Obituary Guitarist Interviewed at Finland's Tuska Festival

On July 2, Finland's HardcoreSounds.net interviewed Obituary guitarist Trevor Peres at the Tuska Open Air Metal Festival in Helsinki, Finland. The interview is now available for streaming at Blabbermouth.net.

Obituary's Left to Die was recently released as a limited-edition vinyl by Night of the Vinyl Dead Records. Only 500 hand-numbered copies were made availble.

The band's latest album, Darkest Day, came in at the No. 32 on Heatseeker's Top New Artist Albums chart. The chart lists best-selling albums by developing artists who have never appeared in the Top 100 of the Billboard 200. (Read More)

Dave Mustaine Talks Metallica, Religion, and Rock and Roll Excesses

In a recent interview, CTV.ca chatted with Megadeth main man Dave Mustaine about his upcoming autobiography.

Leaving no stone unturned, Mustiane discussed an array of personal topics, including the neglect he experienced during childhood, the excesses of his "rock and roll lifestyle," and the more recent events in his life including his newfound religious devotion. Concerning his turn to God, Mustaine commented on how religion doesn't readily meld with the metal archetype:

"I think in the beginning there were a lot of people who were very angry because they'd lost their guitar player, their singer, their frontman, their Dave Mustaine. [But] if you go back and look at all my lyrics now, there's a lot of God in it."

Mustaine also discussed metal giants Metallica. His excessive drug and alcohol use was the reason for his being booted from the band in 1983. In his book, Mustaine writes, "Without my songs and my solos - without my energy - I don't know that Metallica ever would have become the band that it was."

Outside of substance abuse, Mustaine experienced a number of other setbacks in his career. Among them: an arm injury that nearly ended his career entirely, the near-disintegration of his marriage, and a number of stints in rehab. "Heroin was a terrible experience for us," he admitted. "It was part of my life for 13 years." According to Mustaine, Megadeth's back catalogue is full of clues regarding the band's downward spiral: "You can see where the different types of drugs changed, where the band changed. The heroin and the cocaine use, and the debauchery, and the fighting and the theft and stealing and robbing."

Having recently embraced a more spiritual outlook on life, Mustaine credits religion as having saved his life, protected his family, and kept him going as a member of Megadeth:

"When I got saved it wasn't about getting me saved. It was about me getting my life right with God, getting my family out of what looked liked extremely dire straits ... and just making a really good decision for once in my life."

After all he's endured, Mustaine has no intention of stopping in the near future. "I think that I'll be a musician for the rest of my days," he remarked.

Rhapsody of Fire to Release 35-minute Symphony

Italian symphonic metallers Rhapsody of Fire are set to release a 35-minute symphony titled The Cold Embrace Of Fear - A Dark Romantic Symphony. It is slated for an October 15 release via Nuclear Blast Records.

Concerning the the band's latest release, Rhapsody of Fire guitarist Luca Turilli commented, "For this special CD we composed a unique song of around 35 minutes divided in seven 'acts.' ... Looking at the title, you can easily imagine that such long and epic song will show the most cinematic and orchestral side of our band, all our passion for the world of cinema we love so much and that always represented our main influence while composing the Rhapsody's music." (Read More)

New Slayer Concert DVDs to Be Released

For some time now, Slayer fans everywhere have had to endure a void in their DVD collections - one caused by the disappointing fact that all Slayer DVDs have been out of print. That won't be the case for much longer, however. On August 17, 2003's War at the Warfield and 2004's Still Reigning will be reissued. Not only that, but 1995's Live Intrusion will be issued in remastered, digital form for the first time ever. The DVDs will be sold separately at retail and online and a limited edition package - the "Slayer Live DVD 3-Pak" - will be made available for exclusive sale on Slayer's official website. (Read More)

LeatherWolf to open for Ratt and Dokken

Orange County's metal Triple Axe Attack, LEATHERWOLF, have been added to the RATT/DOKKEN double bill on August 1 at the Pacific Amphitheatre in Costa Mesa, CA. The show is part of the annual OC Fair.

LEATHERWOLF are scheduled to take the stage at 6.30pm. Specially priced 10 dollar tickets can be purchased online via Ticketmaster by using a special password; for more info visit the band's MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/leatherwolfmusic

LEATHERWOLF are currently working on their first ever DVD, 'Live at the Galaxy', which was filmed during the band's 2009 performance at the Galaxy Theatre in Santa Ana, CA. A sneak preview of the song 'Thunder' has been posted on the band's YouTube Channel at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mg3K_dO-Fdw . It features the band's current line-up, with guitarist Greg Erba and bassist Patrick Guyton joining original members Michael Olivieri (vocals, guitar), Carey Howe (guitars), and Dean Roberts (drums).

Triptykon Announce U.S. Tour

Triptykon is about to embark on its very first tour of the U.S. The band, which is the creation of former Celtic Frost frontman Tom Gabriel Warrior, will take to the road in support of its debut album, Eparistera Daimones. 1349 and Yakuza will also join Triptykon on tour.

Commenting on the approaching tour, vocalist/guitarist Tom Gabriel Warrior said, "Ever since my earliest days in Hellhammer and Celtic Frost, I have been extremely fortunate to be able to count on the support, fanaticism, and immense loyalty of the North American metal scene. The recognition my work has received there eclipses anything I have ever encountered in my own native country." (Read More)

Interview with Blind Guardian Guitarist

Roy Kristensen (of Norway's Imhotep) recently interviewed Marcus Siepen - guitarist for the German power metal act, Blind Guardian. The interview, which can be streamed in three parts via Blabbermouth.net, features Siepen discussing topics sich as music in general, performing live, and the band's newest album. Siepen also touches on issues concerning fan dedication, the work involved in releasing an album, and the album title of Blind Guardian's latest release.

At the Edge of Time - the newest project from Blind Guardian - is set for an August 24 release in North America (via Nuclear Blast Records). A three-song single, "A Voice in the Dark," was released on June 25 in Europe. (Read More)