[Classic_Rock_Forever] Aerosmith, GUns N Roses, BuckCherry, Gigantour news, Tesla, Adler's Appetite, and tons more hard rock and heavy metal news

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AEROSMITH singer Steven Tyler has told Rolling Stone magazine that the band's new album is almost done.

"Two months doing that and we're almost there," Tyler said backstage at the iHeartRadio festival in Las Vegas this past weekend. "We're gonna spend another month in L.A." Is there a release date in mind? "March, hopefully."

AEROSMITH entered guitarist Joe Perry's home studio (The Boneyard) in suburban Boston and the Pandora's Box (the band's main studio) in early July with producer Jack Douglas to begin recording its long-awaited 14th studio album. The CD will be AEROSMITH's first set of original material since 2001's "Just Push Play" and first studio offering since 2004's covers CD, "Honkin' On Bobo".

In a recent online posting, Douglas stated about AEROSMITH's new CD, "The new album should be out around May 2012. I know that's a long wait, but after the South American tour and Japan in October, November and December, we will just get back to work on it in mid-January."

He added, "For those who are asking, this album will be raw, nasty, tough rock with a good deal of the old AEROSMITH 'tongue in cheek.'"

In an earlier videotaped message that was released via AEROSMITH's official web site, bassist Tom Hamilton stated about re-teaming with Douglas, "For those of you who don't know who Jack is, he's the guy who we worked with, producing our best albums of the '70s — 'Get Your Wings', 'Toys In The Attic' and 'Rocks'. And it's really gonna be cool, because there's no one that knows more about the soul of this band and the creative part of this band [than] Jack. We worked with him on [2004's covers CD] 'Honkin' On Bobo', but that wasn't all original material — most of that was not original material. This time it's gonna be all-new AEROSMITH songs."

He continued, "When people say, 'What was it like to work with Jack back then?' all I can say is we just laughed the whole time; there was always laughter going on, and fun, but at the same time really digging deep to get performances that were even better than we thought we could do."

The plan to resume work on a new disc follows the completion of singer Steven Tyler's first season as a judge on "American Idol". The band, minus Perry, did get together for a week earlier this year in Los Angeles to work on new material.

AEROSMITH and Tyler almost went their separate ways in late 2009, but reunited and toured last year. However, Tyler then stunned his bandmates by taking the "Idol" job, which pushed back work on the already-delayed new record.
 
GUNS N' ROSES is among 15 finalists for induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. Also hitting the ballot for the first time are THE CURE, HEART, JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS, ERIC B. AND RAKIM, THE SPINNERS, THE SMALL FACES/FACES, FREDDY KING and RUFUS WITH CHAKA KHAN, while previous nominees BEASTIE BOYS, LAURA NYRO, WAR DONOVAN and RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS also made the cut. Votes will be cast by a group of more than 500 musicians and industry professionals; of the 15 nominees, the five that get the most votes will be announced in January and inducted into the Hall Of Fame at its 27th annual ceremony on April 14, 2012 in Cleveland, Ohio, home to the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame And Museum.

GUNS N' ROSES was nominated in its first year of eligibility.

"It's a great honor," former GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Gilby Clarke told The Plain Dealer. "The band deserves it. It was a long time coming."

Acts become eligible 25 years after the release of their first record.

Eccentric singer Axl Rose is the only original member of the current GUNS N' ROSES lineup, and while he has recently been on friendlier terms with guitarist Izzy Stradlin and bass player Duff McKagan, he and guitarist Slash are not on speaking terms.

Asked about what the former bandmates will do if they are inducted, Slash said, "We'll cross that bridge when we get there . . . If they're gonna pass you over, I don't think it's worth worrying about too much."

Earlier this year, former GUNS N' ROSES bassist Duff McKagan spoke to MusicRadar.com about the possibility of the band being inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

"My only experience with the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame was when VELVET REVOLVER played it and we were inducting VAN HALEN," he said. "That whole band was supposed to be there, including David Lee Roth — we were going to do a song with him. It all started falling apart in the two weeks leading up to the gig. It was sad to watch…

"We were just the innocent band that was there to play VAN HALEN songs, and we saw their whole thing crumble. To see Michael Anthony and Sammy Hagar show up, when it was supposed to be everybody... Michael and Sammy were really cool guys and good sports about it, but they took all the heat over the situation. A lot of heat.

"I don't know if I want to set myself up for heat. It's going to be a debacle, isn't it? A press debacle. I just don't know what else to say about it."

Slash said that he was glad to see Alice Cooper going in this year, and as for who has been overlooked, the guitarist said, "The one that comes to mind right off the bat — and it's not even a band that I'm a huge fan of but definitely is eligible — is KISS. And I know that they've been passed over every fucking year."
Californian rockers BUCKCHERRY will be direct support for GUNS N' ROSES on the following dates:

Oct. 28 - Orlando, FL - Amway Center
Oct. 29 - Miami, FL - American Airlines Arena
Oct. 31 - Greenville, SC - Bi–Lo Center
Nov. 02 - Atlanta, GA – Philips Arena
Nov. 04 - Houston, TX – Toyota Center

BUCKCHERRY's latest album, "All Night Long", sold around 28,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 10 on The Billboard 200 chart.

BUCKCHERRY's fourth studio CD, titled "Black Butterfly", opened with around 47,000 units back in September 2008 to land at No. 8.
MEGADETH is excited to re-launch for the first time since 2008 its critically acclaimed package festival Gigantour. The multi-artist bill — with metal heavyweights MOTÖRHEAD, VOLBEAT and LACUNA COIL all personally picked by MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine — will kick off in early 2012 with dates tentatively set for late January through early March.

Conceived in 2005, Gigantour — proclaimed "the mother of all shred fests" by Revolver magazine — resurrects metal's focus on stellar musicianship.

The third installment of the North American Gigantour officially launched on April 12, 2008 in Denver, Colorado with headliner MEGADETH, Swedish metal band IN FLAMES, Finland's CHILDREN OF BODOM, Arizona's modern extreme act JOB FOR A COWBOY and Oakland, California heavy power trio HIGH ON FIRE. The 29-date trek criss-crossed North America and wrapped May 22, 2008 in Phoenix, Arizona.

The "Gigantour 2" DVD and CD, which contains footage from the second coming of Gigantour, arrived on April 22, 2008 via Image Entertainment.

MEGADETH filmed a video on September 17 in Santa Clarita, California for the band's the new single, "Public Enemy No. 1". The clip was shot on a movie set where old Westerns are filmed. Bassist David Ellefson states in a video message (see below), "We have never shot a video like this before; there's actually animals in the movie and that's all we can say."

"Public Enemy No. 1" was released last week digitally via iTunes. The song comes off MEGADETH's new album, "TH1RT3EN", which is scheduled for release on November 1 via Roadrunner Records. The CD was recorded at MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine's Vic's Garage studio in San Marcos, California with producer Johnny K (full name: John Karkazis), who has previously worked with DISTURBED, SEVENDUST, MACHINE HEAD and STAIND, among others. The artwork was once again created by artist John Lorenzi, who worked on the last two MEGADETH studio albums, 2007's "United Abominations" and 2009's "Endgame", as well as the band's 2007 box set, "Warchest".

"TH1RT3EN" marks the recorded return of bassist David Ellefson who was part of the band's classic lineup from 1983 to 2002. In a move that delighted the band's legion of diehards, Ellefson returned to performing live with MEGADETH in early 2010 and has remained a fixture on the stage ever since. This is the first time Ellefson has played on a MEGADETH record since 2002's "Rude Awakening".
 
California rockers TESLA will embark on an acoustic tour in November. The dates are as follows:

Nov. 01 - Salt Lake City, UT - The Depot
Nov. 02 - Denver, CO - Ogden Theatre
Nov. 04 - Kansas City, MO - The Midland
Nov. 05 - Wichita, KS - The Cotillion
Nov. 06 - Tulsa, OK - Cain's Ballroom
Nov. 08 - Oklahoma City, OK - Diamond Ballroom
Nov. 09 - Sauget, IL - Pop's Nightclub
Nov. 11 - Dallas, TX - Palladium Ballroom
Nov. 12 - San Antonio, TX - Backstage Live
Nov. 13 - Houston, TX - House Of Blues
Nov. 16 - West Hollywood, CA - House Of Blues
Nov. 17 - Las Vegas, NV - House Of Blues
Nov. 18 - Phoenix, AZ - The Foundry
Nov. 20 - Anaheim, CA - House Of Blues
Dec. 01 - San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore
TESLA released "Twisted Wires And The Acoustic Sessions" in Europe on July 25 via Scarlet Records. The CD, which wasreleased in North America on July 12, features six songs that were recorded back in 2005 at bassist Brian Wheat's J Street Recorders studio — which also serve as the last recordings with original member Tommy Skeoch — and six newly recorded tracks, including acoustic remakes of songs from TESLA's entire catalog and two brand new songs, "Second Street" and "Better Off Without You".

TESLA released a live album, "Alive In Europe!", in Europe on April 23, 2010 via Frontiers Records.

TESLA's latest studio album, "Forever More", sold more than 16,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 33 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD was released on October 7, 2008 on Tesla Electric Company Recordings. The European version of the album, which was made available on November 7 via Frontiers Records, contains two bonus tracks not found on the American version.

For "Forever More", TESLA reunited with producer Terry Thomas, who was behind the boards for the band's 1994 gold-certified "Bust A Nut" album, and engineered by Michael Rosen who worked with TESLA on "Into The Now".
"Heritage", the new album from Swedish progressive metallers OPETH, has registered the following first-week chart positions so far:

Denmark: #8
Norway: #8
Germany: #9
Netherlands: #10
Australia: #12
Austria: #16
U.K.: #22
France: #24
New Zealand: #26
Ireland: #34
Belgium: #87

"Heritage" is likely to sell between 15,000 and 18,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release, according to industry web site Hits Daily Double. The estimate was based on one-day sales reports compiled after the record arrived in stores on September 20 via Roadrunner Records.

OPETH's previous studio CD, 2008's "Watershed", opened with more than 19,000 units to land at No. 23 on The Billboard 200 chart.

"Watershed" was the follow-up to the band's acclaimed "Ghost Reveries" CD, which debuted at No. 64 on the Billboard chart back in September 2005 with first-week sales of just under 15,000. OPETH's 2003 album, "Damnation", opened with a little over 5,000 copies.

"Heritage" was produced by OPETH vocalist/guitarist Mikael Åkerfeldt and was recorded earlier this year at Atlantis studios (formerly Metronome studios) in Stockholm. Mixing duties were handled by Steven Wilson (PORCUPINE TREE) and Åkerfeldt. Longtime collaborator Travis Smith also worked with Åkerfeldt to create, design and execute the album's artwork, which can be seen below.

"Heritage" was released in several configurations that will certainly incite the interest of OPETH's legion of fans, known for their passion for collecting and collectibles. The album was made available as a standard version; as a special edition loaded with extras; as a box set exclusive to the Roadrunner and the band's own official Omerch webstore; and as a double LP.

OPETH's new video, "The Devil's Orchard", can be seen below. The clip was directed by the award-winning New York City-based photographer Phil Mucci, who previously helmed KORN's video for the song "Oildale".
ADLER'S APPETITE, the band led by former GUNS N' ROSES drummer Steven Adler, has entered NRG Recording in North Hollywood, California to begin recording some of its brand new material. The band spent yesterday (Monday, September 26) laying down what will likely turn out to be its new single. Adler tweeted at the end of the session, "What an amazing day. We finished our first song today. I'm soooo thrilled we [are] headed in the right direction."

ADLER'S APPETITE bassist Chip Z'Nuff (also of ENUFF Z'NUFF) told Gerry Gittelson of Patch in an interview that the band has inked a "massive deal" with an as-yet-undisclosed record company.

ADLER'S APPETITE in April recruited singer Patrick Stone (ACES 'N' EIGHTS) and guitarist Lonnie Paul following the departures of Rick Stitch and Alex Grossi.

Stitch announced in March that he was leaving ADLER'S APPETITE in order to concentrate on his Los Angeles-based original project LADYJACK.

Stitch's LADYJACK bandmate Robo (guitar), who was filling in for ADLER'S APPETITE guitarist Alex Grossi on the latter group's most recent European tour, will not be continuing with Adler's outfit.

Grossi recently left ADLER'S APPETITE in order to focus on his work with the resurrected QUIET RIOT.
The previously announced "3 Guitar Heroes" tour featuring Michael Schenker, Uli Jon Roth and Leslie West has been postponed until early 2012 due to West's recent partial leg amputation.

West's wife, Jennifer West-Weinstein, has released the following statement regarding the tour postponement:

"Michael Schenker, Uli Jon Roth and Leslie West have been forced to postpone the '3 Guitar Heroes' tour that was set to commence on October 6th in Norfolk, CT, due to insurmountable travel issues. When faced with securing a viable path for West's travel while still confined to a wheelchair, the search for a vehicle went on for months, and it has been called off. Last week, West was fitted with a prosthetic leg, but it will take months before he is able to live a normal life with the appendage, and there is no way to tour at this time without the security of the wheelchair he has been confined to post-amputation. Plans are moving forward to explore restaging this tour in the New Year."

West's leg was removed in late June just above the knee due to complications from diabetes. "I cried a couple fuckin' times," he told Billboard.com. "You still feel the nerves and stuff like that. I had to make a decision — lose my leg or lose my life. What are you gonna do? But I'll tell you, it's a good thing it wasn't one of my arms. Then I'd be really fucked."

West's manager Bob Ringe was the mastermind behind the "3 Guitar Heroes" tour, and there are some very special surprises for this excursion. Following sets by each artist, the evening will climax with a jam of these highly influential artists on stage together, with special guests earmarked to join them in most markets, including Dean Guitars CEO, Elliott "Dean" Rubinson, who will be the tour bassist for both Schenker and Roth.
Peter Hodgson of the I Heart Guitar Blog recently conducted an interview with guitarist/vocalist Robb Flynn of San Francisco Bay Area metallers MACHINE HEAD. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

I Heart Guitar Blog: I really dig the classical guitar influence on the new album. I understand you actually took classical lessons?

Flynn: I did. I actually took classical guitar in high school. It was an elective I had to take and I mainly just smoked a lot of weed and played BLACK SABBATH songs. [Laughs] I got a C minus, which isn't a very good grade. It's below average. I guess I showed that teacher, huh? [Laughs] But it really got my mind into that mindset of playing it, and once I really started playing I always leaned towards classical players. Like, I always liked Ritchie Blackmore, and Randy Rhoads in particular was a massive influence. Randy Rhoads on the first two Ozzy albums brought a lot of classical vibes and that was a huge influence. So between that and Jimi Hendrix, BLACK SABBATH, those were pretty much my main masters.

I Heart Guitar Blog: And it's a cool thing that classical-style pedal tones work so well with metal lead guitar.

Flynn: Yeah. It really works well in metal. When we went in to do the record it wasn't like "Oh, let's write some classical stuff." But the first things that I wrote were these classical bits and I was digging it and I started writing riffs around it and I was like, "Hey, this is pretty cool." And I knew, I could tell that I was just doing it wrong. So I thought that before I started getting into some bad habits I should really try to break them early.

I Heart Guitar Blog: I really dig "I Am Hell". It's such a huge opener and there's so much going on.

Flynn: Ah, let's see. We actually attempted writing in November of 2009 and nothing much came out of it. The actual beginning of "I Am Hell" came out of it, but it was more just a symbolic moment for us, like, "Wow, we're really moving on from 'The Blackening'." I wrote the end outro riff while I was in Norway, the tremolo picking (sings riff), again geeking out on classical. And then for a while that song just kinda hung around with those two parts connected with nothing in the middle. That intro had been on a few different versions and I had written that guitar melody probably around the same time as I'd written the very beginning, and I had always heard it as this a capella thing with all these layers and all these different vocals, and I thought, "Man, if I can ever get a goddamn song around this it's gonna be really cool!" But for about a year, a good year, it didn't materialize. I just kept those riffs because I liked them and they were really cool, but I didn't have anything else to go around it. We rarely played it at practice. At one point it was actually the beginning to "Who We Are". Then about three weeks before we went in to record the album I was demoing a bunch of songs because I was going to play stuff for the label back in New York, and the Pro Tools rig went down and I was like, "Fuck!' I was super-pissed. So I sat there and I was like, 'Y'know what? I'm just going to play guitar and see if I can write." So I started messing around with ideas, and I stumbled on that trash riff, and then I thought, "Maybe if I take that end part and use it as a chorus…" And just the whole thing, in 45 minutes I wrote the rest of the song. I brought it to the dudes and they were like, "Holy shit!"

I Heart Guitar Blog: Another song I really want to talk about is "This Is The End". Good lord, what's going on there!?!

Flynn: [Laughs] Well that was the first song that was written for the record, actually. I wrote the riff, the main chorus riff, in Auckland, New Zealand on the SLIPKNOT tour. That's the first riff I remember writing for the record, and I wasn't sure if I was going to bring it to MACHINE HEAD at that point. And then the classical bits happened and then the other stuff happened. The thing that was really cool about it was that especially because that was the first song written for the record, it just set the bar so high, right off the bat. It was like, "Wow, man, this is a hard fuckin' song to play." I mean, we could have sat there and been like, "We're the fuckin' dudes who wrote 'The Blackening'. Everyone can suck it." But we went in and we came up with that song right off the bat. It was a pretty humbling experience, like, "Jesus Christ, man, we've got to fuckin' step up our game here. This is really some fuckin' tough shit to play!" It was a really positive mind frame to write from, this very vulnerable place to write from, to try to better ourselves and constantly push ourselves to be better and tighten up our playing and improve ourselves. That was a big motivator for this record, to push ourselves and challenge ourselves as we were writing the riffs and the arrangements.

I Heart Guitar Blog: And whatever the hell Dave McClain is doing in the chorus, you don't hear drums like that in metal.

Flynn: Yeah, McClain's definitely channeling his inner Keith Moon, for sure. It's just that chaotic anything-goes thing that I love, y'know? He adds this chaotic vibe. Granted, we're not playing rock music like THE WHO, but if you apply that same theory to metal it really just makes it more random, and that's what I like about it. We're really bummed out by a lot of metal bands right now. Every band plays to a click track, every tempo is the same, they snap all the drums to a Pro Tools gig, they record the guitar parts and fly them all in. And it just all sounds perfect, and everything is perfect. Every roll is perfect, every hit is perfect, everything is just perfect. And that sounds like shit to us. Because to us, part of the charm, and maybe this comes from our punk rock roots or our hardcore roots, but there's something about when it isn't perfect and it's feeling like it's about to run off the tracks and the drums are speeding up and the vocals are starting to crack and you're just getting that fucking chaotic energy — that is what sounds perfect to us.
Extreme metal titans ARCH ENEMY have announced that their show in Cologne on December 13 will be filmed for a future DVD release. ARCH ENEMY will be supported by Century Media labelmates WARBRINGER and Taiwan's premiere metal act CHTHONIC.

Commented ARCH ENEMY singer Angela Gossow: "2011 is my 10-year anniversary with ARCH ENEMY. I want to celebrate this with a very special event — we will film my hometown show in Cologne, Essigfabrik, Germany 13 December 2011 for our upcoming 'World Khaos Tour' DVD release! We aim to capture the live insanity of my fellow German metalheads as intensely as possible with cameras in the middle of the moshpit, in the front row, over, under, left, right and center. We want your blood, your sweat, your passion and get every last drop of it on celluloid! The awesome Filmefahrer Pictures team will make this an unforgettable shooting — so be there and become immortalized!!!"

"Khaos Legions", the ninth studio album from ARCH ENEMY, sold around 6,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to enter The Billboard 200 chart at position No. 78.

ARCH ENEMY's previous full-length studio CD of new material, "Rise Of The Tyrant", debuted at position No. 84 in October 2007 with first-week U.S. sales of around 8,900 — approximately 25 percent less than the opening number (12,000) of its predecessor, 2005's "Doomsday Machine" (which landed at No. 87).

"Khaos Legions" was released in Europe on May 30 and in the U.S. on June 7 via Century Media Records. The CD marks the band's return to new, original material, after the release of the "Tyrants Of The Rising Sun - Live In Japan" live DVD/CD (2008) and the re-recordings album, "The Root Of All Evil" (2009). The effort was tracked at Sweet Spot Studio in the south of Sweden with engineer Rickard Bengtsson (who produced 2005's "Doomsday Machine").

The "Khaos Legions" artwork comes courtesy of renowned artist Brent Elliott White (MEGADETH, DEATH ANGEL).
 
Finnish/Swedish symphonic metallers NIGHTWISH recently spent time not only putting finishing touches to their new album, "Imaginaerum", but also planning a movie of the same name.

"Imaginaerum" is one of the projects which recently received grants from the Finnish government institution called the Finnish Film Foundation. The movie, directed by Stobe Harju, about an old man on his deathbed who glimpses a childhood dream in which he refuses to grow old, and fights aging with his imagination, will get $575,000 toward its $3.7 million budget.

During a September 8 interview with Petri Silas of Finland's Soundi magazine, NIGHTWISH mainman/keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen revealed that all the filming for the "Imaginaerum" movie will be done in Canada with mostly Canadian actors/actresses. Post-production will take place in Canada and Finland. He aso revealed the names of the actors who have two of the main roles in the film: Marianne Farley and Quinn Lord.

Stobe Harju has issued the following update on the "Imaginaerum" film:

"Two weeks have passed since the first day of shooting. It has been a triumph so far. Even as the band sat down to look at some raw pre-edited scenes, their faces couldn't lie. They were very happy with what they saw.

"Many of you must be dying for information and images from the set. We can't pour all that out since we really believe that some of the reveals would spoil the show. However, if you've read the previous update you know some of the character names already, which of at least Tom and Ann sound familiar to a many. And they should sound familiar.

"As I started to write 'Imaginaerum' screenplay, I planted one single parameter above everything else: This is a NIGHTWISH film, no matter how fictional story about the band it would be. I didn't just wanted to use the band's name but also, to come up with character names resembling NIGHTWISH members' names. The band in Imaginaerum became Ann, Tom, Marcus, Emil and Jack. I know, not very clever when it comes to molding names. Yet, I wanted the audience to feel the presence of NIGHTWISH and to me the convergence had to be clear. I had endless battles trying to convince people that using names similar to Anette, Tuomas, Marco, Emppu and Jukka was a perfect bridge between NIGHTWISH in reality and NIGHTWISH in a fantasy world. The band didn't agree with me originally. It became my decision and my responsibility I am proud of. That said, if someone ever thinks this might be an ego thing for the band, think again. It's my decision completely, and that's how I intend to keep it.

"These first two weeks have been a blast. So many great people have bled together with us pouring their fantastic creativity into the project. We have a fantastic art director and her team. Our director of photography couldn't be more dedicated to his line of work or his visuality. Our make-up and wardrobe departments have made magic in a short period of time. And the cast... wow! The whole crew is filled with professionals I could've only dreamt of when starting the project. And, our producers are the kind who really understand the drama, art and the story while keeping our budget safe and sound. I must be the luckiest director in the world. What more can I say.

"What strikes me the most, is the fact that this project is not only titled as 'the trip to one's imagination,' but it is exactly that on every aspect of the game with all the beloved people involved."

Several photos from the "Imaginaerum" movie shoot can be found at this location. A couple of the pictures are also available below.

The "Imaginaerum" album will be released in the U.S. on Tuesday, January 10, 2012 via Roadrunner Records; in Finland on Wednesday, November 30 and the rest of Europe on Friday, December 2 via Nuclear Blast Records.

NIGHTWISH's new single, "Storytime", will be released on Friday, November 11 via Nuclear Blast Records.

NIGHTWISH will kick off the "Imaginaerum" world tour in Los Angeles. The very first show of the trek will take place at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City, California on Saturday, January 21. This will be the biggest NIGHTWISH show production ever on North American soil and strictly a one-off — there will be no U.S. tour until later in 2012.
Swedish power metallers DRAGONLAND have set "Under The Grey Banner" as the title of their new album. The third part of the "Dragonland Chronicles" trilogy will be released on November 18 via AFM Records. Musical actor Fred Johanson will play the role of the antagonist, with all three singers from AMARANTHEElize Ryd, Jake E and Andy Solveström — also set to make appearances.

The visual artist from million-selling PC game "The Witcher", Damian Bajowski, will provide artwork for the album; not only will he be responsible for the cover, but will also make illustrations for the various locations in the saga.

Commented guitarist Olof Mörck: "To say I am excited about this album is a grave understatement!

"We were more than thrilled when both Damian Bajwoski and Fred Johanson accepted to contribute to this album. To have the album fully illustrated with majestic scenes and vistas from the story, and to have such a powerful and convincing voice in the role of the antagonist will lend a lot of credibility and depth to the final project! Our singer friends from AMARANTHE also appear in minor roles, further developing the universe the story is set in.

"We really feel that our ambition to give our fantasy story a touch of depth, credibility and maturity paid off well! Lending influences from classical mythology, the best fantasy movies, video games and books, we feel that fans of the style who normally finds fantasy power metal to be too over the top and ridiculous could wholeheartedly enjoy this. We also have some further surprises for you before the actual album release, to keep your eyes open and your senses wary!"

DRAGONLAND recently parted ways with guitarist Nicklas Magnusson and bassist Christer Pedersen. Taking over bass duties is Anders Hammer (NIGHTRAGE) and sitting behind the drums is Morten Lowe Sorensen (THE ARCANE ORDER, SUBMISSION, AMARANTHE). Previous drummer Jesse Lindskog will handle second-guitar duties in the future.

DRAGONLAND 2011 is:

Vocals: Jonas Hedigert
Guitars: Olof Mörck
Keyboards: Elias Holmlid
Guitars: Jesse Lindskog
Bass: Anders Hammer
Drums: Morten Lowe Sorensen

DRAGONLAND's fifth album was recorded at several different studios, with Jacob Hansen adding his magic touch to the mix at Hansen studios in Ribe, Denmark. Twelve songs were recorded during the sessions, and the music itself is based on a deep and emotional story, picking up where the band's second album, "Holy War", left off nine years ago. The effort also includes a guest appearance by the legendary musical stage actor Fred Johanson.

Songtitles set to appear on the new album include "The Tempest", "A Stranger I Know", "The Shadow Of The Mithril Mountains" and "A Thousand Towers White".

DRAGONLAND's fourth album, "Astronomy", was released in November 2006 via Century Media Records.
 
Belgian neoclassical power metal/hard rock band IRON MASK, which is fronted by Mark Boals (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, ROYAL HUNT), has signed a deal with AFM Records. The group's new album, "Black As Death", will be released in December.

Led by guitarist/mastermind Dushan Petrossi, IRON MASK has previously released three successful albums.

Commented Petrossi: "Almost 10 years ago IRON MASK was founded as my second band, beside MAGIC KINGDOM. But by time it became more and more the focus of my work, and also IRON MASK became the more successful of the two bands. I feel really pushed to release our new album, 'Black As Death', with AFM Records, which is a huge step forward for us in terms of promotion and distribution."
The "Intermission" single by Norwegian metallers PAGAN'S MIND, which was exclusively distributed via the June 2011 issue of Sweden Rock Magazine, was certified gold in Sweden by the International Federation Of The Phonographic Industry for sales in excess of 10,000 copies. (Note: Each copy of the magazine containing the CD sold in Sweden was counted towards the certification; the single itself was **not** sold separately.)

PAGAN'S MIND was presented with a Swedish gold award by Dag Ingebrigsten, the original singer of TNT, in front of a packed house at the band's concert in Trondheim. Check out a photo below.

PAGAN'S MIND has just released a new digital single, "Walk Away In Silence". The track listing is as follows:

01. Walk Away In Silence (5:08)
02. Intermission (5:41)
03. Crazy Nights (4:13) (LOUDNESS cover version)

"Heavenly Ecstasy", the sixth album from the PAGAN'S MIND, entered the official chart in the group's home country at position No. 10 (international artists) and No. 2 (Norwegian artists).

"Heavenly Ecstasy" was released on May 20 in Germany, May 23 in the rest of Europe and on May 31 in USA/Canada via SPV/Steamhammer. The follow-up to 2007's "God's Equation" was mixed last fall by Stefan Glaumann at Toytown Studios (RAMMSTEIN, MADONNA, WITHIN TEMPTATION) in Stockholm, Sweden. The effort was made available in four configurations: A limited-edition digipak with two bonus tracks, 28-page booklet and poster; a double gatefold LP with two bonus tracks on orange-colored vinyl; as a standard jewel case; and as a digital download.
Roadburn Festival has announced that CORONER will be bringing its amazingly tight brand of technical thrash metal to the 2012 Afterburner, set for Sunday, April 15 at the 013 venue in Tilburg, Holland.

Roadburn Festival 2012, including VOIVOD's curated event, SLEEP, OM, D.USK, VIRUS, THE OBSESSED, HEXVESSEL, 40 WATT SUN and SÓLSTAFIR, among others, will run for four days from Thursday, April 12 to Sunday, April 15, 2012 (the traditional Afterburner event) at the 013 venue in Tilburg, Holland.

VOIVOD named their curated event at Roadburn Festival 2012, Au-delà du Réel, after the band's favorite sci-fi show, "The Outer Limits", when it was broadcast in French during the '70s. As curator, VOIVOD will personally select the bands that will play during Au-delà du Réel, set for Friday, April 13 at the 013 venue in Tilburg, Holland.

VOIVOD's excited to announce that Sweden's ANEKDOTEN has been confirmed for Au-delà du Réel. ANEKDOTEN ranks amongst the very best prog-bands to emerge from Scandinavia since the early '90s. Firmly rooted in KING CRIMSON-inspired, Mellotron-drenched prog/art-rock (with hints of PINK FLOYD and JETHRO TULL as well), the band has released several acclaimed albums that garnered them a devoted cult-following over the years.

Please visit www.roadburn.com for more information.
Singer, songwriter and pet enthusiast Bret Michaels is introducing a line of pet products to be available exclusively at PetSmart. The Bret Michaels Pets Rock collection will launch in summer 2012 and be available in the more than 1,197 PetSmart stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico and online at PetSmart.com. This product line follows the 2010 launch of other exclusive, innovative brands by PetSmart, including Martha Stewart Pets and GNC Pets.

"Our pet parents have told us they want unique, high-quality products for their pets that are also fun and reflective of their personalities," said Matt McAdam, vice president of merchandising for PetSmart. "Adding the Bret Michaels Pets Rock collection to PetSmart stores enables us to continue to meet our pet parents' needs with a 'cool' line of products from an entertainer with a demonstrated passion for our four-legged family members."

Consumers saw another side of Bret Michaels in his recent reality television show as well as his partnership with the American Diabetes Association, through which he gave funds and raised awareness of the disease with which he has had a lifelong battle as an insulin-dependent diabetic. Through his two reality television series, viewers also got a firsthand look at Bret Michaels' commitment to his family, including his two daughters and two dogs.

"As a musician who loves animals, I'm thrilled to be collaborating with PetSmart to create the Bret Michaels Pets Rock collection," said Michaels. "As a dedicated pet owner myself, this is a natural partnership for me, and I can't wait to unveil the collection. I know my own pets rock, and I wanted to design a line of pet products every bit as fun and cool as they are."

For more information on the Bret Michaels Pets Rock collection, go to this location.
Candlelight Records has announced the worldwide signing of thrashers RUMPELSTILTSKIN GRINDER. The Philadelphia-based band is already working on its new album, titled "Ghostmaker", expected for release early spring 2012. The four-piece tested some of their new material via a string of regional shows this past weekend and expect to tour in support of the album once released.

Comments guitarist Ryan Moll: "We are psyched to be on Candlelight.

"Right now we are in the studio working on our third and most intense release to date. This album promises to be the fastest, darkest, most relentless and insane album yet. It will contain some of the most bone-crushing, graveyard stomping, Frankenstein/Dracula/Wolfman hate-fuck riffage written thus far."

Adds guitarist Matt Moore: "Our wretched new masterpiece will be finished soon enough. Each song has its own distinct and strange aura of speed, darkness, brute strength, violence, cunning, and power. Like any respectable band, we have raised the bar and taken on musical and lyrical concepts that would drive commoners insane. Faster. Louder. Darker. Crazier."

Formed in 2002, RUMPELSTILTSKIN GRINDER dropped several underground releases, including a split seven-inch single and a live album, before signing with Relapse for its studio debut, "Buried In The Front Yard", released October 2005. The band would keep busy with additional split recordings, "Speed N Spikes Vol. II" (2008) and "Urine Trouble" / "Nothing Defeats the Skull" (2008) before getting back in to the studio for their second full-length, "Living For Death"; "Destroying The Rest" also released by Relapse January 2009. The band supported ABSU for a 22-date U.S./Canadian tour in April 2009, a tour with DECEASED in 2010, and has been performing regionally since.

RUMPELSTILTSKIN GRINDER currently features guitarist/vocalist Matt Moore, bassist/vocalist Shawn Riley, drummer Pat Battaglia, and guitarist Ryan Moll.
Roadrunner Records has announced the signing of Southern California's AT THE SKYLINES. With a new home at Roadrunner, the six-piece, which features a potent dual guitar and dual vocal attack, has settled into the process of writing its debut album. The band is recording in Sweden with Fredrik Nordström, whose resume is filled with names like AT THE GATES, BRING ME THE HORIZON, IN FLAMES and DIMMU BORGIR. The band will also spend November on tour as part of the "To Write Love On Her Arms Presents: The Children Of Fire Tour" featuring OH, SLEEPER, GREELEY ESTATES, TEN AFTER TWO and SECRETS.

AT THE SKYLINES, featuring vocalists Chris Shelley and Mark Barela, guitarists Shawn Yates and Billy Barber, bassist Tim Trad and drummer David Angle, formed in 2009, quickly establishing a clear sound and vision. The individual members had been honing their skills for years, as some began playing in their early teens and have ventured into playing many diverse styles over the years. Yates, who serves as the primary writer of music in the band, comes from a background in classical music and jazz. His diverse history informs not only the music he writes for AT THE SKYLINES, but also the programming elements that he brings to each song. Additionally, the band boasts not one, but two frontmen in the form of Shelley and Barela. Their vocal styles blend effortlessly, allowing AT THE SKYLINES to throw an even bigger sonic punch with their songs.

Barela commented on signing to Roadrunner, saying, "I am thrilled to see all that is to come from our relationship with Roadrunner Records. The opportunity to work with Fredrik Nordström on our first album is simply a dream come true!" Yates further elaborated, saying, "Fredrik is someone that I have looked up to my entire life when it comes to music. From the bands he has produced to the bands he has played in, he is flawless. I am still taken back by the opportunity that we have been given in working with him on our upcoming album."

Roadrunner A&R rep Andy Serrao commented, "We are really excited to have AT THE SKYLINES part of the Roadrunner family. In a short time the band has exploded into the heavy music scene and has won over fans with their great live show and infectious songs. We couldn't be more excited to have them teamed up with producer Fredrik for their debut record, the end result will no doubt be one of the most crushing records of 2012."
According to The Pulse Of Radio, CHEVELLE will make a return to the scene before the year closes out, with the band announcing via Facebook that a new album will arrive on December 6, with a single set to hit radio on October 10. The band posted a statement which read, "Hey everybody. 'Face To The Floor' will officially be our first single, and it will be released October 10th to radio. We are also releasing the record on December 6th and we are looking forward to finally playing some new music on tour. We are working on a video concept right now and we will hopefully have it finished in a few weeks."

The post did not indicate a title for the record, which will follow up 2009's "Sci-Fi Crimes".

Drummer Sam Loeffler also hinted at a collaboration with a female vocalist for one song on the album, but did not say that was happening for sure.

The trio will also have a song on the soundtrack of "Underworld Awakening", the upcoming fourth film in the vampire/werewolf series, which arrives in January.

CHEVELLE will head out on the road with BUSH and FILTER starting on Tuesday (September 27) in San Diego, wrapping up one month later on October 28 in San Antonio.
The reactivated original lineup of SPINESHANK — featuring Jonny Santos (vocals), Tommy Decker (drums), Mike Sarkisyan (guitar) and Rob Garcia (bass) — will release its fourth album, "Anger Denial Acceptance", next year through an as-yet-undetermined record label. Produced by Sarkisyan and Decker and mixed by Mike Plotnikoff (PAPA ROACH, BUCKCHERRY), the CD promises to surpass everyone's expectation of what SPINESHANK is capable of.

"The songs on this record are more personal than anything we've ever done, and I think it shows when we play them live," states Decker. "This is our most varied and challenging record yet, and I can't wait to get out there and bring these new songs to life."

"We're not interested in living in the past, we want to push forward," adds Sarkisyan. "We just finished the best record of our careers and we're really excited to get it out there."

In a recent interview with FrontRowRock.com, Decker stated about "Anger Denial Acceptance", "It's three of the stages of grieving, rearranged a bit. I think it's something a lot of people can relate to; things ending, relationships, people. Members of this band have been through a lot in the last few years and it all came out in this record. This is the most personal record we've ever done. Everything you hear is real. The pain, anger and sadness come from a real place. It was not a fun record to make."

When asked about the recording process for the new CD, Decker said, "The recording process was a lot different this time. It was the first record where we didn't have an outside producer come in, we did it completely on our own. We also did it in different sessions. We'd write three or four songs and then go record them. Write three or four more and record them in a different studio. We actually took our Pro Tools rig to a cabin in Big Bear and did a lot of the vocals there. We were totally isolated from the outside world; we were able to fully focus and concentrate on the songs. It was a really cool way to record."

SPINESHANK will be coming to a town near you on its headlining run beginning on September 29.

For a list of dates, visit the band's Facebook page.

SPINESHANK's third and last album, "Self-Destructive Pattern", was released on September 9, 2003. The album's lead single, "Smothered", was nominated for a Grammy in the category of "Best Metal Performance".

Following his departure from SPINESHANK, Santos formed SILENT CIVILIAN, which released its debut album, "Rebirth of the Temple", in May 2006. A follow-up effort, "Ghost Stories", came out in May 2010 via Mediaskare/Century Media.
 
DYING FETUS, HAIL OF BULLETS, WACO JESUS, SUFFOCATION and LOCK UP are among the artists who are featured on the "Death Feast Open Air 2010" DVD. The set, which has a running time of almost two hours, was filmed and recorded during last year's edition of the Death Feast Open Air festival on June 10-12, 2010 in Hünxe, Germany. As an extra bonus, the DVD includes a 30-minute special from Death Feast Open Air 2011.

You can pre-order the "Death Feast Open Air 2010" DVD for 15 euros (plus shipping and handling) at the Death Feast Open Air shop. Delivery starts November 1.
 
Drummer Paul Beltman of Dutch brutal death metallers SUPREME PAIN has been forced to leave the band after recently suffering an injury. The remaining members of the group are currently seeking a replacement. Interested parties can contact the band via supremepain@gmail.com.

SUPREME PAIN's third album, "Divine Incarnation", was released in May via Massacre Records. The CD was recorded at Soundlodge Studios in Leer, Germany with producer Jörg Uken. According to the group, the album contains "nine blasting death metal tracks with an evil and twisted atmosphere."

The band's second full-length CD, "Nemesis Enforcer", came out last year via Metal Age Productions from Slovakia.
Austrian "modern melodic death metallers" LOST DREAMS will release their fifth album, "Blinded By Rage", on November 4 via Twilight Zone Records.

A trailer for the CD can be seen below.

"Blinded By Rage" track listing:

01. Hide And Seek
02. The Painted Man (feat. Paul Speckmann)
03. Demons Call My Name
04. Secrets
05. Black Rain
06. Living In A Mass (re-recording of song from band's 2005 album)
07. Black Sheep
08. Loco-Motive
09. Out Of Control
10. Darkness Falls
11. Dust To Dust
12. Nerve (SOILWORK cover)

The "Blinded By Rage" cover artwork can be viewed below.

LOST DREAMS's fourth album, "Wage Of Disgrace", was released in January 2010 via Twilight Zone Records. The CD was previoulsy described by guitarist Andreas Maierhofer as "faster and more aggressive than the previous albums, [featuring] a modern mixture of melody, groove and high-speed songs, peppered with deep growls, aggressive screams and catchy vocal lines of our new singer Stefan 'Schleifi' Traunig."

LOST DREAMS is:

Stefan "Schleifi" Traunig - Vocals
Andreas Maierhofer - Guitar
Herbert Sopracolle - Guitar
Dominik Hormann - Bass
Rafael Peychär - Drums
 
 

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