MEGADETH founder and frontman Dave Mustaine has announced the return of original bassist David Ellefson (1983-2002) to the iconic multi-platinum group. This reunion is appropriately timed to Megadeth’s upcoming historic month-long Rust In Peace 20th anniversary tour which launches March 1 in Spokane, WA. At these incredibly special shows, Megadeth will play their landmark, genre-defining 1990 album Rust In Peace in its entirety, in addition to other Megadeth favorites.

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On the eve of the release of their anxiously-anticipated new album, Mechanize, FEAR FACTORY will be hosting MTV’s Headbangers Ball on Monday, February 8th.

Fear Factory’s Mechanize is the first album to feature the lineup of vocalist Burton C. Bell, returning guitarist Dino Cazares, bassist Byron Stroud and veteran drummer Gene Hoglan. It also welcomes back keyboardist/producer Rhys Fulber (FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY).

Mechanize is due in stores in North America on February 9th via Candlelight and February 5th in Europe via AFM and contains the following ten songs:

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Arizona-based metallers FLOTSAM AND JETSAM have confirmed the following European headlining tour dates in April.

Flotsam And Jetsam are confirmed for the memorial show for SACRED REICH sound man Nino Notaro (who also worked with SEPULTURA for over ten years) which will be held on Saturday, February 20th at Club Stratus in Phoenix, AZ.

Flotsam And Jetsam are expected to release their new album, The Cold, later this year. Some song titles are: ‘Black Cloud’, ‘Secret Life’, ‘Hypocrite’, ‘Falling Short’, ‘Take’ and ‘I’ll Beat The Fuck Out Of You’ (tentative title).

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Judas Priest are to release a deluxe edition of their iconic 1980 album British Steel on May 10.

This will actually come in two formats. The ‘normal’ deluxe edition will have a bonus DVD, filmed last year (August 17) at the Seminole Hard Rock Arena in Hollywood, Florida, (and we where there) when the band played the whole of this album. The ‘limited edition’ deluxe edition will also have an extra live CD from that show.

The full track listing is:
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While so-called “pagan metal” bands seem to be popping up around every corner lately, trying to conform to current trends instead of coming up with ideas of their own, SUIDAKRA have stayed true to the sound that they have become known for. Reaching new heights in their fourteen year history, the German Celtic metallers return full steam ahead with their 9th studio album,”Crógacht”. Combining fast melodic death metal, Irish folk music, and a torrent of harmonies, they prove yet again the ability blend several different influences into their unique sound. To put a spin on things, new elements are introduced, like traditional instruments (bagpipes, banjo, tin whistles), a sixteen member choir and epic orchestral arrangements. Read the rest of this entry »