Reactivated Japanese rockers X JAPAN will play their first-ever concert in the U.S. on September 13, 2008 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The band will also perform in Paris, France on July 5.

Professionally filmed video footage of X JAPAN's March 28, 2008 concert at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan can be viewed below.

Performing with X JAPAN at the band's three reunion shows at the Tokyo Dome were GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Richard Fortus and former LIMP BIZKIT and current BLACK LIGHT BURNS member Wes Borland.

X JAPAN's influential lead guitarist Hideto "Hide" Matsumoto committed suicide in Ma ...

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According to guitarist Stefan Elmgren of HAMMERFALL: "I have decided to leave Hammerfall, the reason is that I have been offered a job as a pilot within an airline. My interest in aviation has been growing very strong, and now I feel its time for me to take a step and be a pilot on a professional level. It has been a great journey with lots of great memories that I will carry with me for the rest of my life, I would like to give a big thanks to all the wonderful fans, its has truly been a pleasure to meet and perform for you all during these 11 years. I still love to play the guitar so you might hear from me again someday somehow. I would like to wish who ever is taking my place and the rest of the band good luck in the future."

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In the latest issue of Finland's Soundi magazine, STRATOVARIUS mainman Timo Tolkki reveals that he has formed a new band called REVOLUTION RENAISSANCE, which is believed to have been the working title of the now apparently aborted new STRATOVARIUS album. The group's debut CD — which will feature guest appearances by Michael Kiske (vocals; HELLOWEEN), Pasi Rantanen (vocals; THUNDERSTONE), Mirka Rantanen (drums; THUNDERSTONE), Pasi Heikkilä (bass; 45 DEGREE WOMAN) and Tobias Sammet (vocals; EDGUY) — is tentatively due this summer via Frontiers Records.

Says Tolkki ...

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WARRIOR announce their reunion with original vocalist Parramore McCarty and guitarist Joe Floyd. Warrior are currently recording their upcoming brand new 5th CD at Silvercloud Studios with guitarist Floyd behind the controls. Warrior band members have expressed the following thoughts about the reunion, upcoming new CD and live shows: Vocalist Parramore McCarty: "I, for one, am very excited to have Warrior back in motion. It is great fun and challenging to be writing and recording with Joe and Dave again! At this point, we have a few rhythm tracks done and they are kicking my ass hard! I know in my heart there is a certain magic that shines through anytime Joe and I work together. So get ready all you metal freaks, because here we come!"

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Nuclear Blast USA and MESHUGGAH have teamed up to present a video competition to MESHUGGAH fans worldwide.

"Bleed" is one of the most intricate tracks on the recently released, critically acclaimed MESHUGGAH album, "obZen".

You think you can compete with the drumming intensity of MESHUGGAH's Tomas Haake? Well, prove it!

Record your best replication of the track "Bleed" on video and upload it on your MySpace "Videos" section or YouTube.

There are no restrictions on what you can use for this competition. However, you CANNOT use the actual song in the video; if you need the song, you’re a ...

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ICED EARTH are set to launch the next installment of Jon Schaffer's "Something Wicked" saga with the release of their new single, 'I Walk Among You', in June of 2008. The full-length studio follow-up to Something Wicked Part I is due for release in fall of 2008. The new single and proceeding full-length studio album mark the return of longtime frontman Matt Barlow, to narrate the annihilation of mankind set in motion with the story's main character, Set Abominae, in Something Wicked Part II. The single will feature 3 songs, an exclusive version of the song 'I Walk Alone' and a few tracks from Framing Armageddon (Something Wicked Part 1) with new vocal performances by Matt Barlow. There will be an iTunes exclusive version of the single 'I Walk Among You' that features 'A Charge To Keep' which has also been re-sung by Matt, remixed and re-mastered. The upcoming tracklisting: 'I Walk Alone', 'Setian Massacre', 'The Clouding', 'A Charge To Keep' (exclusive iTunes track).

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Audio samples of all 12 tracks that are set to appear on "A Sense Of Purpose", the new album from Swedish metallers IN FLAMES, are available for streaming at Play.com. Due on April 1 (April 7 in most of Europe via Nuclear Blast), the follow-up to 2006's "Come Clarity" was recorded at the band's own IF Studios in Gothenburg, Sweden and was mixed by Toby Wright (METALLICA, SLAYER). The group received assistance during the vocal-recording sessions from producer Daniel Bergstrand, who previously produced the vocals on "Reroute To ...

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Dark Empire will release their second album Humanity Dethroned on October 5. For more details as well as five songs from the album and preorder information from the band's MySpace site, click the link below.

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Guitarist Mike Kimball has left Maryland-based extreme metallers DYING FETUS.

Commented Mike in a statement: "This is easily the most difficult decision I've ever had to make in my life. I have had moments where I felt that it might be time to part ways with DYING FETUS but didn't want to accept it out of love for performing as a musician, and, of course, being less than thrilled with the prospect of disappointing my bandmates or the fans.

"Being in DYING FETUS has been an amazing experience, and I'm eternally grateful to the guys in the band (past and present), as well as all of our crew members, all the bands we have toured with, and, most ...

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