CHIMAIRA bassist Jim LaMarca, former MUSHROOMHEAD manager Trent Weller, and producer Ben Schigel (RINGWORM, DROWNING POOL) have joined forces to launch a new artist-development company called Straight Razor Entertainment (formerly LaMafia Records). Straight Razor is currently working with select artists out of Cleveland and a metal band out of Seattle called DARKEST GRACE. DARKEST GRACE features in its ranks former members of the band DAMNAGED, which opened for CHIMAIRA and DANZIG in 2002. With a music style that is described in a press release as "melodic metal," DARKEST GRACE plans on enlisting Schigel to help it craft its first album, tentatively due in 2009.

In a March 2008 interview with D.X. Ferris of the Cleveland Scene, LaMarca stated about Straight Razor Entertainment (then still called LaMafia Records), "If we have to put out a record, we'll put out a record. If we have to manage a band, we'll manage it. If we have to book a tour, we'll book a tour. My goal is taking the bands that I'm working with, making them happy they're in the music business, and getting them to succeed."

The company will be an alternative to pay-to-play promoters, LaMarca told the Cleveland Scene. The team plans to actively shape bands — from song structures to live performances. Management will act as its own promotion, A&R, and street teams when on the road.

For more information, including audio samples, go to this location.

Long-running Swedish death metallers DISMEMBER will take part in a signing session at Metal Emporium in Melbourne, Australia on July 18 between 2:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.

DISMEMBER will embark on a tour of Australia and New Zealand in July. Confirmed dates are as follows:

July 15 - Perth, Australia - Amplifier
July 16 - Adelaide, Australia - Enigma
July 17 - Hobart, Australia - The Bris Hotel
July 18 - Melbourne, Australia - Hi Fi Bar
July 19 - Sydney, Australia - Gaelic Theatre
July 20 - Brisbane, Australia - Rosies on Edwards
July 22 - Wellington, New Zealand – Valve
July 24 - Auckland, New Zealand - Oblivion

The new self-titled album from DISMEMBER is being streamed in its entirety on MP3.com. Released in Europe on February 18 via Regain (April 1 in the U.S.), the CD was recorded at B.A.S. studios with producer Nico Elgstrand (MURDER SQUAD, KRUX, MERCILESS, ENTOMBED).

DISMEMBER recently completed the first leg of its Europa Burns tour alongside HATESPHERE, FALL OF SERENITY and LAY DOWN ROTTEN. The band has also kept a tour diary via the web site of the German edition of Metal Hammer magazine, which is available in English, German.

The Price of Beauty Productions's video footage of DISMEMBER's March 30, 2008 performance at the Underworld in London, England can be viewed below.

REVOLTING COCKS (also known as REVCO), the American industrial rock band that began as a musical side-project for Alain Jourgensen (MINISTRY), has posted a new track, "Homo Song (I'm Not Gay)", on the group's MySpace page. The song comes off REVOLTING COCKS' forthcoming album, "Sex-O Olympic-O", due later in the year through Jourgensen's imprint 13th Planet.

REVOLTING COCKS's most recent release was "Cocktail Mixxx" — a collection of intoxicating dance/club remixes of the 2006 release "Cocked and Loaded" from REVCO mixologists Luc Van Acker, Clayton Worbeck and Phildo Owen.

Released in March 2006, "Cocked and Loaded", was the first REVOLTING COCKS record in more than a decade. Produced by Jourgensen, it featured the contributions of guest artists Jello Biafra (DEAD KENNEDYS), Gibby Haynes (BUTTHOLE SURFERS), Rick Nielsen (CHEAP TRICK), Billy Gibbons (ZZ TOP), Stevie Banch (SPYDER BABY) and Phildo Owen (SKATENIGS) and Robin Zander (CHEAP TRICK).

British heavy metal legends JUDAS PRIEST played the second show of their current world tour Thursday night (June 5) at the Sweden Rock Festival in Sölvesborg, Sweden. The group's setlist was reportedly the same as it was two days earlier in Helsinki, Finland:

01. Intro: Dawn of Creation
02. Prophecy
03. Metal Gods
04. Eat Me Alive
05. Between the Hammer and the Anvil
06. Devil's Child
07. Breaking the Law
08. Hell Patrol
09. Death
10. Dissident Aggressor
11. Angel
12. The Hellion / Electric Eye
13. Rock Hard, Ride Free
14. Sinner
15. Painkiller
---------------
16. Hell Bent for Leather
17. The Green Manalishi (With the Two-Pronged Crown)
18. You've Got Another Thing Coming

Check out photos of the Sweden Rock Festival performance at RockFoto.nu.

JUDAS PRIEST's double-disc concept album, "Nostradamus", is scheduled for release via Columbia Records on Monday, June 16 in Europe, and a day later in the U.S. on Epic Records.

JUDAS PRIEST will guest on the nationally syndicated radio show "Rockline", hosted by Bob Coburn, on Monday, July 21 at 11:30 p.m. EST/8:30 p.m. PST. Fans can talk live with JUDAS PRIEST by calling 800-344-ROCK (7625). To find a station near you or to listen to the show live via the Internet, go to www.rocklineradio.com.

Fan-filmed video footage of JUDAS PRIEST performing the song "Dissident Aggressor" live in Helsinki, Finland on June 3, 2008 can be viewed below (uploaded by YouTube user "RockNRomeo").

According to a posting on the Ramble On LED ZEPPELIN fan blog, ZEPPELIN's Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones joined the FOO FIGHTERS onstage Saturday night (June 7) during the final encore of the Dave Grohl-fronted band's concert at Wembley Stadium in London, England. The ZEPPELIN duo and the FOOS played "Rock And Roll" with Dave Grohl on drums and FOO FIGHTERS drummer Taylor Hawkins singing (see video footage below). Grohl and Hawkins then switched places for "Ramble On" (see video footage below).

In the past Grohl has intimated that he would be willing to drum for ZEPPELIN should they reunite, so this event probably falls in the dream-come-true category for Grohl.

Check out photos of the performance at BBC.co.uk.

Tennessee's THE SHOWDOWN has reportedly inked a deal with Solid State Records for the release of the band's third full-length album, "Back Breaker", due later in the year.

Watch footage from the new album recording sessions in Nasvhille, Tennessee below.

Back in May 2007, THE SHOWDOWN filmed the video for the song "Temptation Come My Way" with accomplished music video director Doug Spangenberg, who has worked with NORMA JEAN, THIS IS HELL, TERROR and LAMB OF GOD.

THE SHOWDOWN was named one of AP's "100 Bands You Need To Know" In '07, and was profiled as a "Band To Watch" in Revolver magazine.

Reactivated Canadian rockers TRIUMPH — Rik Emmett (vocals, guitars), Mike Levine (bass, keyboards) and Gil Moore (vocals, drums) — played their first show since reuniting earlier tonight (Saturday, June 7) at the Sweden Rock Festival in Sölvesborg, Sweden.

Check out photos of the concert at RockFoto.nu.

The group's setlist was as follows:

01. When the Lights Go Down
02. Lay It on the Line
03. Allied Forces
04. Never Surrender
05. I Live For the Weekend
06. Blinding Light Show
07. Rocky Mountain Way
08. Magic Power
09. Rock and Roll Machine
Encore:
10. Fight the Good Fight

As one of the godfathers of prog metal and leading lights of arena rock, TRIUMPH formed in 1975, and built a large and loyal fanbase by the late '70s on the strength of their non-stop touring schedule throughout Canada and the USA and the success of their classic albums, "Rock & Roll Machine" and "Just A Game".

But it was in the 1980s when TRIUMPH truly became a force to be reckoned with, as a string of gold/platinum-certified albums ("Progressions of Power", "Allied Forces", "Never Surrender" and "Thunder Seven") and classic hits ("Fight the Good Fight", "Magic Power", "Lay It On The Line") solidified the group as one of rock's top concert attractions.

French metallers DAGOBA have posted the second episode of their ongoing studio video diary, dubbed "Inside the Colossus". Watch the clip below.

DAGOBA's third album, "Face the Colossus", is being mixed by Tue Madsen (THE HAUNTED, HATESPHERE, MNEMIC) at Antfarm studios in Århus, Denmark. A late September release is expected.

Tue Madsen previously worked with DAGOBA on the band's sophomore album, "What Hell Is About…", which was released in February 2006 via Season of Mist. That CD featured a guest appearance on two songs by DIMMU BORGIR bassist/ARCTURUS frontman Simen Hestnaes (a.k.a. ICS Vortex, ex-BORKNAGAR, LAMENTED SOULS).

DAGOBA drummer Franky Costanza was featured in the May 2007 issue of French magazine Batterie, which was accompanied by an educational DVD where you can see him perform a few DAGOBA songs. Watch this 20 minute, multi-angle, mind-blowing video at this location.

For more information on Franky Costanza, visit his web site.

Footage of UK gothic metal pioneers PARADISE LOST performing the song "The Enemy" — taken from the group's recently released DVD, "The Anatomy Of Melancholy" — can be viewed below.

"The Anatomy Of Melancholy" entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 42 (German chart rules allow music DVDs to enter album charts).

An e-card for "The Anatomy Of Melancholy" can be accessed at this location.

On April 12, 2007, PARADISE LOST played a sold-out show at the Koko club in the heart of Camden, London to record a DVD. Fans and media from all over the world came to the beautiful Baroque style venue to celebrate a band that, 20 years since its conception in 1988, is still one of the most exciting bands of their self-defined genre.

Starting with the UK live debut of "The Enemy" from PARADISE LOST's latest album "In Requiem" (which came out one month later), the setlist includes songs the band hadn't played live in a long time prior to that night, such as "Eternal" and "Gothic" from their 1991 album "Gothic", the rare B-side "Sweetness" from their 1994 "Seals The Sense" single and other classics from their impressive album roster. With a tracklist like this it's easy to win over the audience and be rewarded with enthusiastic feedback, but even the highly critical UK press were convinced by the band's honest and pure energy.

The live show was filmed and directed by Paul M Green and his Dash Productions team (who previously worked with OPETH, THE DAMNED, GARY NUMAN and many more). Jens Bogren (OPETH, KATATONIA, AMON AMARTH, SYMPHONY X, etc.) mixed the brilliantly captured live sound at Fascination Street Studios in Sweden, and the dark enchanting cover artwork was done again by Greek artist Seth who already worked on the band's last two album covers.

The bonus material features interviews with all band members, quotes from the fans at the Koko, a half hour road movie from the following European tour in fall 2007 and the highly acclaimed "The Enemy" promo video, shot on the Crimean peninsula by Russian avant-garde director Edward 209.

Drummer Mikko Sirén of the Finnish cello quartet APOCALYPTICA was interviewed at this week's Rock in Rio festival in Lisbon, Portugal. Watch the four-minute chat below.

APOCALYPTICA recently cancelled its appearance at the M'era Luna festival — set to take place August 8-9 in Hildesheim, Germany — in order to play this year's one-day Ozzfest in Dallas, Texas on August 9.

APOCALYPTICA recruited FUEL frontman Toryn Green to handle lead vocals on the quartet's recent North American tour, which began on April 11 and concluded on May 19. The group initially enlisted Johnny Andrews, who co-wrote the band's current single, "I'm Not Jesus", to sing on the trek, but Andrews was replaced after just a handful of shows. In addition to "I'm Not Jesus", Andrews also co-wrote another track called "S.O.S. (Anything But Love)". Both tunes are from APOCALYPTICA's new album, "Worlds Collide", which arrived in stores in the U.S. on April 15.

Other guests on "Worlds Collide" include SLIPKNOT/STONE SOUR frontman Corey Taylor, LACUNA COIL singer Cristina Scabbia, drummer Dave Lombardo from SLAYER and vocalist Till Lindemann of RAMMSTEIN.

Cristina Scabbia has confirmed that she will perform with APOCALYPTICA at this year's Download festival on Sunday, June 15 at Donington Park, Leicestershire, UK.

Cristina will sing the epic ballad "S.O.S. (Anything But Love)", which was featured on "Worlds Collide", and was released as a single earlier this year, accompanied by a suitably dark and lavish video. "S.O.S. (Anything But Love)" was also featured in the new motion picture "Stone's War" — a science-fiction war movie based on a story of Finnish soldiers during World War 2.

Metalzone.gr's Elena Mihailidou and Vasilis Mazaris conducted an interview with Robin Staps of Berlin, Germany's THE OCEAN prior to the band's first-ever show in Athens, Greece. Robin talks about the group's latest album, "Precambrian"; THE OCEAN's touring plans; and how he would like to make a DVD but not a "typical" DVD, but rather something more like a David Lynch movie. He also reveals that if he were to collaborate with an artist, he would like it to be Diamanda Galas or Tori Amos. He also talks about his relationship with the Greek elements that inspire him and the possible concept he has in mind for their next album. Watch the 28-minute chat below.

"Precambrian" was released last November via Metal Blade Records. The double-disc effort is the soundtrack to the beginning of evolution, subdivided into two successive geological eons ("Hadean/Archean" and "Proterozoic"). The songs are divided into five subordinate eras, with the songtitles carrying the names of subordinate geological periods. Disc 1 features the typical THE OCEAN brutality while Disc 2 shows the deeper, more emotional side of what the collective also stands for.

"Precambrian" is available as a deluxe digipack and was recorded in the band's own Oceanland studio as well as in Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands, Los Angeles and Seattle. Once again the incredible artwork was done by highly acclaimed artist Martin Kvamme (FANTOMAS, TOMAHAWK, PATTON/KAADA).

"Precambrian" has a running time of 84 minutes and features guest appearances by Scofield (CAVE IN, ZOZOBA, OLD MAN GLOOM), Nate Newton (CONVERGE, DOOMRIDERS), Dwid Hellion (INTEGRITY), Tomas Hallbom (BREACH), Eric Kalsbeek (TEXTURES) as well as the musicians of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.

Dave Navarro, Tom Morello, Slash, MEGADETH, MISFITS, Marilyn Manson, SYSTEM OF A DOWN, Ozzy Osbourne, KORN and Zakk Wylde are among the artists who are featured in Drkrm.gallery's "Finger in Fame" exhibition showcasing the fine art music photography of Travis Shinn. This exhibition, which runs from May 24 to June 29, is a photographic journey through the contemporary rock, hip-hop and rap scene that documents the larger-than-life legends that comprise the visual album of today's music.

Travis Shinn has shot covers, editorial and fashion for such magazines as Scratch, Alternative Press, Rides, Blender, Stuff, Guitar World and King. He also created the artwork for TOOL's Grammy-winning album "10,000 Days".

Born in the brooding Southern California desert, Travis Shinn's photographic career began when he photographed the Grand Canyon with his first camera at the tender age of six. In between stealing his parents' cars and the occasional stint in juvie, where he had his finger in fame by thirteen, Travis learned photography from his stepmother, who was the editor of Photographic magazine. He studied photography and painting at the Los Angeles High School for the Arts and the San Francisco Art Institute. When asked what he likes most about taking photos, he replied, "Meeting new people." Travis's work reflects this honesty and genuine interest in his subject.

Regular gallery hours are Tuesday - Saturday, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sunday 1-4 p.m. All gallery events are free and open to the public.

Drkrm.gallery
2121 San Fernando Road • Suite 3
Los Angeles, CA 90065
323.223.6867
drkrmgallery@gmail.com

"Sadistic Magician", the new video from Virginian thrashers MUNICIPAL WASTE, can be viewed below. The clip was shot last month at the formidable Hyperion Sewage Treatment Plant in Playa del Ray, California. Directed by Jeff Speed of 1134 Films and produced by Carolyn Vye of The Vault LA (KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, AS I LAY DYING, MADINA LAKE), the clip features the band performing "Sadistic Magician" inside an extremely volatile nuclear power plant. The plant can't handle the manic energy of MUNICIPAL WASTE and starts falling apart, causing absolute gory mayhem to befall the citizens and wildlife of the areas surrounding it.

Director Jeff Speed comments on the video: "Humor, horror, metal and mayhem have always been a winning combination. It's '80s throwback to the fullest — back when videos were fun and the music was still dangerous. MUNICIPAL WASTE is the perfect band for it because this is exactly who they are — no bullshit."

"Sadistic Magician" comes off MUNICIPAL WASTE's 2007 album "The Art Of Partying".

Catch MUNICIPAL WASTE this July as they tour the U.S. with legendary metal innovators AT THE GATES alongside DARKEST HOUR and TOXIC HOLOCAUST.



(Thanks: Zombierichard)

Marty Casey, the former contestant on the hit CBS-TV "reality" show "Rock Star: INXS" who was recently named the new lead singer for the Tracii Guns-led version of L.A. GUNS, has posted the following message on his official blog:

"I wanted to reach out to everyone and let you know of some equally amazing and difficult changes going on in my life at the present moment. With sincere thought and sleepless nights, I have made the decision to change my current musical direction. I am still deeply committed to the creation and performance of music but have decided to take on a new opportunity. This scenario appeared very quickly and I only had a few days to make the decision. I chose what I felt was right for my life.

"I have been working in Los Angeles and Toronto as a songwriter for the new L.A. GUNS album, and as we were working on the album, the former singer of the band made some extremely bad decisions and left the band as a result. The band was in the studio in Canada with their producer, Steve Thompson, and all set to record the songs we had written together. On top of the month of recording that needed to be completed, their world tour was confirmed to begin at the end of June.

"They offered me the opportunity to step in and be the new voice of L.A. GUNS. I thought about the opportunity and the possibilities it opened up for me. I loved the songs I had written with the band and felt it was time for me to embrace this new direction. I was excited at the opportunity to record this album and then join the 'Summer Blackout Tour' which will take me all over the world over the next year. I chose to dive into the creativity and momentum. It was a tough decision because the LOVEHAMMERS [Marty's band] have always been very good friends and musical brothers. It was incredibly hard to talk to them and let them know of my new musical direction. My intent was not to hurt anyone. My intent is to continue passionately in creating and performing music. I have felt stuck for some time, and when this scenario presented itself, it felt like the clouds opening up and showing me a bright light of possibility. I am excited to record this album that I have so passionately been writing and then set-off on tour for the next year. It feels like the right place for me.

"I hope you embrace my change in direction and I hope you understand. I am working incredibly hard recording the album and want to affect people with intense live performances. A place has opened up for me, and I am committed to making this a success. I also hope there will be future LOVEHAMMERS shows because Bob, Dino and Billy are a big part of my life."

L.A. GUNS' new album featuring Marty Casey will be released later in the year via Alexus Records. Look for the guys on tour this summer with FASTER PUSSYCAT and BANG TANGO as they blaze a trail through a city near you.

MARTY CASEY & LOVEHAMMERS performing live – April 2008:

During yesterday's (Friday, June 6) press conference at the Sweden Rock Festival in Sölvesborg, Sweden, DEF LEPPARD singer Joe Elliott was asked how his band managed to avoid getting caught up in the whole "glam-rock" scene of the '80s even after citing such image-oriented artists as MICK RONSON, DAVID BOWIE and T.REX as major influences.

"If you actually look at the way that the 'glam' bands, if you want to call it that, from Los Angeles dressed themselves up, they totally missed the point," Elliott replied. "When English glam bands from the '70s came on 'Top of the Pops' [long-running British music chart television program], it was almost an afterthought to what they were actually doing — music always came first, and then they'd be like, 'What are we gonna wear?' . . . Bowie was very image-driven, and maybe the music came second, but a lot of the other bands, it was always about the music — the image thing was just something that they did to just upstage other bands on 'Top of the Pops'; that's what they used to do. So we were never driven to do the mascara thing or whatever these bands did. They didn't have any substance musically, I don't think, in comparison to us, so we didn't feel we needed to do it. Bands that do that are doing it to cover up the fact that there is no substance in their music. The only band — and I'm not saying it because we're here — the only band that did pull it off was [Finland's] HANOI ROCKS. I thought HANOI ROCKS were a good band, and they looked… Michael Monroe [HANOI frontman] was one of the best… I would have shagged him. [Laughs] I like Michael, I think he's sexy, and I'm not gay. And I think Andy McCoy [HANOI guitarist] does the best kind of Keith Richards... so much better than MÖTLEY CRÜE or POISON or any of those bands. They [HANOI ROCKS] were real — the rest of the guys, it was all a bit fake for me."

For a sneak peek at AVENGED SEVENFOLD's forthcoming, as-yet untitled live CD/DVD set, check out the "Afterlife" clip below. The group filmed its April 10 concert at the Long Beach Arena in Long Beach, California on the recent Taste of Chaos tour for the package, which the band expects to make available by Christmas. Singer M. Shadows recently told The Pulse of Radio that the combined audio-video package will also include some of the band's B-sides. In addition, the group will be utilizing the live footage shot at the Long Beach concert to put together a video for the song "Dear God".

In other news, Buzznet recently conducted an interview with AVENGED SEVENFOLD guitarist Zacky Vengeance. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow.

Buzznet: Are you nervous about opening for IRON MAIDEN [in Europe]?

Vengeance: Anxious better describes what I'm feeling. They're legends, obviously. It's an honor to share a stage with them. We had the privilege of playing with METALLICA last year and learned so much from them. It's always a pleasure to play with your idols. When you see how a band like IRON MAIDEN or METALLICA has played year in and year out, it makes you so thankful just to be out living your dream and playing every day for people who appreciate what you do.

Buzznet: Were you offered the chance to play Warped this year? Are you interested in playing next year?

Vengeance: When Warped Tour lets us blow shit up, you'll probably find us there. They probably wouldn't want us 'cuz we would clean house on all the chicks and scare the emo kids.

Buzznet: Your cover of PANTERA's "Walk" has gotten great reception. Have you thought about doing any more covers, and if so, which ones?

Vengeance: Today I have to sit in the fucking studio for the next few days on my only time off I've had in six months to record some covers. Fortunately they happen to be an IRON MAIDEN song and a BLACK SABBATH song ... otherwise I would have to resort to that dark-side shit.

Buzznet: Looking back, where do you think AVENGED SEVENFOLD would be right now had "Bat Country" not happened?

Vengeance: "Bat Country" did help us a lot. So I wont deny its effect. I still believe, though, we are a band with more depth than one song. Oddly enough, our band is about 10 times bigger now then we were at the height of "Bat Country". Our fans worldwide are proof that AVENGED SEVENFOLD works without a radio single because ... well ... we're selling out arenas in obscure areas around the world where our songs have never been on TV or the radio.

Read the entire interview at www.buzznet.com.

SCARS ON BROADWAY, the new band from SYSTEM OF A DOWN guitarist Daron Malakian and drummer John Dolmayan, has tapped Paul Minor (MUSE, FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND) to direct the video for its first single, "They Say" (hear audio below).

SCARS ON BROADWAY will release its self-titled debut on July 29 via Interscope Records. Daron Malakian and John Dolmayan held off on shopping for a record contract until completing the CD. Malakian told The Pulse of Radio that the music won't be as heavy as his work with SYSTEM. "There are your aggressive moments, but I don't see it as being as metal as it is rock," he said. "It's just as eclectic as anything that I've done with SYSTEM, so it goes place to place. I think you'll hear my style there, you know, you'll hear touches of what you've heard from me before in some ways, and like I said, I think it drives more in a rock way than it does in a metal way."

Both SCARS ON BROADWAY and SYSTEM lead singer Serj Tankian declined to release their latest projects through Columbia Records, where SYSTEM has been signed since 1998.

Tankian's debut solo effort, "Elect the Dead", came out last fall through the Warner Music Group.

SCARS ON BROADWAY made its live debut in April with a low-key show at the Whisky A-Go Go in Los Angeles, followed by a slot at the Coachella Festival in Indio, California. Tankian's solo band also played at Coachella.

SYSTEM OF A DOWN has been on hiatus since 2006 while its members have pursued various personal projects.

Legendary guitarist George Lynch (DOKKEN, LYNCH MOB, SOULS OF WE) will be a guest on tonight's (Saturday, June 7) edition of "Maximum Threshold" at 8:00 p.m. EST.

For more information and to listen to the program live via the Internet, visit www.maximumthreshold.net.

SOULS OF WE, the band featuring Lynch alongside London LeGrand (BRIDES OF DESTRUCTION), powerhouse drummer Yael (TOM MORELLO, ALEX SKOLNICK) and bassist Johny Chow (SYSTEMATIC, FIREBALL MINISTRY), has just released its debut album, "Let the Truth Be Known".

Lynch and Legrand originally started crafting the songs that would ultimately make up "Let The Truth Be Known" four years ago. However, the project was temporarily put on hold for a couple of years while Lynch worked on various projects and Legrand joined BRIDES OF DESTRUCTION, the band featuring Nikki Sixx of MÖTLEY CRÜE and Tracii Guns from L.A. GUNS. After the BRIDES split, Legrand and Lynch rekindled their partnership and finished work on their most ambitious project yet.

"Let The Truth Be Known" was self-produced in various studios around Los Angeles and mixed by Mudrock (AVENGED SEVENFOLD, GODSMACK). The record features several guest musicians including, drummer Morgan Rose (SEVENDUST) and bassist Fred Leclercq (DRAGONFORCE).

Check out audio samples at www.myspace.com/soulsofwe.

Monica Ward, the Italian voice of Lisa Simpson in the American animated sitcom "The Simpsons", will join Italian power metallers KALEDON at their show on June 19 at Stazione Birra in Morena, Italy. They will perform the song "A Wounded Friend" from KALEDON's new album "Legend Of The Forgotten Reign Chapter 5: A New Era Begins", due in Europe this summer via Hellion Records.

KALEDON recently posted a new track, entitled "The God Beyond The Man", on the group's MySpace page. A video for the song can be viewed below.

KALEDON has revealed the complete track listing for the Japanese version of "Legend Of The Forgotten Reign Chapter 5: A New Era Begins". It is as follows:

01. A New Man
02. A Wounded Friend
03. Mozul
04. Undeads Again
05. The End Of The Green Power
06. A Flash In The Sky
07. Great Mighty Light (instrumental)
08. The Greatest Heart
09. The God Beyond The Man
10. Return To Kaledon

Bonus tracks:

11. Neon Knights (BLACK SABBATH cover)
12. We Will Rock You (QUEEN cover) (speed version)

Bonus DVD:

* "The God Beyond The Man" video clip
* Chapter 5 Making Of: Documentary
* Picture Gallery
* "Clash Of The Titans" live bootleg with Marco Palazzi
* "A Wounded Friend" and "Return To Kaledon" video karaoke version

KALEDON last fall announced the addition of singer Marco Palazzi to the group's ranks.

The band parted ways with vocalist Claudio Conti in October due to "personal differences."

A short video message from legendary Swedish guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen and his new singer, Tim "Ripper" Owens (BEYOND FEAR, ex-JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH) can be found on Malmsteen's newly relaunched web site.

According to CDJapan.co.jp, Yngwie Malmsteen will release his new studio album in Japan on July 9. The LP's limited edition will feature the high-fidelity SHM-CD format (fully compatible with standard CD players) plus a bonus DVD containing interviews with Yngwie Malmsteen discussing the songs on the album and more.

Yngwie Malmsteen recently told Guitar World magazine that his forthcoming solo album will feature his strongest lineup ever: Tim "Ripper" Owens (BEYOND FEAR, ex-JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH) on vocals, Bjorn Englen on bass, Michael Troy on keyboards, and Patrik Johansson on drums. "It's going to come down like a fucking atom bomb!" Malmsteen said. "We've already recorded 39 songs. I went full out. I've got strings from Istanbul, and the drums are the heaviest I've fucking heard. Ripper conveys the lyrics I write like no one else. I'll write something like 'divide and conquer' and when Ripper sings it, it really comes out that way. It's like Sparta!"

Malmsteen also told Guitar World that he recently gained the rights to all of his back catalog with the exception of the first five studio albums he recorded for PolyGram. Remastered CDs from his back catalog will now be available from Rising Force Records as well as online.

When asked how he feels about the changes in the music industry and even guitar playing over the past 25 years, Malmsteen replied, "The business has changed dramatically from what it was even just a few years ago. Music isn't even distributed the same way anymore. Even CDs are becoming a thing of the past. The Internet has made it easier to get my music out to anyon who wants it, but at the same time I feel like we're losing the mystique. When I was a kid, all I ever knew about Ritchie Blackmore [DEEP PURPLE] was what I saw on a few small album cover photos. Now you can find out anything about an artist that you want to know, whether it's his shoe size or what he had for dinner last night. I learned a lot from other people and was inspired by what they did, but I didn't copy anyone. I put many different blocks together to become what I am. I don't know if that would have happened if everything was handed to me on a plate."

Malmsteen took part in a clinic and autograph session for Fender at the Dallas International Guitar Show on April 19, 2008. Fan-filmed video footage can be viewed below.

'80s hard rock queen Lita Ford will play at least a couple of warm-up shows for her upcoming Rocklahoma appearance. Ford is apparently being billed as the Lita Ford "tribute" act KISS ME DEADLY for these special performances, which will kick off in late June. So far the following dates have been announced:

June 28 - Poughkeepsie, NY @ The Chance *
July 06 - Famingdale, NY @ Club Loaded at The Crazy Donkey *
July 07 - New York, NY @ B.B. King Blues Club & Grill *
July 11 - Pryor, OK @ Rocklahoma

* Billed as KISS ME DEADLY

As previously reported, Lita Ford has announced her "current [band] lineup for touring and recording." It is as follows:

Stet Howland (W.A.S.P.) - Drums
Teddy Cook (DIO) - Bass
Michael T. Ross (HARDLINE, ANGEL) - Keyboards
Tom Cavanagh (ALMOST QUEEN, BENT PUSSYCAT) - Guitar

Lita Ford recently signed a deal with Coallier Entertainment, the New York-based company whose list of clients includes such artists as TWISTED SISTER and SEBASTIAN BACH.

In a statement released in late March by Lita Ford stated regarding her comeback performance at Rocklahoma: "It's been way too long since I've rocked a crowd. Broke out my axe and turned it up loud. Always in my heart — forever in my soul. On July 11th I'm gonna rock 'n' roll. At Rocklahoma I'll hit the stage with thousands of you maniacs. Close My Eyes — Kiss Me Deadly — can't forget the leather pants!"

Rocklahoma festival will be held July 9-13, 2008 at the Catch The Fever Festival Grounds, four miles north of Pryor, Oklahoma. TRIUMPH and EXTREME are among the bands reuniting with all or most of their original lineups for this year's festival, which will also feature sets from NIGHT RANGER, CINDERELLA, Bret Michaels, TESLA, ARMORED SAINT, L.A. GUNS and many more. More than 85 bands in all will perform on three giant stages throughout the five days.

German power metal band LANFEAR has set "X to the Power of Ten" as the title of its fifth album, due on July 25 in North America and Europe by Locomotive Records.

Commented the group: "Never before did we work that hard on our songs, the arrangements and the production and never before did we have to fight that many uphill battles to get everything done. Now finally we're in the fortunate position to say it was worth the blood, sweat and tears. We also signed a contract with Tasmanian Devil Publishing and the guys already work on some pretty interesting things to come."

LANFEAR's fourth CD, "Another Golden Rage" (2005), was recorded at Dreamscape studios and featured a lyrical theme that was a continuation of the story which began on the title track of 2003's "The Art Effect".

Leif Edling (CANDLEMASS, KRUX) and Mats Levén (KRUX, ex-THERION, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN) are among the guest musicians who appear on the new album from JUPITER SOCIETY, the brainchild of KRUX keyboardist Carl Westholm (also of CARPTREE). Entitled "First Contact - Last Warning", the epic concept album contains "the ambient but symphonic production known from CARPTREE and with a clear presence of heavier elements," according to a press release. "Big arrangements, small details, different vocalists and musicians specially chosen for each song make it diverse and intriguing. You are given one hour of music and exclusive 20-page booklet. This is an album about some important days in a distant future. Is this First contact or Last Warning? "

"First Contact - Last Warning" is being released in the U.S. via ProgRock Records.

For more information, including audio samples, go to this location.

Reactivated British extreme metal pioneers CARCASS played their first show since reuniting on Friday, June 6 at the Sweden Rock Festival in Sölvesborg, Sweden.

The group's setlist was as follows:

01. Intro Tape
02. Inpropagation
03. Buried Dreams
04. Intro Tape
05. Corporal Jigsore
06. Carnal Forge
07. Intro Tape
08. Incarnate Solvent Abuse
09. No Love Lost
10. Edge Of Darkness
11. This Mortal Coil
12. Embodiment
13. Intro Tape
14. Reek Of Putrefaction
15. Keep On Rotting
16. Genital Grinder
17. Rotten To The Gore
18. Death Certificate
19. Intro Tape
20. Exhume To Consume
21. Ruptured (Intro)
22. Heartwork
23. Carneous (Outro)

Martin Carlsson of the Swedish newspaper Expressen has penned the following report for BLABBERMOUTH.NET on CARCASS' first reunion show:

"CARCASS played their first show since reuniting at Sweden Rock Festival [Friday night]. Unfortunately, the sound engineer didn't bring his ears to Sweden and the bass drums overshadowed whatever frontman Jeff Walker and guitarists Bill Steer and Mike Amott were playing. Jeff Walker's vocals weren't top-notch either.

"The most touching moment was when original drummer Ken Owen was brought up on stage. ARCH ENEMY skinsman Daniel Erlandsson [is filling] in during CARCASS' reunion run. Few knew that Ken Owen was in such a bad condition. Someone described it as 'shocking' to see one of the greatest blastbeats drummers ever being helped up to the drum podium. Ken fiddled around on the drums for about a minute before he left the stage. Jeff urged him to come out again to say a few words and Ken thanked the audience for supporting CARCASS. The entire audience chanted 'Ken, Ken, Ken!' and afterwards people couldn't stop taking about this touching moment."

The photos below by Pär Kjellén are being displayed from ArchEnemy.net. More pictures can be found at CARCASS's official MySpace blog.

KISS' official web site has uploaded a couple of photos of the four members of KISS hanging out with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Stockholm late last month before KISS played a sold-out concert in the Swedish capital. Check out the pictures below.

Rice was in Sweden for an international conference on Iraq.

"I was thrilled," Rice said of her late-night encounter with KISS frontman Gene Simmons and bandmates Paul Stanley, Eric Singer and Tommy Thayer in the executive lounge of the Sheraton Hotel where they signed autographs and handed out backstage passes and T-shirts to her staff.

"It was really fun to meet KISS and Gene Simmons," she told the Associated Press, noting that they seemed well-informed about current events. The band had asked if she could stop by after she finished dinner with the Swedish foreign minister and Rice readily agreed, she said.

Rice, a classically trained pianist, said she has eclectic musical tastes ranging from BEETHOVEN to BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN. Hard stadium rockers like KISS are included in the mix and Rice said her favorite tune of theirs is "Rock and Roll All Nite".

The photos below are being displayed from KissOnline.com.

According to Warrel Dane Fans, NEVERMORE frontman Warrel Dane's solo debut, "Praises to the War Machine", has been steadily climbing the Greek chart since its release, landing at No. 33 in its opening week, moving to No. 15 in its second week and climbing to No. 7 the following week.

"Praises to the War Machine" sold 1,100 copies in the United States in its first week of release, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Dane previously commented: "It's been a crazy ride since the idea for this record first came about in the back of a tour bus two years ago, as I was bored out of my skull and wanting new music to work on. It's been nothing but a great experience working with Peter Wichers (ex-SOILWORK), Dirk Verbeuren (SOILWORK) and Matt Wicklund (ex-HIMSA) and I must say I feel pretty lucky to have worked with great musicians throughout my career dating all the way back to SANCTUARY, and of course NEVERMORE. I feel fortunate that this record has been so well received and look forward to playing these tunes in a live situation."

A new video for the track "Brother" will be shot in the coming weeks with up-and-coming director Max Gutierrez. The clip will be a very dark introspective piece focusing on the relationship between Dane and his brother following the death of their father. Look for the clip this summer.

Video footage of Warrel Dane offering a track-by-track breakdown of "Praises to the War Machine" can be viewed below (in two parts).

Dane, who first shattered the boundaries of conventionality with the legendary SANCTUARY and NEVERMORE, proves that he is one of metal's most diverse frontmen with this solo effort as he unleashes a barrage of introspective and personal lyrics that are heartfelt and extremely powerful. All of this emotion backed with his soaring angelic and dynamic vocals provides all of the necessary elements for a savagely captivating, melodic assault that quickly hooks you in. This exhilarating new offering begins a new chapter for Dane and will soon further solidify his spot as one of the genre's most influential artists.

For more information, visit www.warreldane.com.

Part 1:



Part 2:

Dutch folk metal act HEIDEVOLK have issued the following update:

"After the departure of Stefany Speervrouw, HEIDEVOLK is searching for someone who will play the violin. HEIDEVOLK rehearses in Arnhem, Holland.

"If you are interested in joinig HEIDEVOLK as a violinist, please send a email to info@Heidevolk.com."

HEIDEVOLK's latest album, "Walhalla Wacht", was released earlier in the year via Napalm Records.

According to the band's official bio, HEIDEVOLK's music "can best be described as pounding and blistering metal combined with epic and melodic folk music. The band features two clean vocalists and incorporates folk instruments such as mouth harp, violin and blowing horns in its songs. All songs are in their native tongue."

HEIDEVOLK performing live in April 2008 (clip uploaded by YouTube user "fuufje"):

North Carolina thrashers SANCTITY — who recently parted ways with Jared MacEachern (vocals, rhythm guitar) and Derek Anderson (bass) "for personal reasons" — have scheduled the following dates:

July 18 - Orange Peel - Asheville, NC
July 19 - Ground Zero - Spartanburg, SC

SANCTITY's latest additions are Scott Smith on bass, Zach Jordan on rhythm gutar, and Nate Queen on vocals.

SANCTITY is currently unsigned after recently losing its deal with Roadrunner Records.

SANCTITY's video for the song "Beloved Killer" was shot in Asheville, NC with director Ramon Boutviseth. The track comes off the "Road to Bloodshed" CD, which came out in April 2007.

Vocalist Amanda Somerville has issued the first in a series of video blogs from the AVANTASIA European tour, which kicked off on June 5 at the Rocksound Festival in Huttwil, Switzerland. Watch the clip below.

Amanda Somerville is the American singer-songwriter and vocal coach who was recently tapped to replace EPICA vocalist Simone Simons on the band's North American tour with SYMPHONY X due to Simons' ongoing health issues.

A Michigan native, Amanda has resided and worked mainly in Germany and the Netherlands since 1999. She has collaborated with several bands in the metal scene (EDGUY, AFTER FOREVER, EPICA, KAMELOT, etc.) along with producers Sascha Paeth and Miro, and co-wrote the rock opera "Aina". Her own music is of the pop-rock genre and she is currently focusing on her solo career.

Remaining AVANTASIA tour dates:

Jun. 07 - Sweden Rock - Sölvesborg, Sweden
Jun. 10 - Moscow, Russia - DK Gorbunova
Jun. 13 - Tokyo, Japan - Shinagawa Prince Stellar Ball
Jun. 15 - Mexico City, Mexico - Circo Volador
Jun. 18 - Obras - Buenos Aires, Argentina
Jun. 20 - Caupolican - Santiago, Chile
Jun. 22 - Credicard Hall - Sao Paulo, Brazil
Jul. 04 - Castle Festival - Smederevo Fortress, Serbia
Jul. 10 - Masters of Rock - Vizovice, Czech Republic
Jul. 24 - Festivalul Peninsula - Tirgu Mures, Transylvania
Jul. 26 - Rockin Field Festival - Italy
Jul. 31 - Wacken Open Air - Wacken, Germany
Aug. 13 - Sziget Festival - Budapest, Hungary

A 10-minute interview with Pete Lovell (vocals) and Jan Bechtum (guitar) of the reunited '80s Dutch metallers PICTURE conducted this past week at the Sweden Rock Festival in Sölvesborg, Sweden can be viewed below.

PICTURE was the first "real" Dutch heavy metal band. Formed in 1979, they were especially popular in the Netherlands, Germany and Italy for their live performances. They still supposedly have a huge fan base in South America, Mexico and Japan.

PICTURE supported AC/DC, TED NUGENT and SAXON in the Netherlands. With SAXON, they did a full European tour in 1981. Later on they toured with ROSE TATTOO in Germany and headlined tours in Italy and Israel.