Two very solid new Chimaira tracks

Just a quick one to say that my favourite Ohio-born metallers Chimaira have released two new songs from their new album, Age Of Hell, and they are both sounding pretty epic!

Trigger Finger has that classic Chimaira sound to it - less dark than some of their most recent work with a distinct air of Eyes Of A Criminal about it..

Born In Blood, meanwhile, features Whitechapel's Phil Bozeman and is heavier than deepest hell and packed with some seriously sick fretwork. One for the oldschool Pantera lovers, me thinks..

Check them out - the album's out 16th August.

Battle of the H's

Happy to share that the awesome Hatebreed are now streaming tracks from their fun-filled new covers album on myspace.com/hatebreed.
I've written a full review of the covers album and epic live DVD in this month's Metal Hammer but can assure you, in brief, that they are both well worthy of investment. 'For The Lions' is recorded which such obvious love and respect for the bands features that listening becomes a little bit like taking a trip down memory lane with the band, meanwhile the 'Live Dominance' DVD gets across every bit of the intensity of the boys' live performance. Jamie Jasta is, as always, the ultimate prowling leader and the crowd shots are terrifying. There is really no excuse not to pre-order, like, yesterday!

Meanwhile, Heaven Shall Burn are about to release their own (and very first) live DVD; a five hour 2DVD+CD package including a Vienna live show, a Summerbreeze festival show, an amusingly soothing but subtitled band documentary and...a metal cooking piece, no less :-) It's out May 25th and a glorious example of just how damn good they are live. Look out for the great renditions of Endzeit and Black Tears cover, the fierce wall of death and the fans-views courtesy of moshers with helmet-cams on!

New music. Old tours.

Some rather cheery in-coming metal news...

1) Deftones have just announced a headline show at the Forum in London on August 27th, before they rock Reading. Tickets went on sale TODAY so click quick!

2) Fear Factory are reforming (been waiting a while to shout that!!!) to play both Sonisphere and Bloodstock this year. Here is a reminder of what we've been missing for so long...Bring on summer!

3) Similar but different: Fear Factory members Christian Olde Wolbers (guitar) and Raymond Herrera (drums) will be releasing the debut album of their new group ARKAEA (featuring young vocalist Jon Howard from Threat Signal) Autumn this year on KOCH RECORDS and will follow with a tour. Find their stunning artwork and new music at www.myspace.com/arkaeamusic

Metallica Live w/Jason

A little bit of nostalgia is good for the soul. I'm the biggest Rob Trujillo fan out there, but it's pretty neat seeing the boys all back together again.
Performing live for the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame here's a bit of ENTER SANDMAN done as it used to be.