Yonkers, New York-based death metal band MALIGNANCY has posted two tracks from its upcoming album, "Inhuman Grotesqueries", at www.willowtip.com.

Due on August 7 via Willowtip, "Inhuman Grotesqueries" was recorded by MALIGNANCY at the band's own Malignant Studios, with the mixing and mastering having been handled by MALIGNANCY bassist Lance Snyder. "Inhuman Grotesqueries" will contain 12 tracks of what the band promises to be their "most accomplished, complex, and overall, most brutal work to date." The artwork, which can be found at this location, was created by Tony Koehl.

"Inhuman Grotesqueries" track listing:

01. Inhuman Grotesqueries
02. Neglected Rejection
03. Indigenous Pathogen
04. Skeletal Integrity
05. Predicated Malformations
06. Embryological Teratomas
07. Benign Reabsorption
08. Organic Machinery
09. Genital Hemangioma
10. Xenotransplantation
11. Pathological Imperative
12. Outro

MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP guitarist/keyboardist Wayne Findlay has posted a message on his web site confirming that "the MSG remaining U.S. shows have been put on hold." An official statement on the matter is expected shortly.

Michael Schenker previously posted a message on his web site that the band's U.S. tour would continue as planned.

Watch fan-filmed video footage of MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP's June 23, 2007 performance at the Avalon club in Santa Clara, California at YouTube.

MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP's current touring lineup is as follows:

Michael Schenker (guitar)
Wayne Findlay (guitar, keyboards)
Jari Tiura (vocals)
Bodo Schopf (drums)
Frank Rummler (bass)

MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP released "Tales of Rock 'n' Roll", a special CD to celebrate the band's 25-year anniversary, on August 1, 2006 via Locomotive Records. The CD contains Michael Schenker's signature riffage on new cuts featuring an all-star assembly of singers who have recorded with Schenker over the past quarter-century: Graham Bonnet, Gary Barden, Robin McAuley, Kelly Keeling, Leif Sundin, Chris Logan and Michael's most recent vocalist, Jari Tiura. UFO's Pete Way chips in with bass for this special occasion and RACER X vocalist Jeff Martin is behind the kit.

Legendary Southern California rockers Y&T have lined up the following dates:

Jul. 13 - Pryor Creek, OK - Rocklahoma
Jul. 21 - Modesto, CA - X-Fest
Aug. 03 - Redwood City, CA - Little Fox Theatre
Aug. 04 - Redwood City, CA - Little Fox Theatre
Oct. 04 - Detroit, MI - Emerald Theatre
Oct. 05 - Schaumburg, IL - Chicago City Limits
Oct. 06 - Cleveland, Ohio - Beachland Ballroom
Oct. 11 - New York, NY - BB Kings
Oct. 13 - Poughkeepsie, NY - The Chance Theater
Oct. 19 - Oslo, NOR - Color Rock Festival
Oct. 20 - Drammen, NOR - Union Rock
Oct. 23 - Leeds, UK - Rio's Leeds
Oct. 25 - Glasgow, UK - Cathouse
Oct. 26 - Newcastle, UK - Carling Academy Newcastle
Oct. 27 - Manchester, UK - Manchester Academy 3
Oct. 28 - Bristol, UK - Thekla Social
Oct. 30 - Nuneaton, UK - Queens Hall
Nov. 01 - Nottingham, UK - Rock City
Nov. 02 - Dudley, UK - JB's
Nov. 03 - London, UK - Mean Fiddler

Y&T released its first-ever DVD in Germany, Austria, Switzerland on June 22. The disc will arrive in the rest of Europe on July 13. The DVD will be issued in U.S./Canada on August 14,

Stated the band: "This is a two-DVD set, including the two-hour concert [filmed on October 8, 2006 in Zoetermeer, The Netherlands at Cultuurpodium Boerderij] on plus a second bonus DVD that includes backstage footage, sound check, out-takes, Bang Your Head!!! festival 2006 footage, and more! Take the show with you in your car with the added bonus of a live audio CD of the show. Check the [official Y&T] web site in August to order yours directly from us. The DVD will also be available through retailers around the world."

To commemorate Y&T's newly remastered, re-released "In Rock We Trust" CD, Karen Alvarez of Tribute Video Productions recently created a cool video for Y&T's 1984 song "Rock & Roll's Gonna Save The World". Watch it at YouTube.

Y&T celebrated the reissues of "Earthshaker" (1981) and "In Rock We Trust" (1984) by performing both albums in their entirety on March 17 at the Independent in San Francisco.

Re-released in February, "Earthshaker" "was carefully digitally re-mastered in November 2006 at a high sampling rate taken directly from the 1/2" analog master tape. This new CD captures the sounds of the original mixes like no other version available." Also reissued in January, "In Rock We Trust" was "carefully digitally re-mastered in November 2006 at a high sampling rate taken directly from the digital master tape," according to a posting on the band's site. "This new CD sounds clear and open like no other version previously available. Along with the original songs, there is an additional bonus track of the rarely heard studio recording of 'Go for the Throat'."

LIVING COLOUR has lined up the following tour dates:

Jul. 07 - Porgy & Bess - Wien, AUT
Jul. 08 - Zöld Pardon - Budapest, HUN
Jul. 09 - Transilvania - Milano, ITA
Jul. 10 - Treibhaus - Innsbruck, AUT
Jul. 11 - Bluesiana Summer Stage - Casineum, AUT
Jul. 13 - Stravinski Hall - Montreux Jazz Festival, SWI
Jul. 14 – [to be announced] - Plato, NL
Jul. 15 - Jazz Cafe - London, UK
Jul. 16 - Spirit of 66 - Verviers, BEL
Jul. 18 - New Morning - Paris, FRA
Jul. 19 - New Morning - Paris, FRA
Jul. 20 - Waerdse Tempel, Grote Zaal, NL
Jul. 21 - Kartenhaus - Colos Saal Aschaffenburg, GER
Jul. 22 - Spectrum - Augsburg, GER
Jul. 25 - San Sebastian Jazz Festival - San Sebastian, SPA
Aug. 03 - Black Rock Art Center - Bridgeport, CT
Aug. 11- Sully's Pub - Hartford, CT
Aug. 18 - Sandy Downs - Idaho Falls, ID

LIVING COLOUR released a new DVD, entitled "On Stage at World Café Live", on May 8. The disc was recorded on December 16, 2005 at World Café Live in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

For more information, visit Amazon.com.

The original lineup of LIVING COLOUR — featuring bassist Muzz Skillings — reunited for the first time in 17 years to play a short set on Sept. 22, 2006 at a private party in Woodstock, New York.

LIVING COLOUR completed a short European tour in August 2006 with Doug Pinnick of KING'S X filling in for singer Corey Glover (Glover was unable to make the dates due to a scheduling conflict).

During an interview with DelRock.it conducted on June 30, 2007 prior to MEGADETH's performance at the Gods of Metal festival in Milan, Italy, the band's bassist James Lomenzo was asked about the label switch to Roadrunner following a split with Sanctuary Records. "It's always difficult when you make a move like that," Lomenzo replied. "But Roadrunner's been extremely supportive throughout the whole process. There's been some mistakes made, but that happens in every label-band situation — it's just misinterpretations about what one person would wanna do and another one… Ultimately, though, Roadrunner's been really very behind MEGADETH in a really positive way — right down to the inception of making the music to the back end of it, looking at exactly what markets we really belong in. We're very happy with the relationship so far — it's been good."

Watch video footage of Lomenzo discussing MEGADETH's label situation at YouTube.

Photos of MEGADETH's Gods of Metal performance can be viewed at DelRock.it.

MEGADETH's latest CD, "United Abominations", has sold 105,000 copies in the United States since its May 15 release, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Fan-filmed video footage of OBITUARY's June 5, 2007 performance at the Chile Metal Fest 2007 at Teatro Caupolicán in Santiago has been posted at YouTube: Clip#1, Clip#2.

Candlelight Records, together with iTunes, will premiere the first song from OBITUARY's upcoming album, "Xecutioner's Return", via an advance single. "Evil Ways" will be available for purchase starting July 31 and for fans will be the first and only advance listen of the album set to hit North American stores on August 28.

OBITUARY has posted the cover artwork for its upcoming album, "Xecutioner's Return", at this location. The band once again worked with artist Andreas Marshall, who has previously created the art for "The End Complete" and the group's most recent record, "Frozen in Time".

"Xecutioner's Return" was mixed at Redroom Recorders and was mastered last month at Morrisound Studios in Tampa.

Italian noise-makers INFECTION CODE have posted a rough-mix version of a new track at the MySpace page of Beyond Productions. The song comes off the group's upcoming album, "Intimacy", which was recorded at Nadir Studios by Tommy Talamanca, and was mixed by Billy Anderson at Lowered One Studios in San Francisco. An October release is expected. A limited vinyl edition will be made available via the U.S. label KNVBI Records.

The follow-up to 2004's "Sterile", "Intimacy" will contain the following tracks (not final sequence):

01. (E)motionless
02. Bleeding
03. Cold Surface
04. A Perfect Failure
05. Slumber
06. Man and his Silence
07. Heart-Shaped Box
08. Sweet Taste of Sickness

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

BLIND ILLUSION and ELK have cancelled their participation in The Tidal Wave 10 festival, which will be held July 7-8 at McLaren Park in San Francisco, California. Instead of adding two more acts, the committee and artists have agreed that more time should be added for each band. WINTERTHRALL will headline Sunday while MORDRED will headline Saturday. The lineup for this free event is as follows (subject to change):

Saturday, July 7, 2007:

KAOS 12:15 - 12:45
MANSLAUGHTER 1:00 - 1:30
MERCENARY 1:45 - 2:20
EXORDIUM 2:35 - 3:15
ULYSSES SIREN 3:30 - 4:15
AVENGER OF BLOOD 4:30 - 5:00
MORDRED 5:15 - 6:00

Sunday, July 8, 2007:

HELL HUNTER 12:15 -12:45
FLAMETAL 1:00 - 1:30
SCARECROW 1:45 - 2:20
NOCTUARY 2:35 - 3:10
WARNING SF 3:25 - 4:15
HATCHET 4:30 - 5:05
WINTERTHRALL 5:20 - 6:00

According to the event organizers, Tidal Wave is "like a picnic with metal, bring whatever you want. Dogs, food, coolers, cigarettes, mullets etc. are all OK. There is plenty of parking and toilets. There will be raffles for merch and stuff all day. Bring a few bucks to buy some tickets to help cover the cost of this free fest."

For more information, visit www.thetidalwave.org.

METAL CHURCH frontman Ronny Munroe will perform an acoustic set of some of his new songs from his upcoming solo effort as well as select METAL CHURCH tracks on July 14 at Kimo's in San Francisco. He will joined at the show by Dennis Turner, his longtime friend, co-writer and guitar player from FAR CRY. Also scheduled to appear are KRAWL, FOREVER'S END and 6 DAYS TO NOWHERE.

Munroe has finalized the lineup for his solo project. He has recruited his former ROTTWEILLER bandmates Rick Van Zandt on guitar, Izzy Rehaume on bass and Doug Marapodi on drums along with Q-5/TKO/NIGHTSHADE guitarist Rick Pierce. Ronny is currently working on demo songs for his new CD, tentatively due later in the year. Look for Ronny Munroe's band to do some warm-up dates in September along with playing at the upcoming Clive Aid on September 22 at the Los Angeles Forum.

METAL CHURCH's video for the song "Mirror of Lies" has been posted online at YouTube. The clip was shot by Roax Films on the band's "Light in the Dark" summer European tour at the Wacken Open Air festival and in Hamburg at the Markthalle.

METAL CHURCH's latest album, "A Light in the Dark", was released in Europe on June 19, 2006 (June 27 in the U.S.) via SPV. The CD includes a new version of the classic "Watch the Children Pray" as a tribute to vocalist David Wayne, who passed away in May 2005.

Rocking.gr has posted photos of HEAVEN AND HELL, DREAM THEATER, ICED EARTH and ANATHEMA from the second day of this year's Rockwave festival, which took place June 29, June 1 and June 3 in Terra Vibe, Greece. Check them out at this location.

Fan-filmed video footage of HEAVEN AND HELL — the band featuring BLACK SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi and bassist Geezer Butler, singer Ronnie James Dio, and drummer Vinny Appice (BLACK SABBATH, DIO) — performing the classic SABBATH track "Voodoo" at the Spirit of Rock festival on June 2, 2007 at Eishalle Deutweg in Winterthur, Switzerland has been posted at YouTube. The group took the stage at 9:45 p.m. after MOTÖRHEAD and SAXON. Photos of HEAVEN AND HELL's performance are available at MusigReview.com.

A 15-minute audio interview with DREAM THEATER drummer Mike Portnoy, conducted by Norway's Metal Express Radio (web site) in England the day before the band's appearance at the Download festival, has been posted online at this location.

DREAM THEATER's new album, "Systematic Chaos", was released June 5 in simultaneous standard and special editions.

More fan-filmed video footage of DUBLIN DEATH PATROL (DDP) — the new band featuring TESTAMENT singer Chuck Billy and former EXODUS vocalist Steve "Zetro" Souza — performing at the Time Out in Concord, California on June 9, 2007 has been posted at YouTube.

DUBLIN DEATH PATROL made its live debut on June 3 at The Galaxy in Santa Ana, California. Check out photos of the concert at DirtJunior.com.

DUBLIN DEATH PATROL's debut album, "DDP 4 Life", is available now on Godfodder Records.

DUBLIN DEATH PATROL's lineup is as follows:

Chuck Billy (TESTAMENT, RAMPAGE, GUILT) - Vocals
Steve "Zetro" Souza (LEGACY, EXODUS) - Vocals
Andy Billy (SACRED DOG, RAMPAGE, GUILT) - Guitar
Greg Bustamante (RAMPAGE) - Guitar
Steve Robello (OUT OF CONTROL) - Guitar
Phil Demmel (MACHINE HEAD, VIO-LENCE, DEATH PENALTY, METAL WARRIOR) - Guitar
Willy Langenhuizen (RAMPAGE, LAAZ ROCKIT) - Bass
John Souza - Bass
Danny Cunningham - Drums
Troy Luccketta (TESLA) - Drums
Eddie Billy - Bass

Mestrock.se has uploaded photos of KATATONIA's July 6, 2007 concert at the Roskilde Festival, which is taking place July 5-8 in Roskilde, Denmark. Check them out at this location.

KATATONIA will team up with support acts SCAR SYMMETRY, INSOMNIUM and SWALLOW THE SUN for a North American tour this fall. Kicking of September 4, the trek will make nineteen stops around the country before concluding on September 26 in Houston.

KATATONIA's live performance from last year's Summer Breeze open-air festival in Germany was released as a double-disc live album/DVD, entitled "Live Consternation", on May 28. The "super jewelcase" packaging features both the audio on CD and the show on DVD (including both 2.0 and 5.1 versions). The artwork was once again designed by Travis Smith and closes the visual concept for "The Great Cold Distance" phase.

KATATONIA's video for the song "July", shot and directed by Charlie Granberg, has been posted online at YouTube.com.

U.K. epic progressive metallers BIOMECHANICAL are currently putting the finishing touches on their new album, "Cannibalised", with legendary producer Chris Tsangarides (JUDAS PRIEST, BLACK SABBATH, THIN LIZZY) at Ecology Rooms in Kent, England. The group's bassist, Jon Collins, has issued the following update:

"John K and Chris Tsangarides were recording Chris Webb's solos when a strong smell of electrical fire started to fill the room. Right after that, smoke started coming out of the desk's power supply and it eventually caught fire! Chris ran out of the main room and grabbed the fire extinguisher. Thankfully it was put out straight away. Just a few more minutes and the whole thing would go up in flames! Just a small glitch…"

Both the band and the studio tapes are safe and sound. BIOMECHANICAL will re-enter the studio and continue recording "Cannibalised" in a few weeks.

"Cannibalised" is slated for a September 21 release in the U.K. The U.S. will receive the album later this fall.

BIOMECHANICAL will embark on a limited run of U.K. dates starting tomorrow, July 7 at London's Islington Academy.

GUNS N' ROSES frontman Axl Rose has issued the following statement:

"GUNS N' ROSES or myself will not be performing at Rio Live Earth or Live Earth for a couple of reasons. The first is that we were not asked until the last couple weeks while we were on tour in Australia and have upcoming sold-out dates already rescheduled in Japan. Our gear is already en route to Japan for these shows. We have attempted to find a solution to be able to perform in Rio, but unfortunately none has been suggested.

"I was asked to perform individually with Lenny Kravitz by the promoters and Mr. Gore. As we were working this out, Lenny unfortunately became injured and temporarily canceled his involvement from the event. According to the promoters, by the time they had reconfirmed Lenny's performance, there wasn't enough time to arrange flights for myself to Brazil and then to Japan for our upcoming shows. Unfortunately, I was not informed that Lenny's performance was reconfirmed until our own explorations and in following the media surrounding the event today, which is Saturday morning here in Australia and Friday in Brazil.

"GUNS N' ROSES or I were not asked to play anywhere else such as Japan or Australia (as we are already in the regions on tour) and in which we have formally offered to perform but the offer of our involvement was declined.

"We wish all involved, the performers, the organizers, the fans and audiences around the world all the best and a very successful event."

HIGH ON FIRE has announced the first European dates in support of itw brand new album, "Death Is This Communion". The Oakland, CA trio will tour through the U.K. and mainland Europe in early September prior to their recently announced North American tour. Joining HIGH ON FIRE in the United Kingdom will be guests RUSSIAN CIRCLES. The dates are as follows:

Sep. 01 - Birmingham, UK - The Barfly *
Sep. 02 - Glasgow, UK - Nice N' Sleazy *
Sep. 03 - Manchester, UK - Jabez Clegg *
Sep. 04 - Bristol, UK - The Cooler *
Sep. 06 - London, UK - Underworld *
Sep. 07 - Paris, France - Gibus
Sep. 08 - Antwerp, Belgium - Trix Club
Sep. 09 - Dortmund, Germany - FZW
Sep. 10 - Berlin, Germany - Bastard
Sep. 11 - Tilburg, Netherlands - 013

* With RUSSIAN CIRCLES

In other news, HIGH ON FIRE has posted another in-studio video from the album’s recording sessions at this location. Footage was shot last month while the band was in Seattle, WA working with producer Jack Endino.

"Death Is This Communion" will be released in North America on September 18 (September 24 internationally).

Official MetOnTour.com video footage of METALLICA performing the song "Creeping Death" at the Rockwave festival Tuesday night (July 3) in Terra Vibe, Malakasa, Greece has been posted at YouTube. The group's setlist for the show was as follows:

01. Creeping Death
02. Fuel
03. Wherever I May Roam
04. For Whom the Bell Tolls
05. Welcome Home (Sanitarium)
06. ...And Justice For All
07. The Memory Remains
08. Disposable Heroes
09. Orion
10. Fade To Black
11. Master of Puppets
12. Battery
- - - -
13. Sad But True
14. Nothing Else Matters
15. One
16. Enter Sandman
- - - -
17. Whiplash
18. Seek and Destroy

METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich told Belgium's Studio Brussel on Sunday (July 1) that the band completed basic drum, guitar and bass tracks for its new album in May and will return to the studio in August to begin laying down vocals, guitar solos and overdubs. Ulrich added that the band hopes to complete the project by October or November and release it in February of 2008. The drummer was vague about the sound of the new material, but emphasized that it did not sound like the group's controversial 2003 effort, "St. Anger", saying, "It's probably a little more dynamic, and a little more varied, and it has lots of different nutty METALLICA stuff on it. I don't know...One thing I can tell you is that (the songs) are quite long."

METALLICA is currently on a three-week European summer tour, playing a set that leans heavily on the group's first five albums. At least one date has featured a full performance of the band's 1986 "Master of Puppets" album, which it also played on last summer's European jaunt.

After the turmoil METALLICA went through while making "St. Anger", Ulrich recently told Launch that the group is trying to having a good time these days whether its recording or touring. "It's just about, like, having fun and wanting to do it, and as long as everybody gets along, and as long as we come up with s*** that keeps challenging ourselves and is fun to play and it's, like, a good vibe, you know...and then going out and playing, like, 15 nutty shows in Europe in front of, like, a gazillion people, and playing, like, you know, 'Orion' in its entirety or, you know, 'Disposable Heroes', it's all fun," he said.

METALLICA will join the RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, FOO FIGHTERS and others at London's Live Earth concert on July 7 before headlining Wembley Stadium on July 8.

Southern California's (HED)PE recently shot a politically charged video for "Suffa", the first single from their upcoming new album "Insomnia", which is slated for a July 17, 2007 release through Suburban Noize Records. The video can be viewed online at this location.

"We were trying to accomplish a couple things with the video. First, we wanted to get into the warrior mindset, and give respect to the troops," said (HED)PE frontman Jared Gomes. "Second, we wanted to stimulate thought about politicians, all over the world, who never see a battlefield and never step into the line of fire."

The album is the follow-up to last year's Suburban Noize debut, "Back 2 Base X", which lead to the group embarking on back-to-back sold-out tours with PAPA ROACH and the KOTTONMOUTH KINGS, and headlining tours in Europe and Japan.

"This album turned out heavier than the last one, because that just seemed like the natural evolution of things. Having experimented with vintage '70s punk themes, we wanted to blend them with our heavier inclinations. We came a bit darker and moodier on this joint than on 'Back 2 Base X'," says Gomes about the shift towards a heavier sound on the band's new album. "The lyrics stayed true to illuminati and new world order themes, but we also provided some straight club bangers, as well as the always appreciated 'sexcore.' We are definitely proud of 'Insomnia,' and we know our people are going to love this one."

In the meantime the dates have been announced for the upcoming Strange Noize Tour featuring TECH N9NE, KOTTONMOUTH KINGS, BLAZE YA' DEAD HOMIE and SUBNOIZE SOULJAZ. A European tour will follow in September.

Strange Noize Tour 2007:

Jul. 07 - Albuquerque, NM - Sunshine Theatre
Jul. 08 - Albuquerque, NM - Sunshine Theatre
Jul. 09 - Tempe, AZ - The Marquee Theatre
Jul. 10 - Tempe, AZ - The Marquee Theatre
Jul. 12 - Los Angeles, CA - Music Box @ Fonda
Jul. 13 - Las Vegas, NV - Hard Rock Hotel - The Joint
Jul. 14 - Anaheim, CA - Grove Of Anaheim
Jul. 15 - Chico, CA - Senator Theater
Jul. 16 - Eugene, OR - McDonald Theatre
Jul. 17 - Portland, OR - Roseland Theater
Jul. 18 - Seattle, WA - Moore Theatre
Jul. 19 - Boise, ID - Big Easy Concert House
Jul. 20 - Magna, UT - The Great Saltair
Jul. 21 - Denver, CO - Fillmore Auditorium
Jul. 22 - Rapid City, SD - Rushmore Plaza
Jul. 24 - Omaha, NE - Sokol Auditorium / Underground
Jul. 25 - Maplewood, MN - Myth
Jul. 26 - Des Moines, IA - Val Air Ballroom
Jul. 27 - Tulsa, OK - Cain's Ballroom
Jul. 28 - Kansas City, KS - Memorial Hall
Jul. 29 - Saint Louis, MO - The Pageant
Jul. 31 - Chicago, IL - House Of Blues
Aug. 01 - Milwaukee, WI - The Rave Eagles Club
Aug. 02 - Detroit, MI - The Fillmore Detroit
Aug. 03. - Columbus, OH - Lifestyle Communities Pavilion
Aug. 04 - Cleveland, OH - Agora Theatre
Aug. 05 - Mokena, IL - Pearl Room
Aug. 07 - Buffalo, NY - Town Ballroom
Aug. 08 - Worcester, MA - The Palladium
Aug. 09 - New York, NY - Grand Ballroom
Aug. 10 - Hartford, CT - Webster Theatre / Underground
Aug. 11 - Philadelphia, PA - Electric Factory
Aug. 12 - Baltimore, MD - Rams Head Live!
Aug. 13 - Norfolk, VA - The NorVa
Aug. 14 - Myrtle Beach, SC - House Of Blues
Aug. 16 - Fort Lauderdale, FL - Culture Room
Aug. 18 - Saint Petersburg, FL - Jannus Landing
Aug. 20 - Houston, TX - Warehouse Live
Aug. 22 - Dallas, TX - House Of Blues
Aug. 23 - Wichita, KS - The Cotillion
Aug. 24 - Columbia, MO - Blue Note
Aug. 25 - Oklahoma City, OK - Diamond Ballroom
Aug. 27 - Tucson, AZ - Rialto Theatre

European tour:

Sep. 12 - Woughton Centre, Milton Keynes, UK
Sep. 13 - The Park, Peterborough, UK
Sep. 14 - Agincourt, Camberley, UK
Sep. 15 - Concorde2, Brighton, UK
Sep. 16 - Terrys, Trowbridge, UK
Sep. 17 - Corporation, Sheffield, UK
Sep. 18 - Barfly, Glasgow, UK
Sep. 19 - Legends, Newcastle, UK
Sep. 20 - Rios, Leeds, UK
Sep. 21 - Academy4, Manchester, UK
Sep. 22 - Rescue Rooms, Nottingham, UK
Sep. 23 - Barfly, Birmingham, UK
Sep. 24 - The Twist, Colchester, UK
Sep. 25 - The Underworld, London, UK
Sep. 27 - Effenaar, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
Sep. 28 - Bolwerk, Sneek, The Netherlands
Sep. 29 - Helling, Utrecht, The Netherlands

Nick Snelling of Australia's Beat magazine recently conducted an interview with VELVET REVOLVER/ex-GUNS N' ROSES bassist Duff McKagan. A few excerpts from the chat follow:

On his statement after the release of "Contraband" that VELVET REVOLVER was the kind of act that would be releasing an album every year:

"Did I actually say that… oh. Well, I probably didn't mean every year, you know? I also didn't foresee things taking so long – we ended up touring a lot longer that any of us really expected, by the time we'd finished we'd been touring 18 months.

"The downside is that you're standing in line every fucking day, sitting in aeroplanes, checking into hotels and literally living out of each other's pockets everyday. There was never really a break, and any breaks that we did have just got filled in, simply because the record was so successful. And I don't care what five people you do that to, you're gonna get sick of each other."

"I think we planned at taking about three weeks, because we're all such A-type personalities who are all used to constantly working – but after a week, it became clear how exhausted we actually were and none of us were really ready to get back into a room."

On whether he's happy with the new album "Libertad":

"You know, I really, really am. Musically, we kind of drew a line in the sand and said, 'We have to move past this.' We really pushed ourselves and the 'Contraband' tour allowed to know what boundaries we didn't have. We knew what we were capable of. I mean, I loved 'Contraband'. It was a big 'fuck you,' it was aggressive and it was really the perfect first album for us, but knew with a bit of downtime we could really go and explore some new musical stuff and make a really organic rock 'n' roll record without tons of guitar overdubs."

On the reasoning behind covering an old ELO song by Jeff Lynne, "Can't Get It Out Of My Head":

"Ahh, that was really Brendan O'Brien (producer). He came up with the idea, and he was so into it. Even though the band really wasn't, we knew Scott could probably sing the crap out of it. I mean, Slash really was not into it. But somehow managed to get us to try it. And that really was Brendan's thing on this album, he'd come in, pick up a guitar and say, 'Hey guys, have you thought about doing this? You might think it sucks, but just humour me, OK?' He tried everything in order to make it sound great to us. By the time Slash put a solo on it, it came out great and I think it's OK that we have a cover on the record. It's kinda tongue-in-cheek, and I'm happy made the record….although, I don't think we'll ever do it live. Jeff Lynne has heard it and he loves it, so that's cool in of itself."

On whether he ever wishes that he had the same understanding of personal problems that individuals struggle with a little earlier so that maybe other, more well-documented estrangements (i.e. GUNS N' ROSES singer Axl Rose), could have possibly been avoided:

"Umm, I know what you're getting at. I just think that that experience is where I earned my understanding, you know? I mean I was fucked up then, and so a lot of all that shit kind of fed each other. The machine was just so big. There was no way out, and there were just so many yes-men, and there's a myriad of reasons. Mostly it's because it was out of control. I know I self-medicated my way through the entire 'Use Your Illusion' tours. It wasn't til it was done did I know I had a health problem, and I got sober. That's where I got a lot of experience in dealing with people and strange situations — I got a crash course from '86 through '93, an expert education. There was a time where if it were up to me, I would have salvaged things, and even Slash tried many times. We all wanted to save it, it's not like we all walked up one day and said 'fuck you!'

"You see, he (Axl) was a singer in this meteoric rock band that sort of captured the imagination and hit some sort of nerve with a whole reputation, and while every member of than band was important to making that happen, he was the singer. The focal point. I know that more yes-men came his way, and I think that soon your sense of reality gets a little eschewed, and that the real friends you have either change on you or those other people close them out. I can't speak for Axl now, and I haven't hung out with him for a real long time now, but a lot of this happened to me… but I wasn't the singer. So I was able to escape it. So yeah, it's sad, man."

TESLA bassist Brian Wheat has issued the following update:

"Just got back from Europe. It was the first time we've been back since 1991. The reception was off the hook.

"Not knowing what to expect, we got to London and the crowd was fucking amazing. They were one of the loudest crowds ever in the history of TESLA playing shows for 20 years. The fans there we talked to backstage and on the street were so happy to see us back and it made us feel very overwhelmed with joy.

"Next day we were off to Holland to play Plato and again it was off the hook. We played to a jam-packed 700-seat; hot and sweaty rock and roll in your face and again very loud crowd. And the reception again was overwhelming. Got to meet our new Dutch brother Cornelius.

"Next day it was off to the Arrow fest classic rock festival with AEROSMITH, SCORPIONS, THIN LIZZY, THE DOORS and STEVE VAI, plus many more acts. We were the first act on the bill so we didn't know what to expect but guess what? The place was packed. We played a blazing one-hour set and the crowd response was amazing.

"Then we finally got to meet the one and only crazy man Rudolf Heinz and his partner Gabriel from the Bold Brothers, these guys are the coolest. TESLA wants to give them a big thank you for taking a chance and bringing TESLA back to Holland.

"Overall this was a great trip and there is a European tour being planned for the fall with our English super-agent Steve Strange. Now we are back in the States ready to kick ass and play some more killer shows."

Video footage of TESLA performing a cover of UFO's "Rock Bottom" at the Best Buy store in Phoenix, Arizona on June 5, 2007 has been posted at YouTube.

Capital Chaos TV has posted video footage of TESLA performing the TRAFFIC classic "Dear Mr. Fantasy" during their free CD-release show on May 31, 2007 at the Cesar Chavez Park in downtown Sacramento, California. Watch the clip at YouTube.

A nine-minute audio interview with TESLA bassist Brian Wheat, conducted on June 5, 2007 by Doug Podell of Detroit's WRIF 101.1 FM, has been posted online at this location (Windows Media).

TESLA's video for its cover of LED ZEPPELIN's "Thank You" has been posted at YouTube. The song is the first single off TESLA's covers album, "Real to Reel", which was released on June 5 on the band's Tesla Electric Company Recordings (Ryko Distribution).

Reunited U.K. rockers TIGERTAILZ have issued the following update:

"After weeks of speculation and much negotiation / deliberation, we regret to announce that TIGERTAILZ will not be playing the Rocklahoma festival on July 12 in Oklahoma USA.

"Unfortunately, Pepsi [Tate, bass] has been readmitted to hospital and has undergone another operation in his fight against pancreatic cancer. Pepsi is still undergoing treatment and requires two more operations in the coming weeks, so travelling to the U.S. now is out of the question. However, Pepsi still wanted the band to travel without him and use a stand-in bass player to fulfil the Rocklahoma commitment. Unfortunately, with the limited timescales and logistics involved, it just hasn't been possible to get everything prepared in time. So, it is with a heavy heart that we have to pull out of the Rocklahoma show.

"We would like to thank Dave Tedder and the Rocklahoma organisers for all their help in trying to make it happen. And a special thanks and apologies go to all our U.S. fans that were travelling to see TIGERTAILZ at the festival. We will see you all soon!"

TIGERTAILZ will release their new album, "Thrill Pistol", in the U.K. on August 27 via Sanctuary Records. Bassist Pepsi Tate handled all artwork and a snapshot of the new album cover is shown here.

As previously reported, "Thrill Pistol" will be a double CD that will also include a "bonus" disc of the original WAZBONES album which was recorded in 1991 but never officially released. Live dates to support "Thrill Pistol" are being planned for later this year but are very much dependant on bassist Pepsi Tate's health.

(Thanks: Bring Back Glam!)

Beer-fuelled crust punks THE SKUDS have announced plans to release an alternate CD version of their upcoming "Hellbound" seven-inch via Moshpit Tragedy Records' DIY Series. Limited to 100 hand-numbered and screenprinted copies in a mini-vinyl sleeve, "Hellbound +1" will also feature a new and as-of-yet unheard studio track from the band. Audio sample and cover art for the release can be seen at this location.

Hailing from Augusta, Georgia, THE SKUDS have become increasingly known for their fast, metal-edged crust punk, having gained a notorious amount of recognition through tape trading circles, vinyl releases and underground tours.

In March 2007, Moshpit Tragedy Records (who have signed an exclusive North American distribution deal with Cargo Music, Inc.) reissued the out-of-print "Ale to England" EP from U.K. crust act EXTINCTION OF MANKIND. The CD features new cover art and nine bonus tracks, captured live at an annual celebration of the life of Wayne Southworth, late singer of the influential U.K. crust band DOOM.

For more information visit www.moshpit-tragedy.com.

HEAVEN AND HELL, MOTÖRHEAD and MANOWAR are among the bands that performed at the three-day Kaliakra Rock Fest, which took place June 28-30 in Kavarna, Bulgaria. Check out pictures from Metalfan.ro.

HEAVEN AND HELL's June 28 concert in Kavarna, Bulgaria was attended by about 6,000 people. Around 8000 fans witnessed MOTÖRHEAD's performance on June 29, while 20,000 metalheads gathered for MANOWAR's headlining appearance on June 30. As a gesture of gratitude to their fans in Bulgaria, MANOWAR played the country's anthem.

DIVINE HERESY, the new Los Angeles-based band featuring former FEAR FACTORY/current ASESINO guitarist Dino Cazares alongside drummer Tim Yeung (ex-VITAL REMAINS, HATE ETERNAL) and Tommy Cummings (VEXT) on vocals, has selected acclaimed director Christoffer "Salzy" Salzgeber (DAMAGEPLAN, SOULFLY) to helm the group's video for the track "Failed Creation". The shoot will take place later this month in the Los Angeles area.

Roadrunner Records U.K. recently caught up with members of DIVINE HERESY to find out a bit more about the group and its forthcoming album, "Bleed the Fifth". Watch the footage at this location.

A full-length version of the DIVINE HERESY track "Bleed the Fifth" is available for streaming at this location.

DIVINE HERESY will release its debut album, "Bleed the Fifth", in the U.S. on August 28. (The record will be released on Century Media in North America with Roadrunner having the rights to all other territories).

"Bleed the Fifth" was produced by Dirty Icon (Logan Mader [ex-MACHINE HEAD, SOULFLY] and Lucas Banker) and co-produced by DIVINE HERESY. Dirty Icon and DIVINE HERESY also handled the mixing duties. Joachim Luetke (DIMMU BORGIR, ARCH ENEMY, MARILYN MANSON) has also created the album's striking cover art, which perfectly complements the music's sheer intensity.

Blackmetal.com Records has just released a split CD featuring Norwegian black metal cult band SYKDOM and Icelandic black metal act CURSE.

According to a press release, the members of SYKDOM possess a "true black metal" attitude, refusing to do interviews and maintain friendly relations with their fans. "No interviews, no autographs, no websites but just evil music and misanthropic lifestyle. Finally a TRUE blackmetal band not interested in fame but only in music."

CURSE is the side project of POTENTIAM mainman Eldur. The band plays "high-quality black metal" that follows a more "sophisticated" direction — far removed from the "true grim cold fast black metal."

The track listing is as follows:

SYKDOM - "Verden Og Fanden (the World and the Devil)":

01. Verden (intro)
02. Doedsens Stillhet / The Mortal Quiet
03. Hvit Loegn / The Big Lie
04. Verden og Fanden / The World and the Devil
05. Stjernene / The Stars
06. Fanden (outro)

CURSE - "In Life and in Death, Parts II – V":

07. Part II
08. Part III
09. Part IV
10. Part V

For more information, click here.

An audio sample of a new UNJUST track, entitled "Cloud Collector", has been posted on the band's MySpace page. The song comes off the San Francisco Bay Area band's upcoming fourth album, entitled "To Lose a Name". The CD was once again recorded with producer/engineer Mark Keaton (MACHINE HEAD, ONE MAN ARMY, MR. T EXPERIENCE, KGB) at Sharkbite Studios in Oakland, California.

UNJUST's last album, "Glow", was released through indie label Koolarrow Records, the brainchild of former FAITH NO MORE bassist Billy Gould.

Powerhouse heavy metal vocalist ROB ROCK (ex-IMPELLITTERI, DRIVER, JOSHUA) will release his new solo album, "Garden of Chaos", in Japan on August 22 via Victor Entertainment/JVC Music. The CD was produced by ROB ROCK guitarist CJ Grimmark and co-produced by Roy Z (JUDAS PRIEST, BRUCE DICKINSON, HALFORD) and Rob Rock. Rob wrote seven of the 11 tracks with longtime partner Roy Z, and the other tracks were co-written by Rob with Gus G. (FIREWIND), CJ Grimmark, Bob Rossi, and Liza Rock. The album was mixed and mastered at Hansen Studios in Denmark by Jacob Hansen.

JVC/Victor Entertainment Japan released ROB ROCK's last CD, "Holy Hell", with four bonus tracks on September 22, 2005: "Ride the Wind", featuring a Gus G. (FIREWIND) guitar solo; "Lost in a World", originally recorded and mixed during the "Rage of Creation" (2000) sessions; "I’m a Warrior" (alternate mix) and "First Winds of the End of Time" (alternate mix) (alternate mixes by Roy Z).

"Holy Hell" was released in the U.S. on September 6, 2005 via Candlelight/Caroline Records. The CD features contributions from Bobby Jarzombek (drums; HALFORD, ICED EARTH, RIOT), Carljohan Grimmark (guitar; NARNIA), Andreas Olsson (bass; NARNIA), Bob Rossi (guitar), Rick Renstrom (guitar), and producer/guitarist Roy Z. Special guests include EDGUY singer Tobias Sammet and Italian keyboard sensation Mistheria.

San Diego metal outfit AS I LAY DYING has finalized the track listing for its new album, "An Ocean Between Us", due on August 21 through Metal Blade Records. Produced by KILLSWITCH ENGAGE guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz (EVERY TIME I DIE, ALL THAT REMAINS), the CD will contain a dozen tracks, including "Separation", "Within Destruction" and the likely first single, "Nothing Left".

In a recent interview with HardcoreSounds.net, AS I LAY DYING frontman Tim Lambesis stated about the new material, "Compared to 'Shadows Are Security' it's more diverse. Some of the songs are darker and technical but there's also some melodic guitars like there were in 'Shadows Are Security'. Musically 'An Ocean Between Us' is more faster and heavier but lyrically the album is really memorable. If you put the two together it has a cool energy because everything is more balanced. I also had more time to focus on lyrics this time."

"An Ocean Between Us" (view artwork at this location) track listing:

01. Separation
02. Nothing Left
03. An Ocean Between Us
04. Within Destruction
05. Forsaken
06. Comfort Betrays
07. I Never Wanted
08. Bury Us All
09. The Sound of Truth
10. Departed
11. Wrath Upon Ourselves
12. This is Who We Are

A 10-minute video interview with AS I LAY DYING drummer Jordan Mancino, conducted by Finland's Get In The Pit magazine at this year's Provinssirock festival (June 15-17) in Seinäjoki, Finland, has been posted at this location.

Reunited rockers TIGERTAILZ will release their new album, "Thrill Pistol", in the U.K. on August 27 via Sanctuary Records. Bassist Pepsi Tate handled all artwork and a snapshot of the new album cover is shown here.

"Thrill Pistol" track listing (in no particular order):

01. Brain The Sucker
02. Long Live The New Flesh
03. Twisted
04. Thrill Pistol
05. Miles Away
06. She'z So Wild
07. Only You
08. Hanging By The Heels
09. Serpent Queen

As previously reported, "Thrill Pistol" will be a double CD that will also include a "bonus" disc of the original WAZBONES album which was recorded in 1991 but never officially released. Live dates to support "Thrill Pistol" are being planned for later this year but are very much dependant on bassist Pepsi Tate's health.

TIGERTAILZ will perform at the Rocklahoma festival at the Catch The Fever Festival Grounds, four miles north of Pryor, OK (just off highway 69) on July 12.

Regarding bassist Pepsi Tate's condition, the band previously stated, "[Pepsi] is currently undergoing chemotherapy treatment and is currently in good health despite his condition. Pepsi is also expected to travel to the U.S. for treatment in the coming months due to the specific type of cancer he is suffering from (pancreatic). Pepsi managed to complete all his bass parts in recording the new 'Thrill Pistol' album in April/May and has also now completed the album artwork."

Virgin Media reports that Ozzy Osbourne (photo) returned to his home city earlier today (Friday, July 6) to accept the first place in a new Hollywood-style Walk of Stars.

The Prince of Darkness was greeted by around 1,500 fans who had braved intermittent rain for up to four hours while waiting in Birmingham's Centenary Square.

And the 58-year-old told the crowd his star (photo) on the Second City's streets meant far more to him than his spot on the pavement on the Walk of Fame in Los Angeles.

Addressing his fans from a stage set up in the square before unveiling the star, Ozzy said: "This means more to than any fucking Hollywood thing."

"I am really honored," the Aston-born singer then told reporters. "All my family is here and I thank everyone for this reception — I'm absolutely knocked out."

Ozzy is the first star to be inducted into the Walk of Stars on Birmingham's Broad Street.

He was presented with the honor, which has yet to be set into the pavement, by the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Randal Brew.

Joining the recipient on stage, the Lord Mayor said: "We certainly need a Walk of Stars and I can't think of anyone more appropriate for the first star than Ozzy. He has been a credit to this city."

Texas-based heavy metallers IGNITOR have inked a deal with Italy's Cruz Del Sur to license and distribute the group's upcoming full-length album, "Road of Bones". According to a posting on the band's web site, the CD features "10 scorching tracks telling tales of Vikings, Irish battles, serial killers, insane asylums and war heroes."

Commented the group: "IGNITOR is proud to be associated with Cruz Del Sur and looks forward to a long and prosperous partnership with the label."

"Road of Bones" features artwork by famous artist Joe Petagno (MOTÖRHEAD) and will be released on September 11, 2007.

IGNITOR is currently playing dates throughout Texas in support of "Road of Bones".