimed 2002 album, "Comalies", has just surpassed the 200,000 U.S. SoundScan plateau. This marks the first time a Century Family artist has reached this illustrious benchmark. The accomplishment comes on the heels of the Active Rock radio success of the powerful singles "Heaven's A Lie" and "Swamped", which also exploded at Fuse and MTV2. The group spent the past two years touring relentlessly with the likes of ANTHRAX, OPETH, P.O.D. and TYPE O NEGATIVE, only to emerge as Ozzfest 2004's breakout artist after consistently outselling all other second stage acts each week.

LACUNA COIL are currently in the pre-production phase for the highly anticipated follow-up to "Comalies" with longtime producer Waldemar Sorychta (SENTENCED, MOONSPELL). Vocalist Cristina Scabbia checks in with the following report on the band's songwriting progress: "We are working on the new stuff and I can tell you it is definitely killer! We are really proud of the new songs and we are still composing new material. We plan on presenting some of the new tracks this summer at festivals around Europe; check out the dates at LacunaCoil.it and EmptySpiral.net. Thanks for the great support you've given us since we started. We love you and we are ready to come back to kick some serious ass!"