Prong will be joined by Black Tusk at the following Californian shows next month:

03/21 San Diego, CA – Ruby Room
03/22 West Hollywood, CA – Viper Room (feat. Polarization)
03/23 Las Vegas, NV – LVCS
03/24 Tempe, AZ – The Clubhouse
03/25 Fresno, CA – Starline
03/26 Fullerton, CA – Slidebar

The Lostprophets recently debuted the studio version of their new single “Bring Em’ Down” via the radio and is the case these days, it has surfaced online. You can hear a rip of it below while a digital single for the track is expected to arrive shortly.

The song appears on the bands new album “Weapons“, which was produced by Ken Andrews of Failure, etc. fame. It is due to land in stores overseas on April 02nd.

Storm Corrosion (Opeth‘s Mikael Åkerfeldt and Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree) have made their long-known signing to Roadrunner Records official. The following press release was issued regarding it and the bands forthcoming self-titled album, which is due through the label on April 24th.

“(New York, NY): Roadrunner Records is pleased to announce the signing of Storm Corrosion.

Storm Corrosion is the long-discussed and highly anticipated collaboration between two of the modern progressive rock scene’s most innovative and multi-talented artists: Mikael Åkerfeldt of Opeth and Porcupine Tree’s Steven Wilson. The pair will release Storm Corrosion on April 24 via Roadrunner Records.

A little background information on the genesis of this project: Åkerfeldt and Wilson have been friends since the late ’90s, when Wilson co-produced Opeth’s revered Blackwater Park album. Over the years, they’d often spoken of working on a project together, but it wasn’t until recently that they managed to make something happen, when Mikael flew over to visit Steven in the U.K. and they ended up in Wilson’s home studio throwing ideas around. That visit was the nascence of a whole self-titled album, written and produced by the pair, and mixed by Wilson.

The sound of Storm Corrosion can best be described as enchanting, orchestral, ambient, epic (half the album’s tracks clock in around the 10-minute mark) and nothing short of surprising to the new ear. However, the musicians’ respective fanbases will be primed to appreciate the new output, with Wilson’s recent solo album, Grace for Drowning, and Opeth’s Heritage having brought them to a logical place to understand Storm Corrosion. This eponymous collection is almost viewed as one side of a musical triangle.

Says Wilson, “If you’d asked me three months ago about the music, I would have said, ‘Expect the last thing you would expect.’ But actually, now that Heritage and Grace for Drowning have come out, I don’t think it’s going to be that much of a shock to people, because it’s almost like a third part of the trilogy, in a way. If anything, it’s even more orchestral, even more stripped down, even more dark, twisted and melancholic… but it certainly feels like it comes from the same place as Heritage and Grace for Drowning, which indeed it does because it was written during the same period.”

“Some of the music on this record I think is the most beautiful music I have participated on ever,” adds Åkerfeldt. “There’s some magical sections on there. Musically I think we’ve created something earthy, a bit frightening, exhausting, profound and rather intense. All at the same time. I can safely say I don’t know any other band or artist that sounds anything like Storm Corrosion. I guess that was also one of our goals, so to speak.”

Roadrunner Senior VP of A&R, Monte Conner welcomed Storm Corrosion to the Roadrunner family, commenting, “I am honored to have the Roadrunner logo on the Storm Corrosion album. Steven Wilson and Mikael Åkerfeldt have demonstrated time and time again that they are two of the truest and most important artists working today, and it is not often that I get to work with musicians of this caliber. This album is a beautiful piece of work that will appeal to fans of Steven and Mikael’s past records, while at the same time exploring new avenues for both artists.”"

Initial dates have been announced for Sepultura‘s “North American Khaos Tour“. The trek will see the band supported by Death Angel, Krisiun and Havok. Here’s how it will run thus far:

04/10 Santa Ana, CA – Tost Theater
04/12 Portland, OR – Branx
04/13 Seattle, WA – Studio Seven
04/14 Salt Lake City, UT – In The Venue
04/15 Englewood, CO – Gothic Theater
04/16 Billings, MT – Manny’s
04/17 Regina, SK – The Exchange
04/18 Winnipeg, MB – Pyramid Cabaret
04/20 Madison, WI – Majestic Theater
04/21 Joliet, IL – MoJoe’s
04/22 Rochester, NY – Water Street Music Hall
04/23 Toronto, ON – Opera House
04/24 Quebec City, QC – Imperial Theater
04/25 Montreal, QC – Club Soda
04/26 Albany, NY – Bogie’s
04/29 Burlington, VT – Higher Ground

The Dillinger Escape Plan have released a music video for their track “Parasitic Twins” over at NME.com. The clip was shot with director David Merenyi and can also be viewed below.

Studio footage of The Burial tracking their new album “Lights And Perfections” has been posted online below. The outing will see a March 27th release through Facedown.

Soulfly have given Metalhammer.co.uk a behind the scenes look at their upcoming album “Enslaved“. You can also watch the clip below while “Enslaved” will arrive in stores through Roadrunner on March 13th.

Furthermore, in addition to their other tour commitments, the band have also announced the following Mexican shows for March:

03/15 Puebla, MEX – Salon Country San Manuel
03/17 Guadalajara, MEX – Foro Alterno
03/18 Mexico City, MEX – Salon Vive Cuervo

Ex-Korn guitarist Brian “Head” Welch has rebranded his Head venture. The group will now be known as Love & Death going forward. The groups new album “Chemicals” is tentatively slated for an April 24th release date with a video having recently been shot for the title track.

The following statement was offered regarding the name change:

“Former Korn guitarist Brian Head Welch marks a new beginning with the announcement that his band will now go by the name Love & Death. “I put this band together in 2009” states Welch. “Since then, we’ve experienced some very intense highs and lows.

Michael Valentine, Dan Johnson, J.R. Bareis and myself have toured around the world playing a lot of killer shows, but we’ve also had some heart shattering difficulties along the way as well. To us, the name “Love and Death” symbolizes everything we’ve been through as a band over the last few years. We love this band so much and we’ll go through hell to connect with our fans. We’ve proven that to ourselves over and over again.”

With Love & Death, the music now lives under it’s own banner. “Many people have confused my speaking dates and our band dates because they were both being booked as Brian Head Welch” says Welch. “I have wanted to go to a band name for branding my music for a few years.

It has been an ongoing discussion with my management, but we were just starting to tour and I was in the middle of supporting my third book and it seemed like a bad time to switch brands. Now with the new music coming out, its time to really separate the things I do. I want the music to be about music. I will still be doing public speaking under Brian Head Welch. I am happy that all the confusion will be over.”

Love & Death formed when Welch decided to have band try outs on YouTube in 2009. “I picked the guys and then had a jam session in Phoenix” says Welch. “Over the last couple of years, there have been a few line up changes as we went through normal growing pains. The current band has been together and touring for a while now and they are a big part of the new music and the future of this new brand.”

The band’s latest single “Paralyzed” is already #5 on the BDS rock chart (the single was released under the name Brian Head Welch). “Paralyzed” was produced by Jason Rauch (Red, Breaking Benjamin) and mixed by Lee Bridges (Third Day, Newsboys).

“‘Paralyzed’ was one of the first songs co-written with Producer Jason Rauch” states Welch. “He came to me with the idea and we both dove into it until it was all there. Jason is really helping me get back to crushing riffs. My first solo CD was an experimental album so the riffs were definitely lacking. Today’s a new day and I’m excited about the future. ‘Paralyzed’ is only a taste of what’s to come.”

A video announcement was also posted and can be seen below:

Red Fang and Black Tusk will be touring together (there’s gotta be a joke in there somewhere) throughout the UK and Europe in April. Initial dates include:

04/05 Segrate, ITA – Magnolia
04/06 Rome, ITA -Traffic
04/07 Montecchio Maggiore, ITA – E20 Underground
04/08 Bulle, SWI – Ebullition
04/09 Lyon, FRA – TBA
04/10 Nantes, FRA – Le Ferrailleur
04/11 Paris, FRA – Les Combustibles
04/12 Tilburg, NET – Roadburn Festival Tickets
04/13 Torhout, BEL – Club de B
04/14 Marbehan , BEL – Bois Des Isles
04/15 Southampton, UK – Joiners
04/16 Manchester, UK – Star and Garter
04/17 Wrexham, UK – Central Station
04/18 London, UK – Underworld
04/19 Nijmegen, NET – Doornroosje
04/20 Leeuwarden, NET – Asteriks
04/21 Berlin, GER – Desertfest
04/22 Athens, GRE – An Club (no Black Tusk)
04/24 Helsinki, FIN – Tavastia
04/26 Hamburg, GER – Hafenklang
04/27 Wiesbaden, GER – Schlachthof
04/28 Winterthur, SWI – Gaswerk
04/29 Salzburg, AUT – Rockhouse Bar
04/30 Bozen, ITA – Halle 28
05/01 Wien, AUT – Arena
05/02 München, GER – Feierwerk
05/03 Wroclaw, POL – Asymetry Festival
05/04 Kiel, GER – Schaubude
05/05 Essen, GER – Cafe Nova
05/06 Kiev, UKR -TBA
05/07 Moscow, RUS – Plan B
05/08 St. Petersburg, RUS – Orlandina

Chimaira have posted some recent rehearsal footage online below. The groups current lineup now sees frontman Mark Hunter as the sole founding member left in the group; with members and alumni of Dååth, Dirge Within and Bleed The Sky backing him.

Jesse Leach‘s return to Killswitch Engage has brought about some interesting developments. Leach has apparently ‘gone dark’ on his social networking profiles in light of the news. Both his Twitter and Facebook have recently been deleted, perhaps to avoid any possible controversy surrounding his decision.

Leach‘s return to the band was confirmed earlier today, February 06th. Those skeptical of the initial news can find confirmation of his return via the bands label, Roadrunnerrecords.com.

Devin Townsend has revealed yet another new project he is involved in (Casualties Of Cool) through his official forums. The posting, which was picked up by Heavyblogisheavy.com, reads as follows:

“I found as a reaction to the complications of decon and the sheer bulk of work thats been going on (seriously, it’s insane) my writing ended up going in 3 ways recently:

1) A very commercial sounding (for the most part) but beautiful and melencholic album full of easy to digest dev songs…Epicloud. I don’t know why it came out, but it did, so I’m going to get it out of my system

2) Casualties of Cool: a duo with myself and Che (ki)… it sounds like haunted Johnny cash songs. late night music, completely isolated sounding and different than anything I’ve done. Che sings most of the leads, and it’s probably the truest reflection of who I am in life at this point. Trying to release it in tandem with Epicloud.

3) Z2 epic epic epic, complicated, musical, sci-fi, immense expense, the goal of it all I suppose.”

Holy Grail have been in the studio lately working on their new album with producer Matt Hyde (Slayer, Children Of Bodom). Band frontman James Paul Luna had the following to say about that and the groups upcoming touring:

“After months of endless writing, re-writing, recording and re-recording I’m so excited to go back on tour! Not only am I stoked to be playing SXSW but I’m even more stoked to play with our great buddies Saviours, who are pretty much the best dudes ever!

Touring is a great escape from day to day stress and domesticated life and I miss that adventure into the ‘real world.’ I’m also really excited to see all the rad friends and fans we’ve made so far, and can’t wait to meet and make new ones. Cheers!”

As mentioned above the band will be hitting the road in March for a brief U.S. run with Saviours, here’s where you can catch them:

03/11 San Diego, CA – Soda Bar
03/12 Tucson, AZ – Plush
03/17 Midland, TX – Pine Box
03/19 Fullerton, CA – The Slidebar (no Saviours)
03/20 Scottsdale, AZ – Rogue
03/21 Los Angeles, CA – Satellite
03/22 Los Osos, CA – Sweet Springs Saloon
03/23 San Francisco, CA – Elbo Room

Higher quality fan-filmed footage of ††† (Crosses) covering Q. Lazzarus‘ “Goodbye Horses” has surfaced below. The group performed the cover during their set at Slim’s in San Francisco, CA set this past Saturday, February 04th.

Killswitch Engage have confirmed the official replacement for frontman Howard Jones. Taking his spot will be none other than the man Jones originally replaced, Jesse Leach (also of The Empire Shall Fall, Times Of Grace.) The group confirmed the news today subtly via a new image posted over at their official website, Killswitchengage.com.