30 years after the release of the group's debut LP, reunited '80s Dutch metal band PICTURE will release a new album, "Old Dogs New Tricks", on October 1. According to a press release, the new CD "contains a wide variety of hard rock and old-school metal songs, complete with a breath-taking ballad."

"Old Dogs New Tricks" was produced by Nico Verrips, who "kept the Eighties feeling, but gave the record a contemporary modern sound."

"Old Dogs New Tricks" track listing:

01. Old Dogs New Tricks
02. Blood Out Of A Stone
03. High On Fire
04. Live By The Sword
05. Now It's Too Late
06. Just Incredible
07. Who Can You Trust
08. Opposites Attract
09. Choosing Your Sign
10. A Better Soul
11. Celtic Cross
12. Never In A Million Years

For more information, visit www.picture-eternaldark.com.

Video footage of the PICTURE performing a new song, "Choosing Your Sign", on October 23, 2008 at Tivoli de Helling in Utrecht, Holland 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.

"In Fair Verona", the new video from Indiana extreme metallers BLOOD TRIBE, can be viewed below. The song comes off the band's new album, "Re-Pulse", which will be released in December through Dark Harvest Records. The CD will be available for purchase via the Dark Harvest web site/store, major retailers, iTunes, and any fine indie/underground record store. The video will also be on the CD as a bonus feature.

BLOOD TRIBE has two self-released studio albums and has played well over 300 shows. The group has opened for such bands as ORIGIN, CEPHALIC CARNAGE, MACABRE, CANNAE, VITAL REMAINS, FUCK THE FACTS, OBITUARY, DAATH, NEURAXIS, 25 TA LIFE, INVOCATION OF NEHEK, PSYOPUS and BOWEL'S OUT.

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

On September 19, Paul Anthony of U.K.'s Rock Radio aired an interview with MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine. The chat, which was pre-recorded (in August 2009), is now available for download as an MP3 file at this location. It can also be streamed using the audio player below.

MEGADETH's new album, "Endgame", has registered the following first-week chart positions around the world:

Australia: #11
Canada: #4
Finland: #7
Germany: #21
Ireland: #27
Italy: #26
Norway: #15
Switzerland: #32
U.K.: #24
USA: #9

"Endgame" sold 45,000 copies in the United States and 8,200 units in Canada in its first week of release.

MEGADETH's previous CD, "United Abominations", opened with around 54,000 copies in the U.S. to debut at No. 8. This was more than the 46,000 first-week tally registered by its predecessor, "The System Has Failed" (which landed at No. 18 on The Billboard 200 chart), and was a bit less than the 61,000 opening number of 2001's "The World Needs A Hero" (No. 16).

"Endgame" was recorded at MEGADETH's brand new, self-built studio in San Marcos, California — Vic's Garage — which was named after the legendary and iconic Vic Rattlehead character. The CD was helmed by Mustaine and British producer Andy Sneap (EXODUS, NEVERMORE, ARCH ENEMY, MACHINE HEAD).

Dave Mustaine interviewed on Rock Radio (click on player below to launch audio):

Irish rockers THE ANSWER have been selected to continue as the only opening act for the final North American encore leg of AC/DC's Black Ice world tour. The itinerary kicks off October 1 at the US Airways Arena in Phoenix, Arizona and concludes on November 8 in Houston, Texas at the Toyota Center. THE ANSWER will also headline their own club shows on off days throughout the tour.

THE ANSWER's mammoth sound is often compared to THE BLACK CROWES and FREE, and is fully primed for stadium and arena shows. In Europe, they've opened concerts for THE ROLLING STONES, THE WHO and AEROSMITH, and have headlined tours in the U.K., Europe, Japan and Australia.

On September 2, 2009, THE ANSWER performed acoustically on Santa Rosa, California's 101.7 The Fox radio station inside the "Less Is More Lounge." Watch video footage of their appearance below.

"Everyday Demons", the new album from THE ANSWER, was released digitally on March 10 exclusively at iTunes. The digital copy includes two bonus studio tracks — the Celtic thumper "Lost" and "Revolutions", along with a live version of "Under The Sky" and a digital CD booklet featuring an alternate cover. The album was released in physical retail outlets March 31 on The End Records, distributed through RED. The CD was produced by John Travis (KID ROCK, STATIC-X, etc.) and mixed by Tim Palmer and Mike Fraser (who recently mixed AC/DC's "Black Ice").

Portuguese metallers MOONSPELL will take part in a signing session prior to their performance in San Antonio, Texas on Friday, November, 6. The meet-and-greet will take place at The Warehouse music venue from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Commented drummer Mike Gasper: "We want to meet the most fans possible on this tour! It will be super-cool, for sure."

For more information, visit www.beyondthedarkhorizon.com/nighteternal.

The German edition of the Metal Hammer magazine conducted an interview with MOONSPELL vocalist Fernando Ribeiro at this year's Summer Breeze festival, which was held August 13-15, 2009 in Dinkelsbühl, Germany. Watch the chat at this location.

When asked if there are any plans for MOONSPELL to record a new studio album in the not-too-distant future, Fernando replied, "It's in the making. I already have all the story in my head, all the concept... It will be something more blasphemous but also more elegant [than what we've done before] . . . We're [getting there] and I hope we can record and release [the new MOONSPELL CD] in 2010. 'Night Eternal' [MOONSPELL's most recent studio LP, which came out in 2008] is not such an old album, but I think you should do albums when you feel like it, and we feel like definitely doing a new album in 2010."

Regarding whether the forthcoming MOONSPELL album will be a concept effort based on one particular theme, Fernando said, "I think it's gonna be made up of little stories. MOONSPELL never did, actually, these conceptual albums, as they are, like KING DIAMOND's 'Abigail', which is like a story with different chapters, or [QUEENSRŸCHE's] 'Operation: Mindcrime'. I think we always have been a conceptual band — 'Wolfheart' [1995] is a concept, 'Irreligious' [1996] is a concept, 'Memorial' [2006] is a concept, 'Night Eternal' is a concept, but never in the way of those albums I [mentioned]. I think everything has to tie with each other, and I think that's what we do with MOONSPELL — work hard that the music and the lyrics can tell someone a story, and to do that, you have to be conceptual, definitely."

MOONSPELL released a DVD, "Lusitanian Metal", in December 2008 in Europe via Century Media Records. The first disc features one complete live show recorded live in Katowice in 2004, all video clips (from "Opium" to "Everything Invaded"), an in-depth interview with all current band members and a detailed discography. The second disc offers a historical overview of the Portuguese metal group's period as a Century Media recording artist, with no less than 50 live tracks, starting with some very old-school live rehearsal recordings back in 1992 and ending with live footage from the "Spreading The Eclipse Tour".

The band's latest album, "Night Eternal", entered the national chart in Portugal at No. 3 and in Germany at No. 62. The follow-up to 2006's "Memorial" was recorded at Antfarm studios in Denmark with producer Tue Madsen (THE HAUNTED, DARK TRANQUILLITY, HALFORD).

KISS will celebrate the release of its new album, "Sonic Boom", with an outdoor mini-concert on ABC-TV's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" on Wednesday, October 7 (which will actually air the morning of Thursday, October 8).

"Sonic Boom" will be released in Europe on October 5 via Loud & Proud/Roadrunner Records. The CD will be made available in the U.S. and Canada on October 6 exclusively via Wal-Mart, Walmart.com and Sam's Club retail locations.

"Sonic Boom", produced by guitarist/vocalist Paul Stanley in Los Angeles, is the centerpiece of a three-disc set that also features a completely re-recorded greatest hits CD (previously available in Japan) as well as a live DVD shot in Argentina during the band's recent, record-breaking KISS Alive 35 South American tour. The CD set will retail for $12, with pre-orders starting in September on Walmart.com.

Wal-Mart, one of America's largest music retailers, is finalizing its exciting plans now for its in-store and online destinations for KISS fans surrounding the launch of the new album and tour, and will host various KISS products in addition to their music in its stores this fall. More details on Wal-Mart KISS activity, announcements regarding album pre-sales, sweepstakes and KISS appearances will be shared shortly.

The "Sonic Boom" cover art was created by Michael Doret, who also designed the band's classic "Rock And Roll Over" album cover.

'80s hard rock queen Lita Ford will take part in an in-store signing session on Saturday, October 24 at Vintage Vinyl in Fords, New Jersey beginning at 1:00 p.m. Pre-order her new CD, "Wicked Wonderland", to obtain a wristband that will grant you access to the event.

For more information, visit www.vvinyl.com.

Lita's first new studio album in 14 years, "Wicked Wonderland", is scheduled for release in Europe on October 2 via earMUSIC/Edel. The set will be issued in the U.S. on October 6 through Lita's own JLRG Entertainment label as a regular CD and limited-edition vinyl with different artwork.

Lita Ford will guest on the nationally syndicated radio show "Rockline" with host Bob Coburn on Wednesday, October 7 at 8:30 p.m. PT / 11:30 p.m. ET. Fans are encouraged to speak with Lita by calling 1-800-344-ROCK (7625).

For more information, visit RocklineRadio.com.

QUEENSRŸCHE will take Lita Ford on the road with them for over two dozen dates beginning October 15.

Ford will hit the stage during the QUEENSRŸCHE set to perform three songs including her Top 10 Billboard hit (performed with Ozzy Osbourne) "Close My Eyes Forever", which she will duet with QUEENSRŸCHE frontman Geoff Tate.

For all songs, Lita will be backed by QUEENSRŸCHE — Geoff Tate on vocals, Michael Wilton and Parker Lundgren on guitars, Eddie Jackson on bass and Scott Rockenfield on drums.

(Thanks: NJthrasher)

After nine races on seven different circuits, the SCCA Pro Racing Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup series is entering its final contest of the 2009 season this weekend at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia. When the 23 series regulars take to the 12-turn, 2.54-mile road course for the race that will decide the Championship, they will be joined by two guest drivers — AEROSMITH guitarist Brad Whitford and motorsports journalist Jeremy Shaw.

The pair will compete alongside the other drivers in all track activities this weekend beginning with practice on Friday at 8:15 a.m. ET and concluding with the race on Saturday at 9 a.m. ET. Both Whitford and Shaw have motorsports backgrounds and are excited to be racing this weekend in the country's only clean diesel motorsports series.

"I attended the Petit Le Mans race weekend last year, so I was able to get a feel for the Jetta TDI Cup during its first season," Whitford said. "This will be a totally different experience for me, though. It's going to be a lot of fun to be on the other side of the fence, and I'll definitely have a much better view of the race. There are some talented drivers in this series, so hopefully I'll be able to learn a few things from them when I get behind the wheel this weekend."

According to the Korean concert/entertainment promoter All Access Entertainment, GUNS N' ROSES will perform at the Olympic Park Gymnastics Stadium in Seoul, Korea on December 13.

GUNS N' ROSES' schedule is now shaping up as follows:

Dec. 11 - Taipei, Taiwan - Taipei County Stadium
Dec. 13 - Seoul, Korea - Olympic Park Gymnastics Stadium
Dec. 16 - Osaka, Japan - Osaka Dome
Dec. 19 - Tokyo, Japan - Tokyo Dome

"Chinese Democracy", the sixth and most recent album from GUNS N' ROSES, was released in its entirety to the Rock Band Music Store catalog of downloadable content on April 14.

The tracks are available for purchase as an album or individual tracks for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 system. The tracks are available for purchase as individual tracks only for Wii.

Aside from Billboard and Spinner interviews and answering a number of fan questions at a GUNS N' ROSES message board, singer Axl Rose has done no promotion of any kind for "Chinese Democracy".

"Chinese Democracy" was officially certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on February 3, 2009 for shipments in the United States in excess of one million copies.

(Thanks: Chinese-Democracy.blogspot.com)

A limited-edition re-release of "Puppet of Destruction" from long-running Christian metallers ULTIMATUM is scheduled to arrive on October 13. According to a press release, "the remastered disc came out phenomenal, thanks to longtime ULTIMATUM collaborator Sid Ysidro being at the helm of the soundboard once again. This special release comes complete with new artwork, exclusive liner notes and tons of live photos. But not only do you get the remastered CD, you also get three added bonus tracks, including the TESTAMENT cover 'Sins of Omission', an early demo version of the track 'Never' and a re-recorded version of the track 'Mortal Stomp'."

There are still a few copies of the pre-release version left that also includes the "Fatal Delay" demo, which was never previously released on CD. This much sought-after demo started it all for ULTIMATUM and was originally released in limited quantities on cassette tape back in 1995. The demo has been taken direct from the master reels and is being made available here for the very first and very last time ever.

All pre-orders taken before the October 13 release date will ship as a two-disc version complete with the bonus disc of the entire "Fatal Delay" demo.

For ordering details, visit www.roxxproductions.com.

Californian rockers STEEL PANTHER will take part in an in-store acoustic performance and signing session on Wednesday, October 7 at Vintage Vinyl in Fords, New Jersey beginning at 7:00 p.m.

For more information, visit www.vvinyl.com.

STEEL PANTHER is the '80s metal/hard rock tribute act formerly known as METAL SKOOL. The group will release its first collection of original material, "Feel The Steel", in the U.S. on October 6. The CD, which was issued in the U.K. in June, was produced by Jay Ruston and will be available via iTunes on September 29 before finding its way to store shelves nationally the following week.

This mythical musical masterpiece has been 20 years in the making, with the band retuning in 2009 to reclaim their rightful place among metal music's heavyweights. Powered by audacious frontman Michael Starr's (real name Ralph Saenz; ex-L.A. GUNS) fearless vocal charge, the group ignites audiences from every walk of life with their unbridled valentine that goes right for the jugular of the heavy metal repertoire. Joining the effervescent Starr are STEEL PANTHER's Stix Zadinia on drums, Satchel (real name Russ Parrish; ex-FIGHT) on guitar, and bassist Lexxi Foxxx.

As word of STEEL PANTHER's return began to spread around the music community, a who's who of musical artists stepped up to join the band in reclaiming metals place among the top of the music landscape. Allison Robertson of THE DONNAS and Justin Hawkins from THE DARKNESS make an appearance on the STEEL PANTHER mantra number, "Party All Day". ANTHRAX's Scott Ian shows up on the soon-to-be international hit "Asian Hooker" alongside SLIPKNOT's Corey Taylor, who also appears on the soon-to-be classics "Eyes Of A Panther" and the first single, "Death To All But Metal".

The four-member band, known for its outrageous stage presence and gargantuan guitar riffs, has been entertaining fans and scores of rock and entertainment VIPs with its raucous antics via L.A.'s longest-running heavy metal show on the Sunset Strip for nearly a decade (now running at the infamous Key Club every Monday night). The band also holds residencies at the Green Valley Resort and Casino on Friday and Saturday in Las Vegas and the Typhoon Saloon in San Diego every Wednesday.

Video footage of STEEL PANTHER performing in London, England on September 16, 2009 can be viewed below.

(Thanks: NJthrasher)

DARK ARENA, the Cleveland, Ohio-based band featuring vocalist Juan Ricardo (ATTAXE, RITUAL), guitarist "Tall" Paul Konjicija (ANTITHESIS, RITUAL) and drummer Chris Stolle (SOMNUS), will debut new material from its forthcoming sophomore CD, entitled "Flowing Black", at tonight's (Thursday, September 24) concert at Peabody's in Cleveland (as the opening act for STRATOVARIUS and PAGAN'S MIND).

"Flowing Black" was produced and engineered by SOLIPSIST singer Noah Buchanan at his Brainchild studio and will be released sometime in late November/early December. It is the long-awaited follow-up to DARK ARENA's debut release, 2006's "Alien Factor", which was mastered by legendary producer Alex Perialas (TESTAMENT, ANTHRAX, OVERKILL).

DARK ARENA is:

Juan Ricardo - Vocals
Paul Konjicija - Guitar
Allan Marcus - Guitar
Ryan Tyndal - Bass
Chris Stolle - Percussion
Ron George - Keyboards

For more information, visit the band's MySpace page.

Connecticut hardcore/metal masters HATEBREED will host an entire episode of MTV2's "Headbangers Ball" this weekend. The show, which is scheduled to air the morning of September 27 between 2:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m., will be dedicated to the making of the new self-titled HATEBREED album and will feature new interviews with members of the band.

The following HATEBREED videos will be shown during the program:

* In Ashes They Shall Reap
* Live For This (live)
* Defeatist
* Destroy Everything
* Ghosts Of War
* This Is Now (live)
* I Will Be Heard (live)
* To The Threshold
* Thirsty And Miserable

HATEBREED frontman Jamey Jasta will also guest on Fuse's new show "Let It Rock" with Mistress Juliya. The premiere episode hits airwaves Monday, September 28 at 7:00 p.m. and will re-air on the following days:

Tuesday, Sep. 29 @ midnight and 2:00 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 1 @ 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 3 @ 3:00 p.m.

Audio samples of all the tracks that are set to appear on the forthcoming self-titled album from HATEBREED can be heard in the YouTube clip below.

"Hatebreed" is scheduled for release in North America on September 29 via E1 Music (formerly KOCH Records). The effort will be available on CD, digital download, vinyl and special edition with a bonus 65-minute DVD. The follow-up to 2006's "Supremacy" will be issued on Roadrunner in all other territories.

"Hatebreed" track listing:

01. Become The Fuse
02. Not My Master
03. Between Hell And A Heartbeat
04. In Ashes They Shall Reap
05. Hands Of A Dying Man
06. Everyone Bleeds Now
07. No Halos For The Heartless
08. Through The Thorns
09. Every Lasting Scar
10. As Damaged As Me
11. Words Became Untruth
12. Undiminished
13. Merciless Tide
14. Pollution Of The Soul
15. Escape (New Diehard Edit)

California deathcore masters SUICIDE SILENCE and world-renowned rock photographer Mark Weiss (OZZY OSBOURNE, TWISTED SISTER, BON JOVI) will be the special guests on this weekend's (September 25-27) edition of Full Metal Jackie's nationally syndicated radio show.

To see a full list of stations carrying the show and when it airs, go to FullMetalJackieRadio.com.

SUICIDE SILENCE's August 30, 2009 performance at The End Of Days festival at the Galaxy Theatre in Santa Ana, California was filmed for a future DVD. This was the band's first hometown show since the release of SUICIDE SILENCE's new album, "No Time To Bleed".

"No Time To Bleed" sold 14,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 32 on The Billboard 200 chart. The effort was made available on June 30 in a number of different versions (for a limited time only). Among these are the standard CD version, an LP version (limited to 2,000 pieces), the exclusive Hot Topic edition featuring the standard album with a bonus "Live in Paris" CD (track listing below), the "Maximum Bloodshed" addition ("Maximum Bloodshed" box set with bonus DVD, bonus studio track "Misleading Milligrams", five collector cards, fold-out poster and mail-in t-shirt offer [limited to 10,000 copies]) and the iTunes version with has the exclusive bonus cover track of the hit ALICE IN CHAINS song "Them Bones".

"No Time To Bleed" was recorded with acclaimed producer Machine (LAMB OF GOD).

(Thanks: Andrew / The Space Lord)

Finnish gothic metallers TO/DIE/FOR are currently recording the vocals for four new songs — "Angelica", "Unknown III", "My Hysteria" and "Sad" (working title) — which will be used to procure new management and a record deal.

Vocalist Jape Perätalo previously stated that "most of the guitars [on the new album] will be played by Krisse. He is not a band member. He is doing this as a session musician and he is Tonmi's [Lillman; TO/DIE/FOR drummer] friend from Helsinki." He added, "We still do not know who will be TO/DIE/FOR guitarist in future, but now we have 'one' who could be."

TO/DIE/FOR's fifth album, "Wounds Wide Open", was released in Finland in October 2006. The follow-up to 2005's "IV" was recorded by Samu Oittinen at Fantom Studios and by Jari-Jukka Nippala at Sonic Image, and was mixed at Sweden's Abyss Studios by Peter Tägtgren (DIMMU BORGIR, CELTIC FROST).

WHITE LION singer Mike Tramp will release a new solo album, "Mike Tramp & The Rock 'N' Roll Circuz", on October 5. The CD "promises to be the most profound musical statement" released to date by Tramp, according to a press release. "With this album no stone has been left unturned, no compromises made, this album is complete in every way," he says.

"Mike Tramp & The Rock 'N' Roll Circuz" will first be only released in Denmark via Kick Music/Sony Music, but will also made available via MikeTramp.com.

Co-produced in Copenhagen, Denmark with guitar player Søren Andersen, "Rock 'N' Roll Circuz" — which Tramp calls "my best ever, my masterpiece" — refers to the atmosphere created by Tramp around the band in the studio when recording the album. "It made us visualize this old fallen apart circus," he says. "From there we built certain things into the songs and into the album."

He adds, "[This LP] is even deeper and more personal than ever before. People should get ready for 'All Of My Life', a song that lyrically speaks for itself, with many describing it as 'classic Tramp."

Having now returned home to Copenhagen, the road that Tramp has traveled in his 32 years of rock and roll is uniquely his own. First rising to stardom over 30 years ago with MABEL, Tramp earlier this year re-emerged as a public figure in Denmark via his appearance on the TV show "All Stars". "It was a great chance to show and tell an entire country my life story of 32 years in rock and roll," he says.

In October 2009, Tramp will embark on his first-ever big tour of Denmark and early next year will venture out into the rest of the world.

As someone who has gambled his life and given his heart and soul to rock and roll, Tramp is philosophical when pondering what the music has given him in return. "To me, it is my lifestyle, a pair of glasses that I view life through, a pair of boots that take me to where I want to go and a religion that allows you freedom to follow your heart and do what you want," he says.

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

Mike Tramp Danish tour dates:

Oct. 03 - Skraaen - Aalborg
Oct. 17 - Vershuset - Næstved
Oct. 23 - Arkaden - Odense
Oct. 29 - Rockstjernen - Herning
Oct. 30 - Tante Olga - Randers
Oct. 31 - Kielgasten - Holstebro

Fan-filmed video footage of legendary hard rock singer Graham Bonnet (RAINBOW, MSG, ALCATRAZZ, IMPELLITTERI) performing the RAINBOW classic "Stargazer" on July 2, 2009 at SESC in Santos, Brazil can be viewed below (courtesy of "kajibrino").

As previously reported, ALCATRAZZ featuring Graham Bonnet (RAINBOW, MSG, IMPELLITTERI) recently parted ways with drummer Glen Sobel and replaced him with Dave Dzialak (JEFF SCOTT SOTO).

ALCATRAZZ's current lineup is:

Graham Bonnet - Lead Vocals
Howie Simon - Guitar/Vocals
Dave Dzialak - Drums
Tim Luce - Bass/ Vocals

Fan-filmed video footage of OVER THE RAINBOW performing the RAINBOW classic "Can't Happen Here" on September 4 at Fratelli in Bucharest, Romania can be viewed below (courtesy of "jedipancu").

OVER THE RAINBOW's current European tour features the following setlist:

01. Tarot Woman
02. Kill the King
03. Street of Dreams
04. Man on the Silver Mountain
05. ("Over the Rainbow" intro) Death Alley Driver
06. (Keyboards intro) Eyes of the World
07. Ariel
08. Wolf To The Moon
09. I Surrender
10. Jam
11. Can't Happen Here
12. Jealous Lover
13. Drum Solo
14. Stargazer
15. Long Live Rock and Roll

Encore

16. Since You Been Gone
17. All Night Long

OVER THE RAINBOW is:

Joe Lynn Turner (RAINBOW 1980-1984) - Vocals
Bobby Rondinelli (RAINBOW 1980-1983) - Drums
Greg Smith (RAINBOW 1994-1997) - Bass
Jürgen "J.R." Blackmore - Guitar
Paul Morris (RAINBOW 1994-1997) - Keyboards

Paul Morris replaced Tony Carey, the original keyboardist for OVER THE RAINBOW, prior to the band's performance in front of 12,000 fans at the Sweden Rock Festival on June 4, 2009 in Sölvesborg, Sweden.

Like all members of OVER THE RAINBOW (with the exception of Jürgen "J.R." Blackmore), Paul Morris was also a member of RAINBOW. He recorded and toured with them from 1994 through 1997.

In the '70s, '80s and '90s, RAINBOW released over 20 albums (five gold, four silver), seven Billboard Hot 100 and Mainstream Rock tracks, six Top 75 U.K. songs and at least seven MTV frequently played videos. Since 1998, former members of RAINBOW and their respective management offices were overloaded with requests for RAINBOW to reunite. Rondinelli, Smith and Turner agreed that the only legitimate way to accomplish this was to employ a Blackmore on guitar.

Jürgen Blackmore is a critically acclaimed guitarist in his own right and agreed to join this endeavor after realizing how intense the demand was for a RAINBOW "reunion." OVER THE RAINBOW marks the first time that four members from three different eras of RAINBOW have taken the stage together along with J.R. Blackmore.

Fan-filmed video footage of former BLACK SABBATH singer Tony Martin performing the SABBATH classic "The Shining" on September 6, 2009 at Blackmore Rock Bar in São Paulo, Brazil can be viewed below (courtesy of "kajibrino").

Martin was recently forced to cancel his U.S. tour to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the release of the SABBATH album "Headless Cross".

Martin's band, which was to be called HEADLESS CROSS, was set to include the following musicians:

Tony Martin (BLACK SABBATH)- Vocals
Rolf Munkes (EMPIRE) - Guitar
Jamie Mallender - Bass
Danny Needham (BAILEY'S COMET, RAZORBACK) - Drums
Geoff Nicholls (BLACK SABBATH) – Keyboards

BLACK SABBATH released six albums with Tony Martin on vocals: "The Eternal Idol" (1987), "Headless Cross" (1989), "Tyr" (1990), "Cross Purposes" (1994), "Cross Purposes Live" (1995) and "Forbidden" (1995)

Reunited extreme metallers ORDER FROM CHAOS have announced six reunion shows in the U.S. and ten in Europe for 2010. The first concert will take place in the band's hometown of Kansas City on January 2, with the remaining U.S. dates to be announced soon. The European tour will take place in May.

Osmose Productions will reissue all of ORDER FROM CHAOS releases on CD. This will include "Stillbirth Machine / Crushed Infamy", "Dawn Bringer", "And I Saw Eternity / Plateau of Invincibility" and "An Ending In Fire". All CDs will feature new packaging and some will contain bonus materials.

For European booking information, contact brokenbones@hotmail.de.

Goetia Metal has uploaded video footage and photos of SIRENIA's September 19, 2009 concert at Sala Caracol in Madrid, Spain.

A couple of fan-filmed clips from the show can be viewed below.

"The 13th Floor", the latest album from SIRENIA, debuted at No. 149 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

"The 13th Floor" was released in Europe on January 23. The CD was tracked at Sound Suite Studios in France and Stargoth Studios in Norway while the mixing and mastering sessions took place at the Antfarm Studios in Denmark with Tue Madsen.

SIRENIA's video for the song "The Path To Decay" was shot in Gothenburg, Sweden with director Patric Ullaeus (DIMMU BORGIR, LACUNA COIL) of Revolver Film Company.

SIRENIA recruited singer Ailyn (born: Pilar Giménez García) as the replacement for Monika Pedersen, who left the group in 2007 after only one album due to "musical differences."

Ailyn is best known as a member of the young team in the Spanish version of "The X Factor", the biggest television talent competition in Europe.







(Thanks: Morpheus Misfit)

An Ibanez DM1100 guitar effects unit that once belonged to late SAVATAGE guitarist Criss Oliva is being auctioned via eBay.

A description of the item reads as follows: "The unit has been thoroughly tested and it works perfectly but shows obvious wear from being on many SAVATAGE world tours. It's missing two knobs, the feedback knob is broke off but they can be turned. This delay unit is one of the keys to unlocking Criss' tone."

For more information and to place a bid, go to this location.

Last October marked the 15th anniversary of the passing of Criss Oliva. To honor his memory, the Greek edition of Rock Hard magazine published a special five-page article featuring interviews with about Criss conducted exclusively for this story.

A translated version of the article can now be found on the Savatage Legion (Greece) MySpace page.

The following people were interviewed for the article:

* Steve "Dr. Killdrums" Wacholz (original SAVATAGE drummer)
* Paul O'Neill (longtime SAVATAGE and TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA producer and co-writer)
* Chris Caffery (guitars, SAVATAGE, TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA)
* Johnny Lee Middletton (bass, SAVATAGE, TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA)
* Zak Stevens (vocals, SAVATAGE, CIRCLE II CIRCLE)
* Alex Skolnick (guitars, TESTAMENT, TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA, replaced Criss Oliva on "Handful of Rain" album)
* John Zahner (keyboards, JON OLIVA'S PAIN, also SAVATAGE touring member for the "Streets" tour)

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

In the early morning hours of October 17, 1993 Criss Oliva and his wife Dawn were en route to the Livestock Festival in Zephyrhills, Florida when tragedy struck. They were hit head-on by a drunk driver. Criss was killed and Dawn suffered severe injuries.

The driver of the other car was found to have a drunk driving record of seven prior DUIs and having a blood alcohol content of .294 percent (legal Florida limit is .10 percent) and sustained fractured left ribs, jaw, nose, right wrist, and both lower legs with lacerations to his face, legs and right hand, according to RealSavatage.com. The drunk driver was charged and convicted of DUI manslaughter, DUI serious injury, and vehicular homicide but served only 18 months jail time and had his driver's license revoked indefinitely. He was also ordered to write the Oliva family an apology letter and was said to be paying restitution of $100 a month to Dawn Oliva.

Tim Lambesis, vocalist of both AS I LAY DYING and AUSTRIAN DEATH MACHINE, was interviewed by Eric Blair of "The Blairing Out With Eric Blair Show" on September 5, 2009 at the Liskfest in Irvine, California. Watch the chat in two parts below.

AS I LAY DYING's first-ever DVD, "This Is Who We Are", sold 4,200 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 2 on the Top Music Videos chart. It also debuted at No. 3 in Canada, where the DVD has already shipped platinum.

AS I LAY DYING has appeared on Taste Of Chaos, Ozzfest, headlined the 2006 Sounds Of The Underground Tour, Cornerstone, Bamboozle 2006 and just about every significant hard music festival around the globe. With "This Is Who We Are", AS I LAY DYING steps into new territory by releasing its first-ever DVD consisting of three discs produced and directed by Denise Korycki (CANNIBAL CORPSE's "Centuries of Torment" DVD) that provide viewers with live performances and a complete AS I LAY DYING audio/visual history.

"It's hard to believe that we've been a band for as long as we have yet have never released an official DVD documenting our first seven years," said Lambesis. "As a result, we've included so much content that you hardly have to like our music to be entertained. With that said, it feels good knowing how many diehard fans over the years have supported our band and their simple enjoyment of our music has given us the chance to see the world!"

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Part 2:

HardTimes.ca conducted an interview with METALLICA bassist Robert Trujillo when the band played Montreal, Quebec, Canada this past weekend. Watch the 12-minute chat below.

METALLICA set a record for largest paid attendance for all events ever at the Bell Centre in Montreal with their two sold-out shows on Saturday and Sunday (September 19-20). The San Francisco Bay Area metal giants beat out the likes of KISS, UFC, CELINE DION and U2.

According to The Montreal Gazette, METALLICA donated CAD $21,462 from the box-office take of their shows at the Bell Centre to Sun Youth, a local community services organization.

"It's a beautiful gift," said Sid Stevens, co-founder of Sun Youth. Stevens said he was told the group makes a practice of turning over part of its receipts to a local charity at every stop on its tour.

Sun Youth was asked, however, to keep the donation under wraps until the group had left Montreal.

"People sometimes look at groups of this nature in a derogatory or negative manner," said Stevens, who is not familiar with METALLICA's music. "But it's very interesting to see them donate in every city they visit."

New York Hard Rock Examiner conducted an interview with Oderus Urungus of GWAR backstage at the Wellmont Theater in Montclair, New Jersey on September 22, 2009. The chat can now be viewed below.

GWAR will take part in a signing session at Scrape Records in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada on Monday, November 30 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

For more information, visit www.scraperecords.com.

"Let Us Slay", the new video from GWAR, was shot in Richmond, Virginia by director David Brodsky (SUICIDE SILENCE, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, WHITECHAPEL) and his MyGoodEye crew.

GWAR's new album, "Lust In Space", sold around 5,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 96 on The Billboard 200 chart.

Video footage of LINKIN PARK singer Chester Bennington laying down vocals for the song "Too Late" from his side project, DEAD BY SUNRISE, with producer Howard Benson (MOTÖRHEAD, MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE) can be viewed below.

"Too Late" comes off DEAD BY SUNRISE's debut album, "Out Of Ashes", which is scheduled for release on October 13.

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Fire
02. Crawl Back In
03. Too Late
04. Inside Of Me
05. Let Down
06. Give Me Your Name
07. My Suffering
08. Condemned
09. Into You
10. End Of The World
11. Walking In Circles
12. In The Darkness

Bennington began working on DEAD BY SUNRISE back in 2006, explaining, "I came up with a few songs that felt and sounded really good, but I knew they weren't right stylistically for LINKIN PARK. They were darker and moodier than anything I'd come up with for the band. So I decided to work on them on my own rather than turn them over and have them transformed into LINKIN PARK tracks."

The band, which is Bennington on vocals, guitarists Ryan Shuck and Amir Derakh (from ORGY/JULIEN-K), bassist Brandon Belsky, drummer Elias Anda (also from JULIEN-K), and keyboardist Anthony Valcic, recorded "Out Of Ashes" in Los Angeles with Benson.

HardTimes.ca conducted an interview with stoner/doom metal pioneer Scott "Wino" Weinrich (ST. VITUS, THE OBSESSED, SPIRIT CARAVAN, THE HIDDEN HAND, SHRINEBUILDER) on September 13, 2009 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Watch the 22-minute chat below.

Wino's first-ever solo record, "Punctuated Equilibrium", was released on January 20 via Southern Lord Recordings).

After the demise of his last group, THE HIDDEN HAND, Wino did not rest. With newfound energy, he completed the writing of many new songs and decided to enlist the help of some friends to help realize his new musical vision. The idea was not to start a new power trio with a new name as before. This time it was about finding players who would help realize his songs the way he wanted them. This more "Wino"-focused direction was fleshed out with the help of two amazing musicians: Jean Paul Gaster and Jon Blank (R.I.P.).

"Punctuated Equilibrium" was recorded by J. Robbins who has worked extensively with both THE HIDDEN HAND and CLUTCH in the past.

The album comes with amazing original artwork by David D'Andrea and contains extensive liner notes from Wino himself that explicitly describe the origin and concept of each track. An excerpt reads as follows: "This is the culmination of a very old dream, one that has come true in many different ways. One of the main things I have learned is how I understand 'success.' To me, it's not all riches and glory so much as the impact on others lives. My main philosophy that guides me is that I was given a gift, a musical gift which I use to bring happiness to others. It is also important not to overlook your own needs, but putting yourself in the other person's shoes is to me most important! 'Punctuated Equilibrium' is how my personality has been described, as told in the lyrics."

Hardcore/metal crossover pioneers D.R.I. (DIRTY ROTTEN IMBECILES) will return from an official hiatus and resume live performances this fall.

In addition to the previously announced shows in November, December and January, D.R.I. has scheduled the following dates in February:

Feb. 05 - St Paul, MN @ Station 4
Feb. 06 - Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave
Feb. 07 - Chicago, IL @ Reggie's Rock Club
Feb. 18 - Dallas, TX @ Trees
Feb. 19 - Houston, TX @ Meridian
Feb. 20 - San Antonio, TX @ Rock Bottom Bar
Feb. 26 - Rochester, NY @ Penny Arcade
Feb. 27 - Farmingdale, NY @ Crazy Donkey
Feb. 28 - Providence, RI @ Club Hell

Tickets are on sale exclusively through EnterTheVault.com until October 17 at which point they will be made available through all normal ticketing systems.

The band's last show in North America was September 2004 when a proposed winter tour was abruptly canceled by the news that founding member Spike Cassidy was diagnosed with colon cancer. He underwent surgery (a one-foot section of large intestine was removed through an eight-inch incision in his stomach on March 27, 2006), radiation and chemotherapy and is said to be winning the battle against the disease.

Cassidy commented on his return to the stage: "I am very happy D.R.I. will be playing again; it has been far too long. We are currently setting up weekends to test the water and rebuild the stamina that we were known for. We all look forward to restarting up exactly where we left off."

He added: "Right now it is two- and three-day weekends until 2010, followed by some international work. We really are planning to be able to do a four-week tour by late summer 2010. We are also hoping to do some festivals in the middle of these weekends, one of which will be announced in a few weeks. It will be great to reconnect with all the fans again."

For the past 27 years, D.R.I. has been the epitome of the aggressive, hardcore-punk thrash sound that we've all become accustomed to hearing. Throughout this time, they've been one of the few genuine underground bands to remain true to their pure punk roots. Still actively touring and recording, the only thing that may have changed is that they're a little older now, but time hasn't gotten the best of the DIRTY ROTTEN IMBECILES. They're still thrashing just as hard, and just as loud as ever, continuing to overload our senses with the sound that is, and will always remain, uniquely D.R.I.

"Dirt Bound", the new single from Sweden's self-proclaimed masters of "genuine, dirty, in-your-face cock rock" BONAFIDE, is available for streaming at this location. The song comes off the band's second full-length album, "Something's Dripping", which was released in Sweden on September 18. The CD, which will be released in the rest of the world in October, was recorded at Musicamatic studios (SOUNDTRACK OF OUR LIVES, D-A-D) in Gothenburg, Sweden with acclaimed producer Chips Kiesbye (THE HELLACOPTERS, THE NOMADS, MILLENCOLLIN).

According to a press release, "BONAFIDE delivers blues and R&B-based full-throttle rock 'n' roll, no holds barred. Chips Kiesbye has added his brilliant production skills to the formula, and you seldom hear guitars this beefy or vocals with this much pure attitude and bravado. Main songwriter and frontman extraordinarie, Pontus Snibb, shares writing credits with fellow guitarist Mikael Fässberg on two of the album's 11 tracks. This, plus the fact that the whole group nowadays contributes to the creative process, has added a new dimension and a slightly different angle to BONAFIDE's simplistic, yet innovative and fresh take on classic hard rock. Mia Coldheart of Swedish metal queens CRUCIFIED BARBARA also appear on the album, in the duet 'Straight Shooters'."

"Something's Dripping" track listing:

01. Dirt Bound
02. Hard Livin' Man
03. No Doubt About It
04. Straight Shooters
05. Elvis Chapel Blues
06. Fill Your Head With Rock
07. Dog
08. Shot Of You
09. Butter You Up
10. Swan Song
11. Sicker Than I Think

Bassist/vocalist John Gallagher of the legendary British/American heavy metal trio RAVEN was interviewed on the September 13 one-year-anniversary edition of the "Heavy Metal Mayhem" show on Blogtalkradio.com. The program is now available for streaming using the player below.

RAVEN performed on August 28, 2009 at the Brooklyn Thunder Fest at Europa in Greenpoint, New York. Also appearing on the bill were ROSS THE BOSS, WHITE WIZZARD, ZANDELLE and TITANIUM BLACK

Check out photos of RAVEN's performance from RockStarPix.com.

RAVEN released its new album, "Walk Through Fire", on March 25 in Japan through King Records. The CD was recorded at the Assembly Line Studios with engineer/mixer Kevin 131 (PROJECT: FAILING FLESH, DECEASED, DYSRYTHMIA, GARDEN OF SHADOWS).

John Gallagher previously stated about the new CD, "It's the right combination of spontaneous lunacy captured with the sounds we've always wanted."

"Walk Through Fire" track listing:

01. Intro
02. Against The Grain
03. Breaking You Down
04. Under Your Radar
05. Walk Through Fire
06. Bulldozer
07. Long Day's Journey
08. Trainwreck
09. Grip
10. Running Around In Circles
11. Hard Road
12. Armageddon
13. Attitude
14. Necessary Evil (Japan-only bonus track)
15. Space Station #5 (MONTROSE cover)