SuidAkrA to release new album, announce North American tour.

With the rise in popularity in the Pagan/Celtic Metal Scene, one of the true pioneers of the Genre is ready to take the United States scene by storm. Over their fourteen year history, SuidAkrA have stayed true to their roots and the sound that they have become known for. The German Celtic metallers are returning full steam with their ninth studio album; Crógacht Combining fast melodic death metal, Irish folk music, and a torrent of harmonies, SuidAkrA proves yet again that they possess the ability to blend several different influences into their unique sound. To put a spin on things, new elements have been introduced, like traditional instruments (bagpipes, banjo, tin whistles), a sixteen member choir and epic orchestral arrangements.

Pagan Knights Tour 2009 – SuidAkrA w/TYR, Alestorm:
02/28/2009 The Masquerade – Atlanta, GA
03/01/2009 The Backbooth – Orlando, FL
03/02/2009 The Engine Room – Tallahassee, FL
03/04/2009 Walter’s – Houston, TX
03/05/2009  Red 7 – Austin, TX
03/06/2009  Ridglea Theater – Dallas, TX

SOILWORK’s North American tour with DARKANE, Warbringer and Swallow The Sun (which will last for a total of 50 nights!) will kick off on January 30 in Rochester, New York.  Feb 5 in Ft. Lauderdale

DARKANE – Hailing from the hometown [Helsingborg, Sweden] of melodic death pioneers such as Soilwork and Scar Symmetry, DARKANE will release its fifth album, Demonic Art, in North America on February 10, 2009 via Nuclear Blast Records. The North America version of the CD, which came out in Europe on October 24, 2008 via Massacre Records, will contain a bonus track and a bonus DVD.

Hoobastank is using its single “My Turn” to give fans their turn at being music video directors.
In addition to the regular broadcast clip for the song — the lead track from Hoobastank’s fourth Island album, “For(N)ever,” due January 27 — the band and director P.R. Brown (Goo Goo Dolls, Slipknot) have created an interactive version of the video that allows viewers to mix and match a variety of personalities to perform the song.
Many are the four members of the band themselves, performing in a series of costumes. Others include bikini-clad models, senior citizens, frontman Doug Robb’s mother and father-in-law, and members of the production crew.

RollingStone.com got a sneak preview of the upcoming Guitar Hero: Metallica, which is due out on March 29th and is only the second in the popular gaming franchise to be based around a specific artist.  According to RollingStone.com’s report, the game’s storyline was conceived by frontman James Hetfield and lets players begin as Metallica’s opening act, eventually getting to play as the members of Metallica themselves if they can make it that far.

The menu art is done by longtime Metallica artist Pushead, while the venues and stage sets are taken from all eras of the band’s quarter-century career.  The virtual band members each do signature moves, from drummer Lars Ulrich popping up from behind his kit to bassist Robert Trujillo’s trademark crabwalk across the stage.  The members all start out looking like they do today, but can also revert back to younger versions of themselves.  Previous bassists Jason Newsted and the late Cliff Burton do not appear in the game.

The full track list for the game will be revealed next week, and it reportedly features deep album cuts and covers that the band has rarely performed, as well as songs from some of their favorite acts.