As first reported by BLABBERMOUTH.NET yesterday, British extreme epic power metallers DRAGONFORCE have now officially confirmed the departure of lead singer ZP Theart. "It is with great regret that DRAGONFORCE announce a parting of the ways with singer ZP Theart," the group writes in a statement. "This is due to insurmountable differences of musical opinion but the rest of the ...

According to CDJapan.co.jp, DOKKEN’s new greatest-hits package, "Greatest Hits 2" — a collection of all-new versions of tracks such as "Dream Warriors", "Breaking the Chains" and "Just Got Lucky", paired two new songs and two covers (including a version of "Lies", originally recorded by THE KNICKERBOCKERS) — will be released in Ja...

According to Interia.pl and GazetaPrawna.pl, vocalist/guitarist Adam "Nergal" Darski of Polish extreme metallers BEHEMOTH was formally charged on Monday (March 8) for insulting Roman Catholics. Darski made headlines in his native country in September 2007 when he reportedly called the Catholic Church "the most murderous cult on the planet" during a BEHEMOTH performance i...

San Francisco Bay Area metal veterans DEATH ANGEL recently entered Audiohammer Studios in Sanford, Florida with producer Jason Suecof (TRIVIUM, AUGUST BURNS RED, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, ALL THAT REMAINS, WHITECHAPEL, DEVILDRIVER) to begin recording their new album for a tentative September release via Nuclear Blast Records. The first in a series of video updates from the studio can be viewe...

David E. Gehlke of Blistering.com recently interviewed ARMORED SAINT bassist Joey Vera. A few excerpts from the chat follow below. Blistering.com: What stoked the creative juices to do another ARMORED SAINT album? Vera: The writing first started with John and I in late spring of 2008 and we wrote a few songs together for fun. There was no intention of doing anything. After we had writte...

Way Too Loud! recently conducted an interview with vocalist Scott Vogel and bassist David Wood of the Los Angeles hardcore/metal band TERROR. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below. Way Too Loud!: It sounds like you’ve got plans for a new album. Scott Vogel: I wouldn’t say we’re in the early stages of writing, but we have a lot of stuff written, and now we&rsqu...

FLOTSAM AND JETSAM bassist Jason Ward will make a guest appearance on two songs on the forthcoming album from the Chicago-based rock band SPARKPLUG ASSASSINS. The CD is currently being recorded in Chicago for a tentative summer release. SPARKPLUG ASSASSINS is fronted by Dave McCormick, who also plays with Ward in an ALICE IN CHANS tribute band called ANGRY CHAIR. SPARKPLUG ASSASSINS&rsqu...

The U.S. branch of Roadrunner Records released a story at approximately 6:03 p.m. EST today (Monday, March 8) via its official web site (and distributed through the site’s official RSS feed) containing the following text (Note: The story has since been removed from the site): "DRAGONFORCE have split with lead singer ZP Theart. The band issued the following statement regarding the...

Century Media Records has set a June 8 North American release date for "The Obsidian Conspiracy", the long-awaited new album from Seattle metallers NEVERMORE. The drum tracks for "The Obsidian Conspiracy" were completed in the group’s hometown of Seattle with SOILWORK guitarist Peter Wichers, who previously worked with Dane on the singer’s solo debut, "Prai...

Post-progressive rock band WORLDENGINE, led by Brazilian multi instrumentalist Valmor Pedretti Jr. and singer Cristiana Camboim, has just released a "making-of"-style video for the song "Echolalia", from the group’s upcoming, as-yet-untitled LP, which is currently being mixed by Thiago Grün. The track showcases the band’s concept of international collaboratio...

Portuguese death metallers ANNIHILATION have finished recording their debut album, "Against The Storm", at Brugo Sound Studio with producer Hugo Camarinha (THERIOMORPHIC, BLEEDING DISPLAY). Camarinha also mixed and mastered the effort, which will be released later this year via an as-yet-undetermined record label. ANNIHILATION’s recording lineup for "Against The Storm"...

MEGADETH guitarist Chris Broderick has issued the following update: "Thanks for all the birthday wishes!! "I had a great time in Calgary [on March 6 as part of MEGADETH’s tour with TESTAMENT and EXODUS]. "It’s funny how in the three years I have been in MEGADETH, I have always been on tour during my birthday, and I have to say that all of you have made th...

Julia Neuman of Metal Assault conducted an interview with guitarist Joel Stroetzel of Massachusetts metallers KILLSWITCH ENGAGE on March 6, 2010 at The Wiltern in Los Angeles, California. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below. Metal Assault: Howard [Jones, vocals] dropped out of the tour, and he has been temporarily replaced by Phil [Labonte from ALL THAT REMAINS]. So it’s &qu...

Video footage of RAGE’s March 3, 2010 performance in Munich, Germany can be viewed below (courtesy of "eblrocknroll"). RAGE’s new album, "Strings To A Web", entered the Media Control chart in the band’s home country at position No. 27. Released on February 5 via Nuclear Blast Records, the CD was recorded at Twilight Hall Studio and was produced by Charlie...

Sony Music has set a May 11 release date (one day earlier internationally) for "British Steel: Legacy Edition", the limited deluxe expanded edition of JUDAS PRIEST’s classic 1980 album "British Steel". "British Steel" was the sixth studio album by JUDAS PRIEST. Released on April 14, 1980 and produced by Tom Allom, "British Steel" was recorded at Ti...

Chad Bowar of About Heavy Metal recently conducted an interview with vocalist Chuck Billy of San Francisco Bay Area thrashers TESTAMENT. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below. About Heavy Metal: How come you decided to put together a special tour edition of your "The Formation Of Damnation" CD? Chuck Billy: It was something we spoke about doing early on, when we were t...

Valerio Ferrari of HeavyWorlds.com conducted an interview with guitarist Matias Kupiainen of Finnish melodic metallers STRATOVARIUS on January 21, 2010 in Milan, Italy. Watch the chat in two parts below. STRATOVARIUS’ latest album, "Polaris", landed at position No. 57 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing...

An 11-minute video clip of HELLOWEEN members talking about their 25th-anniversary album, "Unarmed - Best Of 25th Anniversary", can be viewed at this location. "Unarmed - Best Of 25th Anniversary" will be released in North America on March 30 via The End Records, under exclusive license from Sony Music Entertainment Germany. "Unarmed - Best Of 25th Anniversary" w...

Video footage of ACCEPT’s recent appearance on VH1 Classic’s "That Metal Show" can be viewed below. Following their eagerly awaited return to the live stage at the almost-sold-out Gramercy Theatre in New York City, reformed heavy metal legends ACCEPT will be heading to Europe to perform special shows in carefully handpicked venues in various European capitals. ACCEP...

SUICIDAL ANGELS and LOST SOUL have been confirmed for the 15-year-anniversary edition of the Brutal Assault festival, set to take place August 12-14, 2010 in Josefov, Czech Republic. The festival billing is shaping up as follows: ARSIS AURA NOIR BLEED FROM WITHIN CANDLEMASS CANNIBAL CORPSE CATAMENIA CONVERGE DEMONIC RESURRECTION DESPISED ICON DEVIN TOWNSEND DEVOURMENT DIABLO S...