DOKKEN’s new greatest-hits package, “Greatest Hits 2″ — a collection of all-new versions of tracks such as “Dream Warriors”, “Breaking the Chains” and “Just Got Lucky”, paired two new songs and two covers (including a version of “Lies”, originally recorded by THE KNICKERBOCKERS) — will be released in Japan on April 21 via King Records. The CD will be made available in the U.S. on Cleopatra’s Deadline Records imprint.

The tracklisting for DOKKEN’s Greatest Hits 2 is as follows:

‘Just Got Lucky’
‘Breaking The Chains’
‘Into The Fire’
‘The Hunter’
‘In My Dreams’
‘It’s Not Love’
‘Alone Again’
‘Dream Warrior’
‘Unchain The Night’
‘Tooth And Nail’
‘Almost Over’ (new song)
‘Magic Man’ (new song)
‘Bus Stop’ (the HOLLIES cover)
‘Lies’ (THE KNICKERBOCKERS cover)

Death metal legends MALEVOLENT CREATION have posted footage of the band recording pre-production for their forthcoming 11^th studio outing.
MALEVOLENT CREATION’s latest album, “Doomsday X“, was released in the U.S. in July 2007 via Nuclear Blast Records and in Europe in August 2007 via Massacre Records. The CD was recorded and engineered at Mercury Recording Studios in Pompano Beach, Florida by longtime friend and producer (and sometimes session member) Gus Rios, and is said to be the most diverse MALEVOLENT CREATION album recorded to date and “without a doubt their fastest!!” Mick Thomson, guitarist for SLIPKNOT, contributed a “ripping” guitar solo to the song “Deliver My Enemy”.

For more info visit: www.myspace.com/malevolentcreation

Technical death metal legends PESTILENCE are pleased to announce their first US tour in over 16 years! Presented by Decibel Magazine and MetalSucks, the 17-date journey will kick off in Baltimore as part of the Maryland Deathfest at Sonar on May 30th and close at the Gramercy Theater in New York City on June 17. Support will be provided by Warbringer, Vital Remains, Enfold Darkness and Sacrificial Slaughter. Advance tickets will go on sale for all shows via http://enterthevault.com starting today.   PESTILENCE released their first studio record since the critically acclaimed Spheres full-length(1994) with 2009’s Resurrection Macabre (Mascot Records). The band currently features vocalist/guitarist Patrick Mameli (C-187), returning bassist Jeroen Paul Thesseling (Obscura), new drummer Yuma Van Eekelen (The New Dominion, Brutus) and guitarist Patrick Uterwijk.   PESTILENCE w/ Warbringer, Vital Remains, Enfold Darkness, Sacrificial Slaughter

5/30/2010 Sonar – Baltimore, MD (as part of Maryland Deathfest)*

5/31/2010 Club Mosaic – Chattanooga, TN **

6/01/2010 The Bar – New Orleans, LA **

6/02/2010 Emo’s – Austin, TX

6/03/2010 Ridglea Theater – Ft. Worth, TX

6/04/2010 Launchpad – Albuquerque, NM

6/05/2010 Club Red – Tempe, AZ

6/06/2010 Ramona Mainstage – Ramona, CA

6/07/2010 Ultra Violet – Los Angeles, CA

6/08/2010 DNA Lounge – San Francisco, CA

6/09/2010 Satyricon – Portland, OR

6/10/2010 Studio Seven – Seattle, WA

6/13/2010 Station 4 – St Paul, MN

6/14/2010 Reggie’s – Chicago, IL

6/15/2010 Mod Club Theater – Toronto, ON **

6/16/2010 Les Foufounes Electriques – Montreal, QC **

6/17/2010 Gramercy Theater – New York, NY

* PESTILENCE only
** No Warbringer

DRAGONFORCE have split with lead singer ZP Theart. The band issued the following statement, regarding the matter:

“It is with great regret that DragonForce announce a parting of the ways with singer ZP Theart. This is due to insurmountable differences of musical opinion but the rest of the band sincerely wishes ZP great success with his future projects.”

While the creative core members have begun writing the fifth album, they have also started a worldwide search for a new vocalist. “We are looking for a powerful, melodic singer to write a new chapter of DragonForce with us.” said guitarist Herman Li.

Anyone wishing to audition for the vacant position should apply following the instructions at this web address www.dragonforce.com/audition.

KREATOR has issued the following update:

“Kreator would like to clear up all of the confusion regarding the Atlanta show on March 31st at the Masquerade. Kreator is NOT playing this show and has not been part of that last date for over three months. KATAKLYSM is headlining that show and the rest of the tour will be playing, but Kreator will not, regardless of what the club’s website and Ticketmaster are showing. We regret that we are not playing Atlanta due to our visas, but we will be back on our next tour!

According to a brief update from AFM Records CIRCLE II CIRCLE, featuring ex-SAVATAGE frontman Zak Stevens, have started recording their fifth album. Entitled Consequence Of Power, it will be the band’s second concept record. The official release is planned for fall 2010. More details as we get them.

As previously reported, Steven will be a featured guest on Metal Messiah Radio on Thursday, March 11th as part of Dave Softee’s Metal Meltdown program. The show begins at 9:00pm EST, go to this location to tune in.

Circle II Circle recently posted the following press release:

REDLionMusic is proud to announce Circle II Circle is officially added to our roster – also called REDLion Family.

“First of all we give a very warm welcome to Circle II Circle (USA)… After more than 7 years of Circle II Circle being part of the live hard rock and metal scene and 4 outstanding albums released world wide, this band is known already by almost every metalhead all over the planet…

REDLionMusic is looking forward to a successful partnership with this amazing band. We are looking forward to your feedback and take your offers for this band from now on.”

OBSCURA drummer Hannes Grossmann has launched his personal website HannesGrossmann.com, offering customized online-video drum lessons. These lessons and instructional videos will also be made available via his YouTube channel and can be downloaded to any IPod or IPhone.

Grossmann commented on the site: “I want to give some insights to my playing and show young metal and non-metal drummers new ways to increase their drumming skills and be able to practice efficiently. The practice methods I developed over the years allow me to learn anything that I want within a short time period. When I joined NECROPHAGIST in 2003 I managed to increase my single stroke hand speed from 200 bpm to 240 bpm in four months! No matter what you want to learn – may it be hand or foot technique, speed, odd time signatures, timing, warm-ups or even songs from the bands I played with – you’ll get the chance to learn it on my website!”

Obscura are currently on tour in the United States alongside THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER.

Bay Area thrash legends DEATH ANGEL have been holed up in their Oakland, California studio for the past few months writing songs for their next Nuclear Blast release, tentatively scheduled to drop in September.

Guitarist Rob Cavestany has issued the following studio update:
“After months of writing and pre-production in our Oakland rehearsal studio, I’m suddenly a temporary resident of Sanford, Florida! I have travelled across the country to begin the process of recording our new album at Audio Hammer Studios and tonight we kicked in the action. Monday was all about getting acquainted, listening to music, getting a vibe and discussing the game plan. Tonight we worked on tempos, arrangements, riffs and guitar harmonies… getting right down to the core of the songs. I laid down scratch guitar tracks for the first 4 songs and damn how they have blossomed from the original ideas! I’m really liking where we are going so far… just the scratch tracks sound sick! Jason (Suecof; TRIVIUM, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, ALL THAT REMAINS) and I seem to be off to a good start. The vibe is on and we are both night owls so we’re on the same wavelength… which is important if magic is to be weaved!

San Francisco’s D.R.I. have announced the following US dates for later this year:

September
9 – Tucson, AZ – The Rock
10 – Mesa, AZ – U.B.’s
11 – Las Vegas, NV – Cheyanne Saloon
12 – Sparks, NV – New Oasis
17 – Portland, OR – Satyricon
18 – Seattle, WA – El Corazon
19 – Bend, OR – Midtown Ballroom

24 – Ramona, CA – Ramona Mainstage
25 – Anaheim, CA – Chain Reaction
26 – Palmdale, CA – The Crossing
28 – Syracuse, NY – Lost Horizon
29 – Allentown, PA – Crocodile Rock
30 – Pitt, PA – Diesel

October
1 – Cleveland, OH – Peabody’s
2 – Detroit, MI – Blondies
4 – St Louis, MO – The Firebird
5 – Waterloo, IA – Spicoli’s
6 – Lincoln, NE – Knickerbockers
14 – Jacksonville, FL – Jack Rabbits
15 – Tampa, FL – Brass Mug
16 – Orlando, FL – Lyrica
17 – Ft Lauderdale, FL – Culture Room

American doom supergroup SHRINEBUILDER - comprised of Scott Kelly (Neurosis), Al Cisneros (Om, Sleep), Scott “Wino” Weinrich” (Saint Vitus, The Obsessed, Spririt Caravan) and Dale Crover (Melvins, Altamont) - today embark on their new US tour, kicking it off at The Casbah in San Diego, California. The band will pound the West Coast all week alongside Neurot brethren A STORM OF LIGHT on all shows, and with special appearances by HARVESTMAN (Steve Von Till of Neurosis) on the three Bay Area shows.   Immediately following the West Coast shows, the band will head to New York City for a special show at New York University, and then head to Columbus, Ohio where they will appear as one of the headliners of the now sold-out Scion Rock Fest alongside D.R.I., Brutal Truth, Cannibal Corpse, Absu and tons of other high quality metal acts.

SHRINEBUILDER live actions:

3/02/2010 The Casbah – San Diego, CA
3/03/2010 Echo – Los Angeles, CA
3/04/2010 Echo – Los Angeles, CA
3/05/2010 The Voodoo Lounge – San Jose, CA w/ Harvestman, Brain Oil
3/06/2010 Oakland Metro – Oakland, CA w/ Harvestman, Laudanum
3/07/2010 The Independent – San Francisco, CA w/ Harvestman
3/09/2010 Neumo’s – Seattle, WA
3/11/2010 E+L Auditorium @ NYU – New York, NY w/ Wolves in the Throne Room, Salome
3/13/2010 Scion Rock Fest – Columbus, OH