ABC 12 News conducted an interview with KISS members Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley earlier tonight (Friday, September 25) prior to the band's performance at Cobo Arena in Detroit, Michigan. Watch the chat below.

KISS filmed footage for the "Modern Day Delilah" video during the band's private warm-up show at Cobo Arena on Thursday (September 24). Over 1,500 lucky fans attended the event, where the group also previewed its new stage and taped two songs for an upcoming episode of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!"

KISS' appearance on ABC-TV's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" will be broadcast on the Wednesday, October 7 episode (which will actually air the morning of Thursday, October 8).

KISS's new album, "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.

HardTimes.ca conducted an interview with bassist Dan Maines of Maryland rockers CLUTCH on September 13, 2009 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Watch the 18-minute chat below.

"Strange Cousins From the West", the ninth studio album from CLUTCH, sold 13,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 38 on The Billboard 200 chart.

The band's previous studio CD, "From Beale Street To Oblivion", opened with around 15,000 units back in April 2007 to land at No. 52.

CLUTCH's 2005 effort, "Robot Hive / Exodus", entered the chart at No. 93 after premiering with 13,000 copies.

"Strange Cousins From the West" was made available both digitally and through retail on July 14. Produced by CLUTCH and J. Robbins at Magpie Cage Studios in Baltimore, the effort is the first CLUTCH studio LP to be released on the band's own Weathermaker Music, through RED Distribution.

"Strange Cousins From the West" includes the POPPO'S BLUES BAND cover song "Algo Ha Cambiado", which Neil Fallon sings in Spanish. Poppo was a legendary Argentinian hard rock singer/guitarist throughout the '70s and '80s.

The title "Strange Cousins From the West" was taken from a line in the song "Minotaur".

Although CLUTCH has toured the world extensively over the past two years and released multiple CLUTCH-related projects, "Strange Cousins..." is the band's first original studio work since 2007's "From Beale Street to Oblivion" which featured the hit "Electric Worry".

Another new BARONESS song, "Swollen and Halo", is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page. The track comes off the Savannah, Georgia group's second full-length album, "Blue Record", which is scheduled for release on October 13 via Relapse Records. The follow-up to 2007's critically acclaimed "The Red Album" was recorded in Dallas, Texas with producer/engineer John Congleton (EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY, THE POLYPHONIC SPREE, BLACK MOUNTAIN).

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Bullhead's Psalm
02. The Sweetest Curse
03. Jake Leg
04. Steel That Sleeps the Eye
05. Swollen and Halo
06. Ogeechee Hymnal
07. A Horse Called Golgotha
08. O'er Hell And Hide
09. War, Wisdom and Rhyme
10. Blackpowder Orchard
11. The Gnashing
12. Bullhead's Lament

BARONESS will make its Australian live debut as part of the massive Soundwave Festival. Other acts taking part in the event include FAITH NO MORE, JANE'S ADDICTION, AFI, MESHUGGAH, PENNYWISE, SUNNY DAY REAL ESTATE and ISIS.

Brazilian thrashers ANDRALLS have signed a deal with Xtreem Music for the worldwide release of their fourth studio album, simply entitled "Andralls". Due mid-October, the CD — which was made available in Brazil this past summer — will include two bonus live tracks. A 25-date European tour will follow in November and December.

Formed over a decade ago, ANDRALLS has released six albums thus far (four studio and two live), featuring the band's "uncompromising brand of furious and intense thrash metal" which is reminiscent of classic SLAYER and SEPULTURA.

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

Vicky Bradley (a.k.a. Vix the Angel Of Metal) recently conducted an interview with guitarist James Duncan of Calgary, Alberta, Canada-based metallers DIVINITY. The chat is now available for streaming using the audio player below.

DIVINITY recently launched a blog dubbed "Broke Bands ". The group said, "We thought it would be a good idea to provide some information for other bands while we documented our own journey on recording the new [DIVINITY] album.

"With dwindling financial resources for musicians in today's world, the drive to create has remained undiminished for many. Fortunately using the very same technology that de-valued music so much we are also able to create and distribute professional recordings on a much smaller budget than before.

"Hopefully a community can be built where musicians and engineers can help each other out and provide a resource to keep progressing metal."

DIVINITY's most recent album "Allegory", was released in March 2008 via Nuclear Blast Records.

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

DIVINITY is:

Sean Jenkins - Lead Vocals
James Duncan - Guitars
Brett Duncan - Drums
Sacha Laskow - Lead Guitars, Vocals
Nick Foster - Bass, Vocals

James Duncan interviewed by Vicky Bradley (a.k.a. Vix the Angel Of Metal) (click on player below to launch audio):

HOLYHELL's Maria Breon and Francisco Palomo will attend an in-store signing session during a brief visit to Germany in October. Maria and Francisco will be at Cologne's famous Music Store Köln on October 1 at 5:00 p.m. Be there on time to get one of the goodies they will bring along and sign for you.

In-store address:

Music Store Professional
Grosse Budengasse 9-17
D-50667 Köln
www.musicstore.de
Telefon / Telephone +49 221 925791-0

This will be a unique opportunity to get first-hand information and learn some insights on these talented New York-based musicians.

HOLYHELL's long awaited self-titled debut album, "HolyHell", will be available for sale that day. This apocalyptic concept album features 13 dramatic, emotional, epic and electrifying songs from the beginning to the end.

Breon is a classically trained vocalist and Palomo is a virtuoso keyboard player with degrees in composition, music education and drama.

HOLYHELL recently proved its talents as a special guest of MANOWAR during a European tour.

For more information, visit www.holyhell.com.

Kristoffer of CrankItUp.se conducted an interview with drummer Jon Larsen of Danish metal rock 'n' rollers VOLBEAT at this year's edition of the Metaltown festival, which was held June 27-28, 2009 at Frihamnen in Gothenburg, Sweden. Watch the chat in two parts below.

VOLBEAT has been tapped by METALLICA as the support act on the second half of their North American fall tour in October-December. These 15 shows will take place in the biggest venues in the U.S. and Canada.

Commented vocalist/guitarist Michael Poulsen: "We are so thankful for this great chance and are looking forward to share stage with one of our biggest inspirations. It's such an honor, but it's also a big honor to play for the METALLICA fans which are very dedicated. It will be a challenge, but we will do our best to give the METALLICA fans a little piece of what we are about and what we are doing.

"We wanna thank the gentlemen in METALLICA for giving VOLBEAT this chance/tour. THANK YOU."

"Guitar Gangsters & Cadillac Blood", the third studio album from VOLBEAT, was recently certified gold in Finland for sales in excess of 10,000 copies. The band was presented with gold-award plaques on stage at the Provinssirock festival in Seinäjoki, Finland on June 12, 2009.

"Guitar Gangsters & Cadillac Blood" received a U.S. release on March 17 via Mascot Records. The follow-up to "Rock The Rebel / Metal The Devil" features 14 new tracks, including a SOCIAL DISTORTION cover as a bonus cut on all editions. Seven of the songs share a common lyrical theme, which will be continued on future records, and the artwork is also based on this storyline. The CD was recorded at Hansen Studios in Ribe, Denmark with producer Jacob Hansen, who also worked with the group on its previous two records.

An e-card for "Guitar Gangsters & Cadillac Blood" can be found at this location.

"Guitar Gangsters & Cadillac Blood" was certified gold in Denmark for sales in excess of 20,000 copies less than a month after its release,. The CD entered the Danish chart at No. 1, and was beaten only by METALLICA's "Death Magnetic" in its second week of release.

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TargetAudienceMagazine.com conducted an interview with SLAYER drummer Dave Lombardo on July 24, 2009 at the Atlanta, Georgia stop of this year's Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival. Watch the four-minute chat below.

SLAYER's "World Painted Blood", the band's highly-anticipated new album set for a November 3 release (American Recordings), will initially ship with four special collector's edition CD covers. Each of the four covers will display one-fourth of a provocative continental map illustrated with human skulls and bones; when placed together, the four images form a complete and grisly map of the world.

All four of the initial CD packages will include a special blood-red, see-through top panel with the map displayed beneath it.

The "World Painted Blood Deluxe Edition" will have its own special layout of the map cover art and will be in a double-digipak housed in a blood-red, see-through plastic sleeve. The "Deluxe Edition" will include the "World Painted Blood" CD, the "Playing With Dolls" DVD, a 20-minute animated graphic novel featuring music from the album (including part of a new non-album song), and an expanded booklet.

"World Painted Blood" track listing:

01. World Painted Blood
02. Unit 731
03. Snuff
04. Beauty Through Order
05. Hate Worldwide
06. Public Display Of Dismemberment
07. Human Strain
08. Americon
09. Psychopathy Red
10. Playing With Dolls
11. Not Of This God

"World Painted Blood" was recorded in Los Angeles over two time periods, during October 2008 and then between late January and March 2009. The CD was produced by Greg Fidelman, who's spent time in the studio with METALLICA, THE GOSSIP, THE (INTERNATIONAL) NOISE CONSPIRACY, SLIPKNOT and others, and executive-produced by longtime SLAYER colleague Rick Rubin, who suggested Fidelman for the project.

On September 22, 2009, Santa Rosa, California's 101.7 The Fox radio station conducted an interview with OTEP frontwoman Otep Shamaya. Watch the chat in two parts below.

OTEP's new album, "Smash The Control Machine", sold around 10,400 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 47 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD was released on August 18 via Victory Records.

The "Smash The Control Machine" deluxe CD/DVD package includes:

* DVD includes interviews, poetry readings and more
*CD/DVD deluxe edition includes: holographic cover, digipack, 52-page booklet with lyrics, poems and illustrations from Otep Shamaya

Shamaya says of the album, "The economic crisis is hitting every working family in this country. The album and its title track, 'Smash The Control Machine', will lay bare the greed and corruption that fostered this calamity, but will also focus on the undying spirit of the working class that always fights the good fight. The title is a line from a William S. Burroughs poem. It is my intention to create an album that serves every head of the hydra that is OTEP. From poetry, to politics, to shock and awe, to sex and righteousness, to standing up and fighting back. Like the mystical symbol of the Ouroboros (the sacred serpent swallowing its tail) all things will be brought back to circle."

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Hugh of ThrashHits.com conducted an interview with the Finnish "fantasy metal" band BATTLELORE at this year's Bloodstock Open Air festival, which was held August 14-16, 2009 at Catton Hall in Derbyshire, England. Watch the chat below. Also available is newly uploaded professionally filmed video footage of the group's January 2009 performance in Helsinki, Finland.

BATTLELORE's latest album, "The Last Alliance", entered the official chart in Finland at position No. 26. The CD was released in North America in October 2008 via Napalm Records. It was recorded at Sound Supreme Studios in Hämeenlinna, Finland, with producer Janne Saksa and was mixed and mastered by the Swedish multi-instrumentalist and producer Dan Swanö (EDGE OF SANITY, NIGHTINGALE, ex-BLOODBATH).

SKUNK ANANSIE vocalist Skin (real name: Deborah Dyer) and guitarist Ace (real name: Martin Kent) took part in an acoustic performance this past Monday (September 21) on the Dutch radio station 3FM during the "Giel Beelen" show. Watch video footage of their appearance below.

The video for the new SKUNK ANANSIE single, "Squander", can be viewed at NME.com.

"Squander" will be released on October 26, 2009 in the U.K. and is the second single to be made available from the band's forthcoming greatest-hits album, "Smashes And Trashes" (which is due on November 2, 2009).

"Smashes and Trashes" is a 15-track career-embracing album. It features classic moments from SKUNK ANANSIE's three LPs — "Paranoid & Sunburnt" (1995), "Stoosh" (1996) and "Post Orgasmic Chill" (1999) — and includes three brand new tracks: "Because Of You", "Tear The Place Up" and "Squander".

SKUNK ANANSIE will embark on the "Greatest Hits Tour" in October/November.

The band played two low-key shows London's Water Rats venue on April 2 and April 3 under the pseudonym S.C.A.M. (a combination of the first-name initials of the four bandmembers).

SKUNK ANANSIE — Skin, bassist Cass (Richard Lewis), Ace and drummer Mark Richardson — split up in 2001 but announced last September that they were writing new material together.

SKUNK ANANSIE was named after the West African folk tales of Anansie the spider-man, with "skunk" added to "make the name nastier."

James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich of METALLICA interviewed ALICE IN CHAINS for FMQB Productions' "Inside Alice In Chains: Black Gives Way To Blue" broadcast special, which has just started airing on radio stations across the country.

When asked by Hetfield what the album title means to the band, guitarist Jerry Cantrell explained that the title track is a song about late ALICE IN CHAINS singer Layne Staley, who died in 2002. "It's a really intense song and a really open-hearted song because of Layne and the experience that we all went through," he said. "It's [about] facing up to that stuff and all the good and all the bad and moving forward together. It speaks to [the fact that] things were pretty black for us. It's pretty literal, and things are starting to get a little lighter."

Cantrell also stated that having Elton John play on the song was an honor, because Elton was the first musician that he really admired. "It was a really heavy thing for me, because my whole journey starts with him. That was the first guy I really got into," Cantrell said. "Then I started discovering guitar bands like AC/DC and KISS and all sorts of other stuff. But Elton was the first thing that turned the light on for me. So to have that come full circle for all of us – for what we've all been through – and for who that song is about, it's a pretty heavy thing. It's one of the few moments in life where the universe really lines up and tells you you're doing the right thing."

The band was also very candid about going through their own battles with addiction after Staley passed away. "We kind of went off the rails and stopped touring with two number one records back-to-back because we were not in really good shape. We tried to take time off, and the plan was to focus on living a little bit," Cantrell said. Drummer Sean Kinney added, "The plan was to stop because I knew for a fact, if we were to stay out on the road, death was imminent. It wasn't just Layne — it could have been me, it could have been anybody. We pulled back from that and the theory was to try to get our act together so we could live and move on."

Later in the special, Hetfield asks ALICE IN CHAINS singer William DuVall if it was strange for him to sing someone else's lyrics. But as DuVall pointed out, music is always open to interpretation, and he takes away his own meaning from the lyrics, whether they were written by Staley or Cantrell.

"Truth is truth, and I'll relate to it on that level," he explained. "It's similar to the older songs; a tune that might be really personal to Jerry, like 'Rooster', Layne sang those songs with a lot of conviction. I come to that stuff singing a song like 'Dirt' or 'Junkhead' with my own experience, because the feelings behind those lyrics are universal. The impetus for writing them may be extremely personal, but that's the beauty of music. That's the power of it. It's all the blues to me, and I know a thing or two about the blues. I'm a blues person!"

When asked by Revolver magazine if he had a close relationship with Staley, Hetfield replied, "I wasn't really close with Layne, but I remember going to see ALICE IN CHAINS many times. I remember when we were down in L.A. [in 1991, making 'The Black Album'], I left the studio early to see them play on Clash of the Titans with SLAYER. I was driving like a madman in this rented van, going on the median and scaring the shit out of my friend — 'We gotta get there!' And we get there, and they'd just got off. I was like, 'Aw, man!' [Laughs] I hung with them a little bit, always just loved their music, and I'd say that Jerry [Cantrell, AIC guitarist] and I share some life experiences, like getting a second chance at life and realizing how cool things can be. So we've got kind of a kinship that way. And seeing them play — I just love hearing those songs. Those songs are awesome and should be heard, you know? They were so unique, so ahead of their time. And out of all the Seattle stuff, that stuff is the most timeless. Unfortunately, Layne just loved the junk too much, man, and that was that. I just read in his lyrics his obsessiveness about it. And he knew where he was goin'! It's like, in the school of driving, look where you want to go — and that's what he was doing, it seems like."

"Inside Alice In Chains: Black Gives Way To Blue" can be heard below.

On September 22, 2009, Santa Rosa, California's 101.7 The Fox radio station conducted an interview with Los Angeles metallers FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH. Watch the chat in two parts below.

According to Hits Daily Double, the companion web site of music industry tip sheet HITS, "War Is The Answer" — the sophomore album from FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH — is on track to sell between 35,000 and 40,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD follows up FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH's 2007 debut, "The Way Of The Fist", which has sold 353,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

"War Is The Answer" was released in the U.S. on September 22 via Prospect Park Records. The CD was produced by the band and Kevin Churko (OZZY OSBOURNE, IN THIS MOMENT), and was mixed by Randy Staub (METALLICA, MÖTLEY CRÜE, NICKELBACK). According to a press release, "the record evolves the band's already mature sound, ranging from the undeniable melodies in 'Hard to See' to the brutally nihilistic 'Burn It Down' — destined to please fans both new and old."

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH kicked off "The Shock And Roar Tour" this past Tuesday (September 22) in San Francisco. Joining them on the bill are SHADOWS FALL, OTEP and 2 CENTS.

The four members of ALICE IN CHAINS were IRON MAIDEN frontman Bruce Dickinson's guests earlier tonight (Friday, September 25) during Bruce's weekly BBC 6 Music radio program, dubbed "The Bruce Dickinson Friday Rock Show". You can now listen to the program at BBC.co.uk.

In their first late-night network performance in more than 10 years, ALICE IN CHAINS will appear on ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" for two consecutive nights on Tuesday, September 29 and Wednesday, September 30 at 12:05 a.m. ET/PT. The appearances follow ALICE IN CHAINS' sold-out national tour and coincide with the highly anticipated September 29 release of the band's new album, "Black Gives Way to Blue" (Virgin/EMI).

The much-buzzed-about event kicks off on Tuesday, September 29 on the Bud Light Outdoor Stage — the largest outdoor stage among the late night talk shows — with an electrifying performance in the middle of Hollywood. On Wednesday, September 30, ALICE IN CHAINS will perform a special intimate acoustic set on the late night's indoor lobby stage. Each performance will include one song from new album "Black Gives Way to Blue" and one classic hit. The September 29 show will see the group performing their brand-new, chart-topping lead single "Check My Brain" — hailed by Spin as "one of the catchiest songs of ALICE IN CHAINS' history" — and the show on the 30th will spotlight new acoustic track, "Your Decision".

ALICE IN CHAINS recorded "Black Gives Way to Blue" with producer Nick Raskulinecz (FOO FIGHTERS, RUSH) at the Northridge, California studio of FOO FIGHTERS frontman Dave Grohl. Among the album's many highlights is riff-driven lead single "Check My Brain", currently No. 1 on Billboard's Rock Songs chart, and its stunning title track, a heart-stirring tribute to Layne Staley, the band's late lead singer. The song features a special guest appearance by Elton John on piano.

KISS filmed footage for the "Modern Day Delilah" video during the band's private warm-up show at Cobo Arena in Detroit, Michigan on Thursday (September 24). Over 1,500 lucky fans attended the event, where the group also previewed its new stage and taped two songs for an upcoming episode of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!"

Watch fan-filmed video footage of the "Modern Day Delilah" video shoot below.

KISS' appearance on ABC-TV's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" will be broadcast on the Wednesday, October 7 episode (which will actually air the morning of Thursday, October 8).

KISS's new album, "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.

GODSMACK singer Sully Erna told the Artisan News Service in a video interview that he was approached to record a song for next year's Sylvester Stallone blockbuster "The Expendables", which will also feature Jason Staham, Jet Li, Mickey Rourke and Randy Couture.

Watch the chat at this location.

Erna told the ABC Radio Network last month that a friend of his, who's also one of the editors on the film, heard Erna's recently completed solo album and thought it would be appropriate for the movie. "He called me up when Stallone was looking for some music and asked," Erna said before adding that he "went and kind of custom-tailored a song" called "Sinner's Prayer" for "what [Stallone] wanted for this certain scene in the movie."

Sully told the ABC Radio Network that he has delayed the release of his solo CD to coincide with the film's arrival, which is expected early next year. He explained, "We're gonna push it back and try and tie it into the movie and do all that stuff."

Speaking to The Pulse of Radio, Erna described the material on his upcoming solo CD as "very epic" and "soundtrack-ish."

In late 2007, GODSMACK released a greatest hits collection called "Good Times, Bad Times - Ten Years of Godsmack" and announced that it was going on hiatus. Erna worked on his solo album during this period, while the other three members of the group started a side project called ANOTHER ANIMAL.

GODSMACK is currently working on a new studio album for a spring 2010 release. It will be the band's first collection of all-new material since 2006's "IV".

LIVING COLOUR's guitar virtuoso Vernon Reid and singer Corey Glover stopped by Billboard.com's studios to talk about the new album, "The Chair In The Doorway", how the music business has changed since they began recording as a band, and how the their classic track "Cult of Personality" can be reconsidered in the age of Obama.

"We were talking about the cult of personality around Ronald Reagan, so it's always weird when people talk about the Age of Obama and 'Cult of Personality' and the Cult of Personality around Barack Obama," explains Glover. "You could look at it at in so many different ways and from so many different perspectives that it loses its meaning after a while. And for us, when we play it, we're not thinking about the Age of Obama, we're thinking about us."

Watch the chat below.

"The Chair In The Doorway" sold around 2,800 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 159 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD was written and recorded at Sono Studios outside of Prague in the Czech Republic during the fall of 2008 and spring of 2009. The results stretch from the modern soul anthem "Behind The Sun" to the politically-charged, heavy rock of "DecaDance" to the sacred steel blues of "Bless Those".

Having helped to pave the way for a number of contemporary African-American artists to follow in their wake, ranging from RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE to LENNY KRAVITZ to BEN HARPER, with a multi-dimensional sound that drew equally from JIMI HENDRIX, BAD BRAINS, TALKING HEADS and ORNETTE COLEMAN, the success of LIVING COLOUR broke down the color barriers in rock music. Guitarist and founding member Vernon Reid also founded the Black Rock Coalition to use his influence to further this cause.

Discovered by Mick Jagger who produced their first demo and later offered them an opening slot with THE ROLLING STONES, LIVING COLOUR would go on to create a repertoire that includes a multitude of classic songs, including "Cult Of Personality", "Elvis Is Dead", "Open Letter To A Landlord", "Glamour Boys" and "Love Rears Its Ugly Head". With "The Chair In The Doorway", the fifth album of the band's storied career, LIVING COLOUR expands the scope of its timeless body of work and, in the process, proves vital as ever.

The next leg of AC/DC's "Black Ice" world tour, which was set to hit Phoenix, Arizona on October 1, will be postponed to a later date. Subsequent shows in Las Vegas, Louisville, Kansas City, Des Moines and Milwaukee will also be rescheduled. The tour will resume on October 16 in Washington, D.C. (see below for full itinerary).

AC/DC lead singer Brian Johnson recently underwent a medical procedure and at the advice of his doctor is taking some time to rest.

The "Black Ice" world tour kicked off in October 2008 and has crisscrossed North America and Europe twice.

This November, the "Black Ice" world tour will visit Latin America and by early 2010 the tour will hit Australia and New Zealand.

AC/DC's "Black Ice" album was released globally on October 20, 2008 and topped sales charts in 29 countries. In the U.S. alone, "Black Ice" sold 780,000 copies in its first week and has since shifted in excess of 2 million units.

AC/DC tour dates:

Oct. 16 - Washington DC Verizon Center
Oct. 18 - Buffalo, NY HSBC Arena
Oct. 21 - Philadelphia, PA Wachovia Center
Oct. 23 - Atlanta, GA Phillips Area
Oct. 25 - Greensboro, NC Greensboro Coliseum
Oct. 28 - New Orleans, LA New Orleans Arena
Oct. 30 - Jacksonville, FL Jacksonville Arena
Nov. 04 - Oklahoma City, OK Ford Center
Nov. 06 - Austin, TX Frank Erwin Center
Nov. 12 - Mexico City, MX Foro Sol
Nov. 19 - Orlando, FL Amway Arena
Nov. 21 - San Juan, PR Coliseo de Puerto Rico

As previously reported, AC/DC has launched a special web site, ACDCBacktracks.com, featuring a countdown to an "exciting announcement" that will be made on September 29.

AC/DC is rumored to be releasing a box set later this year that will come in a package that doubles as a working amplifier. The set will contain three CDs, two DVDs and a vinyl record. One CD will contain studio rarities and the other two will feature live cuts, while the DVDs will contain the third volume of the band's "Family Jewels" video collections. The vinyl disc will hold the studio rarities. The set will also come with a 164-page book, three black-and-white lithographs of unpublished band photos from 1977, a flyer for a 1976 British tour and a poster from a 1977 European trek. The complete package will be sold only through AC/DC's web site, while a CD/DVD-only version called "Best Of The Box Set" may also be made available.

On September 23, Slavewriter6 conducted an interview with vocalist Alex Erian of Montreal extreme metallers DESPISED ICON. The chat is now available for streaming at this location.

"Day Of Mourning", the new video from DESPISED ICON, can be viewed below. The song is the title cut of DESPISED ICON's new album, which was released on September 22 via Century Media Records. The CD was produced by Yannick St-Amand, while the mixing duties were handled by Chris "Zeuss" Harris (HATEBREED, THE ACACIA STRAIN, WHITECHAPEL) in Massachusetts. The whole thing was mastered by Alan Douches (MASTODON, THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, NILE).

DESPISED ICON earlier in the year released a DVD entitled "Montreal Assault Live". The disc features a "stellar" multi-camera shoot from the band's sold-out hometown show, alongside a new hour-long documentary and all of the band's promotional video clips.

Pavel Konvalinka of Australian melodic power metallers BLACK MAJESTY has finished recording drum parts for the band's upcoming album at Grapow Studios in Slovakia. Roland Grapow (MASTERPLAN, ex-HELLOWEEN) will also mix the new CD, which is expected to be released in early 2010 through Germany's Limb Music Products. Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Two Hearts", "Wish You Well", "God of War", "Witching Hour" and "Far Beyond".

Upcoming BLACK MAJESTY shows:

Jan. 01 - Screamfest, Enmore Theatre, Sydney, Australia
Jan. 03 - Bilboard, Melbourne, Australia (w/ EDGUY, CYNIC)
Jan. 05 - Fowlers, Adelaide, Australia (w/ EDGUY, CYNIC)
Feb. 06 - Jak Sound & Music Expo, Jakarta, Indonesia

BLACK MAJESTY's video for the song "Forever Damned", shot in 2007 at the Benatska Noc Festival in Czech Republic, can be viewed below.

BLACK MAJESTY supported its last album, "Tomorrowland", with appearances at major heavy metal festivals, including Wacken Open Air in Germany, Masters of Rock in the Czech Republic and Metal Universe in Slovakia.

Capital Chaos has posted video footage (see below) of AUGUST BURNS RED's September 23, 2009 performance at Club Retro in Orangevale, California. Also on the bill were THE ACACIA STRAIN, IMPENDING DOOM and MYCHILDREN MYBRIDE.

"Constellations", the third full-length album from AUGUST BURNS RED, debuted at an impressive No. 24 on The Billboard 200. Released on July 14, the LP also landed at No. 8 on Current Rock Albums, No. 2 on Top Hard Music Albums and No. 2 on the Christian Market chart.

With sales of 20,401 copies in its first week, "Constellations" more than doubled the first-week numbers of its predecessor, 2007's "Messengers", which debuted in The Billboard 200 at No. 81 and went on to sell well over 80,000 copies. "Constellations" also hit the No. 1 New Music Release spot iTunes the day it was released, and entered the Top 100 at No. 6, nestled between a MICHAEL JACKSON best-of album and the movie soundtrack for a certain wizard named Harry. "We thought we set the bar pretty high for this release, but we never envisioned 'Constellations' coming out of the gates the way it has," said guitarist JB Brubaker. "It's so awesome to have such supportive and enthusiastic listeners!"

BrooklynRocks conducted an interview with Los Angeles traditional metal heroes WHITE WIZZARD on August 28, 2009 at the Brooklyn Thunder Fest at Club Europa in Brooklyn, New York. Watch the chat below.

WHITE WIZZARD are putting the finishing touches on the as-yet-untitled full-length follow-up to the "High Speed GTO" mini-album with producer Ralph Patlan (MEGADETH, UFO, MICHAEL SCHENKER). According to WHITE WIZZARD bassist Jon Leon, the new CD will contain "10 songs that will rip your head off."

The CD will be mixed at the legendary Prairie Sun Recording in Northern California.

Early versions of two songs that are expected to appear on WHITE WIZZARD's 2010 album — "40 Deuces" and "Over The Top" — are available for streaming on the band's MySpace page.

WHITE WIZZARD formed in 2007 and shortly afterwards recorded its "High Speed GTO" demo, which only made it into the hands of a few select fans. Following a brief period of inactivity, the demo fell into the hands of Earache Records and the "High Speed GTO" song was included on "Heavy Metal Killers", a compilation featuring 13 tracks from the best new traditional-sounding heavy metal bands. Earache Records released the "High Speed GTO" tracks as a mini-album this summer.

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

While his prodigal step-child REVCO (REVOLTING COCKS) is out on the North American LuBriCaTouR promoting the upcoming 13th Planet release "Sex-O MiXXX-O", MINISTRY's Al Jourgensen has hooked up with guitarist Mark Thwaite (MISSION UK, PETER MURPHY, TRICKY, MOB RESEARCH) in the studio, collaborating on several projects simultaneously. Jourgensen and Thwaite, both long-time friends of KILLING JOKE/MINISTRY bassist Paul Raven, who passed away October 20, 2007, joined forces recently at Jourgensen's 13th Planet compound in Texas on REVCO projects and another Jourgensen side project.

Thwaite brings his remix skills to REVCO's upcoming "Sex-O MiXXX-O" on "Abundant Redundancy (Dambuster Metalmorphosis Mix)", to be released as a digital-only bonus supplement to the physical release. Thwaite's previous remix credits include GARY NUMAN, METHOD MAN and LICKY, to name a few. Additionally, Thwaite collaborated with MINISTRY/REVCO guitarist Sin Quirin on "Filthy Senoritas" for the upcoming REVCO release, slated for spring 2010.

But the crowning jewel of the Jourgensen/Thwaite collaboration is the newly penned, as-yet-untitled Christmas song, to be released via digital download exclusively this Thanksgiving. 13th Planet will release a digital stream of the track October 20, 2009 on MINISTRY's MySpace page to celebrate the memory of their "favorite pirate" Paul Raven.

REVCO's October 20 performance in Jacksonville, Florida will feature a video collage of Paul Raven's life by longtime friend Dean Karr.

Jourgensen will join his band of merry freaks, REVCO, on October 6 in Chicago at House of Blues and October 17 at New York City's Irving Plaza.

Alexi Laiho (guitar, vocals), Roope Latvala (guitar), and Henkka Blacksmith (bass) of the Finnish metal band CHILDREN OF BODOM will take part in a meet-and-greet on October 9 prior to their performance at the Regency Theater at The Grand in San Francisco, California. Fans can meet the group, take pictures, get autographs and buy the ESP guitars that power CHILDREN OF BODOM at the Audio Images-hosted event.

For more information, go to this location.

CHILDREN OF BODOM's new album, titled "Skeletons In The Closet", was released on September 23 through Spinefarm. The follow-up to last year's "Blooddrunk" is a selection of cover versions, some of them existing recordings, others specially laid down for this release.

CHILDREN OF BODOM has been recording covers since the early days of its career, some predictably heavy ("Silent Scream" by SLAYER, for example), others reflecting an altogether broader taste ("Talk Dirty To Me" by POISON).

CHILDREN OF BODOM kicked off a month-long North American headlining tour on Friday, September 18 at Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel in Providence, Rhode Island. Support acts on the trek are THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER and SKELETONWITCH.

Detroit, Michigan-area Wal-Mart stores have unveiled "KISS Korners" in electronics departments and Halloween aisles stocked with KISS masks, M&M candies, music, make-up, wigs and Mr. Potato Head collector toys to celebrate the band's national tour and first concert tonight in Detroit. Wal-Mart stores nationwide will launch "KISS Korners" on October 6, the day the band's "Sonic Boom" album is released exclusively at the chain.

The exclusive KISS CD/DVD package, "Sonic Boom", and KISS kollectibles will be available in all Wal-Mart stores nationwide. Select items, including the MP3 digital album, will be available at Walmart.com. Pre-orders for the new three-disc set are currently available at www.walmart.com/kiss for $12.

Items will arrive upon the October 6 release and include:

* KISS "Sonic Boom" CD/DVD package - $12
* KISS T-shirts - $5
* Four select KISS Mr. Potato Head kollectibles (The Demon, The
Spaceman, The Catman and The Starchild) - $10
* KISS fleece blanket - $10
* KISS M&M candies (7 oz. bags - Limited Edition) - $6
* KISS catalog CDs such as "Dressed to Kill", "Destroyer", "Love Gun" and "Very Best of Kiss" — $5 - $9
* KISS makeup kits, masks and wigs (select Wal-Mart stores*) - $5

"To complement this highly-anticipated music release, we are excited to bring a unique store experience with KISS merchandise at an unbeatable value for fans of all ages," said Greg Hall, vice president of Media Services, Wal-Mart U.S. "It has been both fun and an honor to work with the band and celebrate with fans the new music release and album tour."

Over 1,500 lucky fans attended a private KISS warm-up show at Cobo Arena in Detroit, Michigan on Thursday (September 24). The band previewed their awesome new stage while filming footage for the "Modern Day Delilah" video as well as two songs for an upcoming episode of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!"

KISS performed the following songs:

* "Rock And Roll All Nite"
* "Modern Day Delilah"
* "Detroit Rock City"
* "Got To Choose"
* "Shout It Loud"

Check out video footage below.

SLAVIOR, the hard rock progressive act featuring former FATES WARNING/WARLORD drummer Mark Zonder, MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP guitarist/keyboardist Wayne Findlay, RING OF FIRE/STEVE VAI bassist Philip Bynoe and ex-TRIBE OF GYPSIES vocalist Gregg Analla, has commenced the recording process for its second album. Findlay states, "We are recording finished album tracks for a four-song demo. Mark has finished drums for these four already. I'm laying guitars down this week, Philip will come down here with bass in hand next week, followed by Gregg Analla the week after for vocals. We are very stoked to have [Gregg] back on board." [Analla left SLAVIOR in May 2008 in order to pursue "some very time-consuming art commitments" but has since rejoined the group.]

Findlay continued, "SLAVIOR is extremely excited to start the demo for second album, which we are 16 songs into at the moment. The material is heavier than the first album but still has the SLAVIOR sound! Engineer Joe Marlett has dialed in some crushing guitar tones, as well as sick drum tones as well. He will once again be at the helm on this project."

SLAVIOR's self-titled debut album was released on April 3, 2007 via Inside Out Music.

The band had originally inked a deal with Greece's Black Lotus Records, but financial turmoil eventually caused the label to fold, leaving SLAVIOR to re-evaluate matters and come to their initial choice of labels, Inside Out.

A versatile, melodic hard rock/metal act, SLAVIOR's debut album features elements familiar to Zonder's progressive metal past, but also introduces a wide array influences including reggae, hip-hop, and modern rock.

"Almost Home", the new album from Jacksonville, Florida's EVERGREEN TERRACE, is available for streaming in its entirety at this location.

"Almost Home" is scheduled for release on September 29 via Metal Blade Records.

Continuing its blistering combination of melodic hardcore and metal, EVERGREEN TERRACE has gone back to its roots on "Almost Home". "I think this record will surprise the new listeners as well as have the old ones stoked," stated guitarist Josh James. " I'd say its best described as a good mixture of 'Burned Alive by Time' [2002] and 'Wolfbiker' [2007]."

Splitting the recording process of the album in half, the band tracked all the music at Martell Studios and all of the vocals at AudioHammer (AUGUST BURNS RED, BURY YOUR DEAD, TRIVIUM, etc.).

"We've always had a lot of pop culture references in our song titles and this record is no exception," said James. "Before we even started writing new songs, we already have a list of titles from books, movies, and comedians. Half of the song titles on this record are pulled from the lyrics. The others are pop culture references that relate to the lyrical content."

"Almost Home" track listing:

01. Enemy Sex
02. Almost Home (III)
03. God Rocky is This Your Face?
04. We're Always Losing Blood
05. Sending Signals
06. Mario Speedwagon
07. Failure to Operate
08. Hopelessly Hopeless
09. The Letdown
10. I'm a Bulletproof Tiger
11. Not Good Enough

With a new record coming out, EVERGREEN TERRACE has taken its album title into consideration and hit the road again. The band is currently on tour with EMMURE as part of the Hard Knock Life tour for the entire month of September, with dates running through September 29. Also on the bill are STICK TO YOUR GUNS, FOR TODAY, and OCEANO. The band will end the tour October 3 with a headlining CD-release show in Jacksonville with an all-star lineup, including THE CHARIOT, BURDEN OF A DAY, CASEY JONES, THICK AS BLOOD and HELLO DANGER.

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

MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine has set "Hello Me... Meet The Real Me" as the title of his upcoming autobiography, tentatively due in late 2010. The book was co-written by New York Times journalist Joe Layden who also wrote "The Last Great Fight", which takes readers behind the scenes of what is considered by many to be the biggest upset in the history of boxing: James "Buster" Douglas' tenth-round knockout win over Mike Tyson in 1990.

During an appearance on today's (Friday, September 25) edition of "The Alex Jones Show", Mustaine stated about his autobiography, "It's called 'Hello Me... Meet The Real Me', which is a lyric from the [MEGADETH song] 'Sweating Bullets' [from the 1992 album 'Countdown To Extinction']. It had to called that; you know that."

He added, "It's basically me the person; it's not just me a musician. Because [other people have] written everything that could be written about me as a musician from their point of view. And some of it's true, some of it's not, some of it's folklore, some of it makes me a lot cooler than I really am, so I just let them continue to think that way. [laughs]

"With the book itself, when I got to the last page and I closed the book, I looked up... I actually was so satiated, I was so content that they finally have got my life into a book so far and that... I read it and I went, 'You know what?! I get it. This is it. This is who I am. It explains everything perfectly.' And the best part about it, I think, is that at the end of every chapter... It's like, God, [I] did a lot of really rotten things, but at the end of every chapter, it tells how all those things have been made amends for, if possible, and the people that we had all these hardships with, we've gone back and worked on things. Some people were in the band that I'm friends with still; some people were in the band in the past and I'm not friends with them."

Mustaine's latest appearance on "The Alex Jones Show" can be heard using the audio player below.

Norway's Lydverket blog conducted an interview with Mustaine on August 7, 2009 at the Langham Hotel in London, England. The first clip from the chat, in which he discusses his upcoming autobiography, can be viewed below.

MEGADETH's new album, "Endgame", sold 45,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 9 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD shifted 8,200 units in Canada to land at No. 4 on that country's official chart.

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).

September 25, 2009 edition of "The Alex Jones Show" featuring interview with Dave Mustaine (click on player below to launch audio):

A new audio interview with bassist Mikael Hedlund of Swedish extreme metallers HYPOCRISY conducted by Vassil Varbanov of Bulgaria's Tangra Mega Rock is available for download at this location (MP3, 5 MB). It can also be streamed using the audio player below.

A trailer for "A Taste Of Extreme Divinity", the new album from HYPOCRISY, can be viewed below.

"A Taste Of Extreme Divinity" is scheduled for release in Europe on October 23 and in the U.S. on November 3 via Nuclear Blast Records.

The track listing is as follows:

01. Valley Of The Damned
02. Hang Him High
03. Solar Empire
04. Weed Out The Weak
05. No Tomorrow
06. Global Domination
07. Taste The Extreme Divinity
08. Alive
09. The Quest
10. Tamed "Filled With Fear"
11. Sky Is Falling Down

Check out the CD cover artwork below.

HYPOCRISY will kick off a U.S. tour in support of "A Taste Of Extreme Divinity" on November 5, with ENSIFERUM as the headliner.

HYPOCRISY reissued its 2002 album "Catch 22" under the title "Catch 22 V2.0.08" in May 2008. Peter Tägtgren re-recorded the guitar parts, his vocals and remixed and remastered the LP for the new version of the album, which featured bonus material.

The band previously stated about its decision to re-release the CD, "We still think it is a great fucking album but it got slammed and misunderstood because of the vocal style and the drum sound and so on."

HYPOCRISY's latest album, "Virus", came out in September 2005 via Nuclear Blast Records.

Mikael Hedlund interviewed by Tangra Mega Rock (click on player below to launch audio):

Guitarist/vocalist Morgan Lander of Canadian all-girl metal act KITTIE was the featured guest on the September 21, 2009 edition of the "All Knowing Force" web-based interview show. The chat is now available for download as an MP3 audio file at this location. It can also be streamed using the audio player below.

"In The Black", the new album from KITTIE, sold around 3,400 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 132 on The Billboard 200 chart.

KITTIE's previous CD, "Funeral for Yesterday", opened with 9,000 units back in February 2007 to land at No. 101.

"In The Black" will be made available in Europe on October 23 via Germany's Massacre Records.

"Cut Throat", the new video from KITTIE, can be viewed below. The clip was directed by David Brodsky (SUICIDE SILENCE, GWAR, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER) in an old, abandoned department store in Brooklyn, New York and it "perfectly captures what this band is all about," said Morgan. "The make-up artist didn't really appreciate the fact that our make-up was sliding down our faces from the first note, but this isn't pretty or nice or dainty. This is metal and the 'Cut Throat' video perfectly embodies that."

Morgan Lander interviewed on "All Knowing Force" (click on player below to launch audio):