Posted: March 13, 2010 at 16:48 (PST)

JOB FOR A COWBOY have been added to the roster at this year's Wacken Open Air festival, scheduled to take place August 5-7, 2010 in Wacken, Germany.

All the confirmed bands thus far are: 1349, ALICE COOPER, AMORPHIS, ARCH ENEMY, ASTRAL DOORS, ATROCITY, BROILERS, CALIBAN, CANDLEMASS, CANNIBAL CORPSE, CORVUS CORAX, CRUCIFIED BARBARA, DEAD MEANS NOTHING, DEBAUCHERY, DEGRADEAD, DELAIN, DESPISED ICON, DIE APOKALYPTISCHEN REITER, DIE KASSIERER, EDGUY, END OF GREEN, ENDSTILLE, EQUILIBRIUM, ETERNAL LEGACY, EVILE, FEAR FACTORY, FIDDLER'S GREEN, GHOST BRIGADE, GOJIRA, GRAVE DIGGER, HACKNEYED, HANGGAI, HELLS BELLES, HOLY GRAIL, IHSAHN, ILL NINO, IMPERIUM DEKADENZ, IMMORTAL, IMPERIUM DEKADENZ, IRON MAIDEN, JOB FOR A COWBOY, KAMPFAR, KATAKLYSM, LAKE OF TEARS, LETZTE INSTANZ, MAROON, METSATÖLL, MÖTLEY CRÜE, NIGHTMARE, ORDEN OGAN, ORPHANED LAND, OVERKILL, PRIMAL FEAR, RAVEN, SCHELMISH, SECRETS OF THE MOON, SKINNERS, SLAYER, SMOKE BLOW, SOLSTAFIR, STRATOVARIUS, SUICIDAL ANGELS, TARJA TURUNEN , THE DEVIL'S BLOOD, THE NEW BLACK, THE OTHER, TIAMAT, TÝR, U.D.O., UNLEASHED, VARG, VOIVOD and W.A.S.P.

Posted: March 13, 2010 at 16:46 (PST)

Ronnie James Dio's (DIO, HEAVEN & HELL, ex-BLACK SABBATH) wife Wendy has provided this latest update on the veteran Metal vocalist's current health:

"Well, now it has been Ronnie's seventh chemo, another cat scan and another endoscopy, and the results are good - the main tumor has shrunk considerably, and our visits to Houston are now every three weeks instead of every two weeks.

Ronnie and Vinny went down to the studio to have a listen and see how the DVD is coming along, NOT to overdub anything as presumed by (various online) rants. I was very annoyed to read these comments. Ronnie is a singer and does not need to overdub a live show, and he would never cheat his fans by overdubbing a live DVD. I will not be showing these comments to Ronnie, as I know they would hurt and upset him as they did me. He has been going to the rehearsal studio to sing, not the recording studio!

Ronnie's cousin Rock (from THE RODS, who used to be in ELF with him) flew in from New York to visit Ronnie for a week and they enjoyed spending some time together, going to the movies and taking walks, and Ronnie and Rock went to the studio to master Rock's new album, which Ronnie sings a track on. And Craig Goldy will be coming over to start writing new songs with Ronnie next week. It will be great to see him again, as he has been away touring with the British band BUDGIE.

That's all I can think of right now until the next update. God bless you all and we are still reading all the wonderful cards and letters.

Many, many thanks."

Posted: March 13, 2010 at 16:39 (PST)

Dutch death metallers HAIL OF BULLETS have checked in with this message:

"So we are almost finished with the sessions for the new HAIL OF BULLETS studio album. We've been pretty busy these past few months, especially Ed (Warby - drums) who was and still is working his ass off handling all recording and editing chores. But we're not too far removed from finishing all the work! Martin will do vocals in a few weeks at Excess Studios where we also recorded the drums last month. Everything else was recorded at Ed's home studio, the aptly named Warbunker. Mixing and mastering will once again be in the capable hands of mister Dan Swanö, crushing heaviness guaranteed!"

Posted: March 13, 2010 at 16:37 (PST)

Finland's TO/DIE/FOR have checked in with this bulletin:

"All songs for the TO/DIE/FOR's sixth album are composed. Songs are only waiting to be recorded.

There is also gonna be a couple of songs which Jape (vocals) and Tonmi (Lillman; drums) did together in early '90s with their band called MARY-ANN.

The 'Angelica' song, which is on TO/DIE/FOR's 'Epilogue From The Past' best of album will be fixed too. More low guitars and more 'balls' are gonna be there.

Some songs are named but we have no name for the album yet.

If the idea which we created lately will work (about how to handle money/labels, studio costs etc.) we can record the whole album in June/July I guess. But next days will tell us a lot so let's just fucking wait.

Before that, Jape von Crow will have studio session with SUNDOWN SINDROME in Germany between April 28 to May 8. SUNDOWN SINDROME's first album will be released also in 2010.

The rest of year 2010 is gonna be busy!"

Posted: March 12, 2010 at 15:25 (PST)

METALEATER has received this direct statement from W.A.S.P. mainman Blackie Lawless regarding the cancellation of last night’s W.A.S.P. show at the Gramercy Theater in New York City:

"An unfortunate incident arose this evening at The Gramercy Theater in NYC that we need to let you know about. It prevented W.A.S.P. from performing this show, and caused us to disappoint many of our NY fans and friends. About 50 VIP tickets were sold to about 50 different fans for $50.00 apiece, twice the normal ticket price for this show. It turned out that part of that VIP ticket price included a meet and greet with W.A.S.P. These tickets were sold to these 50 or so fans without W.A.S.P. having any knowledge of this, let alone agreeing to this. Upon learning of this late in the afternoon of the show day, W.A.S.P. insisted that the promoter of this venue, who sold these VIP tickets to these fans, return the V.I.P. portion of those tickets back to the fans. This meant that the promoter would have had to give each of those VIP ticket holders a refund of $25.00 of each ticket. W.A.S.P. demanded that this $25.00 be returned to each of these ticket holders in cash prior to the meet and greet, which W.A.S.P was still going to do. The promoter refused. W.A.S.P. then informed the promoter unless these monies were refunded to these fans, in cash, that the band would not perform the show. Again, the promoter refused and W.A.S.P. canceled the show.

We are saddened that it had to result in the cancellation of our performance for this evening, but we believe this unfortunate situation amounts to nothing more than our fans being ripped off. We have never changed a fan for an autograph and WILL NEVER charge any fans for an autograph.

To all the fans that came to the show and were turned away, please accept our sincerest apologies. W.A.S.P. CANNOT and WILL NOT ever stand by and watch or be involved in their fans being ripped off... EVER."

Posted: March 12, 2010 at 14:26 (PST)

FLOTSAM AND JETSAM drummer Craig Nielsen has checked in with this bulletin:

"The band wanted to wait until it was for sure, and now that it is, we would like to announce that original guitarist Michael Gilbert has rejoined the band after Ed Carlson has officially decided to no longer tour or record.

There was absolutely zero bad blood in this development. Ed Carlson is a brother to all of us and his unique musical genius will be deeply missed.

Michael is 100% in it. His playing is on fire as is his spirit for the band that he was so important in putting on the scene. He will be joining the band on the upcoming European tour, starting April 1 in Holland.

As for the very delayed record, 'The Cold', it has been confirmed and reconfirmed that the mix and final mastering will finally happen this month. The tracking has been complete for some time now and because of a series of unfortunate but unavoidable delays, this record will have a release date decided on this month.

Finally, the band has just confirmed a headline show at The Galaxy Theater in Orange County, CA on Saturday, May 1. The last show the band played there was the California Metalfest with TESTAMENT. That was a GREAT show.

Come down and see us with the O.G. Mike Gilbert!!"

Posted: March 12, 2010 at 14:23 (PST)

Holland's DELAIN have checked in with this announcement:

"We would like to introduce to you with pride our new full-time DELAIN member, Otto 'the baron' Schimmelpenninck van der Oije (DETONATION), who will replace Rob (van der Loo) on the bass. We are very happy to welcome Otto to the DELAIN family. Starting from our upcoming UK tour, he will join DELAIN live on stage. We will update our member profiles soon. Until then, you can get to know Otto by visiting his MySpace page.

We would like to thank Rob for his years of dedication, musical craftsmanship and the good times we had throughout the years. Rob's official last show with DELAIN will be at the Mezz in Breda (April 8, 2010), we'll make this show one hell of a party in his honour!"

Posted: March 12, 2010 at 14:21 (PST)

ARCH ENEMY vocalist Angela Gossow has posted the third and final installment of her Vans.com tour blog, as the band closes the book on their most successful North American tour ever, the "Tyrants Of Evil" tour with EXODUS, MUTINY WITHIN and ARSIS, which wrapped up on February 9, 2010.

Posted: March 12, 2010 at 11:31 (PST)

Metal Blade has sent METALEATER this press release:

Forerunners in the Heavy Metal scene since its humble beginnings in the early eighties, Metal Blade Records is once again spreading the word of Heavy Metal to the world now through the label's brand new site, Metal Blade TV. Metal Blade TV will be a place for metalheads to go and see video interviews and segments from some of their favorite Metal Blade artists in addition to other notable Metal musicians and bands. Metal Blade is doing this because the label is not only about exposing its own bands to the Metal community, but also bringing attention to the talents of all Metal musicians out there on the scene working hard to give you music to bang your heads and pump your fists to.

Chairman and CEO of Metal Blade Records, Brian Slagel comments: "We are very excited about the launch of our own TV channel, Metal Blade TV! We are going to bring you not only content from Metal Blade artists, but from the entire world of Heavy Metal. We want to take you behind the scenes and see all the bands in a different way. Also there will be a lot of rare live video clips too! We really hope you enjoy this new venture from Metal Blade Records!"

As Brian Slagel stated above, Metal Blade TV will also host rare video clips from his illustrious collection that spans 30 years of Heavy Metal shows. There are sure to be some very interesting and never seen footage so be sure to stay tuned to Metal Blade TV to catch of glimpse of Heavy Metal history.

New videos to coincide with the launch of Metal Blade TV include:

- Cooking with John Bush and Joey Vera of ARMORED SAINT: Part 1
- PRIMORDIAL "All Empires Fall" Full Trailer in HD
- LAZARUS A.D. "Revolution" Live @ Loudpark Japan
- Phil Sgrosso of AS I LAY DYING takes on a tour of the not so Metal instruments of the NAMM convention

Posted: March 12, 2010 at 11:24 (PST)

Swedish Viking Death Metal horde UNLEASHED have uploaded the title track for their upcoming release "As Yggdrasil Trembles" [cover] on their MySpace page. The new album continues on the same unstoppable path that was forged by their previous two releases "Midvinterblot" and "Hammer Battalion", with infectious pagan themed Death Metal and the amazing lead work of Fredrik Folkare, while also freshly adding a few Black Metal flourishes here and there.

"As Yggdrasil Trembles" will be released on March 19 (Europe) and April 6 (North America). Here is the complete track listing:

01. Courage Today, Victory Tomorrow!
02. So It Begins
03. As Yggdrasil Trembles
04. Wir Kapitulieren Niemals
05. This Time We Fight
06. Master Of The Ancient Art
07. Chief Einherjar
08. Return Fire
09. Far Beyond Hell
10. Dead To Me
11. Yahweh And The Chosen Ones
12. Cannibalistic Epidemic Continues
13. Evil Dead (DEATH cover) (bonus track)

Posted: March 12, 2010 at 11:16 (PST)

EXODUS have posted a new track, "Hammer And Life", on their MySpace page. The track comes the band's forthcoming album, "Exhibit B: The Human Condition" [cover], scheduled for release on May 18 through Nuclear Blast.

Guitarist/songwriter Gary Holt shares the background on the new song: "We decided to put up an early rough mix of 'Hammer And Life' to give everybody a little taste of the new record. The really fast songs you'll get soon enough! This song is inspired by the one and only [original vocalist] Paul Baloff, our ode to him. Paul was always the hammer in EXODUS and he lived for metal more than anyone I've ever known. R.I.P."

Here is the complete track listing:

01. The Ballad Of Leonard And Charles
02. Beyond The Pale
03. Hammer And Life
04. Class Dismissed (A Hate Primer)
05. Downfall
06. March Of The Sycophants
07. Nanking
08. Burn, Hollywood, Burn
09. Democide
10. The Sun Is My Destroyer
11. A Perpetual State Of Indifference
12. Good Riddance

Nuclear Blast USA's webshop will be issuing an exclusive mail-order edition of the album featuring a slipcase with different artwork (to be unveiled soon) plus the North American bonus track "Devil's Teeth"

Posted: March 12, 2010 at 11:09 (PST)

METALEATER has been informed that guitarist Chris Cannella (N17, AUTUMN'S END) had his Phoenix, Arizona home broken into and three of his guitars were stolen. If anyone has information relating to the theft, please contact DesertCore Management immediately at 520-313-6659 or email mj[at]desertcore.com.

The following instruments were stolen:

1. Custom shop black arch-top soloist
2. Custom shop black warrior reverse
3. Limited edition signed blue flame Mike Shannon soloist

If the instruments are returned, no questions will be asked.

Posted: March 11, 2010 at 12:47 (PST)

Nuclear Blast has sent METALEATER this press release:

Canadian extreme metallers KATAKLYSM have completed the song writing process for their new album entitled "Heaven's Venom"! Currently the album is tentatively scheduled for a Fall of 2010 release via Nuclear Blast! Vocalist Maurizio Iacono commented:

"It's done after two years of hard work! We really made sure we had every element covered, going over all the riffs and arrangements hundreds of times to make it the best it could be. Our fans have given us so much over the years and it was time for us, without any label pressure or time limit, to give back with the album they have been waiting for. We think we've accomplished something special, but we are not going to say this is the heaviest or best KATAKLYSM and all that stuff. The fans will decide that. I just know the mission is accomplished when all of us have big cheesy smiles on our faces!

We're going to take a little break now and hit the road with KREATOR, which should be a lot of fun! Come party with us and hang out. As soon as we are back we will give the album one last check up and then start recording this beast. Should be warped up and mixed by this summer. Next year it will be the bands 20th anniversary so you can bet that we will deliver the goods. We promise! Lots of cool surprises ahead. See ya!"

Some tentative song titles appearing on the album include "Soul Made Of Shrapnel", "Blind Savior", "Hail The Renegade" and "Push the Venom".

"Heaven's Venom" will be KATAKLYSM's follow up to their 2008 release, "Prevail". Guitarist J-F Dagenais (MALEVOLENT CREATION, MISERY INDEX) will once again handle the recording process, while Tue Madsen (THE HAUNTED, SUICIDE SILENCE, WINDS OF PLAGUE, DARK TRANQUILITY) will handle mixing duties this time around.

Posted: March 11, 2010 at 11:45 (PST)

Arizona death metallers HEMOPTYSIS have released the video for their track "Shadow Of Death", featuring Chris Cannella of AUTUMN'S END, N17 and product manager of Jackson Guitars.

Posted: March 11, 2010 at 11:42 (PST)

GRAVE DIGGER have been added to the roster at this year's Sweden Rock festival, scheduled to take place June 9-12, 2010 in Sölvesborg, Sweden.

All the confirmed bands thus far are: AEROSMITH, ALDO NOVA, ALESTORM, ANVIL, BACHMAN & TURNER, BEHEMOTH, BIGELF, BILLY IDOL, CINDERELLA, D-A-D, DANZIG, F.K.Ü., FATES WARNING, GARY MOORE, GRAVE DIGGER, GUNS N' ROSES, JORN, MAGNUM, MASTODON, MOTHER'S FINEST, MASTODON, NAZARETH, OPETH, POINT BLANK, RATT, RAVEN, RICK SPRINGFIELD, SABATON, SAGA, SLAYER, STEEL PANTHER, STEELWING, STRATOVARIUS, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, THE QUIREBOYS, U.D.O., UNISONIC, W.A.S.P., WATAIN, WINGER and Y&T.