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TheRave.com conducted an interview with ANTHRAX drummer Charlie Benante when the band played at The Rave in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. You can now watch the chat below.

ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian revealed via Twitter that the next leg of the band's U.S. tour will commence the third week of January. More details will be made available soon.

ANTHRAX is featured in a new series of albums "featuring the greatest hits, signature tunes and fan favorites of the most popular artists in music history," which promise to offer "unprecedented value to consumers." The aptly named "Icon" series from Universal Music Enterprises (UMe) launched in August 31, 2010, with releases from 30 major artists spanning rock, pop, R&B and country.

Each album, at a "great price," includes roughly a dozen hit tracks.

Due on January 10, 2012, the ANTHRAX "Icon" compilation (Island/UMe) will feature the following songs:

01. Madhouse
02. A.I.R.
03. Armed And Dangerous
04. I Am The Law
05. Indians
06. Efilnikufesin (N.F.L.)
07. Antisocial
08. Got The Time
09. Belly Of The Beast
10. Bring The Noise
11. I'm The Man 91

ANTHRAX last month completed a U.S. tour with TESTAMENT and DEATH ANGEL. The trek kicked off on October 14 in Grand Rapids, Michigan and concluded on November 19 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

ANTHRAX's new album, "Worship Music", sold 28,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 12 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous studio CD, 2003's "We've Come For You All", opened with just under 10,000 units to debut at No. 122.

Los Angeles metal veterans ARMORED SAINT played at Crocodile Rock in Allentown, Pennsylvania on December 2, 2011 as part of a three-date East Coast tour. The band performed songs from its latest album, "La Raza", as well as select cuts from its deep and storied catalog.

Fan-filmed video footage of the Allentown concert can be seen below.

"La Raza" sold around 2,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 18 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200. "La Raza" also entered the German Media Control chart at No. 96 and the Canadian Independent chart at No. 85.

"La Raza" was recorded at Burbank, California's Tranzformer Studios, which is owned by Dave Jerdan (ALICE IN CHAINS, JANE'S ADDICTION), who produced ARMORED SAINT's 1991 classic "Symbol of Salvation" and Bryan Carlstrom, who engineered the same album. The band's first new release since 2001's "Nod to the Old School" was produced by Joey Vera and engineered by Carlstrom and his assistant John Nuss.

The band's current lineup is the same as the one on 2000's "Revelation" and 1992's "Symbol of Salvation" LPs:

John Bush (vocals)
Jeff Duncan (guitar)
Phil Sandoval (guitar)
Joey Vera (bass)
Gonzo Sandoval (drums)

SCORPIONS released "Comeblack" on November 4 via Sony. The CD features 13 tracks, seven of the band's biggest hits re-recorded, plus a half dozen cover versions of songs by some of the artists who inspired the legendary German rockers.

"We started to work out the songs last year in January and February and we noticed that there was one idea from somebody in the band saying, 'Why are we not making it half and half, meaning SCORPIONS classics and then bands which inspired us like THE BEATLES, ROLLING STONES, YARDBIRDS and THE KINKS?'" guitarist Rudolf Schenker tells AOL's Noisecreep.

The SCORPIONS tried between 20 to 25 different songs before choosing the final six, indluding THE BEATLES' "Across The Universe" and "Tainted Love", the track written by Ed Cobb and originally recorded by Gloria Jones in 1965, but best recognized from SOFT CELL's '80s synthpop rendition.

"Klaus was always a big BEATLES fan, I'm more on the side of the STONES and PRETTY THINGS," Schenker says. "That's really a good situation for the SCORPIONS, give something a different vibe. I give the edge and Klaus gives the melody, that's the reason why we make for a great combination. 'Across The Universe' is not so well known but it's a fantastic song and Klaus sings the song fantastically."

He adds, "I brought in 'Tainted Love' because I liked the song and it's also one of the oldest compositions. I'm the guy coming in from Elvis and Little Richard and all the old rock and roll guys. For me 'Tainted Love' was always a song that I thought was a very good song to make a rock version out of it."

SCORPIONS are planning to release a film of their final concert already slated for the 2013 Berlinale (Berlin's International Film Festival). In addition, the band is sitting on a "warehouse" filled with old concert footage and previously unreleased material — including songs from 1982's "Blackout" and 1984's "Love At First Sting" sessions — which will also eventually see the light of day.

"The SCORPIONS will not fall apart, we are not finishing the SCORPIONS because we want to break up, but we really want to deliver something else to the fans," Schenker says. "We have over 900 hours of film material, in front of the Pyramids, in the rain forest in Brazil, in front of Red Square and, and, and, and so on. We have so many possibilities to create great films and the bonus track thing.

"We're not thinking about the end because we're right in the middle of the party and we want to enjoy the party," he adds. "When it's sold out and the fans are really celebrating it's unbelievable. That's a fantastic way to finish your career. Forty years ago to now it's been amazing, it's better that than to fade away."

Read more from Noisecreep.

THE CULT's 20-date North American tour is set to kick off on Friday, May 25 in San Diego, California, bringing the band's incendiary rock energy to major and secondary markets across the continent.

For most of the dates, THE CULT will be supported by AGAINST ME! and THE ICARUS LINE. Ticket on-sales begin later this week; go to this location for all details and to purchase tickets.

"This is going to be a very intense, high-energy tour," said THE CULT vocalist Ian Astbury. "We are really looking forward to the time we spend on stage connected to our music and our audience. That's our purpose."

THE CULT 2012 North American tour dates:

May 25 - San Diego, CA - Humphreys By the Bay
May 26 - Las Vegas, NV - M Resort
May 27 - San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore
May 30 - Denver, CO - Ogden Theatre
Jun. 01 - Chicago, IL - Congress Theatre
Jun. 02 - Windsor, ON - Great Canadian Beaverfest, Riverfront Festival Plaza
Jun. 03 - Pittsburgh, PA - Stage AE - Indoor Stage
Jun. 05 - Boston, MA - House of Blues
Jun. 07 - Buffalo, NY - Erie Canal Harbor Central Wharf
Jun. 08 - New York, NY - Terminal 5
Jun. 09 - Hampton Beach, NH - Ballroom
Jun. 10 - Philadelphia, PA - Electric Factory
Jun. 12 - Washington, D.C. - The Fillmore
Jun. 13 - Norfolk, VA - The Norva
Jun. 15 - Myrtle Beach, SC - House of Blues
Jun. 16 - Orlando, FL - House of Blues
Jun. 17 - Atlanta, GA - The Tabernacle
Jun. 19 - Houston, TX - House of Blues
Jun. 20 - Dallas, TX - House of Blues
Jun. 22 - Tempe, AZ - Marquee Theatre

Audio samples of all songs that are set to appear on THE CULT's new album, "Choice Of Weapon", are available for streaming at Amazon.com. The band's first full-length studio release in five years will be made available on May 22 via THE CULT's new label Cooking Vinyl.

"Choice Of Weapon" is the follow-up to the critically acclaimed 2007 release "Born Into This" that the U.K.'s Mojo magazine called "a wholehearted, utopian and irrefutably exciting record." Longtime THE CULT collaborator and producer Bob Rock (METALLICA, BUSH), who produced one of THE CULT's most successful albums, the platinum-certified "Sonic Temple", put the finishing touches on the foundations that were laid by co-producer Chris Goss (QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, U.N.K.L.E., MASTERS OF REALITY).

The album was written by Ian Astbury and Billy Duffy, recorded in New York City, Los Angeles, the California high desert, and the band's Witch Mountain studio between July and December 2011. The new release features founding members Astbury on vocals and Duffy on guitars, with drummer John Tempesta and bassist Chris Wyse.

Speaking to Austin360.com, Astbury said of "Choice Of Weapon", "I think we went back to a place of instinct. There were no predetermined agendas. We've had periods of stagnation and being stale and repeating ourselves, but I think that's common. With 'Choice Of Weapon', we just said, '(Screw) it! We're going to grab every jewel we can find. We're going to play the ace and go as deep as we can.' There's definitely hard rock moments on this record, but then again, there's moments that are kind of pastoral."

"Choice Of Weapon" is aimed at the heart of THE CULT's loyal following. It reflects the current discontent and destruction of our eco systems, the search for individual meaning against a tide of rampant materialism, narcissism and disconnected lives.

"We're still growing and still developing," Astbury told Austin360.com. "We're still students; we're still inquisitive; we're still passionate. I still think what we're doing is relevant. We still have an awareness of what's going on around us. It's not like I live in a cave."

STONE SOUR and SLIPKNOT frontman Corey Taylor kicked off his solo tour last night (Monday, November 14) at the House Of Blues in Anaheim, California. Called "An Evening With Corey Taylor", the concerts feature Taylor doing both spoken-word and acoustic performances, along with question-and-answer sessions with the audience.

Fan-filmed video footage from last night's show can be seen below.

Remaining dates are as follows:

Nov. 15 - Crescent Ballroom - Phoenix, AZ
Nov. 17 - Bronze Peacock at HOB - Houston, TX
Nov. 18 - Trees - Dallas, TX
Nov. 19 - Gothic Theater - Denver, CO
Nov. 21 - Waiting Room - Omaha, NE
Nov. 22 - Varsity - Minneapolis, MN
Nov. 23 - The Rave - Milwaukee, WI
Nov. 25 - Eagle Theatre - Detroit, MI
Nov. 26 - Double Door - Chicago, IL
Dec. 01 - Corona Theatre - Montreal, QC
Dec. 02 - Mod Club - Toronto, ON
Dec. 04 - Middle East - Boston, MA
Dec. 05 - Highline Ballroom - New York, NY
Dec. 06 - World Cafe Live - Philadelphia, PA
Dec. 07 - The Met - Providence, RI
Dec. 09 - Starland Ballroom - Sayreville, NJ
Dec. 10 - Sound Stage - Baltimore, MD
Dec. 12 - Masquerade - Atlanta, GA
Dec. 13 - The Social - Orlando, FL

Taylor recently revealed that STONE SOUR will release a concert DVD and cover songs EP in one package sometime before the end of the year. He also said in a recent interview that the next STONE SOUR album is likely to be recorded in 2012 and could end up being a concept record.

SLIPKNOT played several European festivals this past summer, its first shows since bassist Paul Gray died in May 2010, and will do a U.S. tour next year. But plans for a new album remain uncertain.

Five years after leaving the band to focus on his solo career, singer Jimi Jamison has rejoined SURVIVOR.

SURVIVOR — Jimi Jamison (vocals), Frankie Sullivan (guitar), Marc Droubay (drums), Billy Ozzello (bass) and Walter Tolentino (keyboards/guitar) — will begin working on a new album, expected for release in 2012.

"It feels great to be back with Frankie and the band, singing the songs that the fans love," says Jamison.

Frankie Sullivan adds, "I'm excited to have Jimi back up front singing the hits, and giving the fans what they want."

SURVIVOR's first album with Jamison, "Vital Signs", is still praised by fans and critics alike as one of the best AOR albums of all time.

SURVIVOR experienced its big breakthrough in 1982 with "Eye Of The Tiger", which soon turned into one of the biggest hits of the band's career, holding the No. 1 spot for seven weeks on the Billboard chart. "Eye of the Tiger" earned SURVIVOR a Grammy Award for "Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal" and the song was voted "Best New Song" by the People's Choice Awards and received an Academy Award nomination. The track remains a cultural phenomenon and is one of the most downloaded rock songs of all time.

The reunited original lineup of the legendary heavy metal band BLACK SABBATH will headline a number of Europe's premier festivals in 2012. Kicking off on Friday May 18 in Moscow at Olimpski, the tour will bring BLACK SABBATH to the masses at: Download (U.K.), Azkena Rock (Spain), Hellfest (France), Graspop Metal Meeting (Belgium) and Gods Of Metal (Italy). However, that's only the beginning of the group's global tour which will take the band around the world, including countries the band has never played before and others they have not visited in more than three decades.

The four original members of BLACK SABBATH — Ozzy Osbourne (vocals), Tony Iommi (guitar), Geezer Butler (bass) and Bill Ward (drums) — are preparing to record their first studio album in 33 years with legendary producer Rick Rubin (seven-time Grammy winner, two of those as "Producer Of The Year") for release worldwide on Vertigo, and Vertigo/Universal Republic in the U.S. in the fall 2012.

The dates are as follows:

May 18 - Moscow, Russia - Olimpiski
May 20 - St. Petersburg, Russia - New Arena
May 23 - Helsinki, Finland - Hartwall Arena
May 25 - Stockholm, Sweden - Stadium
May 29 - Bergen, Norway - Bergen Calling Festival
May 31 - Oslo, Norway - Spektrum
Jun. 02 - Malmö, Sweden - Malmö Stadium
Jun. 04 - Dortmund, Germany - Westfalenhalle
Jun. 10 - Donnington, UK - Download Festival
Jun. 12 - Rotterdam, Holland - Ahoy
Jun. 15 - Bilbao, Spain - Azkena Rock Festival
Jun. 17 - Nantes, France - Hellfest
Jun. 19 - Paris, France - Bercy
Jun. 22 - Dessel, Belgium - Graspop Metal Meeting
Jun. 24 - Milan, Italy - Gods of Metal

According to U.K.'s The People, BLACK SABBATH's planned world tour and festival appearances are expected to earn the musicians in excess of £100 million (around $159 million), meaning each member of the band could take home up to £25 million (approximately $40 million).

The band did attempt to record a new disc in 1998, but abandoned the attempt and released only two songs as part of a concert album called "Reunion".

Following a reunion tour in 1998, SABBATH reunited sporadically in 1999, 2002, 2004 and 2005 for live dates. The foursome last appeared together at their induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2006.

At their long-overdue induction, Tony Iommi and Ozzy Osbourne spoke about the respect that SABBATH had earned over the years. "For a while, nobody would take us seriously," Iommi said. "But as we went on, the more we carried on, the more we proved, the more we stayed there, you know? And I think we got the respect from that." Ozzy added, "I never thought anybody liked us, and people on the Ozzfest would come to me and go, 'You were really one of our inspirations.' And I didn't really, I didn't believe it, you know?"

Photo below courtesy of Black-Sabbath.com

STRATOVARIUS' November 19, 2011 concert at Pakkahuone in Tampere, Finland was filmed for future DVD release. The show was part of the band's "Jörg Farewell Tour" — the last one to feature STRATOVARIUS' longtime drummer Jörg Michael, who is leaving the group for personal reasons. Jörg, who has been in the band for sixteen years, will play all the remaining tour dates until the end of January.

STRATOVARIUS' setlist for the Tampere concert was as follows:

01. Under Flaming Skies
02. I Walk To My Own Song
03. Speed Of Light
04. The Kiss Of Judas
05. Deep Unknown
06. Eagleheart
07. Paradise
08. Visions (Southern Cross)
09. Coming Home
10. Legions
11. Darkest Hours

Encore:

12. Burn (DEEP PURPLE cover)
13. Behind Blue Eyes (THE WHO cover)
14. I Don't Believe In Love (QUEENSRŸCHE cover)
15. Winter Skies
16. Black Diamond

Encore 2:

17. Father Time
18. Hunting High And Low

Quality fan-filmed video footage of the Tampere show can be viewed below.

Jörg joined STRATOVARIUS in 1995 and made his recording debut with the band on the "Episode" album (1996). He has appeared on nine full-length releases from STRATOVARIUS and has played nearly 1,000 shows with the band.

Commented STRATOVARIUS singer Timo Kotipelto: "The rest of us just has to accept Jörg's decision with a lot of sadness and wish him all the best for the future. But we can also assure that the band will still go on."

STRATOVARIUS and Jörg will not completely go their separate ways, however, since Jörg will still be working for the band through his booking agency, Twisted Talent Concerts.

ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian has revealed via Twitter that the next leg of the band's U.S. tour will commence the third week of January. More details will be made available soon.

ANTHRAX has just completed a U.S. tour with TESTAMENT and DEATH ANGEL. The trek kicked off on October 14 in Grand Rapids, Michigan and concluded on November 19 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

ANTHRAX's new album, "Worship Music", sold 28,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 12 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous studio CD, 2003's "We've Come For You All", opened with just under 10,000 units to debut at No. 122.

The CD cover artwork for "Worship Music" was handled by renowned comic book artist Alex Ross, who has worked with Marvel Comics and DC Comics and is known for his "Marvels", "Kingdom Come", and "Astro City" illustrations. Ross also did the original artwork for ANTHRAX's "We've Come For You All" and "Music Of Mass Destruction" albums.

"Worship Music" was produced by ANTHRAX, Rob Caggiano and Jay Ruston and recorded over a four-year period at studios in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. Singer Joey Belladonna's return to the band prompted some of the songs originally recorded with previous singer Dan Nelson to be re-crafted with fresh lyrics or tweaked to better suit his overall vibe and energy. Some of the songs were completely replaced with brand-new songs and, of course, all have Belladonna's inimitable vocal stamp on them.

The first in a series of video updates from TRIVIUM's European tour with IN FLAMES can be seen below.

TRIVIUM will join forces with Swedish metallers IN FLAMES for a co-headining North American tour in January/February. Support on the trek will come from VEIL OF MAYA and KYNG.

TRIVIUM's latest album, "In Waves", sold 22,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 13 on The Billboard 200 chart — the highest U.S. chart entry of the band's career. The group's previous CD, "Shogun", opened with just under 24,000 units back in October 2008 to debut at No. 23. The effort followed up "The Crusade", which registered a first-week tally of 31,000 copies in October 2006 to enter the chart at No. 25.

"In Waves" was recorded primarily at Paint It Black Studios in Orlando, Florida (with only the drums having been tracked at Audiohammer Studios in Sanford, Florida) with the production/mixing team of Colin Richardson (MACHINE HEAD, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE, SLIPKNOT, FEAR FACTORY) and Martin "Ginge" Ford, along with engineer Carl Bown.