by: James Greene Jr.

Get ready for more AC/DC than you can shake your wang at. On November 10, everyone's favorite Aussie rock institution will drop Backtracks, a box set of previously unreleased tracks available in two editions.

Edition the first is the slimmer one, boasting a mere two discs of studio/live rarities and a DVD of videos/live performances.

Edition the second, the "Deluxe Limited Collector's Edition," throws in everything but the kitchen sink: you get three discs of studio/live rarities, two DVDs (one of which is an entire AC/DC concert), a 164 page coffee book collecting photos of the band throughout their history, an LP of AC/DC rarities (same ones found on the first edition), a bunch of AC/DC "original memorabilia reproductions" (including a button, a temporary tattoo, a guitar pick, etc) and the pièce de résistance, a single watt amplifier that all this junk comes in. That's right – this AC/DC box set comes with its own amp. Hell, it is its own amp!

So plug in and play along November 10. Just be sure you have some bones set aside; the "Deluxe" version of Backtracks retails in the neighborhood of $200.

[via Metalsucks]

A few weeks ago, we prematurely reported that SLAYER's upcoming CD would come out early this month. While the band is still on track for a late-Summer release we do have some news to report. The band has picked an album title: World Painted Blood. At first glance, it comes off a bit cheesy to me. However, anything I read about this new album is positive. The band can't shutup about how great it is. In the new issue of Decibel Magazine, they can't shutup about how good the new songs sound. So, I'm pretty excited about this release. We already got a taste of what to expect on the CD, with the track Psychopathy Red which the band debuted last year during the Unholy Alliance tour (video). Check out the full press-release with quotes from the band after the jump… (more…)

When we interviewed Tom Araya at the Revolver Golden Gods Awards, he said the band was writing and recording the CD but they were working at their own pace and no release date was set. Well, that seems to all have changed as KNAC.com (via MetalSucks) is reporting that the not-yet-titled CD will be released on July 7th (Update below), just in time for the band's co-headlining run on Mayhem Fest. If you're still not pumped, perhaps this live version of a new song that is sure to be on the CD, Psychopathy Red can get you excited for fuuuckkkiin SLAAAYYEERRR!!!!!

UPDATE: Blabbermouth has just posted the following clarification for the band's publicist:

Despite widespread rumors to the contrary, SLAYER's as-yet-untitled new album does not yet have an official release date. According to the band's publicist, the Los Angeles thrashers are in the studio putting the finishing touches on the CD recordings and are hoping to get the album out before the end of the summer. However, an exact release date will not be set until the record has been completed. "Tom's [Araya] finishing up vocals, Kerry [King] and Jeff [Hanneman] are doing final guitar overdubs, and, unless some unforeseen wrench is thrown in, all recording will be finished before the end of next week,"

In about 6 months Dreaming Saturn, The Crinn's first full length (that's right: not a split and not another ep) will be released. Vocalist John Nelson explains in an email that it has taken the band two years to finish writing the album. "In our view, [Dreaming Saturn] is a culmination of styles that have been evolving from the beginning of our 6 year career, mixed with a new dimension of jazz-like and thrash-like elements."

When the band starts recording May 15 with Adam Tucker of Signature Tone Studio, they won't be taking off of work from their day jobs. "We will, however, be working hard on recording at every other moment we aren't slaving away for the man," says Nelson. Even though The Crinn doesn't plan on doing any extensive touring before the album drops, they will play a couple weekend shows in June throughout the Midwest.

During the writing process the band has not looked into new merch designs, but Nelson promises there will be some new ones later this year. Will they bring back the noodle shirts? "No, no new noodle grind jokes sadly. Maybe it's a good thing?"

Video preview of the album after the jump.
(more…)

THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER have announced they will be putting out a two-disc DVD set entitled Majesty. It will "drop" May 12th via Metal Blade. Now, everybody and their mother has been releasing DVDs as of late and some can be classified as cookie-cutter. But, from personal experience we can tell you that the Black Dahlia Murder guys are some of the funniest and goofiest dudes around so this will be guaranteed entertainment. The first disc will feature a full length documentary, while the second disc will have live performances.

When speaking with the band a few months ago, I can tell you that the live footage will be compiled over the course of the last 2 years of touring the band has done as opposed to a shoot at a set location with a gazillion cameras. This could have changed since the last time we spoke with the band, but the band seemed pretty dead set against a whole live shoot. Check out the expected tracklisting of the DVD as well as one of the most random interviews we've ever done (featuring Brian and Trevor of BDM) after the jump… (more…)

This year's release schedule is coming together very nicely. According to their website, Sweden's post-metal leaders Cult of Luna are releasing a feature DVD entitled Fire Was Born as a part of a redux release of their much-heralded recent album Eternal Kingdom (which even appeared on my 2008 recap..) on March 23rd, 2009.

Fire Was Born will focus on a gig recorded at the Scala in London on the tour last July 2008 (featuring the extended lineup of the band – including two drummers) playing a 1 hour 30 min set. It will also include an interview with Johannes and Anders answering questions from fans all around the world and the videos for "The Watchtower", "Leave Me Here", and "Back to Chapel Town" and will be available for sale on March 23rd. For now, check out the following preview clip:

I got an awesome press release in my mail box this morning. No sense in rewording it:

ISIS, the Los Angeles by way of Boston band, has set a May 5 release date for their anticipated new album, Wavering Radiant (Ipecac Recordings). The album, produced by Joe Baressi (Tool, Queens off The Stone Age), will see a limited edition vinyl version released on Apr. 21. Tool's Adam Jones contributed guitar to two songs from the new release. More details soon.

Yes! It's been far too long since the last new music from ISIS. While no MP3s are currently available, we did find this live bootleg a few months ago to give you a taste of what the new album will sound like (leaning towards AWESOME)…

Oakland-based stoner metal gods High on Fire have announced that they'll be releasing their next studio album on Koch Records (In Flames, Hatebreed) sometime in 2009. Until then, we can occupy ourselves with a live album, the band's final release for Relapse, recorded from the 2003 Contamination Festival. The appropriately-titled Live From The Relapse Contamination Festival is set for release January 6. Particularly baiting are the cover of Venom's "Witching Hour," plus the fact that High on Fire tears it up live.
Tracklist:

1. "Blood From Zion"
2. "To Cross The Bridge"
3. "Nemesis"
4. "Razorhoof"
5. "Speed Wolf"
6. "Eyes & Teeth"
7. "Hung Drawn & Quartered"
8. "Witching Hour" (Venom cover)

High on Fire, "Devilution"

Between increasingly sporadic reunion shows and Ihsahn's thriving solo career, you may never get another chance to see Emperor. If it's any consolation, an upcoming CD/DVD package captures some of the pioneer black metal gods' insanely amazing reunion shows, for release April 16 (Europe) and April 21 (USA.) According to Candlelight Records' website, the Live Inferno package will arrive in a few different formats. Including:

2-CD/slipcase with 16-page booklet
Limited edition 2-CD/2-DVD box set with 24-page booklet
Single DVD
Two limited edition double-vinyl gatefold sets

Excessive? We certainly hope so.

Confirmed track listings include:

Inferno (Disc 1):
1. "Infinity Burning (medley)"
2. "Cosmic Keys to My Creations & Times"
3. "Thus Spake the Nightspirit"
4. "An Elegy of Icaros"
5. "Curse you all Men!"
6. "Wrath of the Tyrant"
7. "With Strength I Burn"
8. "Towards the Pantheon"
9. "The Majesty of the Nightsky"
10. "The Loss and Curse of Reverence"
11. "In the Wordless Chamber"
12. "Inno a Satana"
13. "I am the Black Wizards"
14. "Ye Entrancemperium"
15. "Opus a Satana"

Wacken (Disc 2):
1. "Infinity Burning (medley)"
2. "Cosmic Keys to My Creations & Times"
3. "Thus Spake the Nightspirit"
4. "An Elegy of Icaros"
5. "Curse you all Men!"
6. "With Strength I Burn"
7. "Towards the Pantheon"
8. "The Majesty of the Nightsky"
9. "The Loss and Curse of Reverence"
10. "In the Wordless Chamber"
11. "I am the Black Wizards"
12. "Inno a Satana"

One of next year's most anticipated releases will be the new LAMB OF GOD record set to come out next February. It's no secret that everybody here at the Metal Injection studios is a huge Lamb of God fan. Now its clear that with every record, the band moved from a raw sound to more of a polished metal band. In a recent interview with Synthesis, Mark Morton says the band's next record Wrath will be a return to the more raw feel of LAMB OF GOD:

There are definitely some changes; fairly significant ones, I would say. Overall, I would characterize this record as a bit more raw, a little more aggressive and organic. To me, this record is more like a band in front of you playing it, whereas on "Sacrament" there was more studio polish going on. It's not to knock it, but it's just a different approach to making a record. We were really trying to achieve a certain level of perfection when it came to "Sacrament", which largely we did, but with "Wrath" we were trying to go for more of a character, you know? There was a lot of stuff on there that weren't perfect takes, but we left it because they sounded cool and had their own identity.

This just makes it more exciting. From what we've heard with the "Overhaul" bootleg (below) it sure sounds like LAMB OF GOD will be back with a vengeance…

We just got a press release from the fine people at Roadrunner Records announcing that Killswitch Engage will begin recording their not-yet-titled fourth studio record, the followup to the almost gold As Daylight Dies.

It was your typical press release with fancy adjectives describing the band and talking about their recent successes. One part stuck out like a sore thumb: For the first time in the band's existence, Adam D. is not producing the record. Instead, the band has enlisted powerhouse producer Brendan O'Brien (who recently worked with AC/DC, Pearl Jam and Mastodon) to helm the board with Adam D. getting a co-producing credit.

This should tell you that when the band will be doing press for this record, they will not be saying "this is our heaviest record to date" but more likely "this is our most accessible record to date." Honestly, I'm totally cool with that. Killswitch Engage are all about writing catchy metalcore songs that appeal to people who aren't really into "underground" music. And, hey, after 3 records maybe its time to get a little more outside perspective on the band's sound.

The band will record in both Georgia and their native Western Massachusetts. The record is expected to be released in Spring 2009. The band is also putting plans into place for what the label is calling a "major" pre-album release tour. If you can't wait that long, check out our Killswitch Engage mixtape featuring a ton of music videos and 2 separate/hilarious interviews with Adam D and Howard.

GOD FOBID's new record, Earthsblood doesn't come out until February, but we got our hands on some exclusive audio samples from the record. Check them out below…

Full press release about the new record after the jump… (more…)

Mainstream metalcore fans and underground alterna-metal obsessives unite! There's something for everyone coming out this November 18.

Bring Me The Horizon – Suicide Season (Epitaph)

Britain's fast-rising metalcore kids recorded their Epitaph debut with producer Fredrik Nordstrom (Dimmu Borgir, In Flames, Opeth.) They're promoting Suicide Season with a headlining tour of the US and UK, plus some some new songs streaming here.

Vocalist Chad Gray and guitarist Greg Tribbett return from Hellyeah to produce the first full-length Mudvayne release in three years. Stream the whole thing right here and check out the first video here.

John LaMacchia (Candiria,) Greg Puciato (Dillinger Escape Plan,) Jeff Caxide (Isis) and Julie Christmas (Made out of Babies) join forces in an experi-metal supergroup that goes beyond the "side project" stigma into "when do we get a full-length and tour?" Check it out here.

Check out the rest of tomorrow's releases after the jump (more…)

Tomorrow's new albums arrive on Veterans Day, giving you a chance to get incensed over years of sending our bravest into battle before blowing off steam with something particularly brutal. Prospects include:

The Bronx – The Bronx (White Drugs)
The inexplicably-named, L.A.-based hardcore dudes return with their third straight self-titled album, now streaming in its entirety right here.

On their debut for The End records, Japan's Dir En Grey are still delivering their alternative metalcore sound that broke them through worldwide. New song "Dozing Green" is streaming here, and their current US headlining tour runs through December.

Summer Slaughter staples from the West Coast realize their technical death metal potential on their latest, for which you can check out two new songs here. An extensive tour continues this month, while December dates with Lamb of God, Job for a Cowboy and The Sword respectively have The Faceless poised for the big leagues.

It doesn't look like they'll have it out in time to grace our 2008 top ten lists, but Mastodon have chosen Crack the Skye as the title for their planned early 2009 release. Produced by fellow Atlanta native Brendan O'Brien (AC/DC, Rage Against the Machine), the album is reported to indulge the band's classic rock side. In an interview with Metalsucks, bassist Troy Sanders described it as "a rock kind of Count Chocula-meets-Deep Purple thing." Hopefully, that means it's awesome, and with Mastodon that's a safe bet.

Check out the Metal Injection interview with drummer Brann Dailor during Mayhem Fest 2008 below, and enjoy the tracklist (seven songs, including one divided into four parts) after the jump.

1. Oblivion
2. Divinations
3. Quintessence
4. The Czar
  I. Usurper
  II. Escape
  III. Martyr
  IV. Spiral
5. Ghost of Karelia
6. Crack The Skye
7. The Last Baron

This year, Halloween fell on a weekend–and as usual, some of the world's more horror-savvy metal bands released new music the week of All Hallow's Eve.

Abigail Williams – Shadow Of A Thousand Suns (Candlelight)

New York City's fast-rising black metal band are promoting their new album with a sport on the Planetary Duality tour with the Faceless, Decrepit Birth and Veil of Maya. Stream some new songs here.

A premier act in Quebec's thriving technical metal scene, BtM are coming off appearances on the Summer Slaughter and Radio Rebellion tours with their second full-length album. New song "Our Common Grave" is streaming here on their myspace–should give you much to think aboot.

One of the best-selling black metal bands in history returns with a concept album about something goth and spooky. The extreme yet tuneful Brits drafted Andy Sneap (Arch Enemy, Megadeth) to produce this one, and you can preview the results in the first video, Honey and Sulpher.

Following up progressive death metal smash Ruun is no small task, but Enslaved sound up to it on the Norwegian vets' latest. Take an early listen here.

Finland's answer to GWAR offers up a new album of hard rock camp, to be followed by a nationwide tour with the oddly-paired Lizzy Borden and Stolen Babies, plus an appearance on (!) "Late Night with Conan O'Brien."

Not much by way of metal releases this week, but it's not every day that AC/DC graces us with a new record, so enjoy.

AC/DC – Black Ice (Columbia)

Oft-imitated and never equaled, AC/DC sound pretty much just like they've always sounded over the past 35 years on their new studio album. Unless you've got an aversion to Wal-Mart, who have an exclusive on Black Ice, anyone who likes grimy, catchy hard rock should dig this. Enjoy some new songs streaming here.

Coming off a well-publicized spat with Axl Rose, Josh Homme's psychobilly band is back with a raging Heart On. Huh huh. Check out the video for the first single, "Wannabe in LA," right here.

Former Superjoint Ritual bassist/American music royalty Hank III offers up country-inflicted punk akin to Rebel Meets Rebel, the Pantera/David Allan Coe collaboration that Hank III also partook in. Preview the new record here.

Years ago, horror film director, comic book creator and TCM show host Rob Zombie was best-known as the frontman for White Zombie, an underground noise rock band that eventually became a gateway band for any metalhead who grew up in the '90s. Lest anyone forget, the entire White Zombie discography–out of print early records, self-released EPs, soundtrack cuts, remixes, and of course their major label studio albums are all re-released in a four-CD, one-DVD box set. Scheduled for release on November 25 and titled Let Sleeping Corpses Lie, Mr. Zombie states on his myspace, "All I can say is boy the early shit is wacked. I haven't heard some of these songs in over twenty years. I don't know what the hell we were thinking. Everything is including on this set. Over 4 and 1/2 hours of music plus tons of never before seen videos. 5 discs in all."

Included in the box is "Ratfinks, Suicide Tanks and Cannibal Girls," which you may remember from the scene that Zombie animated for Beavis and Butt-head Do America.

Check out the tracklisting for Let Sleeping Corpses Lie after the jump… (more…)