ALLEN / LANDE's third album“The Showdown” is coming this autumn

With two world renowned singers, Jorn Lande (of Jorn and Masterplan) and Russell Allen (of Symphony X) sharing lead vocals, this project has become a staple among the fans of Hard Rock and Melodic Heavy Metal music.

VicTorV New Episode

VicTorV is the only in-house, record label produced, monthly video program. VicTorV #61 begins a new era in the program’s entertainment history. VicTorV now features rotating celebrity hosts. This month's episode is hosted by Hardcore Wrestling Legend: MICK FOLEY. Mick brings you exclusive interviews with COMEBACK KID, WITHIN THE RUINS and himself along with new videos from WITHIN THE RUINS, THE AUTUMN OFFERING and SISTER SIN.

Metallica Comments On "Big Four" DVD Release

"Metallica has issued the following statement about the 'Big Four' show in Bulgaria being released on DVD:
'From Bulgaria to your local theatre to your living room or wherever you might enjoy a little live metal on the screen. You may have heard us say something about a DVD at the end of the satellite broadcast or read it in the internet rumor mill. it's true, there will be a DVD release of the Big 4 show from Sofia, Bulgaria!!

New album from Made Of Hate

On August 27th Made Of Hate will release thier 2nd album entitled "Pathogen". Just as the debut album ("Bullet In Your Head") three new record will be released worldwide with cooperation with AFM Records.

On "Pathogen" fans will get eight new songs which equals fourty minutes of music.

Re-release of classic albums

Frontiers Records announces the re-release in limited edition of some of long out of print classic releases of its catalogue on August 27th. Subject to the campaign will be four albums...

IRON MAIDEN - El Dorado (Brand new song!)

Taken from the forthcoming album 'The Final Frontier'.

You can download this track for free at www.ironmaiden.com until June 21st!

David Coverdale and band are gearing up for their latest endeavour. WHITESNAKE has already started composing new material that promises to deliver one of the finest chapters in WHITESNAKE'S career. “We are off to a very good start, with the new songs taking positive shape. It feels good, fresh & exciting,” explains Coverdale.

The next release already feels like a solid, natural progression to their last opus, the successful, critically acclaimed ‘Good To Be Bad’ album, awarded by the influential Classic Rock magazine as “Best Album of the Year” in 2008. “As always, we want to take it to the next level,” states’ Coverdale. “I feel that with the last album we achieved a strong WHITESNAKE ‘cocktail’ that comfortably embraced & mixed all the previous musical aspects & styles of the band’s history, while taking our identity a little further... all on one album..."

Born in 1977, WHITESNAKE have been among the most influential representatives of the their genre, having produced numerous rock music classics such as ‘Here I Go Again’, ‘Is This Love’, ‘Still Of The Night’, ‘Fool For Your Loving’, ‘Ain’t No Love In The Heart Of The City’ or ‘Walking In The Shadows Of The Blues’.

Coverdale said the production team for the new album will most likely be the infamous Brutal Brothers, or Los Bros Brutalos, who handled the recording of "Good To Be Bad”. “The new songs are in the very familiar and recognizable WHITESNAKE territory of soulful, bluesy, melodic power rock, with a couple of ballads thrown in for good measure... It can’t be a WHITESNAKE album without ballads, mate!”

WHITESNAKE have conquered the love and respect of the audiences all over the world with their driving shows and music. The new album promises to follow in the steps of a great heritage of solid and timeless songs.

Pretty Maids - studio report

PRETTY MAIDS are working hard to complete the recording sessions for their new studio album tentatively entitled “Pandemonium”. The band has started to post video updates from the recording sessions. It is now possible to enjoy the first one watching this clip:

A HERO A FAKE: HEADBANGERS BALL PREMIERE

A HERO A FAKE will introduce the video for Let Oceans Lie on Monday, February 1 at 3:00 am EST on MTV2’s Headbangers Ball.
View the new video for "Let Oceans Lie" HERE

Final FALL OF SERENITY show

FALL OF SERENITY splitted up about half a year ago. Now they are back toplay one last show @ Chronical Moshers Open Air (http://www.cmoa.de)! This show is supposed to take place next Friday, 12.06.2009, in Reichenbach,Germany. Make sure to order your tickets soon!

Bands statement regarding their split:
"After 10 years we have to close the chapter FALL OF SERENITY. In the last weeks we thought, after almost splitting up in 2008, we could go on doing the next record - at least after a break from playing live. But something unexpected happened, when our singer John left the band. These circumstances, and the global warming, make it impossible to go on. So we felt that we, including John, should finally end it. We wish John good luck and thank him for everything. Also a big thanks to all our supporters and foremost to our great fans. THANK YOU!!!

Three of us will continue with a new project, so there is a chance to see our ugly faces somewhere in the future again…. Bye, bye!!!"

Legendary ATHEIST Signs With SEASON OF MIST

Reactivated seminal technical metal pioneers ATHEIST and Atlanta, Georgia's GNOSTIC — the band featuring three members of ATHEIST — have both signed with France's Season Of Mist.

Commented ATHEIST/GNOSTIC drummer Steve Flynn: "We're absolutely thrilled that both GNOSTIC and ATHEIST are officially signed to Season of Mist! GNOSTIC's debut CD, 'Engineering the Rule', will be released before the summer and ATHEIST's yet-untitled CD will be released later in the year.

"Season really stepped up to the plate to get this done, for this is also a highly unique situation for technical death metal. Three members of GNOSTIC are also in ATHEIST. With me on drums for both bands, Chris Baker on lead guitar for both and Jonathan Thompson on bass for GNOSTIC and guitar for ATHEIST, these signings represent very significant personal milestones for everybody involved.

"For me, the GNOSTIC debut CD is the first, and ONLY, new project I've been involved with since ATHEIST's 'Unquestionable Presence' in 1992. For Kelly Shaefer and me it is the first time that we will collaborate on new ATHEIST material, also since 1992's 'Unquestionable Presence'. We'll be bringing in our old friend and ATHEIST bassist Tony Choy for writing and touring as well. Signing both bands is also a unique coup for Season of Mist and indicative of their cutting-edge attitude. Both bands will be touring together in 2009 in the U.S. and Europe, which means that we will be pulling double duty every night!!"

ATHEIST recently finished mixing a recording of the band's appearance at the 2006 installment of the Wacken Open Air festival in Germany at LedBelly Sound Studios in Atlanta, Georgia. According to Shaefer, "It's a very stripped-down, no-overdubs live recording from our appearance at Wacken Open Air in 2006 as part of the reunion dates we did. This was only the fourth show on what would become many. So why record the fourth show? Well, we did not actually ever intend on it, but we found out that Wacken had raw tracks that could be remixed, whereas most recordings we get are from soundboards, and you cannot turn up guitars, vocals etc on those type of recordings. So... we obtained the raw tracks and have now mixed eight tunes with Matt (MASTODON, GNOSTIC) at LedBelly studios here in the Atlanta. The results? A very, very live (mistakes and all) and raw set of tracks from the 'Piece of Time' and 'Unquestionable Presence' era of ATHEIST. It sounds suprisingly warm, and for those who were there in Germany that afternoon to see ATHEIST on what was probably one of the more 'magical' performances we have ever had as a band, it was really the first time we had played for people who had been around back in the early days of the band, and were now writers, or owned record companies, plus all of the new fans of this strange technical metal genre of music... this will encapsulate that experience for us, you and as well as those who were not there that day... It was a great day!"

In January 2006, Kelly Shaefer reassembled much of what was widely considered ATHEIST's classic recording lineup (Shaefer, bassist Tony Choy, and drummer Steven Flynn) to perform a select number of one-off shows to celebrate the re-issue of their wildly-influential catalog (1988's "Piece of Time", 1993's "Elements", and the 1991's legendary "Unquestionable Presence"). Among those shows were performances at such legendary festivals such as Germany's Wacken Open Air, Norway's Hole In The Sky, Italy's Evolution, England's Bloodstock Open Air, and the Los Angeles' Murderfest.

Iron Maiden Win Brit Award! (Much To The Crowd’s Bemusement)

About time, too.

Justifiably, Iron Maiden scooped the Brit Award for Best British Live Act last night ahead of Elbow, The Verve, Scouting For Girls and, most importantly, Coldplay.

Classic Rock would like to offer out hearty congratulations to the Irons and pay tribute to them for all of the amazing live shows over the years.

There was a downbeat vibe at the actual ceremony, however.

Classic Rock’s spy at the Brits reports that Maiden’s gong was greeted with bemusement, with the majority of the Duffy-obsessed audience failing to applaud and, indeed, not even seeming to be aware of Maiden’s existence.

Not to take away anything from Maiden’s achievement, but the muted reaction was rather disheartening…

STEADLUR VIDEO WORLD PREMIERE & FREE DOWNLOAD!

Check out the world premiere of Steadlur's music video for "Bumpin'"

Download the track for FREE on Shockhound.com HERE!

DORO "FEAR NO EVIL" INVADES GERMAN CHARTS!

The one and only Metal Queen is still going strong, even after 25 years! Her new album "Fear No Evil" has just been released (January 30.) and went straight from 0 to #11 into the German charts. This is DOROs highest German chart-entry since almost 20 years! Congratulations & long live the queen!

DORO - Herzblut

The new DORO full lenghth studio album “Fear No Evil" will be released on January, 30, 2009.

DISTURBED GETS THEIR FIRST GRAMMY NOMINATION!

Disturbed was nominated for the very first time for a Grammy Award.
The band's first single off of their most recent album, Inside The Fire, was nominated in the Best Hard Rock Performance category!

DEATH ANGEL BASSIST QUITS BAND + THE SEARCH FOR NEW MEMBER BEGINS!

Bassist/founding member Dennis Pepa of the long-running San Francisco Bay Area metal act DEATH ANGEL played his last show with the band on October 28, 2008 at the Grand Ballroom in San Francisco, California.

Dennis Pepa released the following statement regarding his decision to leave DEATH ANGEL:
"I've been with DEATH ANGEL since its inception in the '80s and believe it is time for me to move on. Throughout my career with the band, I've brought a punk-influenced edge to the DEATH ANGEL sound, and as an open-minded musician in need of change, I'd like to diversify and explore other opportunities within and beyond the genre of metal. The DEATH ANGEL guys are my family, both literally and figuratively speaking, and I wish them luck on their future endeavors. Many thanks go out to Nuclear Blast Records and the fans, who have extended their support and friendship — I look forward to being involved in new music projects and continuing to connect with all of you."
________________________________________

Long-running San Francisco Bay Area metal act DEATH ANGEL has issued the following update:
"As many of you may or may not know, Dennis [Pepa, bass] has departed from the band. We wish him all the best. So now it's time for someone new to join the pack! We are now accepting applications for this position... Do you have what it takes? If you wanna give it a shot, please send bio, photo, demo and or link to your website / MySpace page so we can check you out! Send your info to: deathangelbass@gmail.com. We look forward to hearing from you. Oh yeah, better have your passport in order as we are doing a week of dates in Australia in March and who knows what else... Let's JAM!"

NIN - The Slip (Physical Release)

A physical release of Nine Inch Nails' The Slip will be available worldwide
in the upcoming days as a limited edition CD with bonus DVD through the Null
Corporation label. Release dates as follows...

Australia: July 19
Europe: July 21
US: July 22
Canada: July 22
Japan: July 22
UK: July 28

http://theslip.nin.com/physical

This CD with bonus DVD edition will be a one time only worldwide run of
250,000 individually numbered digipacks. Each digipack features a six-panel
layout, 24 page booklet and an exclusive three sticker set. Art direction
by Rob Sheridan.

The bonus DVD includes 5 live performances filmed during rehearsals for Nine
Inch Nails' upcoming tour, including album tracks Echoplex, 1,000,000 and
Letting You.

A gatefold vinyl version of The Slip which contains one 180gm vinyl LP and a
24-page booklet will also be released in the US and Canada on August 12 and
in the UK on August 18.

The Slip, written and performed by Trent Reznor, with Josh Freese, Robin
Finck and Alessandro Cortini, has been downloaded 1.6 million times
worldwide since its online release on May 5, 2008.

NIN's Lights in the Sky Tour opens in Pemberton, Canada on July 25, 2008
with support slots from Crystal Castles, Deerhunter, Does it Offend You,
Yeah and A Place To Bury Strangers. Visit http://tour.nin.com/ for the
latest tour information.

Heavy Metal: Heads still banging after all these years

John Mackie of the Vancouver Sun reports: Musical styles come, musical styles go. Except for hard rock and heavy metal, which seem to be as big as ever.

IRON MAIDEN sold out the Pacific Coliseum June 3. JUDAS PRIEST will probably do 12,000 at GM Place July 24. Motley Crue will probably sell out GM Place August 11.

In many cases, these bands are selling more tickets today than in their heyday, and at a much higher ticket price (the top ticket for JUDAS PRIEST is $343). And they're doing it even though their album sales are a fraction of what they were in the 70s, '80s and '90s.

What gives?

They've gone "multi-generational." Their original fans still show up to punch the air and bang their heads, even though they might now be in their 40s or 50s. Plus, they've been joined by a whole new generation of teenage headbangers weaned on classic metal who want to see the leather-clad legends strut their stuff.

Read the entire article from the Vancouver Sun.