Gelap Pekat

Orange County, California, the breeding ground for such monumental acts as THE OFFSPRING, NO DOUBT, KORN, LIT, SOCIAL DISTORTION and AVENGED SEVENFOLD, has given birth to its newest spawn: LORDS OF RUIN. The band evolved from Southern California's SIX, who in 2008 released the critically acclaimed album "Between The Warning and the War", which featured guest appearances by Mike Clark from SUICIDAL TENDENCIES and bassist Tony Campos from STATIC-X.

LORDS OF RUIN is the brainchild of former DROWN vocalist Lauren Boquette, guitarist Alfunction and guitarist/bassist Corey Bush. Professional slammer Craig Waters, formerly of THE BELLRAYS, holds down the drum department.

"We were just bored with everything else around us," commented Boquette. "You can only live around trends, plastic people and sheep for so long before something snaps. It was time to destroy what had become the musical norm around here."

"We've lived on the road touring with different bands for years, we know what the real underground looks like," added Alfunction. "But it's time to turn that upside down and take over arenas."

LORDS OF RUIN will make its live debut on June 11 at Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield, California when the group joins up with the Jägermeister Music Tour featuring KORN.

"We're stoked to be able to launch the band this way, and we're beyond thankful to our people at Jägermeister for hooking this up," says Bush."We have total respect for KORN and how they've stay down with their fans. We hope to build our band in a similar way. We're here to destroy!"

LORDS OF RUIN is currently in the studio putting the finishing touches on its self-titled debut album.

For more information, visit www.lordsofruin.com.

An eight-minute preview clip for "Wanderer On The Edge Of Time", the new album from the legendary German progressive thrash outfit MEKONG DELTA, is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page. Due on June 10 via AAARRG Records, the CD features the following track listing:

01. Intro - Concert Guitar
02. Ouverture
03. "A Certain Fool" ( Le Fou ) / Movement 1
04. Interlude 1 - Group
05. "The 5th Element" (Le Bateleur) / Movement 2
06. Interlude 2 - Group
07. "The Apocalypt - World In Shards" ( La Maison Dieu ) / Movement 3
08. Interlude 3 - Concert Guitar
09. "King With Broken Crown" (Le Diable) / Movement 4
10. Intermezzo (Instrumental) / Movement 5
11. Interlude 4 - Group
12. "Affection" (L' Amoureux) / Movement 6
13. Interlude 5 - Group
14. "Mistaken Truth" (Le Hérétique) / Movement 7
15. Finale

The artwork was created by Eliran Kantor and can be viewed below.

According to a posting on the band's web site, "It has become clear that the story that began with one song ('Shades Of Doom'), followed by half an album (Rondo for Rockgroup 'Dances Of Death') is continued as a full album on 'Wanderer On The Edge Of Time'. More progressive than MEKONG DELTA has ever done, this album will definitely beat 'Dance Of Death' as MEKONG's finest."

MEKONG DELTA in 2008 announced the addition of vocalist Martin LeMar (TOMORROW'S EVE) and drummer Alex Landenburg (AT VANCE, ANNIHILATOR) to the group's ranks.

"Lurking Fear", the latest album from MEKONG DELTA, was released in North America on April 22, 2008 via Locomotive Records. It was the first all-new studio album from the band since 1997.

"Lurking Fear" was made available in Europe in August 2007 as a standard jewelcase as well as a double vinyl album. The limited-edition digipack included a bonus DVD containing the band's December 21, 1991 concert in Frankfurt, Germany.

MEKONG DELTA's lineup on "Lurking Fear" included mainman/bassist Ralf Hubert alongside drummer Uli Kusch (ex-MASTERPLAN, HELLOWEEN), singer Leo Szpigiel (ANGEL DUST, CROWS, SCANNER, DUKE) and guitarist Peter Sjöberg (also known as Peter Lake from THEORY IN PRACTICE).

MEKONG DELTA's current lineup:

Ralf Hubert - Bass
Alex Landenburg - Drums
Benedikt Zimniak - Guitar
Erik Adam H. - Guitar
Martin LeMar - Vocals

The Jakarta Globe reports that German hard rockers SCORPIONS will play a concert under the shadows of the stunning ninth-century Borobudur Temple as part of their "Get Your Sting and Blackout" farewell world tour tour.

Agus Canny, marketing director of PT Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur, Prambanan and Ratu Boko, which manages the temple site, said the concert will be held in June of next year.

"This concert will mark the end of the 45-year musical journey of the SCORPIONS. Their management agency has met us and expects the concert to be held in mid-June of 2011," he told The Jakarta Globe on Monday.

Two SCORPIONS representatives from Indonesia and two more from Germany visited Borobudur Temple last week to map out the concert details.

Read more from The Jakarta Globe.

Acclaimed British producer Colin Richardson (SLIPKNOT, FEAR FACTORY, MACHINE HEAD, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE, NAPALM DEATH) and his representatives at Real Productions have issued the following statement regarding the passing of SLIPKNOT bassist Paul Gray:

"From Colin Richardson and all at Real, we send our deepest, most heart-broken condolences to Paul Gray's family, SLIPKNOT and their entire team. We, as so many, are in total shock over this terrible tragedy. Our love and respect for SLIPKNOT and their team goes back many years now and Colin has always been completely honoured to work with such brilliant artists. He is a true fan to the core and sends his love and condolences to everyone in SLIPKNOT and their camp. We all do, just as so many around the world will be doing the same over this tragic loss."

Richardson mixed SLIPKNOT's "All Hope Is Gone" and "9.0: Live" albums as well as the "Voliminal: Inside The Nine" and "Disasterpieces" DVDs.

Florida-based melodic metal veterans CRIMSON GLORY have released the following statement regarding the passing of legendary heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio (DIO, HEAVEN & HELL, BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW):

"Ronnie was a wellspring of immeasurable talent and a shining example of the persistence, hard work, dedication, passion and creativity that it takes to become a true legend in the music world. There has not been a kinder, classier, more well-spoken individual in the realm of hard rock and heavy metal, and it is fair to say that the only thing bigger than the man's voice was his heart.

"Ronnie James Dio was easily one of the most influential artists in modern music; that influence can be heard and felt in countless bands that have emerged over the last forty years, including us!

"With the recent passing of our own singer, Midnight, we deeply empathize with the shock and profound sadness that those close to Ronnie are experiencing right now. It is our hope that Ronnie's friends, band mates and family, especially his wife, Wendy, will find comfort and solace in each other's shared love, respect and fond memories of their time spent with him, as well as the knowledge that Ronnie is incredibly loved by scores of fans of all ages, all over the world."

Florida-based melodic metal veterans CRIMSON GLORY have released the following statement regarding the passing of legendary heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio (DIO, HEAVEN & HELL, BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW):

"Ronnie was a wellspring of immeasurable talent and a shining example of the persistence, hard work, dedication, passion and creativity that it takes to become a true legend in the music world. There has not been a kinder, classier, more well-spoken individual in the realm of hard rock and heavy metal, and it is fair to say that the only thing bigger than the man's voice was his heart.

"Ronnie James Dio was easily one of the most influential artists in modern music; that influence can be heard and felt in countless bands that have emerged over the last forty years, including us!

"With the recent passing of our own singer, Midnight, we deeply empathize with the shock and profound sadness that those close to Ronnie are experiencing right now. It is our hope that Ronnie's friends, band mates and family, especially his wife, Wendy, will find comfort and solace in each other's shared love, respect and fond memories of their time spent with him, as well as the knowledge that Ronnie is incredibly loved by scores of fans of all ages, all over the world."

Brazilian/American thrashers SEPULTURA have released the following statement regarding the passing of SLIPKNOT bassist Paul Gray:

"RIP Paul Gray, we're shocked and very sad, this is another tragic loss for our metal community."

Urbandale police said a man was found dead in a hotel room in Urbandale on Monday morning.

Police said there was no evidence of foul play observed, but a complete investigation will be completed by Urbandale police detectives.

In April 2010 it was announced that Gray had joined HAIL!, the supergroup featuring mainstays Andreas Kisser (SEPULTURA), Tim "Ripper" Owens (BEYOND FEAR, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, ex-JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH), David Ellefson (MEGADETH). He was supposed to replace the group's original member, David Ellefson, who was unable to take part in HAIL!'s upcoming touring activities due to his renewed collaboration with MEGADETH.

According to the Des Moines Register, Urbandale, Iowa police are investigating the death of SLIPKNOT's bass guitarist at a local hotel.

Paul Dedrick Gray, 38, of Johnston was found dead at approximately 10:50 a.m. today by an employee at TownePlace Suites (pictured below), 8800 Northpark Drive, police said.

There was no evidence of foul play, police said.

According to KCCI.com, the Polk County Medical Examiner's Office is assisting in the death investigation and will perform an autopsy on Tuesday. Toxicology testing will be completed to determine if there were any contributing factors in the death of Gray, police said.

Witnesses reported that items from the hotel room were carried out of the hotel around 2 p.m.

Gray was born in Los Angeles, California, and later moved to Des Moines.

Wikipedia shows that Gray has been married for two years to GodsGirls' Brenna Paul and has a tattoo of her name on his knuckles.

In a December 2009 posting on his MySpace page, Gray revealed that his wife was pregnant with the couple's first child. "I am the happiest man on the face of the earth — literally!" he wrote. He added, "This has been the best Christmas I have ever had!"

In April 2010 it was announced that Paul Gray had joined HAIL!, the supergroup featuring mainstays Tim "Ripper" Owens (BEYOND FEAR, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, ex-JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH), David Ellefson (MEGADETH) and Andreas Kisser (SEPULTURA). He was supposed to replace the group's original member, David Ellefson, who was unable to take part in HAIL!'s upcoming touring activities due to his renewed collaboration with MEGADETH. At the time, Paul Gray stated about his involvement with HAIL!: "This is going to be amazing! After I heard the news about David reuniting with MEGADETH I touched base with Andreas and everything fell into place pretty immediately. I was excited about what they were doing and their whole attitude is just cool, old school camaraderie and fun and I wanted to share that with them. Fortunately, I had this window of time available as SLIPKNOT are on break so the timing worked perfectly. These guys have been through it all and they represent true metal brotherhood. I like that and I'm glad to now be a part of it. I can't wait, I wish we'd leave tomorrow. These shows are going to kick ass!"

Back in 2003, authorities agreed to drop drug possession charges against Paul Gray in exchange for Gray's acknowledgement that he was on drugs when he was involved in a minor traffic accident (Story#1, Story#2) in the summer of 2003 in Des Moines.

Des Moines police arrested Gray on June 1, 2003 after his car collided with a car at Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway and Carpenter Avenue.

A police report at the time said Gray "had impaired balance, slurred and dull speech, and extremely sleepy and dull behavior."

In the November 2008 issue of Revolver magazine, Gray spoke openly about his struggle with drug addiction and how it affected SLIPKNOT during the songwriting and recording process for both 2001's "Iowa" and 2004's "Vol. 3: The Subliminal Verses".

"I was pissed at Corey [Taylor, SLIPKNOT vocalist] and Jim [Root, SLIPKNOT guitarist] for doing [their side project] STONE SOUR," he said. "I thought, 'Fuck, we should be working on SLIPKNOT.' But we really needed that time apart. During the downtime I played with UNIDA and jammed with friends, but mostly I did a lot of drinking and some drugs — some heavy, heavy drugs… lots of heroin. I was shooting speedballs every day. And then pills. I was on everything, man. In the beginning I kind of had my shit under control, but after a while, no. I became an addict."

He added, "I wrote a bunch of stuff [for 'Vol. 3'] — like I do every record — but I would spend half the time in the bathroom [shooting up]. I'd be trying to play, and I'd fall out of my chair a couple times and fall asleep in the middle of tracking a song. There was a lot of depression going on. I wasn't mad at anybody, but everyone else was and I felt, 'Oh, fuck, my family is falling apart.' This has been the best thing that ever happened to me. And once you get to a certain point with drugs it's fuckin' so hard going through withdrawal. It's not that you don't want to quit. You just can't. Halfway through the record, the band had an intervention on me and I ended up going to rehab."

He continued, "Going through rehab in L.A. kept me good for a little while, but then we got back out on the road and I just knew too many people and I started using a lot again on and off. I had some near-death experiences — nothing I'm gonna go into any detail about — but I definitely pushed it to the very end and I'm still here. I have friends, though, who pushed it just the same way, and they are dead. Finally, I got left in rehab at the end of the arena tour with SHADOWS FALL and LAMB OF GOD and I missed the last six shows. Then, afterwards… Well, idle hands do the devil's work. I met my wife and she stayed with me and helped me, but then I'd full on run with it. Finally she said, 'I can't sit around and watch you kill yourself.' I was living in L.A. at the time, which wasn't helping because it was so easy [to get drugs]. So, I moved back to Iowa with her and went to my doctor and got straightened out. And it's been a good couple years now that I've been clean."

According to the Des Moines Register, Urbandale, Iowa police are investigating the death of SLIPKNOT's bass guitarist at a local hotel.

Paul Dedrick Gray, 38, of Johnston was found dead at approximately 10:50 a.m. today by an employee at TownePlace Suites (pictured below), 8800 Northpark Drive, police said.

There was no evidence of foul play, police said.

According to KCCI.com, the Polk County Medical Examiner's Office is assisting in the death investigation and will perform an autopsy on Tuesday. Toxicology testing will be completed to determine if there were any contributing factors in the death of Gray, police said.

Witnesses reported that items from the hotel room were carried out of the hotel around 2 p.m.

Gray was born in Los Angeles, California, and later moved to Des Moines.

Wikipedia shows that Gray has been married for two years to GodsGirls' Brenna Paul and has a tattoo of her name on his knuckles.

In a December 2009 posting on his MySpace page, Gray revealed that his wife was pregnant with the couple's first child. "I am the happiest man on the face of the earth — literally!" he wrote. He added, "This has been the best Christmas I have ever had!"

In April 2010 it was announced that Paul Gray had joined HAIL!, the supergroup featuring mainstays Tim "Ripper" Owens (BEYOND FEAR, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, ex-JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH), David Ellefson (MEGADETH) and Andreas Kisser (SEPULTURA). He was supposed to replace the group's original member, David Ellefson, who was unable to take part in HAIL!'s upcoming touring activities due to his renewed collaboration with MEGADETH. At the time, Paul Gray stated about his involvement with HAIL!: "This is going to be amazing! After I heard the news about David reuniting with MEGADETH I touched base with Andreas and everything fell into place pretty immediately. I was excited about what they were doing and their whole attitude is just cool, old school camaraderie and fun and I wanted to share that with them. Fortunately, I had this window of time available as SLIPKNOT are on break so the timing worked perfectly. These guys have been through it all and they represent true metal brotherhood. I like that and I'm glad to now be a part of it. I can't wait, I wish we'd leave tomorrow. These shows are going to kick ass!"

Back in 2003, authorities agreed to drop drug possession charges against Paul Gray in exchange for Gray's acknowledgement that he was on drugs when he was involved in a minor traffic accident (Story#1, Story#2) in the summer of 2003 in Des Moines.

Des Moines police arrested Gray on June 1, 2003 after his car collided with a car at Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway and Carpenter Avenue.

A police report at the time said Gray "had impaired balance, slurred and dull speech, and extremely sleepy and dull behavior."

In the November 2008 issue of Revolver magazine, Gray spoke openly about his struggle with drug addiction and how it affected SLIPKNOT during the songwriting and recording process for both 2001's "Iowa" and 2004's "Vol. 3: The Subliminal Verses".

"I was pissed at Corey [Taylor, SLIPKNOT vocalist] and Jim [Root, SLIPKNOT guitarist] for doing [their side project] STONE SOUR," he said. "I thought, 'Fuck, we should be working on SLIPKNOT.' But we really needed that time apart. During the downtime I played with UNIDA and jammed with friends, but mostly I did a lot of drinking and some drugs — some heavy, heavy drugs… lots of heroin. I was shooting speedballs every day. And then pills. I was on everything, man. In the beginning I kind of had my shit under control, but after a while, no. I became an addict."

He added, "I wrote a bunch of stuff [for 'Vol. 3'] — like I do every record — but I would spend half the time in the bathroom [shooting up]. I'd be trying to play, and I'd fall out of my chair a couple times and fall asleep in the middle of tracking a song. There was a lot of depression going on. I wasn't mad at anybody, but everyone else was and I felt, 'Oh, fuck, my family is falling apart.' This has been the best thing that ever happened to me. And once you get to a certain point with drugs it's fuckin' so hard going through withdrawal. It's not that you don't want to quit. You just can't. Halfway through the record, the band had an intervention on me and I ended up going to rehab."

He continued, "Going through rehab in L.A. kept me good for a little while, but then we got back out on the road and I just knew too many people and I started using a lot again on and off. I had some near-death experiences — nothing I'm gonna go into any detail about — but I definitely pushed it to the very end and I'm still here. I have friends, though, who pushed it just the same way, and they are dead. Finally, I got left in rehab at the end of the arena tour with SHADOWS FALL and LAMB OF GOD and I missed the last six shows. Then, afterwards… Well, idle hands do the devil's work. I met my wife and she stayed with me and helped me, but then I'd full on run with it. Finally she said, 'I can't sit around and watch you kill yourself.' I was living in L.A. at the time, which wasn't helping because it was so easy [to get drugs]. So, I moved back to Iowa with her and went to my doctor and got straightened out. And it's been a good couple years now that I've been clean."

Reactivated San Francisco Bay Area metallers FORBIDDEN have been confirmed for the 70000 Tons Of Metal cruise, which is set to sail from Miami, Florida to Cozumel, Mexico on January 24, 2011 and return four days later. A total of 40 acts will appear at the event.

The festival billing is shaping up as follows:

AMON AMARTH
DEATH ANGEL
EPICA
FINNTROLL
FORBIDDEN
MOONSPELL
OBITUARY
RAVEN
SAXON
SODOM
SONATA ARCTICA
STRATOVARIUS
SWASHBUCKLE
TESTAMENT
TROUBLE
ULI JON ROTH
WITCHBURNER

SAXON will play two unique shows. One night they will perform the "Wheels Of Steel" LP in its entirety and on a different night, for the second show, they will play "Strong Arm Of The Law" from start to finish.

70000 Tons Of Metal will sail Monday, January 24, 2011 aboard the Royal Caribbean "Majesty of the Seas" from Miami, Florida to Cozumel, Mexico and will not return you to the real world for four days until Friday, January 28, 2011.

Make no mistake, 70000 Tons Of Metal is not your grandma's cruise. It's also not one of the cruises that share the ship with normal cruise guests. This is an all-ship heavy metal cruise! Can you imagine that? A whole luxury cruise ship full of metalheads? And since there is no backstage area you will have the opportunity to mingle side-by-side with the artists in this incredibly fan-friendly scenario that has no comparison. It's like everyone has a backstage pass and you might even need a vacation from this vacation when all is said and done!

Ticket prices start at US$666 plus US$249 taxes and fees per person and include all on-board entertainment, all meals and non-alcoholic and non-carbonated drinks at the on-board restaurants and 24-hour room service!

For more information, go to www.70000tons.com.

Bassist Janusz Soloma of Polish metallers STOS died on stage while performing with the band on May 8, 2010 in Myslowice, Poland after suffering a heart attack. He was 48 years old.

Janusz joined the reactivated STOS in 2000 and was part of all of the band's live shows and recorded output since then.

Commented Bart Gabriel of Hard Rocker Management (STOS' manager between 2000 and 2004 who currently represents CRYSTAL VIPER): "Sometimes words can't express the real feelings, and we still can't believe in what happened...

"We are sharing the sadness and tears with the friends and family of Janusz, and, of course, with his band mates from STOS... This is simply unreal...".

Formed in the early '80s, STOS was often called the "Polish WARLOCK" because of the presence of a female vocalist in the group's lineup. They shared the stage with such acts as RUNNING WILD, HELLOWEEN and OVERKILL and the band's debut album (after a live split LP with OPEN FIRE, entitled "Metalmania '87") sold more than 30,000 copies in Poland alone.

STOS guitarist Jan Kardas died in December 2006 after being diagnosed with cancer earlier that year.

Former DEATH/MONSTROSITY bassist Kelly Conlon has announced the launch of his new web site, Kelly Conlon's Riff-Xchange, at www.kellyconlon.net.

Commented Kelly: "This site is for anyone to join and everyone can participate. This Riff Xchange is for musicians to collaborate with each other, whether to gain knowledge or gain new contacts — everyone can learn. This community is for all genres of music where you can learn other styles you may not be familiar with. Learn new techniques on your instrument(s), post videos and ideas. Join up and start sharing your experiences. Everyone is welcome."

In addition to collaborating with musicians — including Kelly — you will also be able to keep up with his past and present projects, highlights from various bands he's been a part of, videos, tour news and memorable moments, and studio work. Kelly will also be independently posting videos of his bass stylings on the site.

To celebrate the launch of his new web site, Kelly has released a never-before-seen video from the original "Symbolic" lineup of DEATH — Chuck Schuldiner, Bobby Koelble, Gene Hoglan and Kelly Conlon — performing the song "Crystal Mountain" at the first show before heading to Europe for the "Full of Hate Festivals" in 1995. The clip can now be viewed on Kelly Conlon's Riff Xchange and YouTube. It is also available for viewing below.

Swedish melodic death metallers DARK TRANQUILLITY will make their much-anticipated return to North America on May 11 as they kick off a massive headlining tour with support from THREAT SIGNAL and MUTINY WITHIN. This promises to be the longest, career-spanning DARK TRANQUILLITY setlist yet, so diehard fans will not want to miss out.

An in-depth, introspective chat with DARK TRANQUILLITY vocalist Mikael Stanne can be viewed below. He describes the meaning behind the band's critically acclaimed new album, "We Are The Void"; the difficulties of getting into songwriting mode; the meaning behind some of his favorite tracks off the new disc; winning over new fans; and his touring essentials. The band's latest addition, bassist Daniel Antonsson, also speaks candidly about how he joined the group and what he likes most about being on tour.

Stanne previously stated about the upcoming trek, "We've been rehearsing like crazy to put together a set that will blow you away. It's been hard but we feel we have a good collection of songs that represents every aspect of the band and will please fans of both new and old material. Also, the mad genius Niklas (Sundin, guitar) [was] hard at work creating amazing artwork and animation that will look incredible and add a new dimension to the show.

"This is, without a doubt, the biggest production we've done in the States.

"We Are The Void", the ninth album from DARK TRANQUILLITY, sold around 2,100 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 15 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

"We Are The Void" was released in North America on March 9 via Century Media Records. The LP was made available in Europe as a CD, digital download and strictly limited-edition die-cut digipak featuring two bonus songs ("Stars Of Nothingness" and "To Where Fires Cannot Feed") and a bonus DVD.

Reactivated San Francisco Bay Area thrashers FORBIDDEN are continuing work on their new album, "Omega Wave", at Sonic Room/Audio Voyage Studios in Livermore, California. The CD artwork has been commissioned from Kent Mathieu (FORBIDDEN, EXODUS, AUTOPSY, EXHORDER). The album is being produced by FORBIDDEN guitarist / songwriter Craig Locicero and Tim Narducci. All tracks will be mixed by Sean Beavan (SLAYER, MARILYN MANSON, NINE INCH NAILS).

FORBIDDEN guitarist Steve Smyth has offered the following commentary on some of the songs that will appear on the upcoming CD:

"Swine": "'Swine' is a little different from the rest of the tracks to me, a little more on the 'doomy' side of things, but it has more than a few surprises in there. I'm not going to give away too much here… you'll have to wait for it!

"'Swine' has some cool odd-time stuff at the intro, FORBIDDEN style, and well-arranged by Craig [Locicero] and Mark [Hernandez]!

"I sort of created the intro riff for this song by accident. Craig and I were jamming on some of the other songs one day, and I just happened to be noodling on something, not really thinking about anything, and he looked at me, and said, 'What's that?! Play that again!' I played it again, and we turned this from something completely unconscious on my part into the intro of the song pretty quickly! Mark and Craig brought some odd-time and arrangement ideas into it from there, and the rest of the song came right into it. Awesome! I'm a huge fan of things happening like that. The riff I'm talking about has the influence of Randy Rhoads and SABBATH in it, no doubt from my years of playing a lot of that stuff in my OZZY/SAB tribute 'Sweet Leaf'. A very dark, eerie-sounding (I hope!) arpeggiated pattern that has a moving bass line underneath it as well.

"Behind The Mask": "This one starts off heavy and moody, and does not let up for a long time! Very heavy pounding metal with a lot of peaks and valleys, as well as a killer chorus that Craig came up with for this one, which absolutely is heavy as hell, and jumps around the beat; a little tricky, but grooves like a mofo!

"Again, I don't want to give away the farm on this one, but there's some really cool stuff I came up with in the bridge that I hope you'll all dig on; lots of melody in this section, and not the type of instrument or style I think was ever heard on a FORBIDDEN record, but rest assured, I kept it heavy!"

Songtitles on the new FORBIDDEN album are as follows:

* Alpha Century
* Forsaken At The Gates
* Swine
* Immortal Wounds
* Hopenosis
* Adapt Or Die
* Inhuman Race
* Behind The Mask
* Dragging My Casket
* Overthrow
* Omega Wave

Former ANTHRAX guitarist Dan Spitz was released from the hospital last week after he received treatment for complications from his 2009 heart attack.

Spitz is currently hard at work on the debut album from his DEUXMONKEY project, which also features ACCEPT bassist Peter Baltes, vocalist Wade Black (CRIMSON GLORY, SEVEN WITCHES, LEATHERWOLF) and drummer Patrick Johansson (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, W.A.S.P. ).

Commented Spitz: "We certainly have a legendary CD here in our hands.

"The song topics are just mind-blowing!

"The music is by far the best I've ever written. The guitar tone is awesome and the lead guitar tone is just sick.

"More than 12 songs [have been] completed [thus far] by Wade, and some other oddities I've penned as well. [There are] lots of brutal riffs, and, of course, my lead guitar work is light years above anything of the past.

"I've been hard at work getting to a new level of expertise in my playing these past few years since the ANTHRAX reunion ended. I'm actually working on classical guitar a lot these days as well for something special in the future. Of course, my southern rock- and blues-based memorable lead guitar stories will play a large role in DEUXMONKEY.

"There's a bit of everything for everyone to enjoy here for sure.

"DEUXMONKEY certainly has its own identity. The hardest thing for me was to achieve this goal.

"Wade has been a trooper! He has come through the recording process with flying colors. He's been known to completely finish two songs in a day, including learning from scratch lots of material. Un-freakin'-believable!!! His opera voice training certainly has paid off in this case. I've never witnessed anything like it. So very talented.

"I'll be tying up some loose ends with Peter Baltes and off to the mega-producer's SSL for the mixing, who I will be announcing shortly as well.

"We are in the best of hands for mixing anywhere on planet earth.

"Again, thank you all for wonderful emails and concerns regarding my health.

"Tentative summer tour already planned leading into global touring.

"We'll let the music do the talking.

"Just know I'm glad to have a guitar in my hands each day and my passion for my instrument and this band is really deep.

"I will not stop playing and touring ever again."

DEUXMONKEY is:

* Dan Spitz (ANTHRAX) - Guitar
* Peter Baltes (ACCEPT) - Bass
* Patrick Johansson (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, W.A.S.P.) - Drums
* Wade Black (CRIMSON GLORY, SEVEN WITCHES, LEATHERWOLF) - Vocals

For more information, visit the DEUXMONKEY MySpace page.

Spitz underwent open-heart surgery on June 5, 2009 after it was discovered that the main artery to his heart was almost "completely closed."

Spitz took part in the reunion of ANTHRAX's classic lineup in 2005 and 2006 but left the band after ANTHRAX's most recent split with singer Joey Belladonna.

In a January 2007 interview with Eddie Trunk of the "Friday Night Rocks" radio show on New York's Q104.3 FM, ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian stated about Spitz, "Whether people are aware or not, Danny's, like, a big deal in the really, really fancy, expensive watch world — like crazy, super-high-end watches — and he's got his own line of watches coming out. It's weird, because before the reunion I would read this stuff online, and I would just kind of be like, 'What the hell…?' But then like after hanging out with the guy for 20 months and you actually talk to him and see the watches and what-not, I was like, 'Holy crap!' It's a pretty big deal."

Video footage of WE ARE THE FALLEN, the group formed by EVANESCENCE co-founder Ben Moody (guitar) and other former members — John LeCompt (guitar) and Rocky Gray (drums) — along with "American Idol" powerhouse vocalist Carly Smithson and bassist Marty O'Brien (DISTURBED, KELLY CLARKSON, STATIC-X, METHODS OF MAYHEM,TOMMY LEE), performing a cover version of MADONNA's "Like A Prayer" on May 8, 2010 at The Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza in New York City can be viewed below.

WE ARE THE FALLEN recorded a studio version "Like A Prayer" during the sessions for the band's debut album, "Tear The World Down", but opted to leave it off the record. According to Moody, the group is saving it for "something special."

"Tear The World Down" will be released on May 11 via Universal Republic Records.

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Bury Me Alive
02. Burn
03. Paradigm
04. Don't Leave Me Behind
05. Sleep Well, My Angel
06. Through Hell
07. I Will Stay
08. Without You
09. St. John
10. I Am Only One
11. Tear The World Down

30-second audio samples of all the tracks that appear on the album can be streamed on Amazon.com.

The group's first single, "Bury Me Alive", was made available exclusively via the digital domain in early February. A second track, "Without You", is currently being streamed on the band's official web site.

WE ARE THE FALLEN made its live debut on March 23 at Kings College in London, England. A 28-city U.S. tour as the support act for HIM launched on March 26 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and wrapped last night (May 9) at The Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza.

More behind-the-scenes footage from ZONARIA's recently completed European tour with DARK FUNERAL can be viewed below.

ZONARIA has entered the Abyss studio in Sweden with producer Jonas Kjellgren (SCAR SYMMETRY, SONIC SYNDICATE, HYPOCRISY, CENTINEX, CARNAL FORGE) to begin recording its new album for a fall/winter release.

ZONARIA vocalist/guitarist Simon Berglund previously stated about the upcoming CD: "I'm stoked about going into the studio with Jonas. He did an amazing job on [ZONARIA's 2007 release] 'Infamy And The Breed' and has done some more incredible work with other bands. And not to mention recording in studio Abyss for the first time. Many of our all-time favorites have recorded in that studio and something magic always happens with the albums recorded there."

ZONARIA's second full-length album, "The Cancer Empire", was released in the U.S. in January 2009 via Century Media Records. The CD was produced by Fredrik Nordström at Studio Fredman and was mastered by Peter In De Betou at Tailor Maid.

Formed in 2002 by guitarist, main songwriter, and vocalist Simon Berglund along with axeman Emil Nyström (both were only 15 years old at that time), ZONARIA outgrew its local underground status with the debut album "Infamy And The Breed" (Pivotal Recordings, 2007) and gained Europe-wide attention through tours with IMPALED NAZARENE, MARDUK, PAIN and VADER. With influences ranging from HYPOCRISY to DIMMU BORGIR to ARCH ENEMY, ZONARIA's misanthropic mix of brutal riffs, melodic harmonies, maniacal drumming, and ominous synth lines was well received within the metal community and the band succeeded in shaping its own, unique sound.