Italian/german gothic black metal band GRAVEWORM have completed work on their sixth album at Stage One studios in Borgentreich, Germany with producer Andy Classen (DEW-SCENTED, CALLENISH CIRCLE, TANKARD, OCCULT). The follow-up to 2005's "(N)utopia" contains 10 songs features guest appearances by Maurizio Iacono from KATAKLYSM and Matze from THE SORROW. A May 11 release via Nuclear Blast Records is expected.

GRAVEWORM last year completed a North American tour with KATAKLYSM, DESTRUCTION, THE ABSENCE, and VADER.

Upcoming GRAVEWORM shows:

Mar ...

---

The 2007 incarnation of Joe Satriani's popular G3 tour will kick off on March 14 in Phoenix starring Satriani, John Petrucci and Paul Gilbert. The tour will play selected dates in North America throughout March and April. The starting tour itinerary follows with more dates to be announced shortly.

The 2007 tour marks the fifth North American G3 run and the twelfth G3 tour worldwide since its inception. The first G3 tour, featuring Satriani, Eric Johnson and Steve Vai, played to sold-out crowds throughout October and November, 1996 and was followed by successful treks in Europe, South America, Japan and Aust ...

---

According to the web site of the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office, CRIMSON GLORY frontman John Patrick Jr. "Midnight" McDonald was arrested last Saturday night, January 20 in Sarasota, Florida and charged with "DUI [driving under the influence] with .20 [blood-alcohol level] or higher or having a passenger under 18" years of age. He was also cited for driving with a suspended/cancelled/revoked license. Bond for the 44-year-old vocalist — who gave his occupation as "painter" to the authorities at the time of the arrest — was set at $1,500. He is scheduled to be arraigned on February 8.

To ...

---

Floridian death metal stalwarts DEICIDE were detained today in Innsbruck, Austria for.... bank robbery.

DEICIDE drummer Steve Asheim got up early this morning to make a trip to the bank to deposit some money from merch sales when the bank staff became suspicious of his appearance and the fact that much of the money was marked with red dye. Staff immediately called the police, who swiftly arrived and took the DEICIDE drummer down to the station, suspecting that he had been involved in a recent bank robbery in the area and that he was handling stolen banknotes.

Questioned for a number of hours, Steve explained the banknotes were legitimate proc ...

---

Ray Waddell of Billboard.com reports that a contract could be signed as soon as today for Live Nation to produce a 40-date amphitheatre tour by VAN HALEN this summer, with original frontman David Lee Roth back in the fold for the first time in more than 20 years.

As previously reported, guitarist Eddie Van Halen's 15-year-old son Wolfgang has stepped in for original bassist Michael Anthony in the new incarnation of the group, which also features drummer Alex Van Halen.

VAN HALEN last toured in 2004 with vo ...

---

ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian has issued the following statement via the band's official fan club site, CDC:

"Finally, we're going back to work. We're going to Chicago to work our asses off and write a record. It's time. We're ready. One problem... no singer.

"We were offered a direct support slot on a major tour this spring and Joey [Belladonna, vocals] decided he did not want to move forward. The reunion is over. We tried to make it work but I guess that's the problem, you can't 'make' something work. It's gotta be natural and at least becoming a band again and playing live was.

"Over the course of around 140 shows we became a better ...

---

After months of searching, doom legends CANDLEMASS have posted the following on their official website:

"After months of auditions it is now official who replaces Messiah Marcolin in CANDLEMASS. Robert Lowe, well known for his work with SOLITUDE AETURNUS, is the man who killed all the competition and showed that he beyond doubt is the most capable man for the job. A worthy successor!!

Robert will still be fronting SOLITUDE AETURNUS, but since there’s a whole ocean between the bands, we/CANDLEMASS, feel that this is a great solution that is very beneficial for everybody. The mighty voice from Dallas Texas, is thrown into the fire imme ...

---

MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine has posted the following message in the "Forums" section of the band's official web site:

"It was great seeing some of the guitarists that were at [the] Dean [booth at NAMM in Anaheim, California] that I respect as players (most of them from when I was developing my own style) like Rik Emmett from TRIUMPH, and Rudy Schenker from the SCORPIONS. I missed Leslie 'Green' West (inside joke) and saw a lot of other people that went by in a blur; Phil from ARMORED SAINT, Rita (Darrell's [Abbott] girl), and numerous people I thought were out of the business or presum ...

---

German thrash band MEKONG DELTA have announced that Leo Szpigiel, formerly of ANGEL DUST, will handle vocal duties on their forthcoming album. Guitar tracks were recently completed by Peter Sjoberg. The band plans on laying down final vocal tracks next week. Full details here.

---

OPETH frontman Mikael Åkerfeldt has slammed the "new breed of idiot OPETH 'fans'" for questioning the abilities of the group's current drummer, Martin Axenrot (BLOODBATH, WITCHERY, NIFELHEIM), when compared to that of Axenrot's predecessor, Martin Lopez.

Lopez officially left OPETH in May 2006 after being plagued by illness and anxiety attacks, which forced him to miss several of the band's tours. Åkerfeldt stated at the time, "However sad I and the rest of the band feel in light of Lopez's departure, I want to thank him for his incredible work with OPETH and immense dedication to the b ...

---