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.