DIRTY LOOKS’ Dirty Looks, I Want More and In Your Face albums are being reissued by FnA Records. The Worst of Dirty Looks compilation was also recently issued.

JETBOY has lost its rhythm section. According to the band, “It is with regret that JETBOY announces the departure of both Doug Hovan (percussion) and Michael Butler (bass) from the band's lineup.” The latter was dismissed during a recent on-air conversation. The band’s Off Your Rocker EP has been completed however. A label is being sought.

BULLET BOYS singer Marq Torien (Mark Maytorena) was arrested on Friday November 13th in Florida and charged with "non-support of children or spouse” before being released.

ARMORED SAINT has completed work on its newest, album, La Raza (The Race). Metal Blade Records is due to issue it in March, 2010.

Another date and another country have been added to MANOWAR's Death To Infidels World Tour 2010. MANOWAR will headline the Masters Of Rock 2010 in Vizovice, Czech Republic on July 16th, 2010.

HADES members Alan Tecchio, T. Coombs and Dan Lorenzo have banded together with DJs from Talking Metal, John Ostronomy and Mark Strigl, to again play a covers show using the SCREAMING METAL monicker. The gig is scheduled for Saturday, March 6th at Dingbatz in Clifton, New Jersey. The band’s Resisting Success album line-up of HADES has also reunited and announced two shows in April, 2010 in New Jersey. Ed Fuhrman was invited but declined to participate.

AXEMASTER has changed its name to INNER TERROR. According to the band, “Although the name AXEMASTER has a rich history that dates back to the middle ‘80s, the band decided that their new lineup, more modern sound, and greatly improved writing and performance created the need for a change and a fresh start.” A CD, called Inner Terror, is due in 2010.

Italy’s SOTHIS has changed its name to SAWTHIS in order to avoid confusion with the American SOTHIS. Apparently, the Italians were the first owners of the monicker.

Folk rock darlings FINNTROLL have completed work on a new album, called Mot Skuggornas Värld, due early 2010 through Century Media Records. It was recorded at Finnvox Studio.

After spending some time with InsideOut Music and Metal Blade SYMPHONY X has signed with Nuclear Blast Records. The group is working on a new album that is expected in June of 2010.

ECHOES OF ETERNITY/POWERGLOVE and HAMMERFALL are touring the USA in March and April of 2010. ECHOES OF ETERNITY will take over for the second leg of the tour.

Ronnie James Dio of HEAVEN AND HELL and DIO was abruptly hospitalized last month and diagnosed with “early stages” of stomach cancer. The DIO tour of Europe was cancelled. Dio is 67 years old. Moreover, HEAVEN & HELL and DIO drummer Vinny Appice underwent surgery on his right shoulder on Monday, November 30th following an injury that occurred during the last HEAVEN & HELL tour.

DREAM EVIL has signed a new worldwide deal with Century Media Records and will issue a new album, entitled In The Night, on January 25th. The band is appearing at the Bloodstock festival next year and touring with STRATOVARIUS.

BLACK MAJESTY has picked In Your Honour as the title for its next album. MASTERPLAN’s Roland Grapow will mix the album at his Grapow studio in Slovakia. The album is due for release through Germany's Limb Music in the spring.

GURD will play its last show with drummer Mauro "Tschibu" Casciero on December 12th at the Biomill Club in Laufen, Switzerland. It will be the group's first appearance with new man Steve Karrer. According to the group, "During the concert, the drum sticks will be passed to our new drummer. The change will be performed live!”

HANOI ROCKS’ final show on April 12, 2009 at Tavastia in Helsinki, Finland was issued last month on DVD as Buried Alive. It hit the number one position in the Finnish music DVD charts.

Danish Heavy Metallers FORCENTURY issued a debut full-length demo, called Vanguard, on November 27th. The CD contains 9 tracks, which are a mix of thrashers, ballads and power metal.

Australian band BE'LAKOR, which was reviewed here last month, has signed a deal with Italy’s Kolony Records for the European release of its demo, Stones Reach.

The new MYSTERY BLUE demo, Hell & Fury, is now out. It was mixed and mastered by Achim Köhler.

NWOBHM’s TOKYO BLADE, which now features guitarists Andy Boulton and John Wiggins and bassist Andy Wrighton, has recruited singer Chris Gillen. Gillen was previously in Michigan’s OVERLOADED.

BORKNAGAR’s Universal album will be issued in February through Indie Recordings.

Denmark’s MERCENARY has lost more members. Drummer Mike Park Nielsen has left. The band subsequently fired singer Mikkel Sandager and keyboardist Morten Sandager. The remaining members claim they wanted to go into a more heavy direction.

THE OLD DEAD TREE is now both old and dead. The members had to disband following a series of reported disagreements.

SG Records will issue the first VFB full-length album. The Gates Of Madness was recorded at Fear Studio in Ravenna and will be released early 2010. SG records will also issue the first album by SCALA MERCALLI, described as “historycal (sic) Italian speed metal band.”

YNGWIE MALMSTEEN will release a new compilation album called High Impact on December 7th. Fans will hear a cover version of MICHAEL JACKSON’s Beat It on the album.

LYNCH MOB has acquired a new rhythm section. Bassist Michael “Denim” Devin and drummer Brian Tichy (BILLY IDOL, OZZY OSBOURNE, FOREIGNER and VELVET REVOLVER) are part of the band’s touring line-up.

MODERN FUNERAL ART’s demo Doom With A View is being reissued through Apollon Records of The Netherlands.

France’s HEAVENLY will release a new album, Carpe Diem, on December 18th through AFM Records.

Reformed 2010? AEROSMITH first came undone with singer Steven Tyler supposedly quitting for a solo career and the rest of the band claiming a lack of information. Tyler then appeared on stage with Perry at the latter’s show and denied the rumours. Guitarist Joe Perry was hinting at forging ahead with a new singer however. The rest of AEROSMITH has also been hinting at Tyler possibly abusing drugs once again. The band’s last concert was in Abu Dhabi. THE JOE PERRY PROJECT is touring all season.

German gothic band CREMATORY will release a full-length called Infinity in February. The album includes a cover version of DEPECHE MODE's Black Celebration. A 2011 CD/DVD is also in the works to commemorate the band’s twentieth anniversary.

Montreal’s BARN BRUNER has signed with Metal Blade Records. The band is described as a cross between doom and hard rock. Metal Blade Records will again issue BARN BURNER's debut album, Bangers, in 2010. The album was originally issued through New Romance For Kids Records.

HELLOWEEN’s late ‘80s/early ‘90s singer Michael Kiske has joined bassist Dennis Ward and drummer Kosta Zafiriou PINK CREAM 69 in a band called UNISONIC. Guitarist Mandy Meyer, of ASIA, GOTTHARD and KROKUS, is also in the line-up.

Cleveland’s ETERNAL LEGACY will release a new album, called Lifeless Alive, on December 8th through Auburn Records. The album was recorded at the band's own Mercenary Studios in Cleveland and produced by singer and guitarist Jason Vanek.

BANG TANGO’s singer Joe LeSte fell ill just before the band's show Wednesday November 25th at the Portage Theater in Chicago, Illinois. He was astonishingly replaced by a fan who managed to sing a short set with the band.

Finland’s LEVERAGE has permanently replaced bassist Pekka Lampinen with Sami Norrbacka. The latter man has been touring with LEVERAGE.

AIRBOURNE and THE JOE PERRY PROJECT will open for MÖTLEY CRÜE's The Dead Of Winter Canadian tour in January and February. AIRBOURNE’s No Guts, No Glory second album will be issued on February 23rd through Roadrunner Records.

In a reference to its 1984 album, Love At First Sting, SCORPIONS have picked Sting In The Tail as the title for its next album, which is due in April through Sony/BMG. The album is being recorded in Hanover, Germany with Swedish producers Mikael "Nord" Andersson and Martin Hansen. In a further reference to its ‘80s albums, the band intends to tour the world for the next two years using the Get Your Sting And Blackout monicker.

ROTTING CHRIST has picked Aealo as the title for its next album, which is due on February 15th through Season Of Mist. The album was recorded at Lunatach Studios in Greece and will famously feature guest appearances by Diamanda Galas and PRIMORDIAL singer Alan A. Nemtheanga. The band is exploring its Greek heritage on the album.

EXTREME guitarist Nuno Bettencourt has been hired by RIHANNA to be her 2010 world tour lead guitarist. Bettencourt used adjectives like “heavy,” or “funky” and “rocks” to describe his employer.

A new funky and heavy band is at hand! Singer Doug Pinnick (KING’S X), guitarists Jimi Hazel (24-7 SPYZ), Spacey T (SOUND BARRIER and FISHBONE), Greg Fulton (CYCLONE TEMPLE and RWA), bassist Rick Skatore (24-7 SPYZ) and drummer Phil D. Fish of FISHBONE have banded together in A.N.M. (a.k.a. ANTI N***ER MACHINE). A record is expected in 2010.

Following a one-year hiatus RHAPSODY OF FIRE has signed to Nuclear Blast Records for the world and will release a new album, called The Frozen Tears Of Angels, on March 5th, 2010. The album will constitute the third chapter of The Dark Secret Saga.

IMAGIKA will release a new album, Portrait Of A Hanged Man, on March 19th through Metalville. The album was recorded at Fang Studio by IMAGIKA guitarist Steve Rice and was mixed at KING DIAMOND guitarist Andy La Rocque's Sonic Train Studio in Sweden.

Suncity Records has signed FEMME FATALE for the release of its unreleased album, Lady In Waiting.

Heavy metal band AMULANCE has recruited guitarist Pat Cassidy (ex-SHADOZ EDGE) and drummer Eddie Foltz (ex-DAVID SHANKLE GROUP). The band is playing the Headbangers Open Air in Germany next July.

KISS has announced Sonic Boom Over Europe: From The Beginning To The Boom tour of Europe for the summer of 2010. The tour is in support of the band’s new album, Sonic Boom.

In 2008 BON JOVI recorded its Madison Square Garden show in high definition. The result is now available as the Live At Madison Square Garden DVD.

Just before entering the Studio to record its second album, FLASHBACK OF ANGER has split with its rhythm guitarist Matteo Bonini. Gianmarco Lotti, guitarist for ASTRAL DIVE and IRON MAIDEN cover band PROWLERS, has replaced Matteo Bonini. Matteo left due to differences of opinion regarding the said project.

Every band has a CD or DVD with an orchestra.

SWORD TOWARD SELF – DISSOLUTION MANTRAS
Sword Toward Self might have a name inspired by right-wingers and the way they vote, but the band’s music is not quite as obvious. The group’s music certainly begins with, and heavily comprised of, chunks of brutality and raucous vocals, but is liable to break into clean singing and picking at a moment’s notice. The break from heaviness and purity are accentuated by the odd folkish riff that s out of place in the midst of the crushing body blows. The band fancies itself ‘progressive’ but there is little in the music to allow for the term. It is also technical only t a certain point. The lead guitar, which is freely let loose on occasion, does resemble olden heavy metal bands of the progressive persuasion however. There is a lot going here for a three-piece and for more information write the band at swordtowardself@gmail.com or visit www.swordtowardself.com. - Ali “The Metallian”

BIRCH HILL DAM – Same
This writer was never a fan of Corrosion Of Conformity, liked Kyuss, or actively followed early Soundgarden. As a metal fan, none of those bands counted. Birch Hill Dam could be compared to those groups. However, the quartet from Massachusetts is better, heavier and more upbeat than any and all those bands and deserves a lot. Every song on this demo disc is heavy as lead. The vocals are emotional, yet very powerful. The band is not making variety a prime goal and is incredibly tight. The groove is on, but the power is never shot. A special kudo goes out to the heavy backing and the sound of the bass guitar. One cover version aside, Birch Hill Dam has jam-packed it all with consistently powerful songs, which includes an equally impressive instrumental. This is why these four guys rule. One doesn’t need to be into this style to get into the band. Rather, Birch Hill Dam puts one in the mood for the style and itself. As a bonus to the music, Birch Hill Dam ends the disc with a little sermon on human culture and interpersonal relationships in the USA. Either visit www.reverbnation.com/birchhilldam or e-mail birchhilldam@yahoo.com. - Anna Tergel

SUSPIRIUM – SOULLESS
Suspirium hails from Italy so it is probably fair to assume that the band is familiar with the Superia film. The Suspirium monicker would, hence, be a cool twist on the more familiar title. Soulless, of course, was a catchy title and song by Grave, as well as the name of many a band. The band calls itself ‘black metal’ and as such presumably features Satanic lyrics within titles like The Wish, La Foresta Che Urla Nelle Tenbre and two others. For a total of five tracks, Intermezzo, is a doomy and sad instrumental that achieves little. At first, the band sounds like a speed metal version of Iron Maiden’s debut. The offering is very simple and offers little in the way of variety or adventure. It is straightforward to the point of boredom, but there is some atmosphere to spruce up the offering. The title track is where things pick up and offer a variation to the theme. This song has both atmosphere and power. The guitars whirl about a bit, even if the rhythm section is hell-bent on steadiness. This is fine – who needs a technical and complex show off? – but Suspirium needs some more riffs and a cool solo or drum roll or two to make its offering more compelling. E-mail the band at isidez@hotmail.com or visit the website at myspace.com/suspirium. – Ali “The Metallian”

BLACKSMITH – SHARPEN THE STEEL
Here comes a Tennessee band singing about Odin while using runes to communicate. Oh oh… Blacksmith is confusing. On the one hand, these guys have a myriad of good riffing and incredible guitar soloing and rhythm and, on the other, they mix keyboards with Norse legends and a Michael Jackson medley. Will the real Blacksmith stand up and hammer the anvil? In the midst of the actual songs and full length of the CD Forging The Thunderbolts Of Zeus is a drum solo set-up for Blood Of The Beast. One bleeds into the other, but before anyone gets visions of BTO or ELP Sharpen The Steel is metal, just not purely or continuously. The band has a great bass sound, in addition to the aforementioned guitars, but suffers because of the confusing message, which also includes classic rock soloing. It sounds like the band is a hodgepodge of influences melded into one including he busiest front and back covers ever. Love the lyrics for the nonexistent song too. Meet the band at http://www.myspace.com/blacksmithkingdom. - Anna Tergel

ASTRAL DIVE – TRAUMA
A couple of quick points: the band’s name is enthralling when one thinks about it. How would an ‘astral dive’ look and how would it feel? The band is called Astral Dive, but could easily have named itself Nightwish Wish. Yup, you guessed it, the singer is operatic, female and accompanied by keyboards.
A couple of quick jabs: what does any of this have to do with heavy metal? Is ivory a metal? Are female sopranos heavy? The keyboard, which becomes dominant on Land Of Unquestioned Answers, is pathetic and weak of course. The so-called drum sound makes the beeps of your home PC sound organic and human.
Italy’s Astral Dive has a place on this planet. The aforementioned track could be a hit on the local pop FM station and, more importantly, singer Chiara Manese has an incredible voice that she puts to incredible use on the eight-minute long Restless. The second part of the song is dismal and wretched and drips with emotion. That is the part where her voice rises into the stratosphere. Chiara obviously can be evocative. The operatic highs also mask her strong accent. Ironically, while the titles are in English, opera is best identified with and sung in Italian.
Astral Dive’s place is not with heavy metal bands or hard rock magazines. The band is deluded otherwise. Otherwise, seek Astral Dive at www.astraldive.com or e-mail info@astraldive.com. - Ali “The Metallian”

DYNAHEAD – ANTIGEN
Quite honestly, the band’s name sounds like the name one of those dodgy towns one comes across while travelling by road in the UK. The group, however, is a Brazilian one, which throws around the term ‘progressive’ too loosely for reality. The group does have a shade of complexity and some variation in style, but that is where the connection ends. Antigen harbours elements of rock, hard rock, grunge and thrash metal with songs like Join And Surrender and Do You Feel Cleansed? taking up the heavy end of the spectrum. Layers Of Days sounds grungy before delving into better guitar work, while Vorsicht! mixes the heavy backing rhythm with artsy front-end work. The peculiar track on here is the opener Clockwork I whose liberal use of Queensrÿche sounds and notes is as obvious as a right-wing politician’s love for a multi-national corporation. Nothing like frankness though. Dynahead mixes up its vocal stylings so be prepared. The band’s website is at www.dynahead.com.br and hopefully will have some content soon. Otherwise, contact them at dynahead@dynahead.com.br. – Ali “The Metallian”

GUMSHEN – SUPER BUFFET
Gumshen from Seattle? One could never guess as the voice of Ron Hippe repeatedly goes “This is the start of something good...” on the opener and song of the same name. This is rock or perhaps alternative rock. The aforementioned is very laid back. Lost Disguise is an attempt at Beatles-like melody. Guts features thicker riffs but it is mostly uneventful rock that is at times almost southern. Gone Too Soon is pop for most of its four or so minutes. Down Like Me brings back the chunkier riffs and is again just too ordinary at times. This five song EP offers a bit of a few things, even a short rap of sorts. Gumshen risk being lost in the maze of many much more popular bands. Contact the band at www.gumshen.com. - Anna Tergel

GUMSHEN - STEW
Another EP and another Nirvana-like start. Helmet is too much like Smells Like Teen Spirit when it starts. The rest of the time, it is just too simple a rock song though one that tries to inject an aggressive edge. Scapegoat again tries to be rock but the only part where this succeeds is the thick riffs, otherwise this is consistently pushed into the laid back mould by the vocals, other instruments and song arrangement overall. Dandelions is a ballad and lacking any significant catchiness it doesn’t succeed at attempts to break out of its commerciality. D’Mac & Grits is filled with saxophones and sounds experimental at best. Last Resort is a simple rock song with guitars and vocals jockeying for position throughout. Contact the band at www.gumshen.com. - Anna Tergel