Gus G. Featured in New Guitar World Video Lesson

Guitar World is now featuring an exclusive lesson from Gus G. In the lesson, the Ozzy Osbourne/Firewind guitarist discusses his influences as well as how he got his current gig. In addition, he offers a demonstration of how to play the Ozzy track "Let Me Hear You Scream."

On October 17, Gus G.'s latest instructional DVD, Lead and Rhythm Guitar Techniques, will be released via Rock House. He reveals his own guitar playing secrets and offers instruction on how other guitarists can incorporate those secrets into their own guitar playing. The DVD will offer lessons in the natural minor and Phyrgian major scales, patterns, scale sequences, and full neck runs used by Gus G. himself. There are also tutorials in diminished sweep and chromatic arpeggios, emotional bending techniques, and the creation of a minor 3rd Harmony lead. Gus delves into the foundation of his personal style, revealing chords, voicings, syncopated, pivoting staccato, interval, and clean picked rhythms. In addition, he analyzes his own leads and song structures from Firewind.

The DVD features:

- Over 40 lessons
- Interviews and live performances
- Behind-the-scenes photos and videos
- iPod-ready video
- A 46-page interactive tab book that can be printed from the DVD

Lead and Rhythm Techniques runs for 120 minutes and is zoned to play anywhere in the world. The DVD can be pre-ordered from The Rock House Method.

Below is part 1 of Gus G.'s Guitar Lesson as presented by Guitar World:

Oderus Urungus to Appear on Fox News' Red Eye

Gwar frontman Oderus Urungus is scheduled to appear on Fox News' Red Eye this evening (September 30) at 3 AM Eastern/Midnight Pacific. It will mark Oderus' thirteenth appearance on the show.

Oderus is also scheduled to make stops at various media outlets in New York city. The stops will serve to promote the latest Gwar album, Bloody Pit of Horror, which will be released on November 9 via Metal Blade Records. (Read More)

Scott Ian Interviewed by Miami New Times

Recently, Miami New Times' Arielle Castillo interviewed Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian. Now Castillo has posted outtakes from the print feature of the interview. Below are some excerpts from that chat:

Miami New Times: Anthrax is billed as "special guests" on [the American Carnage] tour. Does this mean you're playing a shorter set than Megadeth and Slayer?

Scott Ian: When we got asked to do this, the tour was already an existing thing. They were already out there doing this with Testament opening, and then they were like, "Hey, do you want to come out for a month and do this?" Logistically they couldn't change it around and make it work where all three bands could play an hour-and-a-half. The show was already sold as a package for X amount of hours, and blah, blah, blah. I don't need to bore you with that, but basically there was no way to make it a longer night because the show had been sold as a set amount of hours. We're the special guests, so we'll get everyone nice and warmed up, and then drink beer and watch.

Miami New Times: You had already recorded some of your upcoming album when Joey Belladonna rejoined the band as the singer. What are you going to do with the previous material? Is he going to re-record the vocals, or are you just going to write new material for him to sing?

Scott Ian: Both, all that. We're keeping some of it and Joey's going to re-sing it, and we're writing new stuff.

Miami New Times: Early track lists for the record included covers of songs by Refused and Alice in Chains. Will those still make it?

Scott Ian: We have no idea.

Miami New Times: So were those covers ever supposed to be part of the mix, or was that something totally made up on the Internet?

Scott Ian: Possibly! I don't know.

Miami New Times: Um, so will you be including any covers on the new album, or not?

Scott Ian: I don't know. Who gives a shit about cover songs?! We're so far away from that.

Read more at the Miami New Times website.

Dødheimsgard Issues Band Update

Norway's Dødheimsgard (a.k.a. DHG) recently checked in with an update concerning the band's activity:

"It is that time again when you throw away your leather jacket and get your straight-jacket on! A master plan of dirty deeds is currently under construction at supervillain HQ. The first menacing news rumored is that DHG has a confirmed court order at a major open-air festival next year. A more extensive international spree is, at this very moment, under consultation with our partners in crime.

"DHG's arsenal of despicable actions on display next year are as follows: Traces of Reality, Ion Storm, Å Slakte Gud, Vendetta Assassin, Monumental Possession and more. After three years in a shared cell at the institute for the musically insane, Vicotnik and Kvohst have turned a thousand burdens into 30 new tunes and texts. Once they are given an unclean bill of health, a new album will be discharged and released..." (Read More)

Ron Jarzonbek speaks...!

Acclaimed San Antonio, TX-based guitarist/composer Ron Jarzombek (WATCHTOWER, BLOTTED SCIENCE, SPASTIC INK) has issued the following update.

"Basically, what's going on is I have quite a few things in the works right now, but haven’t completed much of anything since the BLOTTED SCIENCE ‘The Machinations Of Dementia’ CD in late ’07 (well, I released ‘PHHHP! Plus’ last year but that was previously recorded material). This is what I get for starting up too many things, trying to run everything, handle nearly all production work, and I get so overloaded that I lose focus on what I should be working on, what is priority at the time, and nothing gets completed. Hopefully, one of the projects listed below will actually be completed sometime soon, but don’t hold your breath or you will die.

"I have not touched the DVD material since I posted the 'Oscillation Cycles' video over a year ago. I had so many people asking what the DVDs would be like, so I completed that segment and posted it just to give fans a glimpse of what I’m putting together, but knew that after that I would be getting back with WATCHTOWER in hopes of finishing up 'Mathematics.' There will be 3 instructional DVDs, the 1st based on common scale use and abuse, the 2nd on timing, and the 3rd on 12 tone uses. I’ve got tons of work done on all 3 DVDs, but am far from being completed on any of them. They will be completed and released when they are done. How’s that? Believe me folks, I REALLY want to get back to my DVDs, but I usually put bands/projects first when other band/project members are co-operating.

"Seems like whenever WATCHTOWER try to complete 'Mathematics', we hit a snag, roadblock, or wall. We’ve re-worked the material for the third time now (2000, 2004, and now 2010), and I’m just tired of talking about it. It’s REALLY getting old. You guys can keep asking me, but the answer will be the same... I really don’t know when the CD will be done. I really don’t. We need to get the damn thing done sometime, somehow, some way. But we have over an hour of good material sitting around waiting to be recorded and released. If we can just get this vocalist situation worked out, we should be fine. In April 2010 we digitally released ‘The Size Of Matter’ and played the Keep It True Festival in Germany and I thought at that point we would for sure get back on track and get the recordings done (just like I did in 2000 and 2004). So we’ll just have to wait and see what happens.

"When we got together for the Tampa rehearsals in mid ’08, we began talking about plans for a second BLOTTED SCIENCE CD and came up with a wacky concept. Let’s just say there were LOTS of crazy and interesting ideas floating around. The ‘Laser Lobotomy’ and ‘Oscillation Cycles’ rehearsal videos were posted and talks of gigging were in the air, but nothing materialized. No writing for the second CD really happened after that. Alex continued working heavily with CANNIBAL CORPSE, Charlie with BEHOLD... THE ARCTOPUS, and I was working on the DVDs/WATCHTOWER. We just kept in contact and were thinking of how we could pull off this concept'. After a year and a half of focusing on WatchTower, and it coming to a grinding halt, I REALLY wanted to get moving on something. I was getting hounded by fans about a second BLOTTED SCIENCE CD, so I began putting things together for Blotted Science II. Realizing that a full CD would take too long to complete, we decided that an EP would be our best and most realistic move at this point. Alex is heavily involved with CANNIBAL CORPSE and our new drummer Hannes Grossmann is writing/recording/touring with OBSCURA. New drummer?! What?!! Yes, folks, please welcome Hannes to BLOTTED SCIENCE! Those of you in the death metal world should be very familiar with his work with NECROPHAGIST and OBSCURA. Of course, Alex and I wish Charlie the very best with his current bands/projects/sessions, and many thanks for doing an absolute brilliant job on 'Machinations.' The EP will consists of 4 songs totaling 22 minutes (3 of which are already written), and will be hopefully released in early ’11. But again, but don’t hold your breath.

"While WATCHTOWER was in Germany playing the KIT Festival, we stayed over a few days and I got to hang out a bit with Hannes and Chris from OBSCURA. Chris and I soon starting talking about music theory, 12 tone uses, and thought that it would be cool for us to put something together, maybe just a song or two, and have it available digitally. To fill out the recording lineup we fired up Hannes, and I asked my SPASTIC INK bandmate bassist Pete Perez if he was interested, so we all pitched in with a few tunes each, and came up with a 6 ½ minute song. We haven’t come up with a name for the project yet, but the name of the song will be ’Duodecimal Levorotation’."

Anger as Art Comments on Recent Live Performances

California thrashers Anger as Art has issued a recap of their most recent live shows as well as an announcement concerning upcoming appearances:

"Thank you, thank you, thank you for the response and reception last night at the Galaxy. Funny, as I revisit it, more comes back to me about what kind of night it was. A whirlwind. So many people we had not seen for a long time. A bunch of first time fans, and some who had not seen us in a while. Specifically, John Haddad, Chris Trent, Fred Swift, Jeff Peters, Dave Gutierrez, Danny Luong, Mark Caro, Danika Smith... and those are only a few of those who helped out to make it a great night.

"Some of you wanted tickets - and the run up on the last day for tickets was so intense that we couldn't answer back all of you. Again (like our last show at the Galaxy) all of our tickets were sold! We thank you for the support! Cool to see Dan-O making friends with Katatonia's guitarist because of Blackstar Amplifiers, which translated into a cigarette run. Shooting hoops with members of Torment-id and Sorizon. Re: Sorizon - I had never seen them, and they were a real surprise. I did not expect their bassist to say he used to see me play in Tactics back in the 90's, and for them to throw down on a cover of Pat Benetar's 'Heartbreaker.'" (Read More)

Statue of Ronnie James Dio to Be Erected in Kavarna

The Bulgarian Black Sea coastal town of Kavarna will soon be the home of a tributary statue to legendary metal vocalist Ronnie James Dio. The statue will be erected in the city's central park in the prospective "Walk of Rock."

Radio Bulgaria has reported that the decision to place a monument in the city park was made by Kavarna's municipal administration. The most active proponents for the statue were said to be the major, Tzonko Tzonev, as well as local musicians and journalists.

This past July, when the city held its three-day Kavarna Rock Fest, a replica of the statue was displayed. Since then, a plaster model of the monument has been created, marking the final preparatory stage for construction. Once completed, the actual statue will measure 1.5 meters in height (approximately four feet, eleven inches). Sculptors Alexander Petrov and Krasimir Krastev-Lomsky will be the primary artists working on the finished product, and painting duties will go to Ivan Stratiev.

Kavarna's reason for its dedication to this honourary project is more than just an enthusiasm for music. Dio was reported to be one of the first metal/hard rock icons to perform in Kavarna. More than that, he returned to perform in the city periodically, performing there at least five times during his career. What's more, Dio took an active role in the campaign to liberate Bulgarian nurses held in a Libyan prison for eight years.

Below is a photo of the plaster model of the statue. More photos can be found on Tzonko Tzonev's official website.

Kirk Hammett Talks Guitars, Technique, and More in Recent Interview

On September 15, Ultimate-Guitar.com's Joe Matera interviewed Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett. Below is an excerpt from the chat:

--------------------

UG: Have you started in any manner the songwriting process for the next Metallica studio album?

Hammett: No, but we do have riffs here and there, but there are no complete songs as yet. But we all have tons of music that is just lying around; in fact all of us do. That is the great thing about Metallica; there is never any shortage of ideas.

UG: You just performed a series of Big Four shows [Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax]. What was the experience like?

Hammett: The shows were really great and it was a vibe, man. It was like the eighties all over again, which was very, very cool. We all kind of realized that we are all in this together and that we all had the same sort of objectives and goals. It's just that we had different ways of getting them. At the end of the day, it became more of a celebration of the fact that we are all still around and all standing and still functioning as bands, and that was a very cool thing. And it was a chance for us to kind of reflect and look back at all the times we had together and all the battles we had fought. It was good to know that all of us are still here and still doing it.

UG: When it comes soloing, what do you think are the important elements that each guitar player should consider when constructing a solo?

Hammett: Ideally, a solo should be like a good meal. Start off with a bang then have a good meaty middle section and then have a sweet finish. For me when it comes to the solo part, the first couple of licks really need to set the tone of the solo. And it should really just jump out and grab you.

UG: So is there anything that you specifically pay attention to when coming up with your own solos?

Hammett: What I have always tried to do is to come up with catchy things - you know, hooky parts in the guitar solo that will grab the listener's attention. I will try to put melodic parts into that. But, you know, sometimes I just want to make a bunch of noise.

UG: How do you think you have evolved as a player over the course of your career?

Hammett: That is a hard question to answer, man, because I am so close to my own playing. But I say that I intend to work on my jazz playing more now. You know, I think as a metal guitar player, I am decent. I am no Eddie Van Halen, but I am still learning, am still learning stuff day to day and still feel like I am growing. I also still think that my music writing is still getting better. I'm still on the up and up and I don't feel like I have reached a plateau. I still think there is a lot more for me to do and learn. And I am still very motivated to do that.

UG: Do you have any ambitions to some day to venture out and do a solo album?

Hammett: Yeah, eventually, but right now I have to say that Metallica is my home and I have no intentions of running away from that home. But I am going to put a book though. I am working on it and that in itself feels like I am making a solo album because it is so much goddamn fuckin' work! It is all myself. I don't have a band I can rely on or seek support. So I think once I do this book thing, maybe I may start considering doing a solo album, but I don't know.

UG: Looking back on the St. Anger album and its lack of guitar solos, what do you think of that album today?

Hammett: I still love it, man. I think "Frantic", "Dirty Window", the title track, and "All Within My Hands", those are just great fuckin' songs and some of my favorite. Frankly, I'm quite shocked that people have such an attitude and issues with it, because for me, it is just another Metallica album.

--------------------

This interview can be found in its entirety at Ultimate-Guitar.com.

Eclipse Eternal Issues Recording Update

Black metallers Eclipse Eternal recently issued an update on the status of their newest album, The Essence of Hopelessness:

"Things have been a little quiet from the Eclipse camp lately, so here's a run-down of what's going on. The recording of our ensuing album, The Essence of Hopelessness, is thankfully nearing completion (recording was a little slow due to some logistical issues, but we're back on track now). The bulk of the songs are done; what remains is to finish the keyboards, do the few clean vocal passages, and get Count Vain (rhythm guitar) in to do some tracks. And then...onto the penultimate studio step: mixing. Voldamares completed his vocal tracks today and they sounded fucking tremendous." (Read More)

Accept Debut on Billboard Charts

German heavy metal legends Accept have debuted on the Billboard charts. Blood of the Nations, the band's latest release, debuted at no. 187 on the Billboard 200 chart, at no. 170 on the Top Current Albums chart, and at no. 41 on the Independent (Current) Albums chart.

Since its September release, Blood of the Nations has sold 2,900 copies. This marks Accept's largest first-week sales numbers since the inception of SoundScan.

Guitarist Wolf Hoffman recently sent a message out to Accept fans regarding the band's latest success on the North American charts:

"What a story! We went nuts and promised ourselves we are ready to rock your town and be better than ever! We are pumped up! Can't wait to see ya! Thank you all for giving us this fantastic start!" (Read More)

Neaera Offers New Single for Streaming

German extreme metallers Neaera have release their newest single for streaming. "Heaven's Descent," taken from their new album, Forging the Eclipse, can be streamed via a landing page at www.metalblade.com/neaera. Forging the Eclipse is scheduled for an October 26 release in North America.

Neaera recently commented on the new single:

"Heaven's Descent deals with the incomprehensible cases of sexual, mental and physical abuse that have taken place over the past few years at churches, schools and clerical institutions across Germany, Europe and all over the World. Over the past few months more and more of these outrageous crimes have been uncovered and victims have finally found the courage to step forward to speak out about their suffering and accuse their tormentors. Many of those criminals could never be persecuted and are hiding to this day under the cloak of false innocence and immunity." (Read More)

Former/Current Members of Kamelot, Avantasia, and Masterplan Featured on Kaktus Project Debut

Sylvain Rouvière's brainchild band - Kaktus Project - has signed a deal with Metalodic Records. The band's debut album, Superstition, is said to be "based on the melodic metal music of Stratovarius, Edguy, sprinkled with Helloween." The album is set to be released before the end of 2010.

Rouvière commented on Kaktus Project, saying:

"I have now been wanting, for a very long time, to make and release a metal album featuring many different guest artists. Unfortunately, a lack of funding and experience made this project a long-lasting dream. In May 2008, however, I managed to finish building my home studio and finally kickstarted my dream project. I met Belette [David Rousseau] who liked my demos and decided to be a part of it. In July 2008, we recorded the drums for the first five tracks. His drums takes were very solid. It was a fantastic start to the project, very encouraging indeed. I gave me hope that I could actually achieve what I had set out to do. Today, over 20 musicians are involved in the making of that album. Not all of them are already known in the music business but they do all share the same passion for their music and an undeniable talent too."

The track listing for Superstition is as follows:

01. Alone in the Dark (3:44)
02. Farewell (4:55)
03. I'm Living My Death (4:45)
04. My Reality (4:30)
05. Possession (3:20)
06. Superstition (3:35)
07. Tonight (5:20)
08. My Tears (3:50)
09. Above the Flames (4:00)
10. Cold in the Night (3:25)
11. Dark Room (4:48)
12. The Sadness (4:08)
13. Resurection (4:20)
14. Future World (3:40)

Below is a list of the musicians involved in Kaktus Project:

Singers:

» Amanda Somerville (Avantasia)
» Mike Dimeo (Masterplan, Riot, The Lizards)
» Sylvain Rouviere
» Henning Basse (Metalium, Sons of Season )
» Oliver Hartmann (At Vance, Hartmann)
» Nico
» Severine (Krestenta)

Guitarists:

» Sylvain Rouviere
» Manu Livertout
» Patrick Manouguian
» Axel Bonneau
» Alesk (No Way, Chattahoochee)
» Vincent Morla (Larry Crockett Band, Taste of Hell)
» Charley Corbiaux (Heavenly)
» Olvier Lapauze (Heavenly)
* Didier Chesneau (Headline)

Bassists:

» Christophe Babin (Headline, Virus IV)
» Matthieu G. Plana (Heavenly)
» Fanfan (Cry Freedom Family)
» Igor Lalai

Keyboardists:

» Manu Martin (Patrick Rondat)
» Oliver Palotai (Kamelot, Sons of Season)

Drummers:

» David Rousseau (No Way. Sainte Ombre)
» Benoit Vedrenne (Edgar Allan)

To find out more, visit Kaktus Project's official MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/kaktusproject

God Dethroned Announce New Studio Album

Dutch death metallers God Dethroned have finished recording their latest album, Under the Sign of the Iron Cross. Commenting on the new album, singer/guitarist Henri Sattler said:

"Just like with our two previous albums, we've been recording at the Soundlodge Studio's in Leer, Germany with producer Joerg Uken. Under the Sign of the Iron Cross is another concept album about World War I. Having done a concept album about this topic before didn't make it an easy job, but reading Ernst Juenger's In Stahlgewittern [Storm of Steel], which is his biography of his daily experiences in the trenches during the war, gave me so much inspiration that I managed to do a good job on the lyrics and I'm really satisfied with the result, but this is of course something you will have to check out for yourselves." (Read More)

Kataklysm Guitarist Talks About New Album

Canadian death metallers Kataklysm recently released their latest studio album, Heaven's Venom. During the band's North American tour, guitarist Jean-François Dagenais took time out to discuss the band's new album, saying:

"I think it's a really aggressive album with a lot of emotions put out on the table because we've gone through a lot in the last few years. It's one of my personal favorites. As soon as we finished at the studio I still played it and enjoyed it. Usually when we're done with an album I've heard it too much, but this one I still enjoy months later." (Read More)

K.K. Downing Talks (or "Blogs") Guitar

K.K. Downing recently posted a new blog entry on his official website, KKDowning.net. In that blog post, the Judas Priest guitarist discussed guitar playing in general and "how the mind of a professional player ticks." Downing also went on to talk about how he's not a proponent of "motionless" guitar playing:

"I just thought I would talk a little about guitar playing in this blog, as I know many of you are interested to know how the mind of a professional player ticks.

"I will start by saying that we are all different and for many reasons, most of which are not particularly important. What is important is to understand that it takes time for your own uniqueness to develop, therefore you must be patient! Also your attitude to playing plays a major role in becoming a noted guitar player.

"Guitars are not like any other instrument because from the first day you put that guitar strap over your head, you feel a sense that you have put on a suit of armour and you have just picked up an AKM machine gun.

"Playing guitar motionless has never excited me and has never seemed natural. Some people perceive that whaling the axe around is just showmanship, but to me, it enhances my ability to get what I want from the notes and the sound." (Read More)

Five Finger Death Punch Announces Halloween Show

At the end of October, Five Finger Death Punch will be playing a Halloween show in Kansas. The upcoming gig was detailed in an official announcement from the band:

"Five Finger Death Punch will once again join 98.9 The Rock in Kansas City on October 23rd this year to headline their Halloween show, Freaker's Ball. Sevendust, Drowning Pool, and 10 Years are also on the bill.

"Tickets go on sale this Friday, 9/24 at 10am for $35- but there is a special pre-sale for 5FDP fans from Wednesday 9/22 at 10am to Thursday 9/24 at 11:59pm! Pre-sale tickets are just $25- that's a crazy deal for a great show. Check out the details at 98.9 The Rock's website." (Read More)

Memorain Joins Pulverised Records

Memorain has officially announced that a deal has been struck with Pulverised Records. Formed in 1999, the metal super group's current lineup includes Ilias Papadakis, Gene Hoglan, Steve Digiorgio, Ralph Antolla, and Chris Valagao. The band recently completed work on Evolution - their fourth full-length studio album. Guitarist Ilias Papadakis commented on the new album, saying:

"I'm really happy with the way things are going! Pulverised Records is the new home of Memorain and I'm sure, that with their experience they will do an amazing job with our new album! In the new album, we have succeeded to combine old school thrash metal with a modern touch. Fast and aggressive, but at the same time melodic with powerful feelings. I'm sure that Evolution will satisfy the appetite of the diehard fans of thrash metal! I can't wait to perform this material live!" (Read More)

Firewind Posts New Music Video Online

Greek melodic metal act Firewind, led by guitarist Gus G., has returned with a new album. Titled Days of Defiance, the album is scheduled for worldwide release on October 25.

The video for the album's first single, "World on Fire," is now available for exclusive viewing via MetalSucks. The renowned Patric Ullaeus shot the footage for the clip.

Firewind is set to celebrate the release of Days of Defiance with a limited number of North American headlining shows. Kicking off on November 4 and running through to November 7, the brief tour will also feature support by Powerglove and The Absence.

Whilst commenting on the band's latest video, Gus G. said:

"The video for "World on Fire" was shot entirely on green screen and I think this time Patric Ullaeus has outdone himself! The concept is based on the album cover artwork and it's something we're doing for the first time on a video of ours. There's a barbaric vibe to it, lots of fire, metal warriors and even a Valkyrie. We're very pleased with the final result and we believe this is our best video yet. Check it out and let the Firewind rage on. (Read More)

Napalm Death Announces European Tour with Immolation

Napalm Death recently announced plans for a European tour this coming November. The British grindcore legends will take to the road with Immolation, Macabre, and Waking the Cadaver. Vocalist Barney Greenway discussed these tour plans in an official statement:

"Having just returned from a string of dates in Thailand, Australia and Japan, it's a great feeling to know that Napalm is able to get out far and wide. Despite the fact that Napalm has trail-blazed across the world, I still hope next year there will be a few new places that we can set foot in where other bands just don't go. That's still a great source of excitement." (Read More)

In Honour of Nergal, Behemoth fans in New York City, Los Angeles, and Connecticut Organize Bone Marrow Drive to Raise Leukemia Awareness

Since Behemoth frontman Adam "Nergal" Darski was reported as being diagnosed with leukemia, the vocalist and lead guitarist has been calling for awareness of the need for bone marrow donors. Since then, fans have answered the call and in the U.S. alone, a number of fan-organized bone marrow drives have been set up during the months of October and November.

MetalSucks has reported that the following drives have been scheduled:

New York City Area Drive:

» Wednesday, October 20 at Club Europa in Brooklyn. It will be administered by The Icla da Silva Foundation, Inc., and the table will be set up near the merch area. Participants will be asked to fill out a form detailing some of their medical history, and then a swab will be taken from inside the cheek to determine whether or not they are an eligible donor. There will also be educational pamphlets available for concert-goers who want to learn more. On top of this, there will be performances by A Life Once Lost, Car Bomb, This or the Apocalypse, Baptized in Blood, and Last Chance to Reason.

Los Angeles Area Drive:

» Sunday, October 17 at Dark Realm Records in Downey, California from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. It is a completely free event that will be administered by Be the Match. Again, participants will be asked to fill out some paperwork, and a swab will be taken from inside the cheek. You can get additional details here, or via the flyer at the bottom of this article.

Stamford, Connecticut Drive:

» Sunday, November 14 at Fritz's Cycle Haus from noon to 4:00 PM or possibly 5:00 PM, depending on the turnout. This event will also be administered by Be the Match, and was organized by Steven Kolenberg, a high-school senior. Additional details of this drive will be forthcoming; in the meantime, Kolenberg urges people to register to be a donor online if you can't attend in person.

Behemoth bassist Orion (Tomasz Wróblewski) recently spoke during the Focus on Metal weekly podcast about Nergal's condition and the disease in general. In response to fan inquiries regarding what can be done to help Nergal, Orion responded:

"To register in a bone-marrow bank, it's just a sample of blood, so that's the least that anybody can do, so if there is any chance for anybody to just go and do it, then go ahead, and that's a huge help. Even if it doesn't help Nergal directly, it helps some other person, most likely. So that's what people can do in order to [show their] support."

Orion went on to discuss the fact that not all transplants require the donor to undergo surgery:

"The surgery of a bone marrow donor, it's just a simple surgery - it takes two weeks to be 100 percent cured and recovered. So it's not a serious thing. And to be a match for somebody, it takes months of testing and everything at the bone-marrow bank. The chance for a person who is unrelated to be a match for somebody is 1 to 40,000, as far as I know, so being afraid of going under a knife, it sounds a little ridiculous to me if you can go through a little surgical [procedure] and save somebody's life. It takes two weeks to get recovered 100 percent - that's it."

As of now, Nergal is receiving treatment in the haematology division of Poland's Gdansk Medical University Hospital. It has been reported that he has safely undergone his first round of chemotherapy as well as a number of other procedures whilst waiting for a donor with matching marrow.

In a previous official statement, Nergal said:

"If you know the history of Behemoth you know we achieved everything by hard work and a steely determination. The same goes for my private life. I happen to be a strong son of a bitch. I have no faith but rely on a 100 percent victory and I am sure I will get out of it stronger than ever. Sun Tzu in his Art of War said that if you know your enemy and yourself the result of a thousand battles will not surprise you. I enter the ring with this Nietzschean attitude and I will leave it as a winner, as usual. Just watch and see."

Testament Hopes to Begin Recording New Album by the End of 2010

San Francisco Bay Area metal veterans Testament recently wrapped up the American Carnage tour with Megadeth and Slayer. Now the band is eager to begin writing and recording for their next album - a follow-up to 2008's The Formation of Damnation.

In a recent interview, vocalist Chuck Billy commented:

"The American Carnage tour was great for us, but now is the time for us to hold off on performing and go full steam ahead on getting the record finished. We currently have studio time booked at the end of this year, and we're shooting for a mid-2011 release. The new album will most likely be a culmination of [1999's] The Gathering and The Formation of Damnation, but we're definitely not going to forget who we are or our roots. I think we've found a comfortable spot in our writing style."

Adding to the topic, guitarist Eric Peterson said:

"I think the tour went really well for us. It's the first time we had a stage set to our live performance, which was a lot of fun, and it brought the band to a whole new level in regards to performing. Playing with Megadeth and Slayer again was a lot of fun. We're going to be home during the fall and winter working on new material." (Read More)

Metallica Comments on Rumors of Cancelled Christchurch Tour Date

After rumors that Metallica would no longer be performing their scheduled show in Christchurch, New Zealand, the band issued the following statement:

"We're in route to Melbourne and we're psyched about getting out there and getting amongst it again. We kinda make it a policy here to not respond to rumors and speculation, however the recent magnitude 7.2 earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand is certainly a unique situation and we are aware that there have been various reports that we would not make it there." (Read More)

Helloween Announce Release Date for 7 Sinners

German metal legends Helloween have officially announced the North American release date for their 13th studio album. 7 Sinners will be released via The End Records on November 9, 2010. Audio samples of all 13 tracks can now be found on CeDe, a multimedia shop which is often praised as the most complete and up-to-date in all of Switzerland.

Helloween's general attitude is probably the underlining factor in the band's longevity and success - "Just have fun with the shit you're doing," is the philosophy advocated by the band. After more than 25 years of history, the fact that such an attitude has proved positive for the band is indisputable. (Read More)

2011 Edition Of ProgPower USA Lineup Announced

The line-up for this year's ProgPower USA festival has been announced. The event, dubbed ProgPower USA XII, will include a first-ever performance by Norwegian progressive metallers Arcturus, as well as performances from Therion and a number of other acts.

Whilst commenting on the festival, Therion's Christofer Johnsson said:

"ProgPower USA is definitely one of the better organized festivals we have attended and was a highlight on our first U.S. tour. We feel honored to have been invited again, and will prepare something special for the event, as this is the one and only chance for our US-fans to see us live in their country." (Read More)

Dream Theatre Comments on Band's Future

Just last week, Dream Theatre's drummer of twenty-five years, Mike Portnoy, announced his departure from the band. In a recent statement, vocalist James LaBrie commented on the band's current situation as well as its plans for the future:

"Hi everyone. Thought I would give you time to digest the news of Mike's departure. Mike stated that he was burnt out with the DT world and needed a break. We have to respect where he is at and where this will lead him at this particular point in time. With that being said, we are more than pumped to continue the legacy of DT and jump full on into the next chapter. Rest assured it will be great. You can count on it." (Read More)

Andreas Kisser's Solo Debut Nominated for Latin Grammy

Sepultura guitarist Andreas Kisser's latest solo album, Hubris I & II, had earned him a Latin Grammy nod. Kisser is one of the nominees for the Best Brazilian Rock Album category at this year's Latin Grammys - an event which will be held on November 11 and will air live from Las Vegas via the Univision Network.

The list of nominees in the Best Brazilian Rock Album category is as follows:

Hubris I & II - Andreas Kisser
Camisa 10 Joga Bola Até Na Chuva - Charlie Brown Jr.
Das Kapital - Capital Inicial
Vivo Na Cena - Nasi
Sete Chaves - Nxzero

Hubris I & II was released as a two-disc set on June 2009 via Holland's Mascot Records. The album was a self-produced effort and was recorded in part at A Voz do Brasil studio in São Paulo, Brazil. (Read More)

Rob Flynn Has Guitars Stolen

Machine Head vocalist and guitarist Rob Flynn has reportedly been the victim of burglary. On September 7, Flynn's home was broken into between the hours of 1:15 PM and 3:15 PM EST. Flynn and his family were not present during the invasion, and the culprits managed to walk away with a number of items from the home. Among the stolen goods was the guitar Flynn used to record the first Machine Head album, Burn My Eyes, as well as a gifted guitar from late Pantera guitarist Dimebag Darrell, and a Flying V belonging to Flynn's son, Zander (a gift he received from his family for Christmas). Other items stolen from the Flynn household included Flynn's wife's jewelery, wakeboards, laptops, and cash. (Read More)

Mike Martin Interviewed on 93.7 KCLB Rocks!

On September 3, All That Remains guitarist Mike Martin was interviewed by Kevin Conklin for the 93.7 KCLB Rocks! radio station (which broadcasts out of Palm Springs, California. The interview is now available for streaming via Blabbermouth.net.

All That Remains' upcoming album, For We Are Many, is slated for an October 12 release via Prosthetic Records/Razor & Tie. The album was recorded during the spring of 2010 at Zing Studios in Massachusetts and was produced by Adam Dutkiewicz (who is also the guitarist for Killswitch Engage). (Read More)

Withered Comments on Blackest of the Black Tour

Atlanta, Georgia native metallers Withered have issued an official statement regarding their appearance on the upcoming Blackest of the Black tour alongside Danzig, Toxic Holocaust, Possessed, and Marduk:

"Withered is bringing our brand of extreme music and expression to a new audience this fall. The Blackest of the Black tour is an opportunity that we just couldn’t pass up. It is also a blessing for us after learning the unfortunate news about Behemoth & Nergal." (Read More)

Gibson Guitars to Reproduce Classics Randy Rhoads Les Paul

Gibson Guitars has revealed its plan to reproduce the classic Les Paul played by Randy Rhoads. According to the company's official website, the 1974 Les Paul Custom that Rhoads played on the classic albums Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman is the most requested reissue the company has ever had to date. Now it has been announced that the Gibson Custom Shop will be releasing the legendary axe. More information on the reissue with be released shortly.

This past January, Jackson Guitars announced a Randy Rhoads "tribute" model guitar. Collaborating with the Rhoads family, the Jackson Custom Shop built 60 exact replicas of the first Randy Rhoads Jackson guitar, commonly referred to as the Concorde. (Read More)

HardcoreSounds.Net Interviews Kerry King

Prior to Slayer's August 7 performance at the Sonisphere festival in Turku, Finland, HardcoreSounds.Net had the chance to interview guitarist Kerry King. The chat is now available for streaming via Blabbermouth.net.

For the first time in nearly thirty years, Slayer will see its ten American Recordings albums released as part of a limited edition, high-end boxed set. The Vinyl Conflict will feature ten albums on eleven discs and will showcase the veteran thrashers' entire Def/American Recordings catalogue:

Reign in Blood (1986)
South of Heaven (1988)
Seasons in the Abyss (1990)
Live Decade of Aggression (1991)
Divine Intervention (1994)
Undisputed Attitude (1998)
God Hates Us All (2001)
Christ Illusion (2006)
World Painted Blood (2009)

The Vinyl Conflict will be released on October 12, 2010. (Read More)

Infernaeon Comments On New Album

Florida metallers Infernaeon have just released a new album. Titled Genesis to Nemesis, it is now available for purchase. The album was produced by Brian Elliott at Mana Recording Studios in St. Petersburg, Florida and features a cover of Metallica's Ride the Lightening staple track, "Creeping Death" (with Gwar's Oderus Urungus appearing as guest vocalist).

Infernaeon vocalist Brian Werner recently commented on Genesis to Nemesis, saying, "This was really a true test of our will. We had a million road blocks and people standing in our way on this, and we demolished the barriers, slit the throats and pissed on the graves of all who stood in our way." (Read More)

Latest Halford Album Details Revealed

Halford is set to release its new album, Halford IV - Made of Metal, on September 27 in Europe, September 28 in the U.S., and October 13 in Japan. The band, which is fronted by Judas Priest main man Rob Halford, recorded the album during 2009 and 2010. Halford IV will feature 14 new songs, all of which were written by Rob Halford and produced by Roy Z.

In reference to the upcoming release, Halford commented:

"It has been a long wait for the global Halford fan base, and of course I'm very pleased to return with Halford IV - Made of Metal this September. It is probably the most personal release of my solo career in terms of my writing and performances.

"Halford IV - Made of Metal hits hard on many musical and emotional levels. I'm certain it will be recognized as one of the band's best releases, and I'm looking forward to performing the new tracks this year and reconnecting the Halford band with its legions of metal fans." (Read More)

Through the Eyes of the Dead Comments on Upcoming Suffocation Tour

Dates have been officially released for the 2010 Decibel Defiance Tour. The lineup will showcase Prosthetic Records' Through the Eyes of the Dead - who will appear as the supporting act for Suffocation - along with Fleshgod Apocalypse, The Faceless, and Decrepit Birth. The tour will open at the annual Rock and Shock Horror and Music Festival in Worcester, Massachusetts on October 15 and will close in Allentown, Pennsylvania on November 13.

In reference to the upcoming tour, Through the Eyes of the Dead guitarist Justin Longshore said the following:

"The Decibel Defiance Tour is a dream come true for any fan of extreme music. I must say we are extremely honored to share the stage with the almighty Suffocation and some of the best up and coming bands in death metal out there. This tour is a huge deal for Through The Eyes Of The Dead as Suffocation has been a big inspiration since the early days and continues to be a huge impact on our music. If the Decibel Defiance Tour is coming to your area, do not miss the best line up this fall!" (Read More)

Lordi Audio Samples Made Available

Audio samples of all tracks to be featured on Lordi's latest album, Babez for Breakfast, are now available for streaming via Amazon.de.

Babez for Breakfast marks the fifth studio release for the Finnish metallers. It is slated for release on September 14 in the U.S., September 15 in Europe, and October 27 in Japan. Recorded in early 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee, Babez for Breakfast was produced by Michael Wagener (who has worked with the likes of Alice Cooper and Ozzy Osbourne and also worked on the Metallica classic, Master of Puppets).

The track listing for Babez for Breakfast is as follows:

01. SCG5: It's a Boy!
02. Babez for Breakfast
03. This is Heavy Metal
04. Rock Police
05. Discoevil
06. Call Off the Wedding
07. I Am Bigger Than You
08. ZombieRawkMachine
09. Midnite Lover
10. Give Your Life for Rock and Roll
11. Nonstop Nite
12. Amen's Lament to Ra
13. Loud and Loaded
14. Granny's Gone Crazy
15. Devil's Lullaby (Read More)