TRIUMPH’s new ‘best of’ set, Greatest Hits: Remixed, will be released on May 18th, 2010. The songs were all recently remixed by Rich Chycki who previously has worked with AEROSMITH and RUSH. The set also includes a previously unreleased recording, Love Hurts, which will be the leadoff single Greatest Hits: Remixed.

LOUDNESS will release a new album, King Of Pain, on May 19th through Tokuma Japan Communications.

The doom band THE 11TH HOUR, which features former GOREFEST drummer Ed Warby now also features former GOREFEST guitarist Frank Harthoorn.

PRETTY MAIDS will release a new album, called Pandemonium, on May 14th through Frontiers Records. The band claims it is a return to its earliest days.

VANDEN PLAS will release a new album, The Seraphic Clockwork, on June 4th through Frontiers Records. The eight-song concept album was produced by the band at Bazement Studio with engineer Markus Teske.

A March 12th GUNS N’ ROSES show for a moneyed crowd in a Sao Paulo club turned into a riot when the band was a no-show. The crowd trashed the club after finding out that the band will not be appearing. The March 14th GUNS N' ROSES show in Rio De Janeiro at Apoteose Stadium was also cancelled due to the stage collapsing because of heavy rains. GUNS N’ ROSES singer Axl subsequently interrupted an arena show in Brazil the day after to announce the band will leave and not play should a bottle throwing incident continue. In the meantime, Los Angeles’ Front Line Management Group has filed a lawsuit against GUNS N' ROSES singer Axl Rose claiming it is owed $1,870,500 from the revenue the band made during recent world-wide tours. Doc McGhee (KISS, etc.) now manages the band.

TEXTURES has recruited singer Daniel de Jongh formerly of CILICE. He replaces Eric Kalsbeek.

BIBLE OF THE DEVIL's Parched In The Western World tour got underway at the Cobra Lounge in Chicago. Joining the band for the majority of the dates will be the SLOUGH FEG, as well as acts like NAAM, LEECHES OF LORE, DARKBLACK and more throughout the tour.

Festival, the fourth full-length from JON OLIVA'S PAIN, will be released in North America on April 12, through AFM Records. The CD, issued in Europe on February 19th, entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 87. Festival was recorded at Morrisound Recording with Tom Morris.

ICARUS WITCH has made second guitarist Ed Skero a permanent member after his touring stint with the band opening for PAUL DI’ANNO.

KOTTAK (formerly called KRUNK) featuring singer and guitarist Jimmy Ratchitt (i.e. KINGDOM COME and SCORPIONS drummer James Kottak) and his wife Athena (the sister of MÖTLEY CRÜE's Tommy Lee) on drums has signed a deal with CMM International. The group's next album, Rock & Roll Forever (initially called Scream With Me) will be released in Europe on May 14th.

Former WARLOCK and current solo singer DORO PESCH has been counting all along and celebrated her 2,500th concert on March 13, 2010. The performance took place at the new Burg-Wächter Castello Arena in her hometown of Düsseldorf, Germany in front of 2,500 fans and included guest appearances by DESTRUCTION mainman Schmier, KROKUS vocalist Marc Storace and HOLY MOSES frontwoman Sabina Classen, among others. Pictures can be viewed at http://tinyurl.com/ycbrbgp.

MAD MAX has been confirmed for this year's edition of the Wacken Open Air festival, set to take place on 5th-7th August, 2010 in Wacken, Germany. The band will play a set of their 25-years-jubilee-album Here We Are (2008).

Debuting this year is a new power metal band called FOREVER’S EDGE, which was formed by New Jersey guitarist Salvatore Pisano and features keyboardist Mike Khalilov (EMPYREON and REVOLUTION RENAISSANCE), singer Clay Barton (SUSPYRE), bassist Andrew Distabile (SUSPYRE) and drummer Frank Godla (EMPYREON and DIVIDING LIGHT). Female vocals are performed by Sue MacPherson. The band’s first album, Chaotic Silence, will be released on July 13, 2010 through Nightmare Records.

Former AVENGER singer Ian Davison Swift has formed CARDINAL SYNNE. AVENGER bassist Huw Holding is also involved. All members use the ‘brother’ title.

SYMPHORCE has signed with AFM Records and is expecting to issue an album in July.

RUSH: Beyond The Lighted Stage is the title of a RUSH documentary produced by Scot McFadyen and Sam Dunn of Toronto, Canada's Banger Films Inc., which will receive a red-carpet premier at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City on Saturday, April 24. All three members of RUSH — singer/bassist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson and drummer Neil Peart — will attend the premiere.

VIP Tickets, so metal! SOILWORK has announced a North American headlining tour this July and August with California’s DEATH ANGEL, Canada’s AUGURY, MUTINY WITHIN and SWASHBUCKLE.

KILLING MACHINE has been confirmed for this year’s Headbangers Open Air Festival, which takes place on 29-31 July in Brande-Hörnerkirchen, near Elmshorn, Germany. KIILLING MACHINE will perform on the main stage on 29th July 2010. KILLING MACHINE recently re-grouped as a four-piece after a four-year hiatus. The current line-up is Csaba Zvekan - vocals, Peter Scheithauer (ex-TEMPLE OF BRUTALITY/BELLADONNA) - guitar and Jon Dette (ex TESTAMENT/SLAYER) - drums. The band has recruited a new bass player to replace Dave Ellefson, who has rejoined MEGADETH. KILLING MACHINE has picked up former STRATOVARIUS and current EVERGREY bassist Jari Kainulainen. Jari will continue with his position in EVERGREY.

For the first time ever, MANOWAR will play in Ukraine headlining the Global East Rock Festival on September 4th, 2010. The band has released Hell On Earth V DVD through SONY partners MRI and RED in Canada and the USA.

JUDAS PRIEST is commemorating the thirtieth anniversary of the release of British Steel. British Steel: Legacy Edition CD + DVD package includes the CD featuring 2001 remaster of original 9-song album with two bonus tracks, a DVD featuring live 16-song set from the 2009 tour (the album sequence plus seven more tunes) plus a new ‘Making of British Steel’ interview.

Despite singer Ronnie James Dio being diagnosed with stomach cancer last year HEAVEN AND HELL has announce three summer shows this summer in Italy. Additionally, drummer Vinny Appice underwent shoulder surgery recently.

ICED EARTH's Box Of The Wicked will be released on April 26th by SPV/Steamhammer Records. The set is limited to 10,000 copies worldwide. The band’s Something Wicked concept is included in the box set featuring the original digipak CDs Framing Armageddon and The Crucible Of Man as well as the original digipaks EPs Overture Of The Wicked and I Walk Among You.

Italian “Horror Metal” band CADAVERIA has entered the studio to begin recording its new release. After their live dates in Mexico at the end of June, CADAVERIA spent the second half of 2009 in the rehearsal room to complete the songs. The as yet untitled recording will contain eleven tracks and will be released in late 2010. In January 2009 CADAVERIA announced the addition of Dick Laurent as second guitar.

ELDRITCH is in the studio recording its eighth album for Diversity Media/LMP. "The title [of the new CD] will probably be 'Gaia's Legacy' and it will mark the return to the early era of the band with a modern sound. For this purpose the band announces Fab 'Shiver' Muratori [NHORIZON] at the keyboards."

The Dutch Heavy Metal band METHUSALEM has set the release date for its upcoming demo Unite And Conquer on March 26th 2010. This self-financed demo will be distributed by Rock Inc.

Tribunal Records has announced April 13th as the release date for the reissue of the self-titled debut album from the German hard rock band CASANOVA. It was originally issued in 1990.

DREAM THEATER will spend this summer supporting IRON MAIDEN on the band's month-long tour of U.S. and Canada. The tour is dubbed The Final Frontier and will hit Europe next.

DREAM EVIL has been booked for 2010's Sweden Rock Festival, which will take place on June 9th to 12th in Sölvesborg.

CIVILIZATION ONE has called it a day after receiving no interest from record labels.

PRIMAL FEAR has cancelled its appearance at the Wacken Open Air festival in August "due to an important private appointment." The band will play in 2011 instead.

Sweden’s ENFORCER will release its new album, Diamonds, on May 24th through Earache Records.

More comings and goings in BRAND NEW SIN! The band has picked up guitarist Tommy Matkowski (formerly of THE BORN AGAIN REBELS) as a replacement for Kenny Dunham.

German pagan metal band EQUILIBRIUM has announced singer Robse as its new frontman. Robse will be the replacement for Helge Stang who left the band recently. EQUILIBRIUM will be recording its third studio album soon. The band has also recruited Israeli drummer called Hati. The Germans are currently recording a new album, called ReKreatur, for a 2010 release.

LEATHERWOLF singer and guitarist Michael Olivieri has issued a solo album called Goodbye Rain in December, 2009.

Due to a retinal detachment, GAMMA RAY guitarist Henjo Richter has been hospitalized and underwent surgery on March 16th. The band cancelled several shows in Germany. Kasperi Heikkinen of AMBERIAN DAWN and the Finnish GAMMA RAY cover band GUARDIANS OF MANKIND is a temporary replacement for Henjo Richter.

Sweden’s STEELWING (formerly SCAVENGER) will release its album, entitled Lord Of The Wasteland, on April 30th through Noise Art Records. STEELWING was accorded a recording deal as part of a contest launched by Rock The Nation and promoted by the European metal press.

Inspired by KEEL? The reformed ANACRUSIS has announced a free all-ages show on April 18th at T. Billy Buffett's in Overland, Missouri. This will be the band’s only appearance before its show at Keep It True XIII festival, which will be held April 23 and 24 in Lauda-Königshofen, Germany.

EVEMASTER has a signed a deal with Supernova Records, which is a sub-label of one of Bonnier Amigo. Supernova is led by Johnny Hagel (ex-TIAMAT and SUNDOWN). An album is due this year.

Vancouver's BISON B.C. is set to release its third album, entitled Dark Ages, on April 13th and prepare for its upcoming tour with HIGH ON FIRE, PRIESTESS and BLACK COBRA by playing a batch of dates with SHADOWS FALL and BAPTIZED IN BLOOD including two shows at the SXSW festival.

JACKYL will release a new independent album, called When Moonshine And Dynamite Collide, on May 4th independently. It can be ordered at www.jackyl.com.

TAROT will release its next studio album, Gravity Of Light, on April 23rd through Nuclear Blast Records.

ENEMY OF THE SUN will release its second album, Caedium, on May 28th through Massacre Records.

KROKUS’ Hoodoo album has landed at the #1 position its home country of Switzerland.

Inspired by KEEL? San Francisco’s BABYLON A.D. has reformed with the original members and is currently in pre-production for its sixth studio release. 2010 will also bring a new version of the song Bang Go The Bells.

ANATHEMA will release its next studio album, We're Here Because We're Here, on May 31rd through Kscope Records. The album was self-produced.

German band ATLANTEAN KODEX and Italian label Cruz Del Sur Music have signed a deal for the worldwide release of the group’s upcoming debut, The Golden Bough. The debut release from OVERMASTER is entitled Madness Of War and will be released worldwide on April 23rd through Cruz Del Sur Music. OVERMASTER features Gustavo “Gus” Gabarró formerly of WHITE SKULL on vocals, along with several other Italian musicians from SKYLARK, HIGHLORD, EDGE OF FOREVER and other acts.

POWER QUEST has parted ways with singer Pete Morten and guitarist Ben Randall due to musical differences. The band claims the split was amicable and that a replacement vocalist is already found. The band is seeking a guitarist and candidates in the UK may e-mail the band at stevekeys@power-quest.co.uk.

Eagle Rock Entertainment has announced the April 26th Blu-ray and DVD release of CHICKENFOOT Get Your Buzz On Live. The Blu-ray and DVD will be released in America on April 20th by EMI America. The Blu-ray and DVD features one full concert shot at the Dodge Theater in Phoenix, Arizona on September 23rd, 2009 plus live segments from shows at the Tabernacle in Atlanta, Georgia and The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio.

DRAGONFORCE has parted ways with singer ZP Theart. The band cites musical differences as the reason for the split.

GRAVE DIGGER will celebrate its thirtieth anniversary at this year's Wacken Open Air festival, which will take place August 5th to 7th, 2010 in Wacken, Germany. The band will perform its best-selling album, 1996‘s Tunes Of War, in its entirety and will be accompanied by guests and an orchestra.

Metal Blade Records has signed HAMMERS OF MISFORTUNE. Metal Blade Records will release four of the band's previous releases in late summer of 2010 with a new studio album expected in 2011.

British heavy metal band MARSHALL LAW cancelled its show at 2010's Hammerfest II festival, which was happening on March 11-13 at Pontins, Prestatyn Sands, North Wales. The band stated, "Sadly, Steve Hauxwell drums has been involved in an accident whilst snowboarding in Belgium and is undergoing treatment to a fractured wrist...”

AIRBOURNE will be supporting BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE in the U.S.A. this May. The band is supporting its No Guts. No Glory. album.

LACRIMAS PROFUNDERE has asked bassist Peter Kafka to leave the band. According to the group, "Peter is too busy with his side projects to focus completely on LACRIMAS PROFUNDERE, so we decided to part ways." LACRIMAS PROFUNDERE has announced its next album, The Grandios Nowhere, to be issued on April 30th through Napalm Records.

SAXON bassist Nibbs Carter will not be touring with the band for the upcoming tour as his wife is ill. SAXON has hired Yenz Leonhardt (KINGDOM COME and LACRIMOSA) as a temporary replacement.

PLACE OF SKULLS, featuring former PENTAGRAM guitarist Victor Griffin, has finished recording its fourth album, As A Dog Returns, at Lakeside Studio. A release date is not set.

TIM ‘RIPPER’ OWENS is touring Europe in September. Chris Caffery is on guitars and Simon Wright on drums.

MEKONG DELTA has completed a new album, called Wanderer On The Edge Of Time, for a 2010 release. A label has not been determined, but the band reckons the album to be its most progressive.

The British Broadcasting Corporation has axed Bruce Dickinson BBC 6 Music Friday night radio show as it cuts back on its programming in general and digital programming in particular. The IRON MAIDEN singer had conducted his show on and off for the last eight years.

PAUL DI’ANNO’s 30th Anniversary Of Iron Maiden tour marks the thirtieth anniversary of the self-titled debut of IRON MAIDEN. The former singer of IRON MAIDEN will play every song of the album live and also include tracks from the follow-up album, Killers. The tour occurs in Australia and New Zealand in June.

Swedish glamsters CRASHDIET has signed to Frontiers Records. The band’s next album, Generation Wild, is out on April 14th. The Swedish release is handled by Gain Records.

Yet another JIMI HENDRIX album has seen the light of day. Valleys Of Neptune was released March 9th. It debuted on The Billboard 200 best-selling albums chart at #4.

More upheaval in CLOVEN HOOF! The band’s Throne Of Damnation EP has been postponed due to the departure of singer Russ North. Matt Moreton is the new CLOVEN HOOF singer. Moreton was the singer on the band’s Eye Of The Sun album.

Having picked EDGUY as its openers for Germany, SCORPIONS has picked RATT as its openers in the United States for its farewell tour in 2010.

Myspace is owned by News Corp. the same people in charge of America’s favourite fascists Fox News.

STEELGAR – XENOCIDE
First off, the biography claims the disc reviewed here is out through some obscure label called Molusco Discos, but that label’s Internet presence has no information on Steelgar and does not mention the band. In any case, given how the disc and its back cover make no mention of this company either the point must be moot given that label’s involvement, if any, is trivial.
On to the music and it is a monster. This band is thoroughly thrashified and so far as the recent resurgence of thrash metal is packed with impressive bands that honour the original true sounds of the sub-genre Steelgar is hell of a success.
The full-length demo kicks off with the very striking Injected, easily the band’s best song. This song has it all and establishes the Spaniards’ appeal. The band relies on a simplified, not-concerned-with-technicality, fast riffing pattern that begs for heads to be banged. The vocalist has a nice range and even delights with the upper ranges reminiscent of the heady days of the ‘80s. The guitarist is tight and never forgets how important a ripping solo is. Speed, as mentioned, is not lacking. Steelgar sounds like a mixture of Slayer, Exumer and Overkill and is up to those standards too. Retaliator – a good title – is as good, but hints at Megadeth from when it was good in the ‘80s in general and Tornado Of Souls in particular. Under The Whip has a patented Kill ‘Em All riff, which is something that was recently utilized by Mantic Ritual too. The band’s songs are short, but this one does slow down to a ‘70s Judas Priest bluesy crawl to take longer to completion. Napalm Burn begins with a different guitar tone and has the clickiest drums on the demo. Thrashing Knights – an old Steelgar title – begins with a marching intro and takes pleasure to inflict pain upon the guitar. Army Of Goats ends with a sample of goats and simultaneously brings the disc to a successful close.
Steelgar is one of the better bands of the recent thrash metal reawakening. That is impressive unto itself given how many of this movement’s bands have impressed with their authenticity, but even more so that Steelgar could have actually stemmed from the ‘80s, before bands tried to become more musical (wimp out), change their singers (wimp out), shorten and alter their names (wimp out), slow down (wimp out), listen to their record companies (wimp out), record cover versions and make singles out of them (wimp out) and generally claim that they are all influenced by Kansas and aren’t even thrash metal (wimp out). Steelgar is old-school, that good, and proudly so. Get hold of the band through info@pegadabrutal.com, mailing@steelgar.com or visit www.steelgar.com. - Ali “The Metallian”

PONIES TO KILL – Same
This is two-song sampler from the Finnish quintet. For some reason an animal theme runs through the bio as well as, of course, the band name augments lines like “music that... kicks like a mule aired” and “joining the flock”. Musically, the first of two songs here, Might Just Kill Me, seems to be attempting to be like Black Label Society but all in all it is as much a typical hard rock song, with an ‘80s feel, as anything out there. Quite Like Gods takes a slightly more laid back approach with the vocals of Vesa Virtanen being responsible for a good dose of melody and taking the song in the direction of the German or European style of hard rock. Check out at the band at www.myspace.com/poniestokill and contact them via www.poniestokill@gmail.com.

OBSCENE CRISIS – Advance Demo Of ‘95
Formed by ex-Kataklysm guitarist Stephane Cote as a vehicle to get his musical ambitions on track again, the young quintet has now recorded no less than ten songs at Montreal’s Victor Studio (Necrotic Mutation, Obliveon, Gorguts, etc.) intended as the first serious foray of the band following last year’s debut tape. Admittedly, being in possession of an advance tape with an initial rough mix, I am not able to make a final verdict regarding the sound and production of the finished product. Safe to say that the recording will sound at least average and satisfactory if not, as promised, of high quality. What is obvious, regardless, is the unequivocal devotion of the material to pure death metal without an inclination to compromise. Serving as the highlight of Obscene Crisis is the vocal savagery of Eric Fisset who comes across as the bestial offspring of Frank Mullen, Joe Ptacek and Chris Barnes! While the main portion of his delivery is delightfully sub-woofer growling during occasions such as Human/Ecology and Animated Hallucination or towards the end of Streets Of Insecurity, he varies his voice to at least two other ravaging tones. Elsewhere, on a track like Off Season, he manages a fine impression of the devil heaving during a miscarriage. Ha! Additional honourable mention is accorded the snare blast of drummer Stephane Chartrand whose relentless attack is akin to troupes like Suffocation or Terrorizer. Whereas, in the guitar department the two men are content to simply follow each other. The band needs to utilize its two guitars to a fuller degree. Personally, I would be happier were the band to work on distinguishing one guitar from the other. Ultimately, should the promised finishing touches on the sound come together Obscene Crisis will become instant contenders on the death metal scene. Contact the band at 9230 Lajeunesse #2, Montreal Canada H2M 1S2. – Ali “The Metallian”

MIRROR OF DECEPTION – WORDS UNSPOKEN
Wow! I am hearing of more and more German doom metal bands. What’s next? Talk of a German metal scene? Well, not so far as I know, so let us concentrate on the demo at hand. There is nothing wrong with the band’s musical delivery. Then again, the vocals are an acquired taste; the man either cannot or will not vary his vocal range. Yet, playing on this weakness, the monotony adds character to the overall performance, so far as doom metal revels in that very character! Words Unspoken charts territory The Sabs covered some twenty years ago. Chapter X is seven minutes and melancholic in its soothing simple rhythms. Flipping the tape, Mysterious balances that very quality with a touch of the epic. The song travels a leisurely pace with the words coming together to resemble a stream of consciousness. Mirror Of Deception brings this to a doom-ridden close, and being the only song with lyrics not courtesy of main lyricists Fopp, no text is printed. The song arguably features the demo’s most massive chord crash landing right at the beginning. The demo runs over twenty five minutes and is available through Jochen Fopp, Im Dobbel 9, 73066 Ohingen Germany. – Ali “The Metallian”

FORESHADOW – REVOLT
Fans of Prong, Metallica and Francophone country music listen up! Mixing elements of the above-mentioned explicitly and adding the obligatory dosage of silliness is Foreshadow, whose demo tape is thrash metal through and through. Patrick Loisel, Petrie Pierre, Patrick Knup and Kurtis Clifford are good musicians and the sound of the tape is on the money too. However, with the viability of thrash fluctuating (except if you have the Pantera pose) I wish Foreshadow luck and then some. C/o 6638 Henri-Julien, Montreal Canada H2S 2V2. – Ali “The Metallian”