Soilent Green
Photo: Metal Blade Records

It's been nearly three years since we've heard from Soilent Green, but on April 15, the Southern sludge stalwarts will make their return with Inevitable Collapse in the Presence of Conviction, the long-awaited follow-up to 2005's Confrontation. But don't just assume Soilent's members have been sitting around, twiddling their thumbs these last few years, because nothing could be further from the truth.

According to singer Ben Falgoust, he is often asked if the band has thrown in the proverbial towel, or if he ended up exiting the fold to focus full time on Goatwhore, the currently on-tour black-metal band he also fronts. But he claims the band has never once considered pulling the plug on Soilent — everyone's just been busy with other projects is all. Guitarist Brian Patton is also involved with Eyehategod, while guitarist Gregg Harney is a member of Spickle. Drummer Tommy Buckley is also a member of Crowbar, and bassist Scott Crochet plays in a band called Hostile Apostle.

"We all have other bands we need to devote time to," Falgoust explained. "While the rest of the guys are off doing other projects, I'll be home, writing. They'll write while I'm out with Goatwhore. We're not trying to put off one band in favor of another, but when a release hits, I'm obligated to go out with that band as much as possible. When April comes around, Goatwhore's tour with Exodus ends, and I'll be heading out with Soilent again."

That April tour, he said, will be a North American run featuring three other bands on the bill. Falgoust said he wasn't at liberty to discuss any details regarding the trek but that all would be revealed in the coming weeks. While fans have been made to wait three years for Inevitable Collapse — which was produced by Erik Rutan (Cannibal Corpse, Vital Remains), who also helmed Conviction — Falgoust said he's sure they'll find it was well worth it.

"Soilent is what Soilent is, but with each record, I think different angles are approached in writing and execution," he explained, saying that the new LP contains elements of the band's previous albums. "The guys [in the band] are really hard on each other about stuff. They'll get to parts in a song where they feel like they're repeating something from a past record, and they'll get into an argument about it, which basically forces us to break away from that mold.

"This record has something new to it — a new edge, I'd say," Falgoust continued. "I don't want to be the guy who says this is our best record yet — all I can say is, when it comes out, you'll just have to check it out, and everyone will have to judge it for themselves. The sound on this record is f---ing amazing; it's just all-out. The guitars sound so sick. I thought Confrontation was awesome, but I think we blew that record out. [This album] sounds ridiculous."

The singer said that, with Inevitable Collapse, Soilent Green wanted to create a guitar lover's wet dream. While some bands focus more on making the drum or vocal parts more prominent on their albums, Soilent wanted the guitars to stand out more.

"The defining feature of a metal band is the guitars — it's what metal is," he explained. "How many records have come out in the last few years that are supposed to be metal, and the guitars are wimpy and low in the mix, and the vocals and drums are overpowering? On a metal record, the guitars are supposed to stand out — and they do on this record. Patton's tone is really good, and Rutan brought that sh-- out. Don't get me wrong — you can hear the drums, and the flow of the bass underneath, and the vocals. But the guitars are just lethal and have that low-end bite to them. It just sounds awesome."

Since Falgoust and the rest of Soilent really wanted the guitars to take center stage, the singer had to take a different approach with his vocal performance on the LP.

"I'm a professional introvert," he confessed. "I deal with people, but in a way, I really don't feel like dealing with people. I like to be by myself. I stay home a lot and watch movies. A lot of the lyrics deal with hatred — I sort of have this obsessive compulsive kind of hatred in me. But before we started working on this record, I'd sing over a good bit of stuff. This time, I sat back and said, 'I think that part needs to flow — no vocals — like a jam part people can get into and have fun with.' Soilent's pretty crazy, but when [a song] gets to that element, where it just rocks out, I thought those parts needed to breathe a little more, so I backed off from smothering them in my vocals. I had to learn the art of actually rocking out to it."

Strangely, Falgoust said an outside force bled into the creative process for him and, in many ways, became an integral part of the entire ordeal.

"I started watching 'Squidbillies,' " an animated series that runs on the Cartoon Network's Adult Swim block. "I became totally addicted to it. Every day at the studio, I would watch one or two episodes, and it became part of the process for me. It was addictive."

The rest of the week's metal news:

Lamb of God frontman Randy Blythe recently checked in with Metal File about the Virginia metallers' next studio effort, which he said they'll embark on this year. "We're going to be writing a new record," he confirmed of the yet-untitled LP, adding that he's going to jet to Japan in February to "kick it with the wife" before putting his nose to the grindstone. "[I'm going to] try and take a deep breath for a few months before we start writing a new record," he said. "I figure we'll start heading into the ... practice space in late March or something." Blythe also pulled back the curtain on a side project, revealing that he's been ganging up with Steve Zing, a founding member of Glenn Danzig's Samhain act. "I saw him and Danzig recently, and I'm going to do something kinda creepy with [Zing]," Blythe said. Adding to what looks to be a busy '08, he added, "I'm working on a lot of different writing projects with different magazines. I'm working on a comic book now as well." Lamb of God recently launched a contest with Sirius Satellite Radio and GarageBand for a contest that asks fans to remix a song from the band's 2006 album, Sacrament. Winners of the contest, which ends February 21, will win a trip to NYC to meet the band at the premiere of its forthcoming, yet-untitled spring DVD. Go here for more info. ...

The long-awaited studio-album reunion between ex-Sepultura and Soulfly frontman Max Cavalera and ex-Sepultura drummer Iggor Cavalera is scheduled for release on March 25. The Cavalera Conspiracy's Inflikted marks the first time the two brothers have recorded together in over 10 years. "Cavalera Conspiracy is about a sense of being released," Max said in a statement. "You bottle [up] a monster for 10 years and then let it out. It's explosive, and we waited a long time for this beast to be set free." The album was recorded in July at Undercity Recordings in North Hollywood, California, and produced by ex-Machine Head guitarist Logan Mader and Lucas Banker of the Dirty Icon production team. Special guests include Down and ex-Pantera bassist Rex Brown, and Max's stepson Richie Cavalera (Incite). A tour is being planned for the spring. ... Testament singer Chuck Billy will perform at the Longest Walk Kickoff Concert on February 9 in Oakland, California. Billy will sing with his brother Andy and Grammy and Native American Music Award winner Star Nayea. The concert is a benefit for Longest Walk 2, a 4,400 mile trek across the U.S. that aims to draw attention to environmental issues. Testament's new album, The Formation of Damnation, comes out April 29. ...

Celtic Frost are putting together an album tentatively titled Monotheist Companion that will feature unreleased songs from 2006's Monotheist sessions and rearrangements of tracks from the album. The disc is scheduled for a summer release. In addition, Demon Entrails, a CD of raw, early-'80s demos by Hellhammer — the band fronted by Celtic singer and guitarist Thomas G. Warrior — comes out February 18. ... Japanese conceptual psychedelic doomsters Boris will release their new full-length album, Smile, April 29. The group will precede the release with a one-off show in New York on March 4. ... New York electro-metal renegades Mindless Self Indulgence will release their new album, If, on April 29. The first single, "Mastermind," will be issued digitally February 12. ...

God Forbid recently reached out to their fans to come up with a good title for the group's upcoming DVD, which is pegged for a May 27 release. After combing through the pile of submissions, the band chose "Beneath the Scars of Glory and Progression," which was submitted by David Cazares of Chino, California. "He made out jobs a lot easier," guitarist Doc Coyle said in a statement. "Maybe we'll have our fans name everything from now on." It's not clear if Cazares will receive some sort of reward for his effort aside from this extra praise from Coyle: "[The name] captured, in a statement, what this DVD really says about God Forbid. The concert and documentary featured on the DVD are positive forces in our band's movement from turbulence to continuous kinetic growth. It deserved a title that illustrated that, with all the bad things that have happened to us, even more good things happened, and we look forward to an even brighter future." God Forbid will enter New Jersey's Trax East Recording Studio later this month with producer Eric Rachel (Atreyu, In This Moment) to work on their sixth studio album. ...

Darkest Hour guitarist Kris Norris played lead guitar on the debut album by Fierce Allegiance, The Meaning of Sacrifice, which was produced by Ken Olden (Damnation AD). The melodic thrash/death-metal band from Washington, D.C., is currently in talks with several labels about releasing the disc. In the meantime, the tracks "No Way Out," "Crime and Passion," "Viking" and "Lost G'neration" can be downloaded on the band's MySpace page. ... Psychedelic stoner band Danava will release their second disc, UnonoU, February 19. The Portland, Oregon, group will support the disc with a North American tour with Acid Mothers Temple that starts March 13 in Los Angeles and runs through April 8 in San Francisco. ... Misery Signals have entered the studio with producer Devin Townsend (Strapping Young Lad, Soilwork) to record the follow-up to their 2006 sophomore disc, Mirrors. "I'm psyched about the new record," singer Karl Shubach said in a statement. "It's got a lot of elements that weren't in last one, a lot of parts that are just heavier with a lot of off-time polyrhythm, like Meshuggah." "This is going to be a record that brings the band to a new level," Townsend said. "The rock will continue to roll in a fastidious way." ...

It's rare for indie-rock icons to have any affinity for heavy metal, but David Pajo is an unusual breed. The former guitarist of Slint and ex-member of Tortoise, Stereolab and Zwan has created the full-on metal band Dead Child with Michael McMahan (the brother of Pajo's ex-Slint bandmate Brian). The group's full-length debut, Attack — which combines elements of doom, thrash and NWOBHM on songs like "Twitch of the Death Nerve," "Battlesnake Chalice" and "Eye to the Brain" — is scheduled for release April 8. ... Our condolences to the family and friends of Gruntruck and Skin Yard singer Ben McMillan, who recently died from diabetes in his Seattle hometown. He was 46. McMillan suffered with the condition for eight years and succumbed to his illness after experiencing complications from a related blood-clotting disease. Skin Yard predated the grunge scene and featured producer Jack Endino on guitar. After the band broke up, McMillan formed Gruntruck with ex-Skin Yard drummer Norman Scott. The group released two albums, 1991's Inside Yours and 1992's Push, before calling it a day.

• Soilent Green
• Lamb of God
• Celtic Frost
• Testament
• God Forbid

Ozzy Osbourne
Photo: MTV News

AUBURN, Washington — Ozzy Osbourne thought 10 Ozzfests were enough. He'd reached his limit. And so, before last year's Ozzfest — the heavy-metal festival's 10th rendition — concluded, Osbourne announced he'd be retiring from his namesake tour. He'd also be taking a break from the road for a while.

But here he is, standing at the foot of Ozzfest's main stage with the launch of this year's Ozzfest just 48 hours away. The music icon's surveying things — inspecting the lights, the monitors, the positioning of the amplifiers. In about 20 minutes, he'll be joined onstage by guitarist Zakk Wylde, drummer Mike Bordin and bassist Blasko for his first official Ozzfest rehearsal.

"I wanted to retire," he insisted. "But that lasted half a year. I was bored to death, and I wanted to come back on the road again. I'm not complaining about it, but the downside [to doing Ozzfest] is I never get a chance to go on vacation. Whenever we do go on vacation, it's winter. So this year, I tried to get off the Ozzfest, and [my wife and the festival's architect] Sharon said, 'OK.' But then one guy spoke to one guy and said it wouldn't be Ozzfest if Ozzy isn't there. So [we compromised]. Sharon's idea was to do a couple of headliners on the second stage, and I said, 'That's great. It's right in the midst of the audience.' "

This summer's Ozzfest, which wraps up August 13 in West Palm Beach, Florida, will make stops in 27 cities, with Osbourne scheduled to take the stage for 13 of them — four mainstage appearances and nine on the tour's smaller second stage. But might this — as the rumor mill suggests — be Ozzy's last Ozzfest?

"I will always be involved in it in some way, as long as it carries along — and as long as I'm alive," he said. "It's my wife and I's creation. People say to me, 'What's the trick? How do you do it?' And I can't answer that question. I'm just so grateful and happy [the fans] come out to see the show."

Talking to Ozzy, you get the sense that, after 11 years, he's sort of astounded at Ozzfest's mammoth growth. It has become an unstoppable force, surviving while other festivals have come and gone.

"I can't believe it's been 11 years," he said, reflecting on the tour's tradition. "I couldn't believe it was 10 years. You know, every year, I ask my wife, 'How long do you think this is going to go on for?' But it's out of my control now, and it's rolling along on its own. You know, I can't call this work. I love it. What I'm really happy about, what has happened from Ozzfest, is it's been a great diving board for other bands. I mean, Korn, System of a Down — the list goes on and on. And that's what my job is: to keep the machine rolling."

After this year's Ozzfest, Osbourne plans to start working on his 15th solo LP — his first record's worth of original compositions in five years. "We just started working on some ideas, Zakk and the boys," he explained. "We're putting a bunch of ideas together, and Zakk's playing is just unbelievable. His new album [Shot to Hell, which hits stores September 19] is fantastic. It is going to blow everything else off the face of the world. So when we finish Ozzfest, I'm going to start writing. It's going to be the first one I've written and recorded sober. That's weird. The one thing about having a swift drink is it gets the old imagination going, you know?"

Ozzy's mindset going into the sessions is a positive one, he said. "I'm 57 years of age, and I never thought I'd live this long," he joked. "I think I'm the luckiest man in the world. I've survived, both physically and professionally ... I think."

The rest of the week's metal news:

Lamb of God's forthcoming album Sacrament will feature 11 songs when it hits stores August 22 — including "Walk With Me in Hell," "Foot to the Throat" and "Beating on Death's Door." A deluxe version of the CD will be available to fans and contain a bonus DVD with two videos for the album's first single, "Redneck," and a making-of-the-album segment. ... Moody instrumental experimentalists Explosions in the Sky have been writing material for their forthcoming, yet-untitled LP. The record will boast six songs — with most clocking in at about 13 minutes. The band plans to hit the studio next month with the Paper Chase's John Congleton to record the tracks. ... New Jersey hardcore heroes Nora are hard at work writing material for their next album. According to Nora's MySpace page, they're going through the "weeding-out process for the stuff we've written, so ... there's a lot of arguing. That's normal, though — if there wasn't arguing, it wouldn't be Nora." The band is in talks with Rob Caggiano (Bleeding Through, Cradle of Filth) to produce the effort. ... Massachusetts hard-rockers Seemless — which boast former Killswitch Engage frontman Jesse Leach and ex-Overcast guitarist Pete Cortese — have finished working on their sophomore album, What Have We Become, which is set to drop September 5. Look for the disc to feature 10 tracks, including "Cast No Shadow," "Jaded" and "Things Fall Apart." ...

The track list for Light This City's forthcoming record Facing the Thousand has been revealed, and a song from the effort, "Cradle for a King," has been posted on the band's MySpace page. The LP, which will be in stores September 19, will include a guest appearance by the Black Dahlia Murder's Trevor Strnad on "Fear of Heights." The record contains 10 tracks in all, including "The Unwelcome Savior," "Maddening Swarm" and "Like Every Song's Our Last." ... Wildman Glenn Danzig's long-awaited Black Aria II has been slated for release September 19. The disc will boast material the former Misfits frontman's been working on for more than five years. It's a classical, operatic work, inspired by Lilith, the mythological first wife of Adam. ... Montreal's Neuraxis will not be touring this summer with Beneath the Massacre and Victimas, according to the band's MySpace profile. "Earlier this year, [we] agreed to take part in a U.S. tour, which was to take place for late July/ early August." But late last month, "it was decided that we had to cancel our participation on this tour. With a month to go before [it] was to start, we had only received half of the confirmed dates. We felt this was not enough time to properly promote and spread the word about this tour." The bandmembers also lacked work permits, which would've prevented them from touring in the States. ...

New York death-metal mammoths Suffocation have unveiled the track list for their next LP, a self-titled offering due September 19. "Abomination Reborn," "Translucent Patterns of Delirium" and "Entrails of You" are among the album's 11 tracks. ... Orange County, California, hardcore-metal band Ignite have shot a politically charged video for "Bleeding" with director Chris Sims, who has previously worked with Lamb of God and As I Lay Dying. The clip features the band playing in the parched California desert interspersed with news footage of the war in Iraq and other intense imagery. Singer Zoli Teglas, whose brother is currently stationed in Iraq, wrote the lyrics for the song, which appears on the band's new record, Our Darkest Days. "[My brother] is forced to risk his life driving Halliburton execs to meetings that benefit the politicians and not the people," Teglas said in a statement. ... Los Angeles melodic punk-metal band 2Cents will put out their debut, Lost at Sea, September 26. The disc was produced by Matt Hyde (Slayer, Sum 41) and includes a tribute to the band's fallen hero, "A Song for Darrell Abbott." Other tracks include "The Mark of My Pen," "Wired" and "Victims of Pop Culture." In addition to playing conventional venues, 2Cents have made their mark by playing in unusual spots, including maximum-security youth correctional facilities. ...

Swiss extreme-metal forefathers Celtic Frost have announced the openers for their North American tour. Between the September 12 opening date in Springfield, Virginia, and October 2 in Portland, Oregon, Norwegian black-metal band 1349 and Norwegian doom group Sahg (which features ex-Gorgoroth members King and Kvitrafn) will carry out the bloodletting before Celtic Frost take the stage. And from October 13 in San Francisco to the final date, November 11 in Johnson City, New York, Goatwhore will open. Seismic drone band Sunn 0))) will also play the second leg of the tour but will drop off after the October 9 show in Las Vegas. ... Exodus drummer Paul Bostaph (ex-Slayer, Testament) has commented about replacing Testament drummer Louie Clemente for the band's current tour, which runs through July 16 in Victorville, California, before heading overseas and ending August 5 in Busan City, South Korea. "There will be plenty of time to rest when I'm dead," said Bostaph, who recently finished European dates with Exodus. "I dream in double-bass." Bostaph was a member of Testament for a short period in early 2004 and toured with them in 1992, a jaunt that included dates for their 1993 live EP, Return to the Apocalyptic City. "I'm stoked to hit the road with the Testament guys, especially since I've never played with guitarist Alex Skolnick before. It's as close to the original lineup as possible and I've always had fun with them.". Clemente, who had to bow out due to medical reasons, is expected to rejoin Testament after the dates. The band hopes to enter the studio before the end of the year. ...

The third album from Insomnium, Above the Weeping World, will hit the streets October 17. The Finnish melodic death-metal band worked on the disc at Fantom and Finnvox studios, where they delved into new atmospheric shades and production techniques. "This is by far the best Insomnium album," said singer and bassist Niilo Sevanen. "It is the first time we feel we really succeeded in studio." The album will feature nine tracks, including "The Gale," "At the Gates of Sleep" and "Mortal Share." A video for the latter can be seen at Candlelight Records' MySpace page. ... Mushroomhead will grace the metal community with their sixth feral offering, Savior Sorrow, September 19. The disc was produced by Steve Felton and the band in Cleveland in April. "It's a new chapter in Mushroomhead's evolution," drummer Skinny said. "There are sounds on this album that are so brutal and huge. We focused on delivering some vicious hardcore mixed with heavy melodic hooks." Savior Sorrow will be the band's first album since 2003's XIII. ... French moshers Lyzanxia will unveil their third steely effort, Unsu, this fall. The disc was recorded and mixed by Fredrik Nordström and Patrick J. Sten at Studio Fredman in Gothenburg, Sweden. The album will be the follow-up to the band's 2004 album, Mindcrimes. ... Progressive quartet Minsk are in the studio working on their third album, tentatively scheduled for early 2007 release. The Chicago-area group will record the album at bassist and singer Sanford Parker's Volume Recording Studio, which has also served as an audio laboratory for Pelican and Unearthly Trance.

Where do your favorite metal bands rank on our list? Find out in the feature "The Greatest Metal Bands of All Time."

• Ozzy Osbourne
• Lamb of God
• Ignite
• Celtic Frost
• Suffocation

Peeping Tom's <i>Peeping Tom</i>
Photo: Ipecac Recordings

Memorial Day was established to honor Union soldiers who fought in the Civil War. But the holiday isn't too civil to record stores, pretty much stymieing anything of interest from hitting the racks.

OK, that's a little harsh. There are some records you might care about as you recover from the long weekend:

Peeping Tom's self-titled record is classic Mike Patton. The Tomahawk/ Fantômas/ Lovage mastermind overextends himself yet again with this long-in-the-works project, which slipped out a much-prized bootleg demo years ago but hasn't made a peep since. Yanking the unconventional pop group out of obscurity is Norah Jones, who graces the second-to-last track, "Sucker." Patton's typically unpredictable guest list also includes Massive Attack, Bebel Gilberto, Dan the Automator, Kool Keith, Amon Tobin, Kid Koala and Dub Trio, who put out an album of their own last week. If you're looking for Patton product that isn't alienating, this is it.

Death Becomes Them: Just in case you didn't hear them screaming their faces off the first time around, Thine Eyes Bleed are reservicing their debut LP, In the Wake of Separation, in time for their tour in support of Slayer (TEB's bassist is the brother of Slayer's Tom Araya). The refreshed version has the bonus cut "Better Off Dead," which was only available in Japan, and the video for "Cold Victim." And Florida death-metal vets Morbid Angel — who are heavily influenced by Slayer — are reaching back even further with the re-release of 1989's Altars of Madness, which comes with three remix tracks and a bonus DVD featuring the band's gig at the U.K.'s Nottingham Rock City in '89.

Victory Scores: One label isn't getting much rest this weekend: punk imprint Victory Records. Its so-called "Super Tuesday" marks the arrival of In the Shadow of Two Gunmen, the second effort by pop duo the Forecast; Questions and Answers, the second one by angsty New Yorkers the Sleeping; 18 Candles: The Early Years, which packs in 18 retrospective tracks — including concert cuts and remixes — by Canadian post-hardcore act Silverstein; and The Great Compromise, a colorful record by cheerleading three-piece the Junior Varsity that features "Left Foot Right Foot," "Peter Cottontail and the Demise of the Carrot Tree" and more.

Don't Forget to Preorder: In case you haven't learned your lesson, here are two more reasons to plan ahead: preorders of Minutes to Miles by New Jersey newcomers Crash Romeo came with limited-edition tees, while early copies of Terror's three-hour "The Living Proof" DVD was bundled with a stencil and poster.

That's So Yesterday: It's like 1981 all over again this week, what with the 25th anniversary of psych-experimentalists Legendary Pink Dots. Their Your Children Placate You From Premature Graves follows up 2004's The Whispering Wall and includes "Stigmata (Part 4)" and "The Made Man's Manifesto." Celtic Frost have an equally impressive milestone with Monotheist, the hugely influential metal band's first record in 13 years.

'80s Hits Stripped culls acoustic tracks by Billy Idol, Rick Springfield, the Go-Go's and other yesteryear greats, and the label's so jazzed for the release that it's throwing a party at Johnny Depp's Viper Room on Hollywood's Sunset Strip. Blasters honcho Dave Alvin recaps John Fogerty, Jerry Garcia, Brian Wilson and other Left Coasters on West of the West, while blues-rocker George Thorogood and the Destroyers run through tunes by Bob Dylan, Fats Domino and more on The Hard Stuff. And if you're a Motörhead fan, you'll no doubt recognize the cover of "Killed by Death" that appears as a bonus cut on the debut LP by all-female Swedish quartet Crucified Barbara, who have already made waves back home.

You've definitely heard the Von Bondies' "C'mon C'mon" by now; the title track to "Rescue Me" kicks off the show's soundtrack, which also features Wolf Parade, the Brian Jonestown Massacre and other decidedly noncommercial acts. And if you're an ardent Zero 7 fan, you've probably already heard Sophie Barker's Earthbound, which dropped in the U.K. last year but is finally getting a U.S. release. And Finnish psychedelic minimalists Kiila issued their Heartcore five years ago in other territories, but it's finally dropping Stateside this week.

Chatham County Line — a rootsy project out of Raleigh, North Carolina, that incorporates fiddle, banjo and more — are churning out their third effort, the playfully titled Speed of the Whippoorwill. Singer/guitarist Dave Wilson says the bandmembers "see ourselves more like a rock band without a drummer and cables than a 1940s traditional bluegrass band." But debuting Chicago sextet the 1900s are more than happy to be lodged in the last century. The band's Plume Delivery EP calls to mind the New Pornographers and the Kinks and boasts "Bring the Good Boys Home" and "Flight of the Monowings."

If you want something really archaic, look no further than Wes Montgomery's "Live in Europe 1965," a DVD that captures the famed jazz guitarist in his prime. And while we're on the subject of age, let's give it up for Ralph Stanley, the bluegrass immortal who is putting out A Distant Land to Roam: Songs of the Carter Family at the tender age of 79.

Song Title of the Week:

"Don't Forget to Set the House on Fire Before You Crawl into Bed" from Junior Varsity's The Great Compromise

Other Notables:

Les Claypool's Of Whales and Woe: The Primus bass whiz has been busier than ever with a new feature film ("Electric Apricot: Quest for Festeroo"), novel and everlasting tour. His latest solo outing includes "Robot Chicken," the theme to the cartoon show of the same name; "Back Off Turkey," which showcases his two kids banging on various objects; and "Iowan Gal," a paean to Claypool's wife.

Quietdrive's When All That's Left Is You: These Minneapolis rockers have "buzz" written all over them, what with a red-hot MySpace page and raves from The Los Angeles Times. They get an additional boost from Avril Lavigne producer Butch Walker and heralded mixer Chris Lord-Alge on the LP, which features "Rise From the Ashes," "Take a Drink With Me" and "Maybe Misery."

Asobi Seksu's Citrus: Their name means "playful sex" in Japanese and they've topped mtvU's Dean's List, and if you're in the mood to dream, Asobi Seksu have your number. The group's bilingual, keyboard-laced sophomore disc includes "Pink Cloud Tracing Paper" and "Nefi+Girly" and will fit in comfortably next to your Lush and My Bloody Valentine CDs.

New Releases:

• The 1900s - Plume Delivery (EP; Parasol)
  
• Dave Alvin - West of the West (Yep Roc)
  Buy Now: West of the West (Yep Roc)
  
• Asobi Seksu - Citrus (Friendly Fire)
  
• Sophie Barker - Earthbound (Emperor)
  
• Boards of Canada - Trans Canada Highway (EP; Warp)
  Buy Now: Trans Canada Highway (Warp)
  
• Celtic Frost - Monotheist (Century Media)
  Buy Now: Monotheist (Century Media)
  
• Chatham County Line - Speed of the Whippoorwill (Yep Roc)
  
• Les Claypool - Of Whales and Woe (digipak; Prawn Song)
  Buy Now: Of Whales and Woe (Prawn Song)
  
• Cordovan - Lunaticworks Jazz Presents: Cordovan - Highway 10 Blues (Reincarnate)
  
• Crash Romeo - Minutes to Miles (limited edition comes with T-shirt; Trustkill)
  Buy Now: Minutes to Miles (Trustkill)
  
• Crucified Barbara - In Distortion We Trust (enhanced; Liquor & Poker)
  
• Todd Deatherage - Todd Deatherage (EP; Summer Break)
  
• The Forecast - In the Shadow of Two Gunmen (Victory)
  Buy Now: In the Shadow of Two Gunmen (Victory)
  
• The Junior Varsity - The Great Compromise (with DVD; Victory)
  
• Herbert - Scale (K7)
  
• Kiila - Heartcore (Say Hey)
  
• The Legendary Pink Dots - Your Children Placate You From Premature Graves (ROIR)
  
• Jesper Kyd - "Hitman: Blood Money" soundtrack (Sumthing Else)
  
• Peeping Tom - Peeping Tom (Ipecac)
  Read: "Norah Jones Curses Up A Storm For New Mike Patton Project"
  
• The Procussions - 5 Sparrows for 2 Cents (Red Urban)
  
• Quietdrive - When All That's Left Is You (Epic/ Red)
  
• The Sleeping - Questions and Answers (Victory)
  
• Ralph Stanley - A Distant Land to Roam: Songs of the Carter Family (Columbia)
  
• Surel - For My Good - Romans 8:28 (Comin' Atcha)
  
• George Thorogood and the Destroyers - The Hard Stuff (Eagle)
  Buy Now: The Hard Stuff (Eagle)
  
• Tied & Tickled Trio - A.R.C. (Morr)
  
• Amalea Tshilds - Painted Tiles (Fallen Fan)
  
• Various artists - '80s Hits Stripped (Sidewinder)
  
• Various artists - "Rescue Me" soundtrack (Nettwerk)

Notable Reissues and Archival Material:

• Jamie Lidell - Multiply Additions (Warp)
  
• Kris Kristofferson - Austin City Limits: Live From Austin, TX (New West)
  
• Morbid Angel - Altars of Madness (with DVD; Earache)
  Buy Now: Altars of Madness (Earache)
  
• Charley Pride - The Essential Charley Pride (two CDs; RCA/ Legacy)
  
• Jim Reeves - The Essential Jim Reeves (two CDs; RCA/ Legacy)
  
• Silverstein - 18 Candles: The Early Years (Victory)
  Buy Now: 18 Candles: The Early Years (Victory)
  
• Space Needle - Recordings 1994-1997 (Eenie Meenie)
  
• Thine Eyes Bleed - In the Wake of Separation (enhanced; The End)
  Buy Now: In the Wake of Separation (The End)
  
• Johnny "Guitar" Watson - Best of the Funk Years (Shout! Factory)

Music DVDs:

• The Beatles - "Liverpool" (Arts Magic)
  
• Blöod Düster - "The Shape of Death to Come" (Season Mist)
  
• The Charlatans UK - "Live at Last" (Standing Room Only)
  
• Alice Cooper - "Live at Montreux 2005" (Eagle Vision)
  
• Deep Purple - "Live at Montreux 1996" (Eagle Vision)
  
• Rory Gallagher - "Live at Montreux" (Eagle Vision)
  
• Wes Montgomery - "Live in Europe 1965" (EJazz Lines)
  
• Terror - "The Living Proof" (Trustkill)
  
• Ali Farka Touré - "A Visit to Ali Farka Touré" (Kultur)

Coming Attractions:

June 6:

• AFI - Decemberunderground (Interscope)
  Read: "AFI: Mad Prolific Or Mad Exaggerators?"
  Preorder: Decemberunderground (Interscope)
  
• Head Automatica - Popaganda (Warner Bros.)
  Read: "Daryl Palumbo Spreads Head Automatica Popaganda"
  Preorder: Popaganda (Warner Bros.)
  
• Ice Cube - Laugh Now, Cry Later (Lench Mob)
  Read: "Ice Cube Wants The Last Laugh With Independent LP Featuring Lil Jon, Snoop"
  Preorder: Laugh Now, Cry Later (Lench Mob)
  
• Paul Oakenfold - A Lively Mind (Maverick)
  Preorder: A Lively Mind (Maverick)
  

June 13:

• The Futureheads - News and Tributes (Vagrant)
  Preorder: News and Tributes (Vagrant)
  
• Busta Rhymes - The Big Bang (Aftermath)
  Read: "Busta Rhymes Album Preview: Bus Gets Deep About The Big Bang"
  Preorder: The Big Bang (Aftermath)
  
• Shadows Fall - Fallout From the War (Century Media)
  Preorder: Fallout From the War (Century Media)
  
• Sonic Youth - Rather Ripped (Geffen)
  Preorder: Rather Ripped (Geffen)
  
• Regina Spektor - Begin to Hope (two-CD limited-edition version also available; Sire/ London/ Rhino)
  Preordere: Begin to Hope (Sire/ London/ Rhino)
  

June 20:

• Fefe Dobson - Sunday Love (enhanced; Island)
  Preorder: Sunday Love (Island)
  
• Nelly Furtado - Loose (Geffen)
  Read: "Nelly Furtado Hooks Up With 'Distant Cousin' Timberlake, Emerges With 'Sexy' Song"
  Preorder: Loose (Geffen)
  
• Keane - Under the Iron Sea (Interscope)
  Read: "Keane Nearly Followed Breakthrough With A Breakup"
  Preorder: Under the Iron Sea (Interscope)
  
• Madonna - I'm Going to Tell You a Secret (with DVD; Maverick)
  Preorder: I'm Going to Tell You a Secret (Maverick)
  
• Pearl Jam - Live at Easy Street (J)

• Peeping Tom
• Silverstein
• Les Claypool
• Thine Eyes Bleed
• The Charlatans UK

Linkin Park are slated to release the follow-up to their 2000 debut, Hybrid Theory, in March. The rap rockers, who retooled their debut for this summer's Reanimation, are also in the process of lining up a world tour to support the as-yet-untitled album. ...

Redman will premiere his D*kazi clothing line in the pages of Playboy. The rapper-turned-actor will model his own gear in a fashion spread for the mag's March issue, which streets February 11. ...

In the 1984 Rob Reiner rockumentary "This Is Spinal Tap," vocalist and guitarist David St. Hubbins, guitarist Nigel Tufnel and bassist Derek Smalls, collectively known as Spinal Tap, vowed to go down in history. Now they will. The side-splitting rock spoof movie was recently nominated, along with 22 other films, to be preserved by the National Film Registry at the Library of Congress. Also selected for the honor was the 1991 John Singleton gangster film "Boyz N the Hood," which co-starred then-novice-thespian Ice Cube. ...

On the heels of their Irony Is a Dead Scene EP collaboration, onetime System of a Down tourmates Dillinger Escape Plan will perform with ex-Faith No More singer Mike Patton as part of the eccentric vocalist's Ipecac Records New Year's festival. The event will take place in San Francisco over December 30th and 31st and is also scheduled to include performances by Queens of the Stone Age man Nick Oliveri's group Mondo Generator, the Melvins, Isis and more. ... Reformed thrash titans Celtic Frost are currently hard at work in Switzerland on a new album called Probe, their first LP of all new material since 1989. The band has described the new material, for which bassist Martin Ain will handle some vocals, as "dark, risky, adventurous, strange and heavy in a variety of ways." ...

12.17.2002

Justin Timberlake, JC Chasez, Nelly, Creed and Mya are among the artists scheduled to present trophies at the 30th annual American Music Awards live on ABC on January 13. Sheryl Crow, Shaggy, Common, 3 Doors Down, Paula Abdul, Jakob Dylan, Mekhi Phifer, Tyrese, Carmen Electra and Daryl Hall and John Oates are also among those presenting. ...

R. Kelly has announced the track list for his seventh album, Chocolate Factory, due January 28. The LP will feature "Showdown" with Ron Isley, the single "Ignition" and a remix of the track, and 11 other songs. A bonus CD containing six tracks, including the single "Heaven I Need a Hug," the title track and other material from the unreleased Loveland, will accompany the album. ... Roc-A-Fella Films' "Paid in Full" and its director, Charles Stone III, have been nominated in the Best First Feature category for the 2003 IFP Independent Spirit Awards. The urban drama, based on the true story of three Harlem drug lords, stars Roc rapper Cam'ron, and was produced by the hip-hop label's co-CEOs Jay-Z and Damon Dash, along with director Brett Ratner ("Rush Hour"). The Spirit Awards, which serve as an independent alternative to Hollywood's Academy Awards, will take place on March 22 in Santa Monica, California, with director John Waters ("Hairspray") performing emcee duties. ...

Influential Manchester punks the Buzzcocks, whose 1979 singles compilation Singles Going Steady, featuring the classic "Orgasm Addict," is among the best punk offerings of the era, will release their seventh studio album March 18 on indie label Merge Records. The eponymous LP, the band's first since 1999's Modern, will be followed by a tour in the spring. ... Pulp may have performed their last gig together Saturday in the U.K. at Rotherham's Magna Centre, though no one from the band's camp has given any official indication as such. Following an encore of "Common People," the band's biggest Stateside hit, singer Jarvis Cocker told the crowd that it would be the last time they would see the band for a while, though hinted that they may meet again. Pulp's last album, We Love Life, their seventh since 1983, was released in October 2001. ...

Industrial metal band Pitchshifter had to shift their rehearsal schedule after drummer Jason Bowld broke his wrist playing soccer over the weekend. The drummer, who sustained the injury in a fall, is currently wearing a cast, and expects to be fully recovered when the plaster comes off in early January. ... New York garage rockers the Mooney Suzuki were signed to Columbia Records on Friday. ...

R.E.M. took a break from recording in Vancouver on Sunday to play a three-song set during the intermission of a show by Minus 5, a side-project band featuring guitarist Peter Buck. The mini-show at Richard's on Richards was comprised of "She Just Wants to Be" from Reveal, the previously unreleased '80s song "Bad Day" and the new tune "Weatherman." ...

In the latest round in its war against piracy, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) issued letters to 78 small music retailers (convenience stores, grocery stores, gas stations, etc.), warning them of the consequences of selling pirated CDs and tapes, and threatening litigation. The first phase will target stores in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and parts of Texas and Florida before expanding to the rest of the country. Retailers will pay $150,000 per artist pirated if sued, as part of a comprehensive anti-piracy campaign that began months ago. ...

• Linkin Park
• Redman
• Ice Cube
• Spinal Tap
• Dillinger Escape Plan

Foo Fighters'<BR>Dave Grohl
Photo: MTV News

With production of the next Foo Fighters album up in the air, frontman Dave Grohl is exploring his metal mentality with Probot, a collaborative side project involving heavy metal luminaries King Diamond, Tom Araya of Slayer, Motörhead's Lemmy Kilmister and Thomas Gabriel Warrior of Celtic Frost, among others.

The project started about a year ago, when Grohl and Adam Kasper (engineer, mixer and producer of the Foo Fighters' 1999 album, There Is Nothing Left to Lose) recorded seven instrumental metal tracks in Grohl's basement studio as something of a response to the LP's first single, "Learn to Fly," which the former Nirvana drummer described as "the most middle-of-the-road piece of sh-- I've ever written in my life." "[I thought,] 'It's so boring,' and 'I can't believe it's the first single,' and 'It doesn't represent the rest of the record,' " Grohl recalled. "So I was just kinda itching to record something that I was really excited about. I love the Foo Fighters record, but there's a part of me that's always been kind of this metalhead kid." Inspired by Santana's Supernatural, Grohl set out to make the "death metal" version of the multi-artist project by first coming up with a wish list of artists to contribute to his instrumental tracks, then sending out tapes to all who agreed to participate. Grohl, who claimed metal was a natural progression for him after growing up with bands such as Bad Brains, D.R.I. and Corrosion of Conformity, admitted he was a bit surprised at the response from his heavy metal heroes.

"I consider myself such a stupid, middle-of-the-road, alternative-rock idiot, I thought most of these people would be like, 'No, he's a dork' or 'No, he's a jerk,' " Grohl explained. "But they all agreed to do it." So Grohl and Kasper, along with friend and Chavez frontman Matt Sweeney, re-entered the home studio and laid down five more instrumental tracks to round out the project. Other artists on the receiving end of the Probot tapes are Cronos from Venom, Eric Wagner (Trouble), Lee Dorian, Snake (Voivod) and Wino (Obsessed/Spirit Caravan).

Whether Probot's "death metal Supernatural" will ever surface remains to be seen. At the very least, Grohl said his metal foray is likely to impact the next Foo Fighters album by making it "a little harder, sludgier." If nothing else, Grohl is having a blast creating it. "It's kind of a dream come true," Grohl said. "It's like going to one of those stupid baseball camps where some executive businessman gets to play with the pros." To watch Dave Grohl at work in his home studio, check out the MTV News Online feature "Foo Fighters: Virginia Is For Rockers."

• Foo Fighters
• Motörhead
• Slayer
• Celtic Frost