Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada traditional metallers 3 INCHES OF BLOOD will release their fifth studio album, "Long Live Heavy Metal", on March 27 via Century Media Records. According to a press release, "fans can expect a blast of pure metal assured to leave no face unmelted."

"'Long Live Heavy Metal' is the fifth chapter in the book of 3 INCHES OF BLOOD, and we couldn't be more pleased and proud of our new onslaught of honest heavy metal," says guitarist Justin Hagberg.

For "Long Live Heavy Metal", 3 INCHES OF BLOOD reunited with producer and engineer Terry "Sho" Murray (CITY OF FIRE, EXHIBITIONISTS), who worked with the band on their seven-inch single, "Anthems For The Victorious".

"When a band is releasing a new record, they often speak about it being their most important work or best album to date," explains vocalist Cam Pipes. "Regardless of how clichéd either statement may sound, I think we would say both apply to this album. All of us have a special feeling about this one. We're more committed than ever to the cause of real, honest, no-bullshit heavy metal. No trends, no fucking around!"

3 INCHES OF BLOOD teamed up with Kim Thiessen to perfect their artistic vision for the album, which will be released as a digipack and when opened, lays out similar to that of a book.

"Long Live Heavy Metal" track listing:

01. Metal Woman
02. My Sword Will Not Sleep
03. Leather Lord
04. Chief And The Blade
05. Dark Messenger
06. Look Out
07. 4000 Torches
08. Leave It On The Ice
09. Die For Gold (Upon The Boiling Sea IV)
10. Storming Juno
11. Men Of Fortune
12. One For The Ditch

"Leather Lord" audio stream:

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Check out photos from the studio on the 3 INCHES OF BLOOD Facebook page (all photos by Aaron Aubrey).

3 INCHES OF BLOOD recently recruited Byron Stroud (STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, FEAR FACTORY) as its new bassist.

Stroud and 3 INCHES OF BLOOD have been working together on a variety of things, and Stroud is beyond pleased shift his involvement to a creative level.

Beginning March 16, 3 INCHES OF BLOOD will head out on the "Metal Alliance Tour 2012" alongside DEVILDRIVER, THE FACELESS, DYING FETUS, JOB FOR A COWBOY, IMPENDING DOOM and WRETCHED.

EVANESCENCE performed the song "Made Of Stone" on this past Thursday night's (February 2) episode of Conan O'Brien's nighttime talk show on TBS, "Conan". You can now watch video footage of their appearance below. Also available is a special, web-only performance of "The Other Side".

As previously reported, EVANESCENCE singer Amy Lee has been chosen as the recipient of the Luella Bennack award at United Cerebral Palsy's 11th annual Women Who Care luncheon on Thursday, May 3 at Cipriani on 42nd Street in Manhattan. The Women Who Care luncheon is a celebration of women who have blazed new paths, broken glass ceilings and inspired others through their professional and charitable endeavours.

Luella Bennack invested over 20 years of her life to helping disadvantaged children and adults with cerebral palsy, mental retardation, autism and related developmental disabilities and conditions by giving tirelessly of her time, efforts and contacts for United Cerebral Palsy Of New York City. Upon her passing in 2002, with the blessing of her husband Frank A. Bennack, Chairman and CEO of the Hearst Corporation, UCP Of NYC dedicated the marquee Women Who Care award in her honor. This award is presented annually to a high profile individual who has dedicated themselves in service to others at home and around the world.

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David "Gus" Griesinger of BackstageAxxess.com conducted an interview with SLIPKNOT/STONE SOUR guitarist Jim Root at the 2012 NAMM (National Association Of Music Merchants) show, a massive music-products convention that took place January 19-22 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. You can now watch the chat below.

The Signature 4 Jim Root Terror Head is modelled after the dirty channel on the same amp that Jim Root plays in the studio and on the road: the Orange Rockerverb 100. This all-tube, 15-watt amp is capable of far more than high gain rock and metal though. With a full 3-band EQ players will find it easy to dial in everything from vintage rock, blues and beyond. The addition of a tube-driven FX loop allows the user to take the tone in any direction they want.

His new Signature 4 Jim Root PPC212 cab has been developed alongside the head to bring you Jim's full tone! The new cab is finished in black vinyl with a specially developed black version of the Orange basket grill cloth and proudly features the signature 4 plate on the front. With a closed back design, the cab has a tight bottom end and delivers Jim's signature Orange tone.

Said Jim of the name on the signature head, "With this amp, simply giving it the number I use in SLIPKNOT seemed logical. I've not been to apt to splash either band logo or artwork all over things, but this will be the beginning of the end of that… maybe."

To complement Jim's own style and image, the Signature 4 Terror Head is formidable and attention grabbing, featuring the vintage "Pics Only" logo in white on a black chassis. The rear of the amp has both the SLIPKNOT and STONE SOUR logos.

Specifications

* Volume, Gain, Bass, Mid and Treble Controls
* 12AT7-Driven FX Loop
* 1 x 16 Ohm and 2 x 8 Ohm Outputs
* Switchable Between 15/7 Watts

This is a simply essential tool for any guitarist from any playing background. Quality built for the huge sound, lush tones and high gain necessary for rock and metal music, but versatile enough to be useful in any situation!

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Although ex-SKID ROW singer Sebastian Bach's latest solo album, "Kicking & Screaming", has been well received by critics and fans, he says commercial success is not what keeps him going more than 20 years after the release of his former band's multi-platinum debut. "I mean, it's just fun," he tells Jeff McGinnis of the Toledo Free Press. "Singing is fun. It's very cathartic, if I've had a rotten day or I miss my girlfriend or something on the road, touring across the country, being on a tour bus, being in hotel rooms — getting onstage and singing is very cathartic. It feels good. And if I do it right, it feels really, really good. I don't do it as a job. I do it because I love the music that I sing, and I love to sing it."

Despite the fact that hard rock and heavy metal music doesn't receive much support from mainstream radio, Bach says that nothing can compete with its staying power.
"The thing about hard rock and heavy metal is, once it gets in your soul, there's really no music that's like that," he says. "It's just such hard-driving riffs and vibe. I can't put in a Katy Perry song and feel the same way as a BLACK SABBATH song. As far as metal goes, there's no music like that."

He adds, "There's been so many genres over my career of 25 years that have come and gone, and it's like Jack Black says, 'You can't kill the metal.' Techno tried and failed. Punk tried and punk died. Grunge tried and grunge went away. There's been so many kinds of flavor-of-the-month styles that have come and gone, but heavy metal — the songs last the test of time."

Bach does acknowledge, however, that the modern music scene hasn't exactly embraced his new recorded output.

"There's no radio anymore for rock 'n' roll," Bach says. "There's like 15,000 or 17,000 stations in America, FM stations, and only 70 of them play rock 'n' roll. And most of them play rock 'n' roll from 20 years ago. So a guy like me, I can't walk down the street because everybody freaks out because they all know me, but it's almost impossible for me to get a brand-new song on the radio, because I'm too rock 'n' roll for NICKELBACK stations. So I don't fit in with that, but the stations that do play me can't stop playing 'I Remember You' or '18 And Life'. They just can't fathom that there's another song like that."

"American Idol" finalist James Durbin was interviewed prior to his January 28 appearance at the The Rave/Eagles Club in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. You can now watch the chat below.

Durbin's debut solo album, "Memories Of A Beautiful Disaster", sold around 28,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 36 on The Billboard 200 chart.

"Memories Of A Beautiful Disaster" was released on November 21, 2011 via Wind-Up Records. The CD includes a guest appearance by Mick Mars of MÖTLEY CRÜE, as well contributions from songwriters James Michael (SIXX: A.M., MÖTLEY CRÜE) and Marti Frederiksen (AEROSMITH, BUCKCHERRY, OZZY OSBOURNE), along with Swedish rock band HARDCORE SUPERSTAR.

Durbin's current touring band includes former IN THIS MOMENT drummer Jeff Fabb and guitarist Blake Bunzel.

Interview:

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"Stand Up" video:

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Boston power/thrash veterans MELIAH RAGE are working on a video for the song "Where Nothing Ever Grows". The clip is being produced by Brad Piche and Branden Maxham and should be released by mid-March.

"Where Nothing Ever Grows" comes off MELIAH RAGE's seventh full-length studio album (or eighth, if you also count the "Unfinished Business" CD), "Dead To The World", which came out last July via Italy's Metal On Metal Records. The CD's cover artwork was created by Jowita Kaminska, who previously worked with EXODUS ("Tempo Of The Damned"), WITCHBURNER ("Final Detonation", "Blood Of Witches", "Demons"), MANILLA ROAD ("Gates Of Fire"), ATTACKER ("The Unknown"), FORSAKEN ("Dominaeon", "After The Fall"), DANTESCO ("De La Mano De La Muerte", "Pagano"), METAL INQUISITOR ("Doomsday For The Heretic"), PARAGON ("Screenslaves") and DECEASED ("As The Weird Travel On"), among others.

"Dead To The World" track listing:

01. Up In Flames
02. Valley Of The Shadowless Souls
03. Skin And Bones
04. Absolute Obedience
05. Where Nothing Ever Grows
06. Never From Me
07. Cold Cruel Fate
08. Time Won't Let Me Breathe
09. Awaken Sorrow

MELIAH RAGE reunited with singer Paul Souza after the band's original vocalist Mike Munro became very dedicated to his church and spent time volunteering in Haiti. Mike subsequently felt these and other missions of goodwill would not allow him the flexibility of schedule to tour with MELIAH RAGE.

Souza recorded two albums with MELIAH RAGE — "Barely Human" and 2006's "The Deep And Dreamless Sleep". In addition, he toured with the band when it supported METAL CHURCH across the U.S. in 2007.

Photo credit: Bruce Bettis

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Darryl Sterdan of the QMI Agency spoke to VAN HALEN singer David Lee Roth ahead of the February 7 release of the band's much-anticipated new album, "A Different Kind Of Truth".

Regarding VAN HALEN's decision to get KOOL AND THE GANG to support them on their upcoming North American tour, Roth said, "We picked KOOL AND THE GANG to open for us because KOOL AND THE GANG and VAN HALEN are the sounds of an entire continent at recreation. We've come to represent that — although you're more likely to hear KOOL AND THE GANG at a bar mitzvah than me, even though I'm a brother. You go to a Hasidic Jewish bar mitzvah and they'll play 'Ladies' Night' by KOOL. Me, they'll let in — 'But he doesn't sing; he runs with the devil!'"

On the topic of VAN HALEN being considered eternally unhip, Roth said, "We were never cool. Even when we were happening, even when we were the flavor of the week the first time, we weren't cool. John Travolta and 'Saturday Night Fever' were cool. And across the street, the SEX PISTOLS and THE CLASH were cool. We were just kind of an island. I don't know that VAN HALEN ever really fit in. And it was not a conscious act. Many times we're trying to imitate other people; it just comes out looking and sounding like us. And today we're still not cool. We're somewhere between KATY PERRY and MUSE. Somewhere between KINGS OF LEON and MAROON 5. Welcome to our island. Abandon all hope."

Roth also made it clear that he and his bandmates aren't taking their reunion for ganted. "Everybody values their privilege," he said. "And it is indeed a privilege and a gift to be able to have this job as opposed to a lot of the jobs the state offers. Everybody has had at least one or two medical near- misses or at least one or two dental tragedies. Sometimes that's all it takes — you get your teeth knocked out a couple of times and you start to realize you're mortal. That illumination alone can rebind a band."

The singer acknowledged that much of VAN HALEN's new album is made up of material pulled from the band's archives, explaining, "I retooled all of the verses and melodies. I retooled all of the lyrics. So there is a body of new that meets halfway there, that I think makes very colourful sense. The idea that it was in a vault — well, are you talking about a head of lettuce or fine wine, sir?"

Read the entire interview from QMI Agency.

The Score television network — a Canadian specialty television service providing sports, news, information, highlights and live event programming, available across Canada — conducted an interview with guitarist Mark Morton of Richmond, Virginia metallers LAMB OF GOD when the band played at the Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto, Ontario on January 27. A huge motorsports fan, Mark told The Score that if he weren't a musician, his dream job would be to race on the NASCAR series.

LAMB OF GOD's new album, "Resolution", sold around 52,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 3 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous CD, "Wrath", opened with around 68,000 units back in March 2009 to enter the chart at No. 2. This figure was roughly in line with the first-week tally registered by 2006's "Sacrament", which shifted around 63,000 units to debut at No. 8. It also represented almost double the amount of records sold by its predecessor, "Ashes Of The Wake", which premiered with 35,000 copies in September 2004.

"Resolution" was released in the U.S. via Epic and internationally through Roadrunner Records. The CD was recorded at various studios in Virginia and New York with producer Josh Wilbur, who worked on the band's last effort, 2009's "Wrath".

"Resolution" features 14 songs and comes in a digipack with artwork by longtime art director Ken Adams.

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FOR THE FALLEN DREAMS is the latest addition to the Artery Recordings roster, the joint venture between The Artery Foundation and Razor & Tie. The Lansing, Michigan-based band will hit the road in the early spring with CHELSEA GRIN, ATTILA, and others for a national U.S. tour. The group is also confirmed to perform at the South by Southwest Music Conference And Festival (SXSW) in Austin, Texas.

"We are very proud to announce our signing with Artery Recordings/Razor & Tie," said FOR THE FALLEN DREAMS vocalist Dylan Richter. "We couldn't be more excited about joining the Artery family. We are in the studio right now with Tom Denney in the process of writing, and recording a brand new record. Keep your eyes peeled for studio updates, and videos. After the studio, we will be out with CHELSEA GRIN, ATTILA, CHUNK! NO CAPTAIN CHUNK, VANNA, and THE CRIMSON ARMADA on the Artery-exclusive Sick Tour."

"I was extremely excited when the opportunity came along to sign FOR THE FALLEN DREAMS," said Artery Recordings label manager Mike Milford. "We have followed the band's entire history and feel that they will integrate well into our family at Artery Recordings. The material I have heard so far for the new release will crush and definitely be ten steps above all previous material they have done."

Formed in 2003, FOR THE FALLEN DREAMS has released three full-length albums — "Changes" (2008), "Relentless" (2009) and "Back Burner" (2011) on Rise Records — and a self-titled EP (2003). The band has toured extensively, including taking part in national stints with UNEARTH, FOR TODAY, NORMA JEAN, CHELSEA GRIN and OF MICE & MEN, as well as European shows supporting A DAY TO REMEMBER, BURY YOUR DEAD and more. Revolver magazine said of FOR THE FALLEN DREAMS' music, "The band does manage to create material that will engage even the most jaded heavy-music listener" and Alter The Press said, "They do a great job at the divide between melody and angst, giving enough of each to both move and pump fists, just what every band that walks the line of hardcore needs, wishes for and much, much more."

FOR THE FALLEN DREAMS is Dylan Richter (vocals), Kalan Blehm (guitar), Jim Hocking (guitar) and Arvin Sarathy (drums). The band is managed by Dog of The Artery Foundation and represented for touring by Matt Andersen of The Pantheon Agency.

TORTURE DIVISION, the Swedish death metal project featuring guitarist Lord K. Philipson (THE PROJECT HATE, ex-GOD AMONG INSECTS, LEUKEMIA), bassist/vocalist Jörgen Sandström (VICIOUS ART, THE PROJECT HATE, ex-ENTOMBED, GRAVE) and drummer Tobias "Tobben" Gustafsson (VOMITORY, THE PROJECT HATE), has made a new three-song recording, "Satan, Sprit Och Våld", available for free download at TortureDivison.net.

The effort, which was mixed and mastered by Dan Swanö (ex-EDGE OF SANITY, BLOODBATH, NIGHTINGALE) at Unisound in Örebro, Sweden, contains the following tracks:

01. Cirkelstryk
02. Otukt
03. Satan, Sprit Och Våld

Commented the band: "We can never thank [Dan] enough for supporting us and getting us such a great fucken sound time and time again.

"Now to some serious business — you know we will always give you our music for free. That's our agenda and all. BUT, if you like what you hear (which you do, or you are absolutely retarded), show us some gratitude by donating a dollar or 5 to our PayPal. That's not asking too fucken much, now is it? Thing is, we use any eventual cash we get in donations for further recordings and merch and whatnot. You don't have to donate, of course not, but we'd appreciate it 'coz it helps us big time in keeping this band alive. And hey, buy a shirt while you're at it. That way you'll be the coolest kid in church on Sunday wen you sport it in front of your pedophile minister. You don't like shirts? Then buy a goddamn CD from us. Them bastards are downright excellent, you know.

"Anyways, enjoy this fantastic slab of utter death and come over to our forums and share your opinions on this masterpiece. Hopefully we'll be faster with the next effort, but sometimes shit happens and it's not like we do anything according to anyone's rules but our own. So, put on the bulletproof vest you got hidden in your closet, coz 'Satan, Sprit Och Våld' is lethal."

Steve Patrick of UWeekly recently conducted an interview with ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

UWeekly: Since it was so many years in the making, did the release of "Worship Music" lift a huge weight off your shoulders?

Scott: Yeah, I guess you could say that. You know, it just felt really good to have worked so hard on something for a period of time to finally see it come to fruition definitely felt good. More importantly, to have made the record we made … to be so happy with the record we made, that was the most important thing. I don't really care how long it takes to work on something as long as it's right … as long as it's correct and as long as we're happy with it. That's really all I care about.

UWeekly: There is a line in the song "Earth On Hell" that goes, "taking the streets occupied." Are you some sort of metal Nostradamus by predicting the Occupy Wall Street movement?

Scott: [laughs] I mean, no, I had no idea obviously at the time because I wrote those lyrics years before any of that Occupy stuff happened, but it just came from more of a feeling of…just a general displeasure with government, you know, all around the world. Just people being fed up with the shit they've been forced to eat their whole lives and deciding, "Let's try to take some of the power back." I truthfully didn't think anything was ever going to happen here in any way, shape or form. You know, I was certainly looking at places like Egypt where major shit was going down. I didn't think anything would happen here in the States, so when the Occupy stuff actually started happening I was actually very surprised that anyone actually took this kind of initiative. But no, I definitely didn't … I wish I could say, "Yes, of course I knew it was going to happen," but no, absolutely not. I just think, as a whole, people are fed up. People are fed up everywhere. People are tired of the same old shit and the only way change is really going to happen isn't with a new president or anything a government is gonna do. It's gonna get implemented from the people. The people really do have the power to make a change. Sadly, generally that means a lot of people are probably going to die in the process, but any great change that's happened in the world has always come at the cost of lives and people who are willing to give their lives to make a change.

UWeekly: How was it performing on stage with [former ANTHRAX and current ARMORED SAINT singer] John Bush by your side at METALLICA's recent 30th anniversary shows?

Scott: Well, I can't say he was by my side because he was running around like a maniac. The only time I knew I was near him is 'cause he'd run past me and whip me in the butt with his fingers. He does this whip thing with his fingers so I'd know that John had just past me by. But yeah, I mean, it was just great being there and being a part of that. Getting to jam "Seek And Destroy" with those guys after all these years and with the dudes in MERCYFUL FATE … and John … yeah, it was a pretty epic moment.

Read more from UWeekly.

Welsh metallers have announced that they will split up after one final farewell show in London on March 2.

The band released two albums on Metal Blade — "This Age Of Silence" in 2007 and last year's "Echoes Of The Fallen" — since signing to the label six years ago.

ANTERIOR said in a statement: "It is with great sadness and disappointment that we have decided to call it a day.

"After 10 years, two albums, many members and countless tours we will no longer be continuing with ANTERIOR.

"We are all still friends and have the best regards for each other and we all wish that things could have been different.

"Every band have their struggles, problems and adversity to overcome and we had all of it and some! Even though we came through it all and continued no matter what blocks stood in our way, it is now time for us to go out on a high note.

"After being to so many countries and having the amazing, loyal and dedicated fanbase we do, this has been an immensely hard decision for us.

"There are many obstacles in the music industry and we can no longer fight the uphill battle to keep going.

"We would like to thank our friends and families for their undying support over the years, our manager, our crew, our label, all of the amazing bands we have toured with and every single person who bought our records, came out to shows, pillaged our Merch, bought us beers and generally made this the experience of an entire lifetime! You are the reason that all of this was possible and we will never forget it. Thank you all so much for your love and support and for showing us how music can bring so much happiness. We love you all and always will."

ANTERIOR lineup:

Luke Davies - Vocals
Leon Kemp - Lead/Rhythm Guitars
Steven Nixon - Lead/Rhythm Guitars
James Britton - Bass
James Cook - Drums

Journalist and musician Barbara Caserta of Italian web radio Linearock.it recently conducted an interview with singer Cormac Neeson and guitarist Paul Mahon of Irish rockers THE ANSWER. You can now watch the entire 33-minute chat below.

THE ANSWER's third album, "Revival", entered the official chart in the U.K. at position No. 39.

"Revival" was released on October 3, 2011 via Spinefarm Records. The initial run of the album was a limited-edition deluxe format with 24-page booklet and band sleeve notes, plus an 11-track second disc containing previously unreleased studio, acoustic, demo and cover material.

"Revival" was produced by Chris "Frenchie" Smith and mixed by Chris Sheldon.

The first single/video from the album was "Vida (I Want You)" backed with "Can't Remember, Can't Forget" (live acoustic). The album also contained a duet, "Nowhere Freeway", which saw singer Cormac Neeson pairing up with rock 'n' soul vocalist and SAINT JUDE frontwoman Lynne Jackaman for an impressive vocal display.

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Dutch death metallers PROSTITUTE DISFIGUREMENT have parted ways with guitarist Danny Tunker "due to different musical interests." The band, which recently completed a three-week European tour with VOMITORY, has since been reinforced with guitarists Frank Schiphorst and Martijn Moes.

PROSTITUTE DISFIGUREMENT's new lineup:

Niels Adams (CENTURIAN, ex-NOX): Vocals
Patrick Oosterveen: Bass
Michiel van der Plicht (GOD DETHRONED, ex TOXOCARA): Drums
Frank Schiphorst (MAYAN, ex-SYMMETRY): Guitar
Martijn Moes (TOXOCARA, ex-THE MONOLITH DEATHCULT): Guitar

PROSTITUTE DISFIGUREMENT will record a new album in the middle of 2012.

The band's fourth full-length CD, "Descendants Of Depravity", came out in 2008 via Neurotic Records.

Tarja Turunen was interviewed by MMC RTV when the former NIGHTWISH singer performed at Kino Siska in Ljubljana Slovenia on January 22. You can watch the chat below.

Turunen's new project, HARUS, in December released a CD/DVD/Blu-ray, entitled "In Concert - Live At Sibelius Hall".

The HARUS live album/DVD was made available worldwide by earMUSIC in collaboration with Edel's classic music division Berlin Classics. This joint venture from two music labels apparently far away from each other would probably sound bizarre at first sight (a label operating in alternative and metal music with one representing traditional classical music artists). The reason lies beneath the many sides of Tarja Turunen's music.

The first output of HARUS features traditional and emotional music from Finland presented together with more international repertoire.

Tarja's sophomore solo album, "What Lies Beneath", sold around 1,300 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 24 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

"What Lies Beneath" was released in North America on September 14, 2010 via The End Records.

Interview:

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Performance:

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