New York death metal legends, IMMOLATION, have announced 'Kingdom of Conspiracy' as the title of their upcoming ninth full-length album. The follow up to their 2010 release, 'Majesty and Decay', will be released on May 13th in the UK both digitally and physically via Nuclear Blast Records. The album was recorded at Sound Studios in Millbrook, NY with longtime producer Paul Orofino, and mixed and mastered once again by Zack Ohren (ALL SHALL PERISH, DECREPIT BIRTH, SUFFOCATION). "We are really looking forward to getting the new CD out there to the fans,” commented guitarist Robert Vigna. “ I don't think they are going to know what hit them after they hear this one! Kingdom of Conspiracy is one intense and miserably dark record!” For photos of the band in the studio click here https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151187378108628.504649.111398018627&type=3. For a free download of their recent Scion A/V Presents: Immolation – Providence EP visit http://www.scionav.com/collection/808

It seems that all is not well in the Slayer camp. According to a statement issued by Dave Lombardo via Facebook, he has been kicked out of the band for their upcoming Austrailian tour! Read Lombardo's statement below.

Statement From Dave Lombardo Regarding Slayer Australian Tour 2013:

I want to personally apologize to all of our fans in Australia who have bought tickets for the tour expecting to see me in my usual place on the drums.

So that you all know the truth, as of the end of the business day on February 14th, I was notified that I would not be drumming for the tour in Australia. I’m saddened, and to be honest I am shocked by the situation.

Last year, I discovered 90% of Slayer’s tour income was being deducted as expenses including the professional fees paid to management, costing the band millions of dollars and leaving 10% or less to split amongst the four of us. In my opinion, this is not the way a band’s business should operate. I tried rectifying it by letting my band mates know, and Tom and I hired auditors to figure out what happened, but I was denied access to detailed information and the necessary back up documents.

I spent the Christmas and New Year holidays realizing I had toured all over the world in 2012, but yet, had not been paid (except a small advance) or provided a proper accounting for a full year's sweat and blood. On top of this, I was told that I would not be paid until I signed a long form contract which gave me no written assurance of how much or on what basis management would deduct commissions, nor did it provide me access to the financial budgets or records for review. It also forbade me to do interviews or make statements having to do with the band, in effect a gagging order.

Friday 22nd February - After announcing the release of their new studio album set in the fall of 2013, Dutch Symphonic Rock band Within Temptation is now unveiling the first tour dates of their worldwide album tour, starting off in January 2014. Within Temptation will visit Birmingham, London, Manchester, Glasgow and Newcastle as part of the 17 show European leg. Tickets go on-sale 10am on Friday 1st March and are available from www.livenation.co.uk, www.ticketmaster.co.uk or www.gigsinscotland.com.  Two years after releasing their latest album “The Unforgiving” touring the world and celebrating their 15-years-anniversary with the exclusive “Elements” show, the band around front woman Sharon den Adel recently announced to be working on a new album which is due to be released in fall 2013. In January and February 2014, Within Temptation will hit the stage with a complete new spectacular show. “We are looking forward to sharing where the writing process has taken us. We are excited about performing these new songs live! We hope to announce more dates soon”, says den Adel.

www.within-temptation.com 
WITHIN TEMPTATION LIVE:
 JANUARY 2014
FRIDAY             24      O2 ACADEMY BIRMINGHAM
SATURDAY      25      WEMBLEY ARENA
MONDAY          27      O2 APOLLO MANCHESTER
TUESDAY         28     O2 ACADEMY GLASGOW
WEDNESDAY  29     O2 ACADEMY NEWCASTLE

According to Amarillo.com, West Texas A&M University professor Martin Jacobsen recently fused metal music and literature classes by using the "Out Of The Silent Planet" track off IRON MAIDEN's 2000 album "Brave New World" during a class exercise, presenting visual diagrams of lyrics construction with the music playing at the same time. "The students were mad for it," the professor tells Amarillo.com. "They just thought it was crazy and they loved it. I threw it out there just as an offhand comment one day — 'What we ought to do is have a class in heavy metal' — and there was universal agreement from the students in the class, like, 'Yes, we should actually do that.'" The class exercise was such a hit that Jacobsen is now teaching a new course called "Introduction To Literature: Heavy Metal As A Literary Genre". The professor explains that many metal lyricist have been inspired by some of the greatest writers of all time. "You constantly see these nods to the intellectual tradition that these writers, these lyricists come from," he said. "It's connected itself and grounded itself in literary tradition. Therefore it's reasonable to conclude that it is a form of literature as well as a form of music. In much the same way, you might say country music is a species of folklore." 22-year-old student Eric Bauer, who got really into heavy metal in middle school with METALLICA, thinks heavy metal is a broader genre than it gets credit for. "In the lyrics of heavy metal, you can write about anything," he said. "Social issues, the human experience, wizards and dragons — if you're interested in a subject, there's probably a heavy metal song about it."

Swedish melodic gloom lords OCTOBER TIDE will release their fourth album, "Tunnel Of No Light", on March 25 in Europe and April 16 in North America via Pulverised Records. The CD was recorded at Black Lounge Studio (SCAR SYMMETRY, CARNAL FORGE, IN MOURNING, CENTINEX) in Avesta, Sweden with producer Jonas Kjellgren. The song "Adoring Ashes" can be streamed using the widget below. Vocalist Tobias Netzell and bassist Pierre Stam last year left OCTOBER TIDE in order to focus on their family lives and other projects and have since been replaced by Mattias Norrman (ex-KATATONIA) and Alexander Högbom (VOLTURYON, SPASMODIC), respectively.

OCTOBER TIDE's current lineup:
Fredrik Norrman (KATATONIA, UNCANNY) - Guitar
Mattias Norrman (KATATONIA, DELLAMORTE) - Bass
Alexander Högbom (VOLTURYON, SPASMODIC) - Vocals
Robin Bergh (AMARAN, GOREMENT) - Drums
Emil Alstermark (MANDYLON) - Guitar

"The Line Of Least Resistance", the new Benjamin Cappelletti-directed video from Swiss metallers SYBREED, can be seen below. The song comes off the band's fourth album, "God Is An Automaton", which was released on September 24, 2012 in Europe and October 2, 2012 in North America via Listenable Records. The follow-up to 2010's "The Pulse Of Awakening" was recorded at Downtone Studio in Geneva and was once again mixed in Los Angeles by Rhys Fulber, who has previously worked with FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY, FEAR FACTORY and PARADISE LOST, among others. The artwork was created by Seth Siro Anton (SOILWORK, PARADISE LOST, SEPTICFLESH) and can be seen below. Seth Siro Anton previously commented on his artwork for "God Is An Automaton": "My works are distorting dream mirrors of the body and soul. Human nature attracted often to specific art forms which are essentially attracted by the reflected dream world. On SYBREED new artwork, I tried to decode-externalize the architect of the blackest light, an automated God, an ironic priest which is fighting between two different levels of reality. An ironic synthesis combination of modern classicism. It was a great challenge and pleasure trying to visualize their new masterpiece."

"Secular Haze", the new video from the mysterious Swedish buzz band GHOST, can be seen at Noisey. The clip was filmed by Amir Chamdin in the band's hometown of Linköping. "Secular Haze" will be available for purchase on iTunes and Amazon tomorrow, February 19. GHOST was recently forced to modify its name in the U.S. to GHOST B.C. for "legal reasons." In the year of 13, the second phase of GHOST B.C. begins with the release of the sophomore psalm, "Infestissumam", on April 9 via Loma Vista Recordings. Papa Emeritus II succeeded Papa Emeritus at the conclusion of phase one in the year of 12, and the Nameless Ghouls joined him under the unholy church's current moniker. Make no mistake, though. The rituals still demand the same reverence and praise, fortified through a delivery of sweetly satanic melodies, snaking distorted riffs, and vaudevillian keyboards. GHOST B.C.'s tour, Haze Over North America 2013, will bow at this year's Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival on April 14 and the Empire Polo Field in Indio, California. The band will also appear during the second weekend on April 21. All fans subscribed to the GHOST B.C. mailing list before Tuesday, February 6 at 6:00 p.m. EST will be sent a password for access to an exclusive tour pre-sale to take place February 6-7. Tickets will be available for purchase to the general public beginning February 8. Papa Emeritus II recently emerged on the 100th issue of Decibel magazine for an extensive feature detailing the making of the forthcoming "Infestissumam" in which a nameless ghoul declared, "Regardless of your religious beliefs, we like to trigger the imagination of the listener so they can become a devout burner in Hell or a keen participant of devil worship for at least an hour or two. That's the GHOST experience." Decibel editor-in-chief Albert Mudrian said, "For the cover of our 100th issue, we wanted to spotlight a band that embodies the ideals of the magazine: theatricality, black humor, love for both the past and present of extreme music. GHOST meets and exceeds all of those criteria, and we couldn't be more excited to reveal the exclusive story of the making of their sophomore album."

The release date of "Planetary Breathing", the fourth album from Finnish melodic death metallers MYGRAIN, has been pushed back to September 27 (via Spinefarm Records) from the previously announced April 26. No reason was given for the delay. A six-minute teaser for "Planetary Breathing" is available below. Finnish melodic death metallers MYGRAIN will release their fourth album, "Planetary Breathing", on April 26. The CD was recorded during August and September at Sound Supreme studio with Janne Saksa, who previously worked with the band on their first two albums. The mixing and mastering was again handled by Dan Swanö (EDGE OF SANITY, BLOODBATH, NIGHTINGALE) at Unisound studios in Örebro, Sweden. Commented MYGRAIN: "The debut album, 'Orbit Dance', was released in 2006. The second album, 'Signs Of Existence', came out two years later and the third one, 'MyGrain', in 2011. The last-mentioned felt like a launch to something new and it was like a new beginning for the band. "'Planetary Breathing' can be characterized through familiar MYGRAIN elements: the catchy choruses, melodies and keyboard lines are still there, whereas the winding and striking guitar riffs being a solid base of the MYGRAIN sound. "We are so excited of the result we achieved with this album! Together with Janne and Dan, we managed to capture the most rich and balanced MYGRAIN sound so far. "Those of you who have witnessed us live must know that we lovetouring — performing for you guys. To us, that is the very essence of all of this. Thus, we are really looking forward to the gigs that are following the release of the new album."

Download have just announced a wopping 49 new names for this years festival. Hold on to your hats, here we go:

Papa Roach, Rise To Remain, Gogol Bordello, Lit, Escape The Fate, Blitz Kids, Buckcherry, Uriah Heep,P.O.D, Newsted, Europe, Katatonia, Graveyard, Turisas, Dir En Grey, Nekrogoblikon, After The Burial, The Ghost Inside, Blacklist Royals, Red Fang, Karnivool, Naked Flame, The Algorithm, Skin, Sacred Mother Tongue, Bury Tomorrow, Architects, Brutality Will Prevail, Empress, Crowns, Emperor Chung, Sonic Boom Six, States of Panic, Bleed From Within, Verses, Hill Valley High, Astroid Boys, I Divide, Rat Attack, Mordecai, Modestep, Hang The Bastard, Heart Of A Coward, Glamour of the Kill, Silent Screams, Cytota, The First, Broken and Uncle Acid and the Dead Beats.

They will be joining the previously announced bands, that include: Iron Maiden, Rammstein, Slipknot, Queens Of The Stone Age, Mastodon, Stone Sour Motorhead, Thirty Seconds To Mars, The Gaslight Anthem, HIM, Alice In Chains, Limp Bizkit, Korn, Cancer Bats, Down, Airborn, Amon Amarth, 3 Doors Down, UFO, The Sword, Black Dogs, Huntress, Jimmy Eat World, In This Moment, Five Finger Death Punch, Buffalo Summer, Hacktivist, Converge, Hellyeah, The Hives, Last Witness, Vision Of Disorder, Earthtone9, Hardcore Superstar, I am I, Goldsbro, Walking Papers, Parkway Drive, Motionless In White, Asking Alexandria, Enter Shikari, Heavens Basement, Young Guns.

Download 2013 takes place on June 14th - 16th. Weekend with camping tickets are on sale now. For more information head over to http://www.downloadfestival.co.uk/

Hellfest organisers have made their final band announcements for the 2013 festival. Joining the already monsterous lineup will be: Def Leppard, Europe, Morbid Angel, NO FX, Belphagor, Prong, Treponem Pal, Sleep, Master of Reality, P.O.D. and Vektor.

They will be joining the previously announced lineup that includes: ZZ TOP - HELLOWEEN - SAXON - KREATOR - IMMORTAL - AT THE GATES - NEUROSIS - 3 DOORS DOWN - ABSU - AMORPHIS - ASPHYX - CAPTAIN CLEANOFF - CEREMONIAL OATH - CLUTCH - DARK FUNERAL - DEAD CONGREGATION - EAGLE TWIN - EQUILIBRIUM - EVOKEN - HOODED MENACE - GHOST - INQUISITION - KAMPFAR - KORPIKLAANI - MUSTASCH - MY DYING BRIDE - PAPA ROACH - PRIMORDIAL - SSS - SINISTER - THE GHOST INSIDE - TYR - UNCLE ACID AND THE DEADBEATS - WINTERSUN - WITCHCRAFT - KISS - TWISTED SISTER - ACCEPT - KORN - STONESOUR - BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE - VOLBEAT - AVANTASIA - SICK OF IT ALL - BAD RELIGION - THE ACACIA STRAIN - ANTI FLAG - ARCH ENEMY - ATARI TEENAGE RIOT - AURA NOIR - BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME - BLACK SPIDERS - CANDLEMASS - CARPATHIAN FOREST - COAL CHAMBER - CONVERGE - CRADLE OF FILTH - CRYPTOPSY - DANKO JONES - FOR TODAY - GOD SEED - HAEMORRHAGE - HARDCORE SUPERSTAR - HEAVEN'S BASEMENT - IHSAHN - KARMA TO BURN - KRISIUN - LEPROUS - MARDUK - MASS HYSTERIA - MY SLEEPING KARMA - NACHTMYSTIUM - NEGATIVE APPROACH - PARKWAY DRIVE - PUNISH YOURSELF - RED FANG - ROTTING CHRIST - SENSER - SKINDRED - SPIRITUAL BEGGARS - THE SWORD - TERROR - TESTAMENT - TRUCKFIGHTERS.

For the full lineup with day splits head over to: http://www.hellfest.fr/artistes
Hellfest 2013 takes place on 21 - 23 June in Clisson, France. For tickets and more info head over to http://www.hellfest.fr/