Abysmal Dawn new album out Feb 1, 2011

California's Abysmal Dawn just put a new track from their forthcoming CD "Leveling The Plane Of Existence",due out on Feb. 1, 2011, on the bands myspace page.  Fans of the band will not be disappointed and if you are not familiar with this band you owe it to yourself to give them a listen.  The newest track is called "In Service Of Time" and can be heard at Abysmal Dawn.  

Blistering Metal News: SINISTER: 'Altered Sins Birth' Box Set Due In February

Blistering Metal News: SINISTER: 'Altered Sins Birth' Box Set Due In February

The urge for a "new" classic this Christmas??? Try Opeth's Masterpiece "Blackwater Park"

This holiday season I'm rocking out to some truly classic metal.  "Blackwater Park" will be 10 years old in February and in my book that makes it classic.  I remember it's release like it was yesterday.  I had just started to really get into Opeth about a year prior when a friend recommended "Still Life" (great disc as well) and remember the underground buzz that had started prior to the release of this masterpiece.  This disc is one that any fan of metal needs to give a chance.  This album is a massive fusion of progressive death metal with a hint of black metal thrown in.  I could not tell you how many people that I have talked into picking up this classic album since its release in 2001 and time and time again those same people get hooked on Opeth.  Blackwater Park is 8 tracks of audible ecstasy that is addictive.  One listen and you'll come back for more.  From the opening growl of "We enter winter once again" from "The Leper Affinity" you realize that you are indeed in for one hell of a ride.  the disc flows into "Bleak" and then riffs into metal beauty.  "Harvest" is the third track and is a track that will catch you by surprise.  Acoustic blended metal at its finest.  "The Drapery Falls" is an excellent tune that blends acoustics and heaviness into an incredibly diverse song that builds into a monster and slowly calms back down.  The next track, "The Funeral Portrait" is a fan favorite and kills.  Hear it to understand, that's all I'm saying.  "Patterns in the Ivy" is a mellow acoustic guitar and piano driven song that is a relaxing 2 minutes to recover from the incredible music you have heard up until that point.  Finally the last track "Blackwater Park" is an epic closer that brings every element of what makes Opeth unique into one final taste.  Acoustics, heavy guitars, growls, groove and feeling.

Tracklist

1.  The Leper Affinity

2.  Bleak

3.  Harvest

4.  The Drapery Falls

5.  Dirge For November

6.  The Funeral Portrait

7.  Patterns In The Ivy

8.  Blackwater Park

Check it out and you will agree that "Blackwater Park" by Opeth is a "new" classic.

Long Live the King: King Diamond comes out of Open-Heart Triple-Bypass Surgery

King Diamond's wife Livia Zita has provided fans with an update and details regarding King's surgery and the days and events just prior to surgery.  Fortunately, King is now at home and recovering.

King Diamond

Livia states, "Let me catch you all up on the past couple of weeks' happenings, because it affects many things.

"On Monday the 29th of November, King had to be transported to the nearby hospital by ambulance. After several different tests were done and the EKG machine showing abnormalities, the doctors recommended that he get a cardiac catheterization. 

"Cardiac catheterization is a procedure where the doctors lead a very thin tube up from the leg and into the heart, where it injects dye into the bloodstream. Then a camera at the end of the tube takes many pictures of the heart's arteries, looking for blockages. 

"After this was done, they determined that King had several heart attacks, and three of his heart's arteries were the cause: one was completely blocked, the second was 90% blocked, and the third was 65% blocked. The only solution to this was an open-heart triple-bypass surgery.

"If you are interested in the details of how this surgery is performed, please look it up online. I will only touch on the basics. The sternum (breastbone) is cut in half and pulled apart, to expose the heart. Veins are harvested from other places of the body,  in King's case it was his left leg and chest wall. The person is then hooked up to a machine that practically does the job of the heart, circulating and oxygenating the blood. The heart is then stopped, and the lungs collapse (the lungs stop working since the blood is being oxygenated by the machine). The surgeon then sews the harvested veins in place, bypassing the found blockages. Once the surgery is done, the surgeon moves the ribs and breastbone back into place and wires it together. The chest is closed as well. They use an electric pulse to start the heart and a breathing machine is lead into the lungs to restart breathing.

"King's surgery took approximately seven hours. Everything went well, and King was taken to ICU for recovery. He was walking and eating solid food already two days after the operation, and he was the first one in the history of the hospital who walked on his own power from the ICU to normal care. 

"10 days after the ambulance took him to the emergency room, he is at home and is recovering well. It will be a few months before he feels completely normal and is without pain.

"He would like to mention here that he's eternally grateful for the wonderful staff at Centennial Medical Center who took care of him. Dr. Kourlis, Dr. Kamili, Dr. Alang, Nurse Christie and Nurse Thomasamong many others made sure that he got the best care and attention he could ever have hoped for. They were always very nice to me, too, letting me stay overnight in the ICU after visiting hours were over.

"In light of this, he will be taking a break from music and the music business altogether until further notice. He very much wants to write new music, finish the DVDs, and go on tour, but for now, all those things are in the distant future and he's not thinking about them.

"Please understand that the KING DIAMOND band is not stopping, disbanding or anything of the sort. King's health is first priority, and when everything is going good with him, the music will resume. 

"Thank you all very much for reading this and STAY HEAVY."

We here at Focus On Metal wish King Diamond a speedy recovery this holiday season.  

There may be no presents for christmas, but material objects are worthless and meaningless.  The best gifts are not tangible.  I for one am truly thankful for the gift of King Diamond's music to all of us metal heads.        

LONG LIVE THE KING!

Judas Priest Announce Farewell Tour

It's a sad day for metal Judas Priest have announce that after 40 years they are heading out on their farewell tour.
Throughout 2011 Priest will be embarking on the worldwide Epitaph tour.

The full set of dates are still being arranged but the following festival dates have been confirmed.

June
9 - Sweden Rock - Solvesborg, Sweden
11 - Sauna Festival - Finland
17 - Copenhell Festival - Copenhagen, Denmark
19 - Hellfest - Nantes, France
22 - Gods of Metal Festival - Milan, Italy
25 - Graspop Festival - Belgium

July
23 - High Voltage Festival - London, UK

August
5 - Wacken Open Air - Wacken, Germany




As more dates are confirmed Focus On Metal will keep you updated, so stay tuned.

Album Review: Halford - Made Of Metal

The album starts of with Undisputed. I can't say it's a bad song but it sounds as if it were written specifically to be the entry music for a studio wrestler. It may have been for all I know. I will say the music is great, the lyrics I am not wild about. The second track, Fire and Ice, really takes it to a better place. The third track and first single, Made of Metal, is right there with Turning Left from Chickenfoot's debut album and sounds like a giant NASCAR add. At this point in the album the thing that stands out to me is that the album is sounding like Priest record more than previous Halford albums. Not nearly has "heavy". Then we come to Speed Of Sound which starts out with a very Iron Maiden feel to it. It ends up sounding very much like 80's Judas Priest including the dual leads. Like There's No Tomorrow is a great song, I think it would have been a great lead off single. The guitar riff under the verses still to me sounds a lot like Maiden's The Trooper. There has been a lot of talk on the internet about Rob not being able to sing like he used to. As far as a pure "singing" voice, I think he sounds great. You can debate his "screaming" ability. Till The Day I Die starts out like an old blues song and sounds great. When the song really kicks in it really keeps the cool vibe. Dare I say almost like a bluesy Cinderella song? We Own The Night is certainly an original sounding song from the Metal God. It has a very cool piano part to it. Heartless is a straight ahead metal song with a very cool guitar solo. Rob does appear to be at his vocal limit on Hell Razor but it works for him. Thunder and Lightning to me is hands down the best song on the album. It has a very catchy chorus that'll have you singing along in no time and the guitar has a very slinky line going on under the versus and punches you in the face during the big chorus. Twenty-Five Years is some what of slower almost power-ballad type song. Certainly not a love song though. The track Matador starts has a nice Latin flare to it. Great drumming on that track. I Know We Stand A Chance is a mid-tempo song. It has a very cool atmosphere to it. The album rounds out with the fourteenth song, The Mower. Fourteen songs into it and it is the first song that sounds like older Halford material.

Certainly 14 songs makes this song a bargain. If you found previous Halford albums a little "too heavy" for your taste or didn't want to hear Rob doing his fire siren vocals, this album would be right up your alley.

Album Review: Dio – At Donington UK: Live 1983 & 1987

2010 has been a curse and a blessing for Ronnie James Dio's fans. Obviously his passing earlier this year was a tough blow. Who imaged metal without him? Since then there has been a glut of tributes. Some have been good, some terrible. This thankfully is the real deal, the man himself.

First off, forget iTunes on this one. Get it on amazon (it's $9.99), bestbuy, whatever but get the physical copy. You get two CD's, a laminated backstage pass and a booklet with some cool photos. Niji Entertainment, RJD's label he started with wife Wendy, did a first-rate job on packaging.

Disc one is Dio's set from Donnington from 1983. The recording is really cool and very raw. I actually enjoyed some of the songs more on this recording than on the record. You get to hear Vivian Campbell (current Def Leppard, current Thin Lizzy, former Whitesnake, former Riverdogs) on guitar and that is worth the price of the disc alone. "Rainbow In The Dark" I would say is the highlight. Almost no keyboard so you get a very different sound. The version of "Heaven And Hell" also shines.

Disc two is the set from 1987 featuring Craig Goldy on guitar. If you ever heard a live version of "Last In Line" this disc is a no-brainer. A little more polished sound on this disc and a little more pure-Dio set.

For $10, you can't go wrong. Heck for $30 you'd still be getting your money's worth.

For Dio fans, check out David "Rock" Feinstein's new CD "Bitten By The Beast" (amazon) also from Niji which features one of the last songs Ronnie every recorded. David is Ronnie's cousin and has played in ELF and the Rods. ELS was Ronnie's first band prior to Rainbow.

Happy Thanksgiving

DEATH METAL ROOSTER: EXPLAINED
In honor of the holiday most associated with one of the seven deadly sins — gluttony — we’re pleased to give you Death Metal Rooster Explained. True, roosters aren’t turkeys, but to date no one has uploaded a video of a turkey roaring for 30 seconds.

Mosh Potatoes - The latest metal cookbook

As the U.S. settles in for a daylong turkey induced food coma Focus On Metal would like to draw your attention to a new cookbook featuring 147 recipes from some metal greats. Mosh Potatoes by Moth Eater bassist Steve Seabury has some great stuff from Ron Thal, Joey Belladonna, Zakk Wylde, Max Cavalera, Dave Ellefson and Lemmy just to name a few. Beyond the recipes the contributors also share some great road stories.

“Food and music are as important as oxygen to a musician and you should never travel without either of them. Keep a copy of Mosh Potatoes in your kitchen and your guitar case to make sure your culinary desires are well tended to, both at home and on the road.” —Dave Ellefson, Megadeth

Stratovarius Drummer Diagnosed With Cancer

Stratovarius keybordist Jens Johansson has released the following statement concerning drummer  Jörg Michael 

“Dear STRATOVARIUS fans, I am afraid we have some quite terrible news. News of the worst imaginable kind. It’s about our friend and drummer Jörg Michael.
Jörg has cancer.
He recently discovered a lump on his neck, went to the doctor, they decided to operate, and found what they call ‘a malignant thyroid neoplasm.’ They took out his whole thyroid just to have the best chance to get everything out. He will also have to undergo a regimen of radiotherapy.
“He is a fighter. We have all talked to him and it’s clear that this guy is not down for the count. He and his team of German doctors are pissed off and ready to kick ass, and I would not want to be a little cancer cell on these guys’ shit list.. believe me.
Jörg and his family (and us guys in the band) found this out only last week, after the operation. Naturally we are all going between a lot of emotions, sadness, worry, shock, confusion, even anger.
“As for STRATOVARIUS, as you perhaps know, there is a long tour coming up with Helloween, and with the surgery and therapy that will now follow there is no way Jörg can do the first part of the tour. For me personally, I at first felt quite hopeless about the tour, because I was so upset about all this news. But Jörg himself has been extremely clear that he does not want the band to cancel a single show because of this. In the end, this is what made at least me feel better about going back hitting the road next week.
So, we have debated what to do for many days now. Jörg first suggested my brother Anders to do this November-December 2010 leg, but it turns out Anders will, unfortunately, be busy recording some record or other with that little indie cellar band of his called Hammerfall.  )


After a lot of searching, we found a guy that both can do it and didn’t have other commitments: Alex Landenburg [At Vance, Annihilator, Mekong Delta]. He plays well, Jörg says he is a great guy (very important!) and he even started learning the set already before we even had decided what to do, which to me shows a lot of dedication. You can Google Alex’s name if you are curious.
“So it turns out that STRATOVARIUS will do the first leg of the Helloween 7 Sinners tour, just as planned, only not with Jörg behind the kit, but with Jörg very much as a motivator to us being there. Not one single date will be canceled or changed.
Jörg wants to be back on the road with us again as soon as possible depending on the therapy, but we are not making any promises; that one is up to powers even higher than Jörg Michael and his doctors.
We will try to keep you somewhat updated.
Anyway, the most important thing is that they think they got all the bad stuff out and that the end result is that we just fix that sentence I wrote above. We will then say: Jörg had cancer. But he beat it.”

Volbeat feat Michael Denner and Mille Petrozza

Live in Forum Copenhagen 19-11-2010

New Cavalera Conspiracy Disc Due In March

Andreas Kisser may have nixed any possibilty of a true Sepultura reunion nut Max and Igor march on. Cavalera Conspiracy have announced that their second disc Blunt Force Trauma will be released in March 2011. Fans have been waiting for this one since 2008 which was when their debut album Inflikted came out. The disc will be released via Roadrunner. As of this writing the tracks are:
 1. Warlord
 2. Torture
 3. Lynch Mob
 4. Killing Inside
 5. Thrasher
 6. I Speak Hate
 7. Target
 8. Genghis Khan
 9. Burn Waco
 10. Rasputin
 11. Blunt Force Trauma

Rock vs. Metal

New Anthrax Disc With Belladonna Due in 2011

The musical chair game of vocalists that is Anthrax goes for another round. The band has announced that they have been working on a new album with....Joey Belladonna. The disc is scheduled for release in 2011. This is the first time Belladona will appear on an Anthrax Studio release since 1991's release "Persistence Of Time" The Joey versus John debate will be discussed in an upcoming episode of the Focus On Metal netcast.

Fear Factory tour announcement

Fear Factory will tour Europe with HIGH ON FIRE and DAATH in December. Dates are as follows:

December
6 - Luxembourg, Luxembourg - Den Atelier
7 - Antwerp, Belgium - Trix
8 - Saarbrucken, Germany - Garage
9 - Wien, Austria - Arena
11 - Zurich, Switzerland - Dynamo
12 - Bologna, Italy - Estragon
13 - Köln, Germany - Essigfabrik
14 - Paris, France - Elysee Montmartre
15 - Nottingham, England - Rock City
16 - Glasgow, Scotland - QMU
18 - Manchester, England - O2 Academy
19 - London, England - Forum
20 - Bristol, England - O2 Academy

and then returns to US with the following schedule:
29 - Tempe, AZ - The Club House
30 - El Paso, TX - Club 101
31 - Fort Worth, TX - The Rail Club

January
1 - Tulsa, OK - The Marquee Theater
2- Amarillo, TX - Club Khaos
4 - Farmington, NM - Gators
5 - Albuquerque, NM - Sunshine Theater
6 - Tucson, AZ - Dv8
7 - West Hollywood, CA - Whisky A Go Go
8 - San Diego, CA - Brick By Brick

Deal of the Week - Black Label Society for 69 cents!

You can get "Berzerkus Tour Sampler" at Amazon in mp3 format for 69¢! WTF! Thanks Chiaki for the heads up!

eBay find of the Week - Mercyful Fate Live LP

"Live from the Dephts of Hell" was one of the records from the infamous John Kibble, early Mercyful Fate manager. It features live tracks from different shows, and the sound quality varies. This record was sold by major distributors in Europe and US. A must for any serious Mercyful Fate collector.

Who is the seller? A private collector who is selling part of his collection. An audiophile, takes all the care with his records. Some were bought only for collection purpose, and remain unplayed. All listened records were played in a Roksan TMS2/Artemiz MkII/Shiraz state-of-the-art turntable set which guarantees no agression to the vinyl. All played records are cleaned with a Clearaudio Smart Matrix using Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab Super Record Wash.

Here is the link to the auction. Good luck.

Massive Doro Package Due Out 26-November

On November 26 Nuclear Blast will out Doro - 25 Years In Rock. The release captures the 25th anniversary concert which was on December 13th 2008 in Dusseldorf Germany. Besides Doro the concert also has appearances from some of the Scorpions, Tarja and a reunited Warlock.
The release includes 2 DVDs with the entire 3 hour concert plus another 3 hours of bonus footage and her 2500th show in March 2010. If that wasn't enough there's also 3 booklets and a live CD.

Win the Ultimate Slayer merch pack

BraveWords.com has teamed up with thrash metal icons SLAYER to give away the ultimate fan prize pack! This contest is for SERIOUS SLAYER FANS ONLY! The exclusive merch pack includes:

1 Slayer chain wallet
1 Slayer t-shirt
1 Slayer beanie hat
1 Slayer messenger bag
1 Slayer poster
1 Slayer vinyl mat
1 Slayer sticker
1 Slayer shot glass

Check out all the Slaytanic goodies below:

A winner will be chosen at random - to enter email contests@bravewords.com with "SLAYER SAVES" in the subject line. Please include snail mail address.

Contest closes Wednesday, November 10th.

Slayer saves at Slayer.net!

Legendary PENTAGRAM sign with Metal Blade, record new album

Long-running D.C. doom legends PENTAGRAM, with riff-meister Victor Griffin back in the fold, will record their new album, "Last Rites", between November 29 and December 21 for a late March/early April release via Metal Blade Records. The effort will be a double-disc set consisting of the new studio album and a DVD of the band's performance at this year's Maryland Deathfest, which was held on May 28-30, 2010 at Sonar in Baltimore. 

Working songtitles set to appear on the CD:

* Walk In The Blue Light
* Horseman
* Virgin Death
* Figure Eight
* Everything's Turning To Night
* Mark My Word
* Sunday's Child
* Old Man
* Thrill Of The Kill

PENTAGRAM's current lineup:

Bobby Liebling - Vocals
Victor Griffin - Guitar
Greg Turley - Bass
Gary Isom - Drums 

New Limited Release From Slayer

SLAYER have announced that they'll be releasing an up till now unheard track, Atrocity Vendor, in a special limited-edition 7-inch single. 

The Kerry King track was recorded when they were doing the sessions for World Painted Blood, and will be released on "Black Friday," November 26, exclusively through Metal Club, the indie store association that helps to get metal fans to patronize their local and loyal metal shops.

The other track on the release will be World Painted Blood,  The single will be  released in a clear sleeve on a red vinyl. 

Go to my metal club to find a Metal Store record shop near you.

Acid Drinkers - Seasons in the Abyss (Slayer cover)

Radical Polish thrashers Acid Drinkers cover Slayer's "Seasons' in the Abyss". WARNING: Not for the faint of heart!

Fragile Art Of Existence Reissue Details

The Fragile Art Of Existence the one and only release by death metal pioneer Chuck Schuldiner's progressive metal project Control Denied is due to be rereleased on October 26 by Relapse Records.

The album originally dropped in 1999 and has now been fully remastered as well as getting some new packaging and liner notes by Control Denied drummer Richard Christy. As well as the original 8 tracks the release will include a second disc with demos. A special 100 piece liited run will include a third CD with even more demo material.
You can pre-order the release here.
Here's the track breakdown:

Disc 1:
01. Consumed
02. Breaking The Broken
03. Expect The Unexpected
04. What If…?
05. When The Link Becomes Missing
06. Believe
07. Cut Down
08. The Fragile Art Of Existence

Disc 2:
01. Consumed (1999 Demos)
02. When The Link Becomes Missing (1999 Demo)
03. The Fragile Art Of Existence (1999 Demo)
04. Breaking The Broken (1999 Demo)
05. Breaking The Broken (1999 Demo) (w/ Chuck Schuldiner on vocals)
06. Believe (1997 Demo)
07. What If…? (1997 Demo)
08. Cut Down (1997 Demo)
09. Tune Of Evil (Comedy Demo)

Disc 3:
01. What If…? (1996 Demo)
02. Cut Down (1996 Demo)
03. Expect The Unexpected (1996 Demo)
04. Believe (1996 Demo)
05. The Fragile Art Of Existence (1996 Demo)
06. What If…? (1996 Demo)
07. Expect The Unexpected (1996 Demos) (w/ Chuck Schuldiner on vocals)
08. What If…? (1996 Demos) (w/ Chuck Schuldiner on vocals)
09. Cut Down (1996 Demos) (w/ Chuck Schuldiner on vocals)

Gwar - Bloody Pit of Horror "Sick and Twisted"? No shit!

Are you ready for new music from Gwar?!?! Well ready or not, here it comes! “Sick and Twisted” is your latest sampling of new music from Gwar’s forthcoming release, Gwar’s Bloody Pit of Horror. It might be the band’s most tasteless song EVER, so crank that shit loud and make sure to offend the neighbors, make your dad shit himself, your mom fist herself, and your grandma puke all over her poodle. Then go here to pre-order the album before Metal Blade releases it on November 9.

And don’t forget that Gwar are on tour right now! If you’ve ever seen the band live before, you know how much fun they are, and if you haven’t, well, don’t miss out! (MetalSucks.net)

Make sure you check out the latest edition of Focus on Metal where we interview Oderus Urangus coming to you this Tuesday on Pure Rock Radio and Wednesday to iTunes.

More bands announced for 2011 Roadburn Festival

Just announced Wardruna, Acid King, Liturgy, Ramesses and the Gates Of Slumber have been just been added to already large line up for Holland's epic Roadburn Festival.

A full list of bands can be found their website. 

Oh and this just in little bands that goes the name Candlemass will also be performing. They will be performing the entire Epicus Doomicus Metallicus with original singer Johann Langquist. In addition they will do other material from their catalog with current vocalist Robert Lowe.

The word from Candlemass bassist Leif Edling: “Candlemass is on for ROADBURN 2011! I’m very happy! Not only for the chance to redeem ourselves, it is still our 25th anniversary for god’s sake! A black piece of vinyl called Epicus Doomicus Metallicuscame out almost exactly 25 years ago, and it will be a bonechilling event for us all… to play the whole shit live at ROADBURN! Can’t wait! The lights, the sound…the projector show… everything will be absolute KILLER!! Pentagram and Candlemass at Roadburn next year. Jeez… what a show!!!”

Gibson to release the Randy Rhoads Les Paul

Gibson is set to release a limited edition modeled after Randy's 1974 Les Paul Custom. The guitar will come in two editions.
The first is the VOS edition which will have the look of a gently aged guitar and will be limited to 200 pieces.
The second is a hand aged version which will match the plying wear of the actual guitar. This is limited to 100 pieces.
Both models will have the woods, dimensions, and pickups carefully recreated to give the player the closest they can get to having Randy's famous guitar. Including the "Rhoads" small D profile neck, Schaller tuners and strap locks and custom 74 humbuckers.

Save your pennies, as these don't come cheap at $7056 and $9880 msrp respectively.

Gus & Apollo Speak About Days Of Defiance

Gus G. and Apollo from Firewind have released a video which takes fans track by track through the new release "Days Of Defiance" which will be released 25-October from Century Media. Stay tuned to Focus On Metal for a full review in the next few weeks.

Steve Lee killed in freak bike accident

GOTTHARD front man Steve Lee was killed in a fatal motorcycle accident in in Nevada on October 5 about 50 miles from Las Vegas.
Steve had been part of a group of 21 Swiss bikers who were touring America on their Harleys. They had stopped on the side of the road to put on rain gear when a trailer of a passing truck went out of control and hit five of the parked bikes. One of those bikes hit Steve and he died at the scene. He was 48.

Metallica to Release "Live At Grimey's"

On November 26th (Black Friday) Metallica will release "Live At Grimey's".

This was recorded in the basement of Grimey's New and Preloved Music in Nashville on the eve of their 2008 Bonnaroo appearance. Only 150 lucky people were in attendance for this old school Metallica club show.
The release will be available as a CD and as a two platter 10" vinyl set.

And here's the extra bit...it will only be available at independent music retailers. This is in keeping with supporting those who support Record Store Day. For a list of retailers vist www.mymetalclub.com

Live at Grimey's track listing:

No Remorse
Fuel
Harvester of Sorrow
Welcome Home (Sanitarium)
For Whom The Bell Tolls
Master of Puppets
Sad But True
Motorbreath
Seek and Destroy

Rare Giger Ibanez for Sale

For sale on eBay. With a 3,695 Buy it Now price tag.
This is the same one that Tom G. Warrior uses.
The work of renowned Swiss artist H.R. Giger, creator of the creature from the "Alien" films and ELP's "Brain Salad Surgery" cover, has already spawned a highly successful run of Ibanez guitars and basses featuring his artwork on graphic print. But now, the parties have taken it a step further, this time actually engraving his designs into the body and finishing it with a metal powder coat! Even the hardware is pewter-toned to fit the vibe. Giger's motif even branches out to the ebony fingerboard, with one of his classic lines as an inlay. Giger even engraved his initials on the truss rod cover. Features include an Edge III tremolo, mahogany body, and Infinity humbuckers. Only 200 made worldwide! Comes with a special hardshell case.

New BLOTTED SCIENCE album on the horizon

OK, so it is not a full length album, but the 22-minute long EP that follows their insane debut "The Machinations of Dementia" is one hell of an anticipated release for the Extreme Pair of Mandy and Dario. Founder Rob Jarzombek tells Metal Injection that the group has a new drummer.

“Yes, folks, please welcome Hannes [Grossmann] 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 [former Blotted Science/current Behold... The Arctopus drummer Charlie Zeleny] the very best with his current bands/projects/sessions, and many thanks for doing an absolute brilliant job on Machinations.”

No date has been set for the release, but Ron speculates that early 2011 is the target.

Yngwie has a new release in the works

Veteran neo-classical shred god Yngwie Malmsteen will once again release the fury on November 23rd.
Relentless will be his first release in two years and will once again feature the mighty Tim "Ripper" Owens on vocals.

Tracks for Relentless include "Relentless," "Look At You Now," "Shot Across the Bow," "Adagio B Minor Variation," "Caged Animal," "Critical Mass," "Into Valhalla," "Enemy Within," and "Caprici Di Inferno".

"This title truly is the right one for this album, explains Yngwie. "I mean, after all these years, some kind of force is driving me to create something that totally surpasses everything I've done before. I tried to capture the raw energy of a live performance, yet push myself to the most demanding level of playing and composing to harness that elusive magic that can't just be switched on. All the way out, caution to the wind, but disciplined performances was what I went for. Maybe I did it too, check it out!


For more info check out www.yngwiemalmsteen.com