Hevy Devy is a hot, hot, hot item on Metal Storm these days. The musical genius/maniac has finally announced more details regarding the release of Deconstruction and Ghost ? the third and fourth in a series of albums which will complete his tetralogy album concept ? a great journey through Devin's different states of musical moods ? which he started in 2009 with the albums Addicted (2009) and Ki (2009).

Townsend tapped Jens Bogren (Paradise Lost, Opeth, Bloodbath) to mix Deconstruction. The sessions took place late last month at Fascination Street studio in Örebro, Sweden. The CD features guest appearances by a number of well-known metal musicians (see below) as well as two drummers ? Ryan Van Poederooyen (The Devin Townsend Band) for the "crushing stuff," and Dirk Verbeuren (Soilwork, Aborted, a shitload of other bands) for the "inhuman stuff."

Deconstruction and Ghost will be released in North America on June 21 (one day earlier internationally) through InsideOut Music.

Deconstruction slipcase cover art] tracklist:

01. Praise The Lowered
02. Stand
03. Juula
04. Planet Of The Apes
05. Summera
06. The Mighty Masturbator
07. Pandemic
08. Deconstruction
09. Poltergeist

Deconstruction guest musicians:

Mikael Åkerfeldt (Opeth, Bloodbath)
Ihsahn (Emperor)
Tommy Rogers (Between The Buried And Me)
Joe Duplantier (Gojira)
Greg Puciato (The Dillinger Escape Plan)
Floor Jansen (After Forever, ReVamp)
Oderus Urungus (Gwar)
Paul Masvidal (Cynic)
Fredrik Thordendal (Meshuggah)

Ghost cover art] tracklist:

01. Fly
02. Heart Baby
03. Feather
04. Kawaii
05. Ghost
06. Blackberry
07. Monsoon
08. Dark Matters
09. Texada
10. Seams
11. Infinite Ocean
12. As You Were

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Source:	facebook.com
Band profile:	Devin Townsend

Children Of Bodom has announced a North American headlining tour in support of their new album Relentless Reckless Forever. Support on the Children Of Bodom tour will come from Devin Townsend with openers Obscura and Septicflesh rotating positions each night.

Brought to you by Guitar World and Revolver, the North American leg of Children Of Bodom's Ugly World Tour will kick off in Los Angeles on June 24 and run through July 24 in Montreal where COB will perform alongside Kiss, Motörhead and more as part of the Heavy MTL hard rock festival.

"We are psyched to see all of our friends in North America and to play our new songs live for all of the Bodom maniacs," commented COB guitarist/vocalist Alexi "Wildchild" Laiho. "Get ready to throw it down!"

Children Of Bodom's Ugly World Tour - Ft. Devin Townsend, Septicflesh, Obscura:

June 24 - West Hollywood, CA - House of Blues
June 25 - San Francisco, CA - Slim's
June 26 - Portland, OR - Roseland
June 27 - Seattle, WA - Showbox at the Market
June 28 - Vancouver, BC - Commodore Ballroom
June 30 - Calgary, AB - MacEwan Ballroom
July 02 - Edmonton, AB - Edmonton Events Center
July 03 - Saskatoon, SK - Odeon
July 04 - Winnipeg, MB - Garrick Center
July 05 - St. Paul, MN - Station Four
July 06 - Chicago, IL - House of Blues
July 08 - Atlanta, GA - Masquerade
July 09 - Orlando, FL - BeachamTheater
July 10 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL - Revolution
July 12 - Pittsburgh, PA - Mr. Smalls
July 13 - Norfolk, VA - The Norva
July 14 - Springfield, VA - Jaxx
July 15 - Springfield, VA - Jaxx
July 16 - New York, NY - Best Buy Theatre
July 17 - Philadelphia, PA - Trocadero Theatre
July 19 - Worcester, PA - Palladium
July 21 - Halifax, NS - Multipurpose Centre (no Devin Townsend)
July 23 - Toronto, ONT - Downsview Park (Heavy T.O.)
July 24 - Montreal, QC - Parc Jean-Drapeau (Heavy MTL)

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Source:	cobhc.com
Band profile:	Children Of Bodom

"To France", the new video from German/Norwegian symphonic metal band Leaves' Eyes, can now be watched below.

The clip was directed by Patric Ullaeus of Revolver Film Company in Gothenburg, Sweden.

"To France", a cover of the Mike Oldfield classic, comes off the band's upcoming new album Meredead, which will be released on April 22nd through Napalm Records. More album details were previously reported over here.

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Source:	facebook.com
Band profile:	Leaves' Eyes

Regiment Ragnarok, the new upcoming album from Danish death metal quintet Panzerchrist, is now available for streaming in its entirety over at Metal-Hammer.

Regiment Ragnarok will be released on April 15th through Listenable Records.

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Source:	metal-hammer.de
Band profile:	Panzerchrist

Even the Prince of Darkness has to pay up to Uncle Sam.

Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne owe more than $1.7 million in back taxes to the IRS, according to Financial-Planning.com. The rocker turned reality star, 62, and his wife and manager, 58, reportedly owe $718,948 from 2008 and $1.024 million from 2009.

The IRS has placed a lien on their Los Angeles house, meaning if the Osbournes don't pay up soon, they're in serious danger of losing their home. Their daughter Kelly, 26, also owes the government money; TMZ reported that the state of California filed a lien against the actress for $34,000 last month.

Sharon wrote on her Twitter page last Friday: "You can't rely on anyone but yourself. You have to be on top of your own business affairs. My fault..... lesson learned."

Ozzy and Sharon recently listed their Malibu beach house on the market for $10 million.

Read more ››

Source:	new.music.yahoo.com
Band profile:	Ozzy Osbourne

"No Grave Deep Enough", a brand-new track from Irish pagan black metal band Primordial, has been made available for streaming over at Metal-Hammer.

Another new track, called "Bloodied Yet Unbowed", is still streaming at this location.

"No Grave Deep Enough" and "Bloodied Yet Unbowed" come off the band's upcoming new album Redemption At The Puritan's Hand, which will be released on April 23rd in Europe and on April 26th in North America through Metal Blade Records. More album details were previously reported over here.

34845 for the news!]

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Source:	metal-hammer.de
Band profile:	Primordial

Blabbermouth is reporting that Nevermore have apparently cancelled all of their previously announced North American tour dates. An official statement from the band will be issued shortly. Stay tuned for updates.

The North American tour will still go ahead as planned though, with Symphony X, Powerglove and Blackguard playing all dates. Also Soilwork were already forced to drop off the tour due to an injury of guitarist Peter Wichers.

1186 for the notice!]

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Source:	roadrunnerrecords.com
Band profile:	Nevermore
Event:	Symphony X: North American Tour 2011

"Kali Yuga III", the new video from Therion, can now be watched over at this location.

"Kali Yuga III" comes off the band's latest album Sitra Ahra, which was released in September last year through Nuclear Blast Records. The album was voted "The Best Symphonic Metal Album" in the 2010 Metal Storm Awards.

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Source:	megatherion.com
Band profile:	Therion

For their 10th birthday Polish prog metallers Riverside have prepared a special release which will be available during the forthcoming tour. The EP entitled Memories In My Head contains 33 minutes of fresh music.

Vocalist/ Bassist Mariusz Duda gives more insight about the EP: "This new material, concerning (for obvious reasons) the themes of the passing time, will be a pleasant surprise for those who have missed the specific kind of melodies and space known from the bands early releases. We have consciously gone back to our beginnings to create a certain kind of a circle. This mini-album will contain three longer compositions most resembling those from our first two albums. The result is a quite interesting, spacious, film-soundtrackish, nostalgic, and most of all rock mixture, summing up our career's first decade quite well. Memories In My Head is an album which appears out of nowhere, without much promotion; we hope, though, that its content can defend itself and that it will evoke a lot of positive emotions. It does that to us, and we will prove it soon, playing those songs live at our upcoming gigs."

The concerts at which it will be possible to buy this mini-album and hear the new songs live will begin on 5th of May in Prague (CZ) and finish on 29th of May in Warsaw (PL). Tides From Nebula, a band from Poland, will support Riverside at the 12 European concerts, and The Pineapple Thief from Great Britain and Paatos from Sweden will do the same at the 6 Polish gigs.

All Riverside Anniversary Tour dates can be at this location.

Memories In My Head tracklist:

01. Goodbye Sweet Innocence
02. Living In The Past
03. Forgotten Land

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Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Riverside
Event:	Riverside: 2011 Anniversary Tour

The Lay Of Thrym, the new album from Viking metal band Týr, will be released on May 27th through Napalm Records.

The story of King Thrym, who dared steal Thor´s hammer "Mjollnir", may set the lyrical stage on Týr's latest album, but it does not prevent them from covering more current topics like in the track "Shadow of the Swastika". The Lay of Thrym follows the path of the band's previous releases by uniting classic heavy metal riffs with impressive drumming, traditional melodies, and powerful choruses. The result is a number of epic anthems, such as "Take Your TÝRant" and "Hall of Freedom", both of which will most certainly earn a permanent spot on Týr's future setlists.

Frontman Heri Joensen continues to give Týr a unique and unmistakable edge with magnificent vocals and superb guitar work. Jacob Hansen was again responsible for recording, mixing, and mastering the album, complementing this fascinating Faeroese sound universe with finishing touches that allow every last detail to shine.

The Lay of Thrym is a genuine Viking metal album that will undoubtedly secure Týr's hold on this genre with its heroic melodies and glorious riffs.

The Lay of Thrym tracklist:

01. Flames Of The Free
02. Shadow Of The Swastika
03. Take Your Tyrant
04. Evening Star
05. Hall Of Freedom
06. Fields Of The Fallen
07. Konning Hans
08. Ellindur Bondi A Jadri
09. Nine Words Of Lore
10. The Lay Of Thrym
11. I
12. Stargazer

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Source:	spirit-of-metal.com
Band profile:	Týr

En Kvest For Den Hellige Gral, the new album from Norwegian "Balkan metallers" Trollfest, will be released on April 29th through NoiseArt Records.

One of the new songs on the album, called "Die Verdammte Hungersnot", has been made available for streaming over at Soundcloud.

The Romanian division of Trollfest TV sent their finest reporter Andrea Chirulescu to Oslo to see what was happening in the Trollfest lair, as the release of En Kvest for den Hellige Gral is getting closer.

More album details were previously reported over here.

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Source:	facebook.com
Band profile:	Trollfest

In a brutally short update on their Facebook wall, US stoner/doom/drone metallers Om have revealed they are currently working on a new album... and that's about all we can tell you for now.

Stay tuned for updates as they happen.

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Source:	omvibratory.com
Band profile:	Om

The upcoming new Draconian album, A Rose for the Apocalypse, will be released on June 23rd through Napalm Records. A limited beautiful digi-pack version with one bonus song will be available.

Vocalist Anders Jacobsson issued the following update: "We are sorry for keeping the lid on during the writing and recording process of this album. It has been a quite hard route, at least for me, to get things right and in order. I guess, most art is flowing without restraint and changes during the time of its construction, and sometimes even the artist him/herself needs time to comprehend it.

Jens Bogren of Fascination Street sprinkled his magic over the songs during the production- and mixing process and each and every song found its way. We are grateful to have such a committed producer and we can only feel blessed by the experience to once again have made another album reality at Fascination Street.

The new album is called A Rose for the Apocalypse and deals with a vast dilemma we're all facing as one species; the horrors and contradictions we've created in our 'nature-divorced' system. The title refers to the collapse of this structure, built by mindless human opinion. It also refers to the necessity of its demise. We are trying to capture the gloom of its realization. I don't know if we'd want to call this a conceptual album, but most songs certainly deal with the same topic in one way or the other. I've reached a point in my life when my eyes remain open.

To most of you A Rose for the Apocalypse might appear a darker, more threatening album compared to the previous Turning Season Within. And yes, it is different in several ways, but Draconian remains the same. I have often said that our new work resembles a mix between the old and the new Draconian and will unite fans of both preferences. While listening to this album I feel a lot of history comes together in one place, at least sound-wise.

Our old friend Olof Göthlin contributes with some of his excellent violin skills on the album. Cover and layout is created by the amazing Seth Siron Anton (Paradise Lost, Kamelot, Rotting Christ, Moonspell etc). We sincerely hope we've created an album that will make impact on our beloved fans. Thank you for keeping up, sticking by us and maintained your faith in Draconian."

102171 for sending in this news.]

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Source:	draconian.se
Band profile:	Draconian

For those of us Metalstormers who love the truly awesome, amazing, crushing wall of sound which is Minsk, it is time for a Saturday Feel Bad. The band is now on indefinite hiatus. Woe is us. From their facebook page:

Dysfunction, Sad News, Indefinite Hiatus...
by Minsk on Saturday, April 9, 2011 at 9:56am

We regret to have to say that for the immediate and indefinite future, Minsk will be on a continued hiatus. In the recent months, it's been increasingly difficult to answer the question "what is up with Minsk?" Truthfully, I don't think anyone has a definitive answer. It doesn't feel like we've done everything that we intended to do or exhausted the creative space that Minsk occupied. But times and people change.

We had been slowly working toward a new album, which we all spent a week recording this past December. And we introduced two new individuals into the family with the additions of Jeff Hyde and Aaron Austin, two long time friends and generous collaborators. But the way forward seems insurmountable at this point. Nothing about this band has ever been clear cut, or easy, or predictable. And we're unable to see the future once again. There desire to create and explore new approaches still exists at the same time we have to let go of what has been.

We would certainly like to extend the greatest thanks to all the friends and allies we've made over the years, all the fans and kindred spirits that have urged us on during the best and worst of times, and to our friends and family without whose continued love and support none of this would have been possible. Once again we find ourselves soul searching and reflecting. And more certainly needs to be said at some point.

In the coming days and weeks, we will continue to use this space to remember what Minsk has been and has accomplished these past eight years and to highlight the whole host of Minsk-related projects currently in motion. Thanks again for all the love and support.

But before you ponder seppuku at this news, the band is named after a city which has shown historical resilience too invasions and razings. So who knows, maybe they, too, like their namesake, will return and rebuild. Or at least finish that album they mentioned working on and go out with a (sonic) boom.

Read more ››

Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Minsk

Former Dio band members Rudy Sarzo (bass), Simon Wright (drums), Craig Goldy (guitar) and Scott Warren (keyboards) will join forces with singers Tim "Ripper" Owens (Yngwie Malmsteen, Judas Priest, Iced Earth) and Toby Jepson (Little Angels, Gun) to play a number of shows in Europe under the moniker Dio Disciples.

Because of Sarzo's commitment to Blue Öyster Cult, James Lomenzo (Megadeth, Black Label Society) will join the band for the European dates until Rudy becomes available.

Ronnie James Dio's widow and manager Wendy recently said the following about this project: "There will never be another Ronnie, but we want to keep his music alive and hope you will support the band and become one of the Dio Disciples."

North American tour plans will be announced later.

Dio Disciples - European Tour Dates:

June 08 - Moscow, Russia - A2 Club
June 09 - St. Petersburg, Russia - Kosmonayt
June 10 - Tampere, Finland - Sauna Open Air
June 11 - East Midlands, UK - Download Festival
June 12 - Newcastle, UK - Academy
June 14 - Glasgow, Scotland - Garage
June 15 - Wolverhampton, UK - Sleigh Rooms
June 16 - Manchester, UK - Academy 2
June 17 - London, UK - Islington Academy
June 19 - Uden, Netherlands - De Pul
June 20 - Aschafensburg, Germany - Colos Saal
June 21 - Hamburg, Germany - Markthalle
June 22 - Berlin, Germany - C Club
June 24 - Dessel, Belgium - Graspop Metal Meeting
June 25 - Bochum, Germany - Matrix
June 27 - Vienna, Austria - Szene Wien
June 28 - Lucerne, Switzerland - Konzerthaus Schuur

Read more ››

Source:	roadrunnerrecords.com
Band profile:	Dio