Kathy McCabe of the Herald Sun is reporting that DEEP PURPLE's "Smoke On The Water" has been voted the best rock 'n' roll riff ever played in a poll conducted by the Australian Musician magazine.

The poll of more than 300 professional and amateur musicians also named AC/DC the best Australian band — whose album "Back In Black" — also took out its category.

Editor Greg Phillips said "Smoke On The Water" was a surprising winner against METALLICA's "Enter Sandman", NIRVANA's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and GUNS ' ...

---

In a lengthy interview published in the "Xmas 2004" issue of Metal Hammer magazine, ex-PANTERA/curent SUPERJOINT RITUAL frontman Philip Anselmo spoke extensively about the breakup of his previous band and the status of all of his musical projects, among many other topics. Several excerpts from the interview follow:

On Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul's claim that Philip left PANTERA without telling them he was leaving:

"Well, they have phones as well. And they weren't communicating with me. Their way of communication was through, so they would send ...

---

SATYRICON drummer Kjetil "Frost" Haraldstad recently spoke to Ferrante's Power Equipment about the origins of the black metal genre and the band's musical influences, among other topics. A couple of excerpts from the interview follow:

Ferrante's Power Equipment: Who are some of your personal favorite bands, drummers, or musicians? What do you like about each of them?

Frost: "I feel most like mentioning a few of my favorite bands. It must be a few; I cannot mention all of them: VENOM, BATHORY and HELLHAMMER/CELTIC FROST must all be mentioned because ...

---

Taipei Times is reporting that a Mongolian heavy metal group called HURD (photo) had their scheduled three-day tour of China cancelled after the local police got nervous and sent riot policemen and trucks to surround the college campus where the group was to play. They checked identity cards, detained four people overnight and dispersed about 2,000 frustrated concertgoers into the autumn night.

Described as "long-haired Mongolian men in black, whose office decor features a wolf pelt, a portrait of Genghis Khan and a music store poster of Eminem," HURD's tour was to culminate Nov. 1 with a performance in Hohhot, capital of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Read more.

---

Italian symphonic metal band RHAPSODY will enter the recording studio together with film legend Christopher Lee to re-record the song "The Magic of the Wizard's Dream" from their latest release "Symphony of Enchanted Lands II - The Dark Secret". The single will be released worldwide early next year. The song will be produced in four different languages (English, German, French and Italian) and will feature a duet by Lee and RHAPSODY singer Fabio Lione. Besides offering multiple versions of the song, such as an orchestral version, two brand new studio tracks will be included. More details about the two new tracks will be released shortly ...

---

The band are very happy to announce that original vocalist Karl Willetts has rejoined them as a full-time member. Karl said, "It's fantastic to be a part of the mighty Bolt Thrower again. It feels great to be back with the guys, I can't wait to get my teeth into the new songs and get back on the road again. I've got some unfinished business to attend to...!

The now complete line-up of Bolt Thrower - Karl Willetts, Gavin Ward, Barry Thomson, Jo Bench & Martin Kearns will spend the next few weeks finishing off the new material and plan to go into the studio in the new year.

---

Finland's NORTHER will enter Astia Studios in Lappeenranta, Finland in December to record a new, as-yet-untitled EP. The CD will include five songs.

NORTHER's sophomore full-length album, "Mirror or Madness", was released in 2003 through Spinefarm Records. The follow-up to 2001's "Dreams of Endless War" effort was recorded at Astia with producer Anssi Kippo.

As previously reported, NORTHER's Petri Lindroos has been named a permanent member of the Finnish folk-influenced melodic death metal band ENSIFERUM. Lindroos will handle the vocals and guitar in the group, who parted ways with singer/guitarist Jari Mäenpää earlier in the year.

---

Norwegian black metallers MAYHEM have parted ways with singer Maniac (real name Sven Erik Kristiansen) and replaced him with Attila Csihar (TORMENTOR, ABORYM). Csihar had previously worked with the group on their 1993 release, "De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas".

"Although many rumors flourished over the past months, nothing was decided until now," reads a statement from the group's record label, Season of Mist. "The reason for this change in line-up lies in more private matters, but has also to do with Maniac's inability to tour."

The band commented in a statement: "Maniac was, and will always be a part of our legacy, and it has been an honour to work with him for the last 10 years. Respect!"

---

Legendary rock producer and musician Bob Kulick (KISS, MEATLOAF) has finished producing an all-star tribute to IRON MAIDEN in honor of their 25th anniversary. Culling from his extensive contacts in the musician world, Kulick has assembled major hard rock and metal players to come together and put this tribute album together.

All of the tracks have been completed except for two key signature vocalists to come in and finish the job. Kulick has been using the rest of the finished material to shop around for a label to license the masters and put out the hottest IRON MAIDEN tribute of all time.

The album will feature the followi ...

---

Sweden's DARK TRANQUILLITY have revealed the track listing and artwork for their new album, "Character", due in Europe on January 24 and North America on January 25 via Century Media Records. The band recently released an EP, entitled "Lost to Apathy", as a teaser for the upcoming full-length. It includes four songs, a video-clip (for the title track) and a screensaver.

"Character" (view cover here) track listing:

01. The New Build
02. Through Smudged Lenses
03. Out of Nothing
04. The Endless Feed
05. ...

---