Launch Radio Netwokrs reports: After successful tours of Europe, Japan, and North America, it looks like QUEEN + PAUL RODGERS have decided to continue their working relationship with some new material. A message on QUEEN guitarist Brian May's web site reads, "We will be heading into the studio in October... There was an intent there for a while, but we have all been busy picking up our lives in different ways... but now it really looks as if we are on... We will take it gently at first, the priority being to feel good, and put ourselves in the mood to create." More information is forthcoming, and it should be noted that a source close to Rodgers didn't deny May's story.

May also said the October sessions would be held "at a secret location," and, while that location hasn't been announced, it's worth noting that Rodgers and his band, which includes former HEART guitarist Howard Leese, have booked a U.K. tour for October.

There are no plans for May and QUEEN drummer Roger Taylor to join Rodgers onstage. May said, "It will be good to see the Paul Rodgers we all grew up with, doing his own material, from FREE to BAD COMPANY and THE FIRM, plus, I'm sure, a good helping of the pure blues material which is such a main artery of Paul's music."

ANATHEMA's previously announced August 25 concert at Amman Al Ahleyeh Areana in Jordan has been officially cancelled. "The band and promoter have received notification from the Jordanian security services (Mukhabarat) that there has been a security alert and they are not prepared to let the show go ahead on grounds of public safety," the band writes in a statement. "These circumstances are completely beyond the band's control and we have no option other than to cancel the show.

"We would like to express our own deep personal disappointment at this situation and to pass on our heartfelt thanks to all the people in the region who have shown us such fantastic support. If there was any possible way that this show could have gone ahead then rest assured we would now be on our way. We shall try to reschedule the show for sometime in the future when the safety for all at the event can be guaranteed."

Metal Mind Productions released a new ANATHEMA DVD, entitled "A Moment in Time", on June 19 in Europe (July 18 in the U.S.). The main part of DVD was recorded in Poland at the famous Metal Mania Festival 2006 (the biggest hard rock/metal festival in Eastern Europe). The set list included their best songs plus a cover of PINK FLOYD's "Comfortably Numb". The guest performance was done by a string quartet. Bonus material includes live video footage, video clips, and a documentary. The DVD will be available also in a limited edition with bonus audio CD.

ANATHEMA are currently unsigned as a result of having been dropped by BMG/Zomba after their previous label, Music For Nations, was folded into parent company Zomba Records Group (the world's largest independent music group).

Reactivated Swedish black metallers SHINING have issued the following statement regarding the widespread rumors that the group's leader, Niklas Kvarforth, has committed suicide:

"There have been many rumours saying that our front-man, founder Kvarforth is dead. We wish these speculations to be put to an end by telling you what we know: A couple of days ago, we received a letter from a person very close to Kvarforth telling us that Kvaforth had decided to leave this world behind and also introducing as a kind off last will, a new singer to replace him for future events of SHINING.

"All that we know for 200% is that Kvarforth has been missing for the past four weeks and might be dead; we don't really know. For us, the band, this comes as no surprise, as he has been suffering from extreme anxiety and depressions the past six months and some truly extreme things, considering his own personal life, occurred dramatically right before he disappeared. However, we wish to send our deepest regrets to our friend and sadistical leader Kvarforth wherever he might be!

"Kvarforth did, as mentioned, involve a new singer in the band without telling us before he left. His name is Ghoul and will be introduced on the release show we are holding in December. No one of us, the band members, have meet him yet but a contact have been established via letter exchange, and as this was Kvarforth's own will, we are now officially presenting our newest member, whoever this might be, Ghoul. It shall also be said that both me and the guys in the band have heard Kvarforth's wish that SHINING should get a new singer if he died or disappeared but we never thought that it would come to this point! But it has so we welcome Ghoul to this misery."

Peter Anneroth, CEO of Escapi Music, has issued the following statement regarding the passing of DISSECTION frontman Jon Nödtveidt:

"We regret to have lost a great musician and friend and will continue to work with the DISSECTION projects we have started to do our best to promote and support the music of DISSECTION and Jon. We wish to extend our condolences to both Jon's family and close friends, his band members as well as to all his fans out there."

Nödtveidt, 31, was found dead on August 16 at his apartment in Hässelby, a suburb of Stockholm, Sweden, the apparent victim of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

On August 1 2006, Escapi Music released "Rebirth of Dissection", a DVD which includes the band's triumphant sold-out return show. The 90-minute performance is accompanied by the last known interview ever given by Nödtveidt.

Nödtveidt formed DISSECTION in 1989 and released two full-length albums with the group — "The Somberlain" (1993) and "Storm of the Light's Bane" (1995) — before he was convicted in Sweden of felony murder of 37-year-old homosexual Algerian Josef Ben Maddour in 1997. He was released from prison in 2004, at which point he restarted DISSECTION.

DISSECTION announced in May that it would split up imediately following its final performances in support of its recently released CD, "Reinkaos". The band was subsequently forced to cancel its two previously announced appearances in North America (Sept. 1 at the House of Blues in West Hollywood, CA and Sept. 6 at B.B. King Blues Club in New York City) after Nödtveidt was denied legal entry into the United States as a result of his conviction.

DISSECTION's most recent album, "Reinkaos", was released in May on The End Records.

Swedish melodic death metallers ETERNAL OATH will enter the studio in late October to record the follow-up to 2005's "Wither". "Thirteen brand new songs has been written and if all songs will end up on the album is yet to [be] decided," the group writes on its web site.

ETERNAL OATH recently parted ways with original singer Joni Mäensivu and replaced him with Timo Hovinen. The band also announced plans to release their first two albums on one CD. The set, entitled "Re-Released Hatred", includes the band's debut mini-CD, "So Silent" (1996), as well as its follow-up, "Through the Eyes of Hatred" (1998), both of which have been hard to come by for several years. In addition, it features a bonus track: a "mind-blowing" cover of AT THE GATES' "The Fevered Circle". All tracks have been re-mastered with greatly enhanced sound and the CD also includes a completely new, re-designed booklet.

ETERNAL OATH's third full-length album, "Wither", was released in March 2005 via Black Lodge Records. The follow-up to 2001's "Righteous" was recorded at Studio Fredman in Gothenburg and was mastered at Polar studios in Stockholm.

UNEARTH and VENOM guitarist Mykvs (a.k.a. Mike Hickey) will be the special guest tonight (Wednesday, August 23) on Indie 103.1 FM's "Chaos" metal show with host Full Metal Jackie at 10:00 p.m. PST. You can listen to the audio stream of the interview at www.indie1031.fm.

UNEARTH's latest effort, "III: In the Eyes of Fire", sold 22,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 35 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD was recorded at a Seattle studio with producer Terry Date (PANTERA, DEFTONES). A limited-edition version of "III: In the Eyes of Fire" includes a bonus DVD containing the "making of" footage for the album and a live video filmed on the Sounds of The Underground tour.

Denmark's Revolution Music (web site) has just uploaded a new audio interview with Kelly Shaefer of the seminal technical metal pioneers ATHEIST. In the interview, Kelly talks about the band's European reunion tour, how the music scene has evolved and his upcoming projects. The 13-minute chat can be downloaded as an MP3 file at this location (17.3 MB).

As previously reported, a video clip of ATHEIST bassist Tony Choy falling through an unsecured part of the large outdoor stage at at Italy's Evolution Festival on July 16, 2006 has been posted online at YouTube.com. Fortunately, his face was saved by his bass which was what the six-foot plank inevitably hit, in the process breaking all the strings on Tony's bass along with the neck. The large crowd of Italian metal fans went absolutely ballistic when Choy was pulled from the rubble and emerged minutes later with a borrowed bass from one of the other bands, and ATHEIST ripped into the classic "Mother Man". Frontman Kelly Shaefer says, "I looked over and he was just gone. It was a bad fall and i thought for sure he was gonna have a broken leg or something. We are very lucky to not have lost him for the summer. He did sprain his arm, but he should be healed up for [this past weekend's appearance at] Wacken [Open Air festival in Germany]. What is it with us and bass players, you know?"

ATHEIST kicked off their summer European tour run July 14 at England's Bloodstock Festival. The band's first live appearances in over 13 years were greeted with rabid enthusiasm as the group blazed through classics like "Unquestionable Presence" and "Piece of Time".

As previously reported, ATHEIST guitarist Rand Burkey was forced to bow out of the band's recent festival performances due to legal troubles. Filling in for Burkey on the reunion shows was veteran guitarist Chris Baker. Baker joined core ATHEIST members Kelly Shaefer (vocals), Tony Choy (bass), and Steve Flynn (drums) as well as guitarist Sonny Carson (who is playing Shaefer's guitar role due to Shaefer's long-running battles with tendonitis and carpal tunnel). Baker and Carson are currently playing with Steve Flynn's new band GNOSTIC.

New York punk trio SPOILER NYC, featuring LIFE OF AGONY co-founder/bassist Alan Robert on lead vocals and bass, has posted two new tracks from its forthcoming release, entitled "Grease Fire in Hell's Kitchen". The record will be released through an independent label to be announced shortly. Check out the songs "Dead To Me" and "Hung My Head" — which were produced by Robert and recorded by Danny Schuler (BIOHAZARD) at Underground Sound Studios and at Over Time Studio by Omar Clavijo (ILL NINO) — at this location. Both cuts were mixed by Greg Fidelma (SLIPKNOT, JET, JOHNNY CASH) and DD Ehrlich. "Hung My Head" is a punk rendition of JOHNNY CASH's version of the song, which was originally written by THE POLICE.

When asked what inspired the decision to start the group, Robert stated, "A very close friend of mine died last year of leukemia while I was touring with LIFE OF AGONY. It really took its toll on me. I flew home for his wake and seeing him there, not even 30 years old, lying in his coffin, hit me like a ton of bricks. I started writing a song in memory of him and it truly was the moment that this SPOILER NYC project was born. The words and music that came out of me that day weren't meant for LOA. It was something completely different. Junkyard and I have been talking about doing a band like this for years it feels amazing to finally see this thing come to life. We've spent the better part of our lives hanging out, drinking, listening to punk rock records, talking about the day that we'd finally make our own music together. He's been with me on the road since LOA's very first show, so it's a long time coming. 'Grease Fire' is the record we always talked about making, and we're very proud of it."

LIFE OF AGONY is presently on break after completing their successful touring cycle in support of their 2005 Epic Records release "Broken Valley". Roadrunner Records has plans to release a remastered version of the group's classic debut, "River Runs Red", later in the year. Live performances and behind-the-scenes footage from the group's stint on last summer's Gigantour will appear on the upcoming "Gigantour" DVD release.

According to an Earache Records press release, U.S. crossover thrashers MUNICIPAL WASTE were yesterday prevented from flying from their hometown in Richmond, Virginia to play a series of festival shows in the U.K. The band allegedly appeared at the check-in desk for their US Airways flight US3224, but were stopped from boarding, with the reason given being due to "heightened security measures."

Undeterred, and eager not to disappoint their U.K. fans at their upcoming Reading and Leeds festival shows, MUNICIPAL WASTE rescheduled their flight for today and are expected to arrive in the U.K. on Thursday, August 24 and head directly to their first show in Exeter.

The band will greet their British audience with extra intensity at what are sure to be raw and energy-fuelled performances at this weekend's Carling Festival, and will air songs from their 2005 Earache release "Hazardous Mutation". They are also due to meet fans at an in-store signing session at 5:00 p.m. at Exeter's Solo Records on August 24.

MUNICIPAL WASTE U.K. tour dates:

Aug. 24 - UK - Exeter - Cavern Club
Aug. 25 - UK - Reading - Carling Festival Lock Up Stage, 1:30pm
Aug. 26 - UK - Leeds - Carling Festival Lock Up Stage, 1:30pm
Aug. 27 - UK - Manchester - Music Box
Aug. 28 - UK - Newcastle - Cumberland Arms
Aug. 29 - UK - Rushden - The Attic

According to Metal-Online.com, Finnish metal band LORDI is continuing to rock the German single charts. The group's new single, "Who's Your Daddy", entered the chart this week at position No. 33. Meanwhile, LORDI's Eurovision Song Contest-winning song, "Rock Hard Hallelujah", is still in the Top 20 of the German single chart at position No. 19.

LORDI's latest album, "Arockalypse", has spent the past 19 weeks in the German Top 100. This week it occupies position No. 42.

BBC News reported last week that LORDI are to be honored with a cola named after them in their native Finland.

The hard rock group's singer, known as Mr. Lordi, has designed labels featuring the five members in their monster masks and one of the whole band.

"The LORDI phenomenon has brought the whole nation together," said Ritva Sinisalo, of drink maker Olvi Group.

LORDI Cola is due to go on sale next month.

MEGADETH frontman Dave Mustaine has told Gary Graff of Billboard.com that the band's upcoming album, entitled "United Abominations", has been pushed back to an early 2007 release through Roadrunner Records.

"We're putting the finishing touches on it," Mustaine told Billboard.com. "We've got a little more work before it's finished, but it should be out some time next year."

The singer/guitarist says the album, which he's producing with Jeff Balding, "has a lot of variation on it. It's got some surprises, but there's a really old-school vein to it, I would say." The group has been careful not to rush the album, either, holding sessions in London, Los Angeles and Nashville since earlier this year.

"We're taking our time with this one," Mustaine says. "It's a great feeling to make a record and not have our feet held to the fire. One of my heroes growing up was KISS, but they really frustrated me 'cause they would put out a record just about every year. I couldn't figure that out. I pretty much have a cycle of about 18 months to 24 months between records. I just can't put them out any quicker than that and feel comfortable about them."

Read more at Billboard.com.

KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons recently spoke to Blender.com about the women he's loved, bands he's helped break out, his parenting skills, the Kiss Coffeehouse and the "Gene Simmons Family Jewels" reality TV show. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow:

Blender.com: So, tell us a secret: How did you get Shannon Tweed to not marry you but still stay around?

Gene: Guys have become such wimps, it just shocks me. My God, what happened to the alpha male? I believe in total honesty. I believe in full disclosure before the fact, before you get with a girl. If you wanna marry her, say, "OK, I wanna marry, but let's talk about if we get divorced," because statistics say you will. So you must ask her the most important question, which is: If you want money, let me know how much. Let me make an educated decision.

Blender.com: You've said, "Women are great housekeepers: They get to keep the house."

Gene: Well, every hotel you've all been to is by definition a cohabitation agreement. You sign on the dotted line, and you agree to abide by the rules of the owner of the hotel. When you leave the hotel, you don't take half the hotel with you.

Blender.com: Have any of your exes ever come back to haunt you?

Gene: The reason you never find out some dark secret about me in those rags that women are addicted to — you know, The Sun and The Star and all the other stuff — is that there really is nothing to tell. The very first thing I did was show Shannon the photos I've taken, thousands of them, before we moved in together. In law that's called full disclosure, before the fact.

Blender.com: Was that a tough night?

Gene: No. It's better to find out there's trouble in paradise before you move into it than after. I like to think that I have the dignity and ethics of a prostitute: Before the blow job, I'm going to tell you it's gonna cost 75 dollars, this is what it is and so on. But women don't seem to have that integrity. If you ask really serious questions, they won't answer it.

Blender.com: Which band would you say you are most proud of offering that honor of opening for you?

Gene: AC/DC. That's my favorite band.

Blender.com: What was it about AC/DC?

Gene: I saw the boys play at a small club first in London with Bon Scott, and I'll never forget. They were starving, there were just 100 people in the club, and the lights went out, and even during the blackout, Angus was still going, doing his little dance step, back and forth. I thought, "Boy, these guys really care," so I cornered Angus, in Los Angeles after a show, and I said, "Do you wanna go grab a bite?" and he says, "Yeah let's go, mate." And when he smiled, I noticed he didn't have any front teeth. Literally. And I took him to a place called Ben Frank's, and he literally had beans and franks, and he had to chew on the side of his mouth. I thought to myself, "This poor little guy's got the heart of a lion," and I said at the table, "You're going out on tour with us." And his eyes were just like, "What?" You know, they thought they were forever gonna be in these little hellholes.

Read the entire interview at Blender.com.

Polish death metallers VADER have posted the following message on their official web site:

"Between 9th - 19th of August VADER, in cooperation with AW Film Studio, was recording a video clip for 'Helleluyah (God Is Dead)'. The video will promote band's new studio album, entitled 'Impressions In Blood', out on September 4 through Swedish label Regain Records.

"The video clip was produced and directed by Andrzej Wyrozebski (one of the leading movie producers in Poland). Janusz Król (known from 'Wiedzmin', Polish fantasy movie) was responsible for all special effects and the whole set design. Slawomir Panasewicz (who has done so far over 140 videoclips!) was a cameraman.

"The first scenes were shot in Lozina (near Wroclaw). The second day (...and long night) all the crew worked at the old Power Station in Wroclaw. Its dark, dangerous and very mysterious aura fitted perfectly into the band's formula and the feeling of their new album. Also in [frontman] Peter's opinion, this place turned out to be a great location for making 'Helleluyah' videoclip. This song deals with suffering, hate and death, war between Christians and Muslims, armed conflicts and terrorism. Very dark and disturbing aura of that ruined place helped to achieve just a phenomenal results! It's going to be something unbelievably powerful and uncompromising!"

Check out photos from the video shoot at this location.

As previously reported, Candlelight Records has uploaded "Shadow Fear" from VADER's forthcoming album, "Impressions in Blood", at the label's official MySpace page. The CD was recorded at Hertz Studio in Bialystok, Poland and will feature artwork by Greek artist Seth (ROTTING CHRIST, PARADISE LOST).

Due in Europe on September 4 via Regain Records, "Impressions in Blood" will contain the following track listing:

01. Between Day and Night
02. ShadowsFear
03. As Heavens Collide...
04. Helleluyah!!! (God is Dead)
05. Field of Heads
06. Predator
07. Warlords
08. Red Code
09. Amongst the Ruins
10. They Live!!!
11. The Book

Download an MP3 of the song "Warlords" at this location.

VADER will play no less than five new songs during their upcoming Blitzkrieg 4 tour, which is scheduled to kick off September 17 in Waraw, Poland.

Check out this hilarious video clip from YouTube.com of a black metal fan offering a unique rendition of the NAGLFAR track "The Brimstone Gate" on the Austrian "American Idol"-style singing contest TV show "Starmania". The lyrics to the song are as follows:

…I have seen the most beautiful light
Since my birth it's been possessing my mind
I've lashed myself, I have opened my veins
Cursed my blood in grief
As a shadow of death, the reaper from the tales of past
I've been lurking in the shades of Thy creation…

"Starmania" airs on the Austrian public television channel ORF and is said to be one of its top-rated programs.

World Entertainment News Network reports that AUDIOSLAVE singer Chris Cornell is celebrating after ending a lengthy feud with his ex-wife over intellectual property.

Susan Silver was refusing to hand over earnings and personal effects, claiming she had intellectual rights to the rock star's fame and fortune. After two years of sparring, Cornell is now hoping the fight with his ex is over — and he'll be able to enjoy life with his second wife Vicky Karayiannis. He says, "It's never resolved when it comes to intellectual property and the kind of things that Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic have to fight Courtney Love about, but, other than that, it's over with. It's only been in the last few months that Vicky and I have experienced life without lawyers calling, without getting crushing emails with bad news."

AUDIOSLAVE will release its third album, "Revelations", on September 5, but the band isn't expected to tour until 2007.

Cornell recently announced that he plans to record his second solo album at the end of this summer, with a release scheduled for next year. In addition, Cornell has also recorded "You Know My Name" for the upcoming James Bond movie "Casino Royale", as well as a song for the independent film "Bug".

DISSECTION guitarist Set Teitan (ex-ABORYM, BLOODLINE) has dismissed media reports that the group's frontman, Jon Nödtveidt, placed an open copy of "The Satanic Bible" in front of him before killing himself last week at his apartment in Hässelby, a suburb of Stockholm.

According to the Swedish newspaper Expressen, Nödtveidt, 31, was found dead on Wednesday, August 16 after he allegedly surrounded himself by lit candles and shot himself in the head. Shortly before the ritual suicide, he sent farewell letters to his father and his girlfriend and explained to a friend, "I'm going away for a long, long time. I'm going to Transylvania."

At 7:21 p.m. CET on August 16, a police patrol reported to the police communication center in Stockholm that a man had been found dead, the apparent victim of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. According to several of Expressen's sources, the singer placed an open copy of "The Satanic Bible" in front of him before pulling the trigger.

"He shot himself in the head and lay dead in a ring of lit candles," a police source told Expressen.

In a message posted in an invite-only black metal online forum, DISSECTION guitarist Set Teitan reportedly wrote: "This also [has] to be cleared up before it becomes another rumor, as [journalists], of course, invent things in their ignorance: It's not any atheist, humanist and ego-worshipping 'Satanic Bible' by Anton LaVey that Jon had in front of him, but a Satanic Grimoire. He despised LaVey and 'Church of Satan'."

Ginza.se, one of Sweden's largest online music stores, has dismissed as "completely wrong" a press release issued by Earache Records claiming that "Ginza.se has barred the sale of DEICIDE's latest album, 'The Stench of Redemption', citing the blasphemous CD sleeve art, controversial lyrical subject matter and the fact that DEICIDE mainman Glen Benton has an upside-down cross branded into the center of his forehead as their reasoning."

In an e-mail sent to BLABBERMOUTH.NET earlier today, Nisse Jonson, Ginza.se's Purchase Manager, stated, "This is completely wrong. We don't have any problems regarding DEICIDE more than that their last productions didn't sell very well in our webshop. Therefore we didn't purchase it in the first place."

DEICIDE's "The Stench of Redemption" was released yesterday (Tuesday, August 22) via Earache. The follow-up to 2004's "Scars of the Crucifix" was recorded at Morrisound in Tampa, Florida and marks the first recording with the new DEICIDE lineup following the departure of the Hoffman brothers. Joining Benton and Asheim in the new formation are guitarists Jack Owen (ex-CANNIBAL CORPSE) and Ralph Santolla (ex-ICED EARTH, DEATH).

MESS, the Finnish heavy metal band featuring bassist Jari Kainulainen (ex-STRATOVARIUS), drummer Atte Sarkima (AJATTARA, VERENPISARA), vocalist Tommi "Tuple" Salmela (TAROT, CARDIANT) and guitarist Elias Viljainen (E.VIL), is currently working on its first EP, tentatively due before the end of the year.

MESS previously described its music as "very riff-oriented metal, occationally like BLACK SABBATH and PANTERA, but still very unique sounding. With raw vocals occasionally reaching very high notes and screaming guitar leads that will drill a hole in your skull as the drum and bass will continuously keep on that outrageous beat..."

MESS was originally formed in 2001 but went on hiatus the following year after Jari and Atte were unable to find the right singer for the project.

Swedish doom/'70s-influenced heavy stoner rock kings WITCHCRAFT are returning to the United States this October and November. The band, who released "Firewood" last year on Candlelight Records, will be touring with DANAVA. The initial dates are as follows:

Oct. 23 - Sunset Tavern - Seattle, WA
Oct. 24 - Doug Fir - Portland, OR
Oct. 31 - Parish - Austin, TX
Nov. 01 - Proletariat - Houston, TX
Nov. 02 - One Eyed Jacks - New Orleans, LA
Nov. 03 - Bottletree - Biringham, AL
Nov. 04 - Drunken Unicorn - Atlanta, GA
Nov. 05 - Local 506 - Chapel HILL, NC
Nov. 06 - Talking Head - Baltimore, MD
Nov. 12 - Lawrenceville Moose Lodge - Pittsburgh, PA
Nov. 13 - Little Brothers - Columbus, OH
Nov. 14 - Empty Bottle - Chicago, IL
Nov. 16 - Triple Rock - Minneapolis, MN

More tour dates have been released for GWAR's upcoming tour with THE RED CHORD and MUNICIPAL WASTE. The schedule is now shaping up as follows:

Oct. 13 - Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory
Oct. 14 - Worcester, MA @ The Palladium
Oct. 15 - Sayreville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom
Oct. 16 - Norfolk, VA @ The NorVa
Oct. 17 - Winston-Salem, NC @ Ziggy's
Oct. 20 - Latham, NY @ Saratoga Winners
Oct. 22 - Montreal, QC @ Club Soda
Oct. 23 - Toronto, ON @ Opera House
Nov. 01 - Chicago, IL @ House of Blues
Nov. 03 - Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre
Nov. 04 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Avalon Th./Church

GWAR's new album, "Beyond Hell", is scheduled for release on August 29 via DRT Entertainment. The band's video for the ALICE COOPER classic "School's Out" can be viewed at this location.

"Beyond Hell", produced by Devin Townsend (LAMB OF GOD, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD) is set to be GWAR's most crushing release yet. An e-card has been made available where fans can stream four tracks off the upcoming album. The band has also been hosting Slave Pit TV over at www.gwar.net/slavepit on a weekly basis, giving fans insight into the ingenious and altogether twisted genius that went into the creation of "Beyond Hell". There will also be a deluxe limited edition released of the album, which includes expanded artwork, a poster and a DVD which compiles all of the SlavePit TV episodes along with additional behind-the-scenes footage on the creation of the new costumes, as well as hilarious footage of GWAR in the studio with producer Devin Townsend.

ProgRock Records and Think Tank Media have announced their new strategic partnership where ProgRock Records will distribute the latest Think Tank Media titles in North America beginning on September 26, 2006 with the DVDs ERIK NORLANDER AND FRIENDS "Live in St. Petersburg" and LANA LANE "10th Anniversary Concert". ProgRock Records will also distribute the classic CDs, ERIK NORLANDER's "Music Machine" and LANA LANE's "Lady Macbeth", "Queen of the Ocean" and "Secrets of Astrology". ProgRock Records has commissioned the acclaimed distributor Ryko to extend its reach into all of the major chains and online shops.

Shawn Gordon, President of ProgRock Records had this to say, "I became a fan of Erik and Lana when I first discovered Lana's album 'Queen of the Ocean' in 1999. Then in late 2004 I started talking to Erik to get the Think Tank catalog on our digital distribution service, Mindawn, and in early 2005 he got their catalog loaded which has proved to be a very good seller. This was the beginning of both a friendship and business relationship which has culminated in this partnership. Life is pretty cool when you can go from being a fan to a business partner. I'm really looking forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship."

Erik Norlander, Executive Producer of Think Tank Media adds, "I have gotten to know Shawn and ProgRock Records over the last few years, and Shawn's combination of business ethics, marketing savvy and artistic sensibility is a rare blend and one that I appreciate deeply. Shawn's management of the Mindawn digital download service has been exemplary, and so it was natural to expand our collaboration with this new distribution partnership. I look forward to more collaborations on additional projects."

Poland's DARZAMAT has been confirmed for the for the X-Mas Festivals European tour, set to begin in early December. Also appearing on the bill are SIX FEET UNDER, GOREFEST, CATARACT and KRISIUN. Confirmed dates so far are as follows:

Dec. 08 - D - Berlin @ Fritz
Dec. 09 - D - Engeldorf (Leipzig) @ Hellraiser
Dec. 10 - A - Wien @ Planet Music
Dec. 11 - D - Munchen @ Backstage
Dec. 12 - CH - Pratteln @ Z7
Dec. 13 - D - Ludwigsburg @ Rockfabrik
Dec. 14 - D - Frankfurt @ Batchkapp
Dec. 15 - FR - Strasbourg @ La Laiterie
Dec. 16 - BL - Antwerpen @ Hof Ter Loo
Dec. 17 - NL - Tilburg @ 013
Dec. 18 - D - Essen @ Zeche Carl
Dec. 19 - FR - Paris @ La Locomotive

DARZAMAT's latest album, "Transkarpatia", was released in Poland via Metal Mind Productions. The 50-minute CD was mixed by producer Andy LaRocque (KING DIAMOND guitarist) at LaRocque's Los Angered studio outside Gothenburg, Sweden.

In a recent interview conducted by Greg Maki of Live-Metal.net, NOTHINGFACE vocalist Matt Holt discussed the new project featuring NOTHINGFACE members Tom Maxwell (guitar) and Jerry Montano (bass), former PANTERA/DAMAGEPLAN drummer Vinnie Paul and MUDVAYNE members Chad Gray (vocals) and Greg Tribbett (guitar).

Live-Metal: How is this new band or project or whatever it is with Tom and Jerry and Vinnie Paul and the MUDVAYNE guys going to affect NOTHINGFACE?

Matt Holt: "I don't think it'll affect us at all. First of all, Tom is 100-percent — I mean, NOTHINGFACE is his baby. And Chad and Greg, they're not going to leave MUDVAYNE. It's something that especially Tom and Chad and Jerry had talked about for a very long time, and Vinnie and Greg became part of it over time. I'm happy for those guys to finally do this. If anything, it'll probably help us because if it puts Tom and Jerry in front of mainstream people, it's just gonna bring more attention to us. I'm not looking at it as something that's hindering us or anything else like that. I think it's cool. Actually, I haven't heard it. I haven't gotten a chance to hear any of it yet. I can't even tell you what it sounds like. I've heard it was kinda Southern metal-ish. I can imagine what those guys would put together knowing all those guys so well. But it's gonna be good. People should be excited about it if they are. It's not going to affect NOTHINGFACE at all."

Live-Metal: How did [NOTHINGFACE] get back together again?

Matt Holt: "Well, one of the main things was we went through hell on our old record label. It seemed like toward the end on Ozzfest they were just doing everything they could to do the littlest they could do possible. It all started — I mean, we were already having problems — but the beginning of the end was somewhere in Buffalo, New York, on Ozzfest when they left us sitting at a truck stop with our bus for, like, nine hours with no gas, and the generators run off the gas and it's like 100-some degrees out there, boiling, can't move, because they didn't feel like paying our tour support. When we're on the road playing headlining shows, we pay for everything ourselves, but on Ozzfest you don't get paid, so we're kind of relying on them and they were pissed about it. It makes no sense because we're playing in front of 20,000 people a day; what's your problem?

"So I got out on stage and there's this guy from TVT Records there, and 'Everybody raise your middle fingers.' So everybody raised them. 'Yell, 'Fuck you, TVT Records.'' So they got pissed. 'Don't you ever do that again, blah blah. We'll give you the money to finish the tour. You better finish the fuckin' tour.' So, we took the money and went straight home, said, 'Fuck you. We're never playing another show on TVT again.' So, realizing that we're still under contract with TVT and just the stress of everything, we all just kind of went our separate ways.

"I went to help out Bill [Gaal], our old bass player, with his project in California. California wasn't for me. The project wasn't for me. I wasn't for them. Whatever. It was a different thing. I didn't fit in. I was too metal, you know? I'm not a FOO FIGHTERS kind of guy, so it didn't really work out for me. I'm also not a backup singer, so whatever. So I came back here. Me and Tom started talking again and it was kind of something that was just inevitable. Tom and I have some type of weird bond that we've always had that no matter what happens in either one of our personal lives, we always find our way back together. We just started talking and figured out it was the thing that would make us happiest. And at this point, we were no longer under contract with TVT. For the first time in the band's history, we were free and clear completely contractually, allowed to take as long as we want to write a new record and hopefully get a new deal. We've had a good relationship with Jerry for a long time. He started playing with Tom and [drummer] Tommy [Sickles] after I was gone and he had played with NOTHINGFACE before. We did a DISTURBED and a PANTERA tour, so he was the obvious choice. So there it is. We've been writing and preparing ever since. We did that first tour in late winter basically to just kind of say, 'Hey, we're not dead. Look, heart's still pumping,' and put out a couple songs. Now we're just finishing it up."

Live-Metal: So is the plan to write and record another album before—

Matt Holt: "Before we do another major tour, yeah. A lot of the reason is just it's very hard without any financial backing. We could go out there and book our own tour, but I don't know that the band could necessarily gain anything off it. I mean, we'll put some money in our pockets, but there's a little bit more to that. We don't want to over-saturate and play constantly because after a while you keep coming to the same places over and over again on the same tour over and over again, basically, with you headlining. People end up saying, 'Well, I'm see ‘em when they come back again.' We'd rather right now do it strategically and find other tours we can hop onto that will put us in front of new fans first and just try to rebuild this thing to the best we can. But, yeah, the plan is finish writing the record, get a new deal, put it out hopefully — I don't know, but hopefully, we'll start touring heavily again, like, next spring. Record will be out some time maybe around then, as well, maybe by summertime, hopefully. I don't know. There's no label right now or anything, so there's no plan."

Read the entire interview at www.live-metal.net.

New England metallers KILLSWITCH ENGAGE have set "As Daylight Dies" as the title of their new album, due on November 21 via Roadrunner Records.

"It's the softest thing we've ever done," bassist Mike D'Antonio joked to MTV.com from a cell phone in England, where this weekend, the Ozzfest veterans will be taking the stages of the Reading and Leeds festivals. "They were calling us metalcore for a long time, and now we're going to have to add another word — like emo metalcore. We'll need to create yet another genre, and people will start wearing dresses after listening to this thing."

Of course, nothing could be further from the truth.

"There was really hardly any thought put into it at all," he recalled. "It just came out and we hadn't written in so long that everyone had a lot to contribute. It felt more like the sessions for [2002's] 'Alive or Just Breathing', where everyone was contributing, and everyone had a say. That is more, to me, what the KILLSWITCH style is. But, it is the typical line that everyone gives you — that this is a heavier album — but it kind of is. It's definitely way heavier. There are still the melodic choruses here and there, and there's a lot to latch onto. But it's heavy."

"As Daylight Dies" is the result of more than a month and a half in the studio with KILLSWITCH guitarist and one of metal's "it" producers, Adam Dutkiewicz (UNDEROATH, ALL THAT REMAINS). Dutkiewicz will also be mixing the record, which will feature a dozen songs, including "This Is Absolution", "For You" and the title track.

Read more at MTV.com.

Iceberg Radio recently published an album-launch feature on DEF LEPPARD's latest CD, "Yeah!", including an audio interview with singer Joe Elliott in which he talks about how the album came about. Listen to the interview here (free registration required).

"Yeah!" has sold 140,000 copies in the United States since its May release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The CD is said to be "a heartfelt and hard-rocking tribute" to DEF LEPPARD's musical heroes of the late '60s and '70s — THE KINKS, BADFINGER, T. REX, DAVID BOWIE, SWEET, ROXY MUSIC, MOTT THE HOOPLE, FREE, FACES, and THIN LIZZY.

Tim Cashmere of Undercover News reports that Australian rock 'n' roll legends ROSE TATTOO are back in the studio, just months after the death of slide guitarist Pete Wells.

Replacing Wells will be ailing guitar legend and one-time bassist for ROSE TATTOO, Lobby Loyde.

Loyde told Undercover earlier today, "Yeah I didn't know ROSE TATTOO were doing a new album until they asked me to play last night.

"Obviously they don't have Pete Wells anymore, so they asked me to play. I'm not a real slide guitarist, but I'm the best choice after Pete!" he proudly said.

The album won't see the light of day for a while, but work has begun.

Lobby, who is suffering from lung cancer, told Undercover that six months ago he was told he had five weeks to live.

Ian Rilen, guitarist for the TATTS, was recently diagnosed with bladder cancer. Two benefit concerts are coming up for him at Melbourne's Prince of Wales hotel in October, featuring THE HOODOO GURUS, BEASTS OF BOURBON, DON WALKER, THE SPAZZYS, ROSE TATTOO, TIM ROGERS and the TEMPERANCE UNION, PHIL JAMIESON and more.

San Diego, CA power metal band BENEDICTUM, featuring vocalist Veronica Freeman, guitarist Pete Wells, drummer Blackie Sanchez, keyboardist Chris Morgan, and bassist Jesse Wright, will be making an 11:30 a.m. PST in-studio appearance on KNAC.COM's "The Vault", hosted by DJ Will, on Sunday, August 27.

BENEDICTIUM, who were recently nominated in the "Best Hard Rock" category at this year's San Diego Music Awards, are set to make their L.A. live debut later that same day at the inaugural Power Prog West Festival alongside NEVERMORE, AGENT STEEL, ZERO HOUR, CAGE and others. The band is scheduled to go on in the Knitting Factory Main Room at 4:30 p.m. Also on the live front, BENEDICTUM have been confirmed for the third installment of the Monterrey Metal Fest on September 23 at the Coca Cola Auditorium in Monterrey, Mexico where they will be sharing the second stage with BLUDGEON, HYDROGYN, DREAMS OF DAMNATION and several other acts.

BENEDICTUM's highly acclaimed Locomotive Music debut, "Uncreation", was produced by Jeff Pilson (DOKKEN, DIO, FOREIGNER) and features guest appearances by DIO axeman Craig Goldy on the nine-minute epic "Valkyrie Rising" and bass legend Jimmy Bain (DIO, RAINBOW, WORLD WAR III) on the band's cover of the BLACK SABBATH classic "The Mob Rules". Three songs off "Uncreation" can currently be heard on www.myspace.com/benedictum.

Danish metallers HATESPHERE have posted the following message on their official web site:

"We are at the moment in the process of writing songs for the new CD, and it's going really well. It's always a bitch to get the writing process started, but this time has been pretty smooth, and we already have two songs done.

"To everyone in good ol' Germany — remember to watch 'Newcomer TV' Sonntagnacht 27.08.06 WDR Fernsehen 3:00 Uhr which will feature a special about the Traffic Jam festival we played a few weeks ago. We will be on there, messing around and drinking beer while trying to do an interview, haha — should be good fun.

"When we played the amazing Hellfest this year, our concert was filmed for the coming Hellfest 2006 DVD. I just saw the footage and its damn good — check it out, and buy the DVD which features a lot of other great bands who played at the festival too."

As previously reported, HATESPHERE will team up with RAUNCHY and VOLBEAT for the Danish Dynamite Tour beginning November 15 in Hamburg, Germany.

SPV Records has set a September 12, 2006 North American release date for the new HATESPHERE album, entitled "The Sickness Within". The follow-up to 2004's "Ballet of the Brute", which was released in Europe last September, was recorded in part at Jailhouse Studios with producer Tommy Hansen (HELLOWEEN, PRETTY MAIDS). Guitars and bass were recorded at Hansen Studios in Ribe, Denmark, with producer Jacob Hansen (RAUNCHY, INVOCATOR).

SKID ROW has set "Revolutions per Minute" (view artwork here) as the title of its new album, tentatively due on October 24 through SPV Records. The follow-up to 2003's "ThickSkin" was recorded at WireWorld studio in Nashville, Tennessee with producer Michael Wagener, who previously worked with the band on their two most commercially successful albums to date, "Skid Row" (1989) and "Slave to the Grind" (1991). Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Disease", "Strength", "Another Dick In The System", "White Trash", "Shut Up Baby, I Love You" and "You Lie" (which is described in a press release as "country rock").

SKID ROW 2006 lineup:

Johnny Solinger - Lead Vocals
Rachel Bolan - Bass, Backing Vocals, Percussion
Scotti Hill - Guitar, Backing Vocals, Lap Steel
Snake Sabo - Guitar, Backing Vocals
Dave Gara (GARGANTUA, ex-BETTY BLOWTORCH) - Drums, Backing Vocals

KISS' official web site is currently offering two new exclusive items — the KISS barbecuing apron and the Red Dragon baby doll shirt. Check out a photo of these items at KissOnline.com. A posting on the site reads: "Be the coolest cook in your neighborhood wearing this black KISS 'Hotter Than Hell' apron. Just in time for cooking out this Labor Day! Also you asked for it, so here it is...the KISS Red Dragon baby doll just like KISS sold on their Japan tour but without the tour info."

As previously reported, KISS are set to take the beauty world by storm with the launch of their own range of perfume and cologne. According to WENN, the flamboyant band has previously sold a huge range of merchandise — everything from glassware and lunchboxes to hats and coffins. Now the veteran rockers are stepping away from fridge magnets and belt buckles to offer a far sexier product with their new line of seductive scents. Frontman Paul Stanley says the range will live up to KISS' wild reputation — he claims the line is "unrepentantly sexy, and a little naughty."