Swiss hard rock veterans KROKUS will release their new album, "Hoodoo", on February 26, 2010 via the band's new deal with the Swiss branch of Sony Music.

Check out the CD artwork below.

According to the group's official newsletter, Swiss newspaper Blick asked producer and founding KROKUS member Chris Von Rohr the question that was on most people's minds: why did the fans had to wait so long for this new release? "We have only been back together for about two years with the original lineup and a killer song — much less an entire album — cannot be written, recorded and produced overnight," he replied. "The material needs to evolve, mature like a fine wine and one nee ...

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Zakk Wylde has revealed the following timetable for BLACK LABEL SOCIETY's activities over the course of the coming months:

January-February: New CD Recording
March: Mixing
April: Promotional Activities
May: Tour Rehearsals
June: New Album Release

Zakk's new recording studio was built by Zack Fagan of Under The Wire, a Studio City, California-based company which specializes in the installation of commercial and private recording studios and post-production complexes.

BLACK LABEL SOCIETY's "Skullage" DVD package sold 5,100 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 1 on the Top Music Videos chart. Relea ...

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Hváll (bass) of the Norwegian band VREID has issued the following update:

"2009 is coming to an end, and I thought I'd share some thoughts on the year that has been, and some info on the year to come.

"We released 'Milorg' [VREID's fourth album] during the first days of 2009. The response and reviews were fantastic, and from there one it went on and on. In February we did a co-headliner tour with KAMPFAR. A great tour indeed. Some really good shows, and social it was a great mix, I am sure we will hit the road again with these pagan Norsmen later on. Then we had the Inferno festival, which was a great show that we filmed for our upcoming DVD. It was immediately followe ...

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Belgian black metallers ENTHRONED have completed work on their eighth album, "Pentagrammaton", for an early 2010 release via Regain Records.

Commented the band: "We are very satisfied of how'Pentagrammaton' turned out; the final result of the album is exactly what we wanted to achieve: an album which can be best situated between our last offering 'Tetra Karcist' and ENTHRONED cult album 'Towards The Skullthrone Of Satan', yet adding some new elements as usual.

"The whole concept of 'Pentagrammaton' deals with direct approach: the sound is warmer than 'Tetra Karcist', natural drums, heavy guitars for a lyrical concept based on lived experiences and facts, somehow someth ...

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According to the Herald Sun, ROSE TATTOO guitarist Mick Cocks lost his battle with liver cancer earlier today (Tuesday, December 22). He had been battling the disease since April this year.

Some of Australia's best-loved rockers — including ROSE TATTOO, JIMMY BARNES, YOU AM I, IAN MOSS and THE SCREAMING JETS — joined forces in July to put on a benefit gig for Cocks.

ROSE TATTOO guitarist Pete Wells passed away in March 2006 after a long battle with prostate cancer.

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Swedish black metallers WATAIN will enter Necromorbus Studio (WATAIN, NOMINON, AVERSE SEFIRA, FUNERAL MIST, MORK GRYNING, ADORIOR) in Alvik, Sweden with longtime producer Tore Stjerna on January 3, 2010 to begin recording their new album for a late spril/early summer release.

In a recent interview with Decibel magazine, WATAIN bassist/vocalist Erik Danielsson stated about the band's decision to record at Necromorbus again, "I'd hate to come to a new studio and have to adapt to a new environment and a new producer. Necromorbus feels as much like home as our rehearsal place does. We are free to do what we want there and that is important as we always lock ourselves up in the studio ...

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Oakland, California-based power trio HIGH ON FIRE has completed work on its long-awaited, fifth studio album, "Snakes for the Divine", for a February 23, 2010 release via E1 Music. The follow-up to 2007's "Death is This Communion" was recorded at The Pass Studios in Los Angeles with producer Greg Fidelman and is described in a press release as "HIGH ON FIRE's magnum opus, capturing every nuance of the legendary band's ongoing musical progression and evolution into one of heavy music's all-time greats. Sharper, faster and darker than anything the group has ever recorded, 'Snakes for the Divine' is an unrelenting tour de force, showcasing cult guitar hero Matt Pike's utterly unique and inventi ...

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RUDRA's video for the track "Hymns from the Blazing Chariot" can be viewed below. The clip was directed by Jacen Tan and was "filmed over a period of two months, using some cool 'green-screen' effects," according to the band. "The concept is based on the ancient battle of Kurukshetra, focusing on the dialogue between two warriors, Arjuna and Krishna."

"Hymns from the Blazing Chariot' comes off the Singaporean metallers' new album, "Brahmavidya: Transcendental I", which was released earlier in the year via Vic Records. The CD was produced by Joshua G. Nair and Sean Loo and features fourteen tracks with a total running time of about 70 minutes.

"Brahmavidya: Transcendenta ...

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Greek extreme metallers ROTTING CHRIST will release their new album, "Aealo", on February 15 in Europe and February 23 in the U.S. via Season Of Mist. The CD was recorded at Lunatach Studios in Katerini, Greece and will feature guest appearances by Greek-American vocalist Diamanda Galas and PRIMORDIAL frontman Alan A. Nemtheanga.

"Aealo" track listing:

01. Aealo
02. Eon Aenaos
03. Demonon Vrosis
04. Noctis Era
05. dub-sag-ta-ke
06. Fire Death and Fear
07. Nekron Iahes...
08. ...Pir Threontai
09. Thou Art Lord
10. Santa Muerte
11. Orders from the Dead

Check out the cover artwork below.

Commented fro ...

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"Dream Oblivion", a brand new song from Swedish melodic death metallers DARK TRANQUILLITY, is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page. The track comes off the group's ninth album, "We Are The Void", which will be released via Century Media Records on the following dates:

* Sweden: February 24
* Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Benelux, Italy, Australia: February 26
* Spain, Portugal: March 2
* Finland, Hungary: March 3
* U.K., France, Greece, Denmark, Norway, Rest Of Europe: March 1
* North America: March 9

The drums for the CD were recorded at bassist Daniel Antonsson's studi ...

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