In Flames' <i>Sense of Purpose</i>
Photo: Koch Records

The first thing you notice about In Flames' forthcoming album, A Sense of Purpose, has to do with aesthetics. It's vibrant and multihued, brimming with bright colors, which is to say, it's not very metal at all — at least not very death-metal.

But according to guitarist Björn Gelotte, In Flames wanted to buck the deep reds, depressing browns and dreary blacks that blanket most LPs churned out by bands of their ilk. "It's important for us to do something different when it comes to the artwork," he said.

The band commissioned Alex Pardee to handle the cover, which he based around a crude labyrinth game featuring a board punctured with 36 holes and a small metal ball. The object of the game is to avoid these holes. According to the band's rep, the game "represents life and the holes represent difficulties you may face during your lifetime." The cover depicts a small boy in an owl mask trying to get to the end of the labyrinth. Throughout his journey, he encounters various monsters and characters he tries to avoid.

"It's too easy to be categorized just because of your album artwork," Gelotte said. "I like that it has a lot of colors in it, because it just makes it easier for us to do cool artwork for the stage shows and for our merch. And the cover actually makes sense when you listen to the lyrics. But yes, people aren't used to aggressive metal bands having colors on their albums. It's supposed to be black-and-white with a corpse on there and blood, and that's death-metal, you know? But it doesn't always work like that. We've done that, and we've moved on."

It's doubtful that other death-metal bands will follow suit, but then again, In Flames have always been the kind of band that sets trends instead of following them. After all, the Swedish metallers are considered pioneers of what has become known as the Gothenburg sound, and they've influenced scores of other musicians since forming back in 1990.

"That makes me feel really old sometimes," Gelotte said with a chuckle. "Most of the bands that sort of sounded like a rough copy of In Flames on their first demos have evolved into something of their own, and that's all that matters. You always have to take what you're inspired by, mix your own juice with it and come up with something that hasn't been heard before. It's always been really cool, being an influence to someone else, and it's very flattering. You still want to see these bands evolve and have their own niche."

For In Flames, A Sense of Purpose, due in stores April 1, marks several firsts: It's the first LP they've recorded in their new studio ("A really cool place to hang out, with clean toilets," the guitarist said), which makes it the first album they've recorded without time constraints.

"It was comfortable for us," Gelotte said. "It was easy for us to get home after we'd finish tracking. And there was never another band knocking on the door, saying, 'Our turn.' It was really relaxed and there was very little friction. The whole process was extremely smooth, and we're super-psyched by the result."

The band is also on a new label, Koch Records, after putting out 2006's Come Clarity through Ferret. Perhaps it was the studio or their new working relationship, but Gelotte said this was also one of the first times that In Flames were perhaps a little too inspired.

"We recorded 16 songs this time, where usually we only track the songs we're going to put on the record," he said. "But we had a lot of inspiration this time around, which gives us a lot of bonus material for EPs."

The songs, too, aren't standard In Flames fare.

"We had a clear vision of how we wanted it to sound, so instead of having this really static drum sound, for instance, we wanted it to be really organic," he said. "The whole production should sound organic, like a live band playing. We also wanted to focus a bit more on the guitars, which is always fun for me. There are way more solos than we usually do. I'm excited about that, because we're not shredders — we do melodies and we do riffs."

It's going to be a busy year for In Flames, whose touring plans have already been booked through Christmas. They'll be heading out on this year's Gigantour come April 12 in Denver with Megadeth, Children of Bodom, Job for a Cowboy and High on Fire. That tour wraps May 22 in Phoenix. After that, it's back to Europe for the summer festivals, then they'll head to Japan and Australia. Sometime in late fall, the band plans to return to the States for a coast-to-coast headliner.

The rest of the week's metal news:

Shadows Fall will embark on a headlining run this April, with Kataklysm, the Showdown, Arsis and Droid in the support slots. The trek commences April 13 in Buffalo, New York, and is set to conclude April 26 in Worcester, Massachusetts. ... Divine Heresy, Sworn Enemy, From a Second Story Window, With Blood Comes Cleansing and Dance Club Massacre will be joining forces — also in April — for a 10-date run that kicks off April 19 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and wraps April 30 in Rochester, New York. ...

On April 29, Roadrunner Records will be reissuing a classic. Life of Agony's 1993 LP River Runs Red will be repackaged with several bonus tracks and a DVD. The bonus tracks include "Here I Am, Here I Stay," "Depression," "3 Companions" and "Plexiglass Gate." ... So much for Brain Drill — the band seems to have thrown in the towel. According to a MySpace post from guitarist Dylan Ruskin, the split all comes down to weed. He claims he advised the rest of the band to leave their marijuana at home before their last tour, but that advice was ignored. He said the band was pulled over by police in Utah recently, and the boys — and their van — were searched. While they weren't charged, Ruskin said he later told the rest of the band to ditch the herb. They didn't, and when the band's van somehow ended up reaching the Canadian border, they were searched again — only this time, they submitted to body cavity searches. You can read the rest of this fantastic tale over at the band's MySpace page. ...

Nuclear Blast has signed extreme-metal masters Keep of Kalessin. The band's forthcoming album, Kolossus, will hit stores in June. ... The dudes in the Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza were met with some misfortune last week, wrecking their van in Texas, but the band's tour is carrying on. In a statement, the band said, "We were involved in an accident with a minivan, and it left us without a tour van. We just got the van for this tour, and we are still making payments. We left the van in a graveyard in [Texas], and a great friend in Plano was so kind to tag along with us and let us tour in her van. So the wreck has not stopped us [from] delivering the chart-topping hits."

• In Flames
• Life of Agony
• Shadows Fall

Dillinger Escape Plan
Photo: J Hubbard

New Jersey-bred maniacal metallers the Dillinger Escape Plan spent the end of last summer as part of Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine's inaugural Gigantour, sharing the bill with established, long-running bands that all sound, well, not as frenzied: Fear Factory, Nevermore, Life of Agony and Dream Theater, among others. While it was an experience the band's not so sure it would repeat, bassist Liam Wilson isn't harboring any regrets about the move.

"Our initial reaction [to the Gigantour invite] was, 'Well, that'd be a hoot — let's f---ing do it,' " he explained. "We're always looking for ironic ways to do what we do, and we knew that all the people on that tour and all the people watching that tour had never seen anything like what we bring to the table. We figured it could be awesome, and if not, we'll learn something and get our name out there in a weird way. It was a halfway decent way to spend the summer."

Really, hopping on the Gigantour train was sort of a last resort for the Dillinger dudes. "When we started planning our summer, somebody contacted us [and said], 'Do you guys wanna play with Lamb of God this summer?,' " Wilson recalled. "We were like, 'Not really.' A month and a half later, we realized that call was the Sounds of the Underground call, but it wasn't explicit. We had no idea it was going to be what it was."

Wilson's not sure what his band will be doing this summer. At the moment, he and the rest of the Escape Plan are writing material for the group's fourth studio LP, the follow-up to 2004's Miss Machine. The writing process has been stymied, as guitarist Ben Weinman's been sidelined for close to two months.

"He just had rotator cuff surgery, so he's just starting to be able to pick up his guitar and play it aggressively," Wilson said. Weinman has been enduring brutal physical rehabilitation and is constrained to a constant passive motion machine six hours a day. "He should have had [the operation] six months ago. It was an injury he sustained in a car accident. We're sort of the Dillinger Insurance Plan for the moment."

Wilson says the band could be back in tour mode by April, but there are no definite plans yet. For the time being, he says Dillinger will continue crafting fresh tracks for the forthcoming disc, which they hope to have out by the fall.

"I'd say there are three songs finished," he said. "It's kind of an intense writing process, and the stuff we have so far is pretty detailed. We're spending a lot more time on the individual parts, and it's building slowly. But once you've got the ball rolling, it takes off."

Wilson added that he hasn't heard about Dillinger being on this summer's Ozzfest, beyond some of the speculation that's been surfacing online in recent weeks.

"Would we do it? Maybe, but if we have to pay to be on it, chances are we won't," he said. "If we did do it, like anything else, it would be on our terms."

Two Dillinger DVDs are in the works: one featuring pre-Miss Machine material and videos and another filled with footage captured during the making and touring in support of Machine. He doesn't know when those two projects will materialize.

The rest of the week's metal news:

Sources close to the band have confirmed that Unearth will be rotating co-headliners on the second stage at this year's Ozzfest. ... New Jersey's E-Town Concrete are throwing in the towel after 11 years in the hardcore business. The band's final live gig is set for May 20 at the Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, New Jersey. In a posting to the band's message board, frontman Anthony Martini wrote that the band "would rather go out with dignity than to quietly become irrelevant. Although this is difficult for all of us, sometimes the most admirable thing is knowing when to let go." ... King Diamond will start recording their next release in Dallas next month before heading to Gothenburg, Sweden, where they'll put the finishing touches on the effort. According to the band's Web site, the album could be finished this fall. No official release date has been unveiled. ... Deicide's forthcoming album, The Stench of Redemption, has been scheduled for a June 6 release. ... Demon Hunter, Zao, August Burns Red and Becoming the Archetype will hit the road together starting June 13 for a four-week jaunt that will make stops at the Cornerstone Fest in Bushnell, Illinois (set for July 5 through July 8), and at Michigan's Lifefest. ... Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider will undergo throat surgery on March 1, forcing the band to nix its previously scheduled appearance at this year's Atarfe Vega Rock Festival in Spain, set for March 10 and 11. Snider wrote in a band statement, "I have been told by my doctors that the recovery period will be about eight weeks." There's no word on what condition the operation will be correcting. ...

In Flames will be the in-studio guests on this weekend's "Headbangers Ball." ... Cretin's forthcoming debut LP, Freakery, will land in stores April 18 and feature 16 cuts, including "Daddy's Little Girl," "Cook the Cupcake" and "Making Roadkill." Repulsion guitarist Matt Olivo makes a guest appearance on the latter track. ... A Life Once Lost have announced that they'll be the headliners for an East Coast and Midwest trek launching sometime in April. Cephalic Carnage, Through the Eyes of the Dead and Scarlet will serve as the tour's support acts. ... Buffalo, New York's Herod will issue Rich Man's War, Poor Man's Fight March 7. It will include "Assimilation," "All Night" and "Lies and Betrayal." ... On April 4, death-metal legends Venom's latest, Metal Black, will hit record stores. The LP features 14 tracks, including "Burn in Hell," "A Good Day to Die" and "Lucifer Rising." ... Dragonforce have a new bassist to replace Adrian Lambert, who left the band last year to spend more time with his kith. The band's current touring bass-pounder Frederic Leclercq has been elevated to full-time member status. There's still no word on when the band's latest offering, Inhuman Rampage, will surface in the U.S., although the disc should see release before the summer. ...Thine Eyes Bleed are in the studio working on the follow-up to their debut, In the Wake of Separation. The band will start a tour with Darkness Rites in Oshawa, Ontario, March 13. Dates run through March 20 in Toronto, after which Thine Eyes Bleed will join Six Feet Under, Sworn Enemy and Animosity on the Crossroads to Armageddon Tour. Dates are scheduled from March 28 in Portland, Oregon, through April 9 in Wilmington, North Carolina. ...

Philadelphia instrumental prog-metal jazz freaks Dysrhythmia have finished working on their third album, Barriers and Passages, which is scheduled for release May 2. The trio recorded the disc at B.C. Studio in Brooklyn, New York, with engineer Martin Bisi. The album track "Appeared at First" is available at the band's Myspace page, MySpace.com/DysrhythmiaBand . ... Oakland, California NWOBHM-embracers Saviours will release their debut album Crucifire on May 16. The track "Invaders" will also appear on an upcoming metal compilation of the same name. Saviours features members of Santa Cruz emo band Yaphet Kotto and Oakland stoner group Drunk Horse. Saviours will tour the U.S. in March with Kalas. ... Boston dirge-rockers Defcon 4 will release their debut, File Under F---, this spring. The album was recorded by Today Is the Day frontman Steve Austin. Defcon 4 will tour the U.S. this spring. ... Three-quarters of the late Washington, D.C., band Carrion have resurfaced in the Wayward. The band, which plays a bizarre hybrid of Amphetamine Reptile-style noise, Dischord post-punk and epic prog rock, will release its self-titled debut this spring. The disc was recorded by ex-Anodyne frontman Mike Hill. ... Ex-Emperor bassist and ambient keyboard goblin Mortiis spent Valentine's Day remastering three of his early solo albums at Rubber Biscuit Studios in Nottingham, England. Fodt Til a Herske, Crypt of the Wizard and The Stargate will be released in April. In addition, the cryptic keyboardist will release his first DVD, "Soul in a Hole," which includes a full live set shot during his seven-week European tour to support The Grudge.

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• Dillinger Escape Plan
• Unearth
• King Diamond
• Life of Agony
• In Flames

<i>Sing-a-Longs and Lullabies From the Film "Curious George"</i>
Photo: Universal

See Jack Sing: Jack Johnson's curious transmutation into children's-music performer might turn off some fans, but it hasn't alienated his friends Ben Harper, Matt Costa and G. Love, all of whom croon along on Sing-a-Longs and Lullabies From the Film "Curious George." Jack runs through the "Schoolhouse Rock" staple "Three Is a Magic Number" — reconfigured as a lesson in environmentalism, with the three R's being reduce, reuse and recycle — and, more curiously, the White Stripes' "We're Going to Be Friends."

Not-So-Everyday People: Different Strokes by Different Folks is more of a various-artists tribute to Sly & the Family Stone, but chances are you'll find it under "S," not "VA," in the CD bins. With rumors swirling about the long-dormant Sly resurfacing at the Grammys, some of today's biggest names have been wise to show their affection in advance: Big Boi ("Runnin' Away" and "[You Caught Me] Smilin' "), Will.I.Am ("Dance to the Music"), Maroon 5 ("Everyday People"), John Mayer ("You Can Make It if You Try"), Joss Stone ("Family Affair") and the Roots ("Star"). Groovy.

Dem's Deluxe: After hooking up with Jermaine Dupri, Da Brat and Bow Wow for the So So Def remix of "I Think They Like Me," Dem Franchize Boyz could be ATL's top commodity in early '06. They ride into record stores in style with a deluxe edition of On Top of Our Game, which is supplemented with a DVD featuring videos for the "I Think They Like Me" remix and "Lean Wit It, Rock Wit It" (featuring Peanut and Charlay); a live performance; behind-the-scenes footage; and two bonus audio cuts, "My Girlfriend" and "Super Clean."

Orton's O'Rourke-ian Twist: For her fourth record, Beth Orton ganged up with Sonic Youth laptop whiz Jim O'Rourke — but don't expect many embellishments, as Orton keeps her songs spare throughout Comfort of Strangers. The limited edition comes with a bonus disc boasting five tracks: "What We Begin," "On My Way Home," "Comfort of Strangers #9," "Did Somebody Make a Fool Outta You ... ?" and "Northern Sky."

Religious Awakening: Christianity seeps into Belle and Sebastian's seventh effort, The Life Pursuit, on parts one and two of "Act of the Apostle Part 1," which centers around a girl who dreams about the Old Testament. (A limited deluxe edition is bundled with a six-track live DVD and comes with hardbound book packaging.)

There are even more titular nods to Big Brother on the second volume of the "Elizabethtown" soundtrack, which finds Rachael Yamagata chipping in "Jesus Was a Crossmaker," and Washington Phillips wondering "What Are They Doing in Heaven Today." (Also featured: My Morning Jacket, Ryan Adams, Ulrich Schnauss and Pinback.) And on another soundtrack — for "Transamerica" — the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band nestle "I Find Jesus" alongside cuts by Duncan Sheik, Lucinda Williams and Dolly Parton.

If you're familiar with Chick Corea, it's probably because of his legendary piano playing or collaborative performance with the Foo Fighters at the 2004 Grammys. But you probably didn't know Corea is a devout Scientologist, a fact he makes no bones about on his latest CD. Based on a 1939 novella by L. Ron Hubbard, The Ultimate Adventure is about a homeless man who is transported to the mythical City of Brass from "Arabian Nights" and finds himself living among alien races like the Jinns, Ifrits and Ghouls. Try making a soundtrack to that.

Conga expert Miguel Angá Díaz provides a "musical religious service" on Echu Mingua, an album he named after his Yoruba saint. (Yoruba being an ancient African religion that worships multiple deities known as Orishas.) He's joined by everyone from Chucho Valdés to French hip-hop artists to a West African kora musician.

And last but not least, Hamell on Trial lace their latest, Songs for Parents Who Enjoy Drugs, with a particularly blasphemous song about President Bush performing sexual acts with the Bible.

Song Title Of The Week:

"Matrimonioids (For: Elvin + Susana Estela)" from Prefuse 73's Security Screenings

Other Notables:

Various artists' To: Elliott - From: Portland: Although a tribute to Elliott Smith might seem premature, this salute is more personal than meets the eye. Eric Matthews, who covers "Needle in the Hay," actually played on an unreleased version of the track with Smith; "Hard Times" is performed by Sean Croghan, a former roommate of Smith's; and the Thermals recorded "Ballad of Big Nothing" with Smith's ex-girlfriend Joanna Bolme at Jackpot Studios, which Smith had a hand in constructing. Past renditions by the Decemberists, Swords and the Helio Sequence help flesh out the 15-track set.

In Flames' Come Clarity: Ferret Music is bolstering the promotion behind one of its biggest acts, underground metal titans In Flames, in style. Various stores are offering free patches, tour samplers, posters and more with purchase of the CD — and in one of the more unique offers, Denver's Independent Records gives you two bucks off the disc if you show them your concert-ticket stub. There's also a special edition with a bonus DVD of rehearsal footage floating around.

Rick Moranis' The Agoraphobic Cowboy: Yes, you're reading right — that's actor Rick Moranis, last heard on the "Little Shop of Horrors" soundtrack, cowboying up with his country best on The Agoraphobic Cowboy. Equally inspired by his love of Ray Stevens and his recent exposure to Widespread Panic, Moranis' effort was previously released online but is finally hitting stores this week. Giving Cowboy an extra layer of bizarreness, the album has been nominated for a Grammy for Best Comedy Album.

New Releases:

• Aceyalone (accompanied by RJD2) - Magnificent City (Decon Inc.)
• AM Syndicate - Empire (Sickroom)
• AV Club - AV Club (Insubordination)
• The Avett Brothers - Four Thieves Gone: The Robbinsville Sessions (Ramseur)
• Sibylle Baier - Colour Green (Orange Twin)
• Belle and Sebastian - The Life Pursuit (Matador)
• Layzie Bone & Young Noble - Thug Brothers (Real Talk)
• Pat Boone - Hopeless Romantic (Gold Label)
• Burst - Origo (Relapse)
• Century - Faith and Failure (Tribunal)
• The Chuck Norris Experiment - The Chuck Norris Experiment (Devil Doll)
• Clogs - Lantern (Brassland)
• Jason Collett - Idols of Exile (Arts & Crafts)
• The Coors - Home (Atlantic/Rhino)
• Chick Corea - The Ultimate Adventure (Stretch)
• Cross Culture - Proof Positive (Selectric)
• The Danger O's - Little Machines (EP; Blackout)
• Deadboy and the Elephantman - We Are Night Sky (Fat Possum)
• De/Vision - Subkutan (Dancing Ferret)
• Jack DeJohnette - The Elephant Sleeps but Still Remembers (Kindred Rhythm)
• Dem Franchize Boyz - On Top of Our Game (deluxe edition with DVD also available; Virgin)
  Buy Now: On Top of Our Game (Virgin)
• DJ Reflex - Sandunga Music (Cutting)
• Fefe Dobson - Sunday Love (enhanced; Island)
  Buy Now: Sunday Love (Island)
• Electric Six - Señor Smoke (Metropolis)
• Eyes of Fire - Prisons (enhanced; Century Media)
• Jen Foster - The Underdogs (American Garage Recorded Entertainment)
• Burnt Friedman and Jaki Liebezeit - Secret Rhythms, Vol. 2 (Nonplace)
• Gastr Del Sol - Harp Factory on Lake Street (Table of Elements)
• Gates - The Dew Line (Table of Elements)
• A Global Threat - Where the Sun Never Sets (BYO)
• Hamell on Trial - Songs for Parents Who Enjoy Drugs (Righteous Babe)
• Sarah Harmer - I'm a Mountain (Zöe/Rounder)
• Hem - No Word From Tom (Nettwerk)
• Himsa - Hail Horror (Prosthetic)
• Brotha Lynch Hung & MC Eiht - The New Season (Real Talk)
• Charlie Hunter Trio - Copperopolis (Rope-a-Dope)
• In Flames - Come Clarity (special edition due same day; Ferret)
• Elton John - "Billy Elliot: The Musical" original cast recording (Decca)
• Jack Johnson and Friends - Sing-a-Longs and Lullabies from the Film "Curious George" (Universal)
  Read: "Jack Johnson Says 'Curious George' Shouldn't Monkey Around With Adult Themes"
• Matson Jones - The Albatross Mates for Life, but Only After a Lengthy Courtship That Can Take Up to Four Years (EP; Sympathy for the Record Industry)
• The Ladies - They Mean Us (Temporary Residence)
• Latrice - Illuminate (Ultra)
• Th' Legendary Shack*Shakers - Pandelirium (Yep Roc)
• Lesbians on Ecstasy - Giggles in the Dark (Alien 8)
• Jackie Leven - Shining Brother Shining Sister (Silverline)
• Lil Al - Hood Raised (SMC)
• Lil Uno - The Streets (Toltec)
• Lokyata - Purified by Anger (Indianola)
• Jason Miles - What's Going On? Songs of Marvin Gaye (Narada)
• The Minus 5 - The Minus 5 (Yep Roc)
• Misstress Barbara - Come With Me ... (Uncivilized World/ Koch)
• Rick Moranis - The Agoraphobic Cowboy (Artistshare)
• Cindy Morgan - Postcards (Reunion)
• Monday Morning - Fool's Paradise (enhanced; Selectric)
• Mr. Pookie - Return of Tha Rippla (Boss Entertainment)
• Mylo - Destroy Rock & Roll (Red Ink)
• Anna Nalick - Wreck of the Day (DualDisc; Columbia)
• Oceansize - Everyone Into Position (Beggars Banquet)
• Beth Orton - Comfort of Strangers (limited edition with bonus disc also available; Astralwerks)
• Penuckle - The Sun Beckons (Red Urban)
• Prefuse 73 - Security Screenings (Warp)
• Psychic Ills - Dins (The Social Registry)
• San Quinn - The Rock: Pressure Makes Diamonds (SMC)
• Remy Ma - There's Something About Remy: Based on a True Story (limited edition also available; SRC/Universal)
• Sherri Roberts, Phil Woods and Lew Soloff - The Sky Could Send You (Pacific Coast Jazz)
• Ray Russell - Goodbye Svengali (Cuneiform)
• Shrift - Lost in a Moment (Six Degrees)
• Slowride - C/S (Deep Elm)
• Sly & the Family Stone - Different Strokes by Different Folks (Epic/Legacy)
• Small Arms Dealer - A Single Unifying Theory (Deep Elm)
• Southcott - Flee the Scene (Rust)
• State Radio - Us Against the Crown (Nettwerk)
• Kelley Stoltz - Below the Branches (Sub Pop)
• The String Cheese Incident - On the Road: Big Summer Classic, On the Road: Fall 2005, On the Road: Spring 2005 and On the Road: Vegoose 2005 (Nettwerk)
• Stroke 9 - Cafe Cuts: A Collection of Acoustic Favorites (Rock Ridge)
• Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives - Live at the Ryman (Universal South)
• Swearing at Motorists - Last Night Becomes This Morning (Secretly Canadian)
• Telepathe - Farewell Forest (EP; The Social Registry)
• The Thrillseekers - Night Music Volume One (Water)
• Bill Toms & Hard Rain - The West End Kid (B.T.)
• KT Tunstall - Eye to the Telescope (Virgin)
• Univers Zero - Live (Cuneiform)
• Jason Whitton - Thriftstore Cowboy (VAVV)
• The Mary Lou Williams Collective - Zodiac Suite: Revisited (Mary)
• Joachim Witt - Bayreuth 3 (Dancing Ferret)
• Various artists - Hi Power 2006 (Thump)
• Various artists - Idol Tryouts Two (Ghostly International)
• Various artists - Lowrider 2006 Tour (Thump)
• Various artists - Mews Too: An Asthmatic Kitty Compilation (Asthmatic Kitty)
• Various artists - New Arrivals, Vol. 1 (Mpress)
• Various artists - Run the Road Volume 2 (Vice)
• Various artists - To: Elliott - From: Portland (Expunged)
• Various artists - Totally Country Vol. 5 (BMG Heritage)
• Various artists - "Elizabethtown, Vol. 2" soundtrack (RCA)
• Various artists - "One Tree Hill Volume Two: Friends With Benefit" soundtrack (Maverick)
• Various artists - "Transamerica" soundtrack (Nettwerk)

Notable Reissues and Archival Material:

• Art Blakey - Live! At Slug's N.Y.C. (Empire Musicwerks)
• Richard Cheese - The Sunny Side of the Moon: The Best of Richard Cheese (Surfdog)
• Chamillionaire - The Sound of Revenge (special edition with bonus DVD; Universal)
• The Bob Crewe Generation - The Best of the Bob Crewe Generation: Music to Watch Girls By (Varèse)
• Ray Davies - The Storyteller (Koch)
• Dave Douglas - Keystone (Koch)
• John Entwistle - Mad Dog, The Rock and Too Late the Hero (Sanctuary)
• José Feliciano - Introduction to José Feliciano (Fuel 2000)
• Roberta Flack - The Very Best of Roberta Flack (Rhino)
• Dexter Gordon - Getting Around - RVG Series (Blue Note)
• Andrew Hill - Smokestack - RVG Series (Blue Note)
• Mastodon - Call of the Mastodon (Relapse)
• Hank Mobley - Workout - RVG Series (Blue Note)
• Lee Morgan - The Gigolo - RVG Series (Blue Note)
• Pérez Prado - The Best of P#233;rez Prado: The Original Mambo # 5 (RCA Victor/ Legacy)
• The Prodigy - Their Law: Singles 1990-2005 (XL/Beggars)
  Buy Now: Their Law: Singles 1990-2005 (XL/Beggars)
• Remembering Never - Suffocates My Words to You (One Day Savior)
• Satyricon - Dark Medieval Times (The End)
• Horace Silver - Horace-Scope - RVG Series (Blue Note)
• Nat Stuckey - The Very Best of Nat Stuckey (Koch)
• Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee - An Introduction to Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee (Fuel 2000)
• Richard Thompson - The Life and Music of Richard Thompson (five CDs; Free Reed)
• Stanley Turrentine - Joyride - RVG Series (Blue Note)
• Whitesnake - The Definitive Collection (Geffen)
• Trisha Yearwood - Jasper County (MCA Nashville)
• Various artists - Electro Slash Disco: Underground 80's Dance Floor Sounds (Koch)
• Various artists - Lost Classics of Salsa, Vol. II (Libertad)
• Various artists - Sleepless in Seattle: The Birth of Grunge (High Wire)
• Various artists - "Golden Boy" original Broadway cast recording (DRG)

DVDs:

• Jim Brickman - "Jim Brickman at the Magic Kingdom: The Disney Songbook" (Disney)
• The Crown - "14 Years of No Tomorrow" (three DVDs; Metal Blade)
• Bireli Lagrene and Gipsy Project "Live in Paris" (Dreyfus)
• Mint Condition - "Live From the 9:30 Club" (Image Entertainment)
• The Prodigy - "Their Law: Singles 1990-2005" (XL/Beggars)
• Sasha & John Digweed - "Delta Heavy" (System)
• The Sugarcubes - "Live Zabor" and "The DVD" (Rhino)
• Andrew W.K. - "Who Knows? Live 1992-2004" (Music Video Distributors)
• Whitesnake - "Live in the Still of the Night" (with CD; Hip-O)
• Various artists - "Blow! Volume 5: Pushin' the Raw and Uncut" (Inner City)
• Various artists - "Champions in Action: Volume 1," "Volume 2" and "Volume 3" (Music Video Distributors)
• Various artists - "Don Diva Presents: A Gangster's Story" (Don Diva)
• Various artists - "Don Vito Presents: Crunk and Famous" (Koch Vision)
• Various artists - "Fresh 96: 10th Anniversary Special Edition, Part One" and "Part Two" (Music Video Distributors)
• Various artists - "Gotta Serve Somebody: Gospel Songs of Bob Dylan" (Image Entertainment)
• Various artists - "GT Extravaganza Singers" (Music Video Distributors)
• Various artists - "Hustle Up Latino" (Hustle Up)
• Various artists - "Punk Is Dead" (Image Entertainment)
• Various artists - "Scribble Jam: Archive Number 2" (Scribble Jam)
• Various artists - "Street Heat Hood Fights" (Cornbread)
• Various artists - "Street Heat, Volume 16: Young Jeezy" (Cornbread)
• Various artists - "Tribunal Records: The Video Collection" (Tribunal)

Coming Attractions:

February 14:

• Jaheim - Ghetto Classics (Warner Bros.)
• Sergio Mendes - Timeless (Concord)
  Read: "Will.I.Am Wants To Pull A Rick Rubin With Sergio Mendes, Macy Gray"
• The Sword - Age of Winters (Kemado)

February 21:

• Arctic Monkeys - Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not (Domino)
  Read: "You Hear It First: Arctic Monkeys"
  Buy Now: Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not (Domino)
• Ray Davies - Other People's Lives (V2)
• William Orbit - Hello Waveforms (Sanctuary)

February 28:

• Hawthorne Heights - If Only You Were Lonely (Victory)
• Kid Rock - Live Trucker (Atlantic)
• Ne-Yo - In My Own Words (Def Jam)
  Read: "You Hear It First: Jay-Z's Picks"

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• Jack Johnson
• Dem Franchize Boyz
• Sly & the Family Stone
• Remy Ma
• Chamillionaire

In Flames
Photo: Patric Ullaeus

It wasn't playing in broad daylight that bothered In Flames frontman Anders Fridén during his band's stint on this summer's Ozzfest, where the Swedish metallers served as the mainstage openers. It wasn't even the fact that In Flames were restricted to 20-minute sets, or that those sets were performed in arenas teeming with metalheads sitting in plastic seats and downing hot dogs and jumbo pretzels.

That Fridén could deal with. But knowing In Flames had an entire album in the hopper, waiting to be unleashed upon the world, but no label deal that would get it out there on store shelves? That bothered him.

"It's been frustrating waiting this long to get an album out," he said of the band's eighth studio LP, Come Clarity, the cover art for which has already been illustrated by renowned metal and hardcore artiste Derek Hess. "It was finished in April [of 2005]. We wrote it at the end of 2004. And now it's going to be released on February 7. The songs still feel fresh to us and to our fans — no matter when it was recorded, it's a new album to them. I think it still represents In Flames and where we are. But it was hard."

Before signing with New Jersey's Ferret Music, In Flames spent the summer wondering just what would become of Come Clarity. Now that everything's in order and the brutal Swedes have a full U.S. tour planned with Trivium, DevilDriver and Zao (set to kick off in January), Fridén's trying to relax a bit. That, too, will be hard. In Flames need to devote loads of time to pre-tour rehearsals, as they'll be introducing a number of cuts they've never performed live — including material from 1994's Lunar Strain — into their set list.

On the topic of touring, was the Ozzfest gamble worth it for In Flames? The singer's not sure. "We saw it as a big promotional machine, and we got a chance to play in front of a huge crowd that doesn't normally listen to In Flames," he admitted. "But we won't know for sure until the album is out. I mean, looking back, I'd rather have been on the second stage."

Fridén considers Come Clarity "a bit more aggressive, and a bit more uptempo," but said it still possesses all the "elements of In Flames. It's always been about this balance between aggression and melody. It's just another step in our evolution. I don't know where we're going exactly. But I know where we've come from. We just try to top ourselves each time and be happy with the result. That's all we can do. Now it's up to the public to judge us."

He said the clip for the album's first single, "Take This Life," has been shot. It'll feature performance footage of the band superimposed across billboards in Times Square, interspersed with scenes from the video's mysterious story line. Fridén wouldn't discuss the details, as director Patric Ullaeus (Lacuna Coil, Dimmu Borgir) was still working on the video's overall concept at the time of the interview.

As if In Flames isn't keeping him busy enough, Fridén's also working on the second album from his side project Passenger.

"It's in the works, but I don't have time," he said. "I would like to release [a Passenger LP] sometime [in 2006], because we've recorded 10 of the album's 12 songs already. It's been a very slow process." Fridén once again worked with guitarist Niklas Engelin, bassist Hakan Skoger, drummer Patrik Sten and keyboardist Pierre Sten on the outing, which has no definitive release date yet.

The rest of the week's metal news:

Florida death-metal demons Deicide will release the DVD "When London Burns" on March 7. The disc captures a 2004 show recorded at the club Mean Fiddler and includes "Dead by Dawn," "Lunatic of God's Creation" and "Scars of the Crucifix." The DVD also includes a 30-minute documentary called "Behind the Scars," which was filmed in 2003 during the making of the band's last disc, Scars of the Crucifix. ... Death-metal veterans Morbid Angel will launch a tour April 2 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Dates are scheduled through May 1 in Houston. Behemoth, Krisiun and Despised Icon will support. ... New York electro-metal outfit Genghis Tron will enter the studio in January to begin recording the follow-up to their Cloak of Love EP. The band will tour with Child Abuse starting January 2 in Atlanta and ending January 8 in Philadelphia. Genghis Tron will return to the road in March with Plot to Blow Up the Eiffel Tower and Akimbo. ... Drummer Dom Lizzio, who left Bodies in the Gears of the Apparatus two months ago, has thought twice about the move and returned to the band. "We're a f---ing family," a statement from the group read. "We've had a tight lineup with no problems for a good while now, and Dom loves this music as much as we do, so f--- it." BITGOTA's first full-length album's scheduled for an April release. ...

Buffalo, New York's Herod will release their new album Rich Man's War, Poor Man's Fight March 7. The disc is the follow-up to 2004's For Whom the Gods Would Destroy and is the first to feature singer Jason Russo, who replaced Judah Nero last year. Rich Man's War, Poor Man's Fight was recorded at Watchmen Recording Studios with producer Doug White and includes "Assimilation," "Lies and Betrayal" and "The Fire." ... The Black Dahlia Murder recently shot a video for the title track of their new album Miasma with director Joe Lynch. The group is still searching for a drummer to replace Zach Gibson, who was booted in November because he was unable to play the band's material, according to a post on the group's official Web site. The Black Dahlia Murder are scheduled to launch a European tour January 20 in Essen, Germany. ... Influential Pittsburgh math-noise band Don Caballero are working on their first album in five years for Relapse. The disc is being produced by Al Sutton at Rustbelt Studios in Detroit and will include "World Class Listening Problem," "And And And" and "He Lowered the Twin Down." No release date has been announced. ... Misery Index will issue a split 7-inch with Japan's Bathtub Sh--ter. The disc will hit stores early next year and include Misery Index's song "Conquistadores." Meanwhile the band will start working on its forthcoming second album in the middle of next month. ...

Soilwork guitarist Peter Wichers has left the band. In a statement he called it "one of [the] hardest decisions to make" and said he was "just worn out from all the touring and, I have reached a point in my life where touring is just not possible for me anymore. I need a break from the touring so that I can actually begin to build a more solid ground to stand on for the future." Soilwork responded by making session drummer Dirk Verbeuren a full-time member of the band. ... Providence, Rhode Island, mathcore band Daughters are writing and recording their upcoming album — their first for Hydra Head Records. The disc will be the band's first since the frenzied Canada Songs, which dropped in 2003. The band was formed in 2001 out of the ashes of As the Sun Sets. ... Georgia experimental band Kylesa are working on the follow-up to their critically acclaimed 2005 disc, To Walk a Middle Course. The band is also still looking for a drummer to replace Brandon Baltzley, who left in June. Auditions will be held through the end of January, and those interested in giving it the old metal try should check out the band's Web site, kylesa.com, for details. ... Witchery, the Swedish thrash/death group that features the Haunted guitarist Patrik Jensen and Arch Enemy bassist Sharlee D'Angelo, has signed a new deal with Century Media. "[We] are really glad that we will be handled by the same team that has done such a great job for our other bands," said the group on its Web site. The band's fifth album, Don't Fear the Reaper, was recorded at Berno Studios in fall 2004 and is scheduled for release in March.

• In Flames
• Morbid Angel
• Witchery
• Trivium
• DevilDriver

Devin Townsend
Photo: Metal Experience

Exalted guitarist and musical visionary Devin Townsend — respected on even terms as Strapping Young Lad's outlandish frontman and as Hevy Devy, the revered solo artist and creative force behind the Devin Townsend Band — is, as he explained, "in a pretty cool place," and he's "really savoring it." Come this time next week, he'll have finished the Devin Townsend Band's forthcoming disc, Synchestra — 13 tracks of which he's calling "sunshine metal."

"Strangely enough, this is the first record I've done that was made to [be] enjoyed," Townsend said. "I'm expecting people to hate [this music], because it's really sensitive and heavy and epic, and everything's really pleasing about it. I don't know how many people want to listen to pleasing music. A lot of people are still into being assaulted every time they turn on their stereo. Those people will think it's a wussy, pain-in-the-ass record. People who're sick of dudes yelling at them will love it."

Synchestra, which will include the songs "Let It Roll," "Hyper-Geek," "Notes From Africa," "Judgment," "A Simple Lullaby" and "Sunshine and Happiness," is even completely devoid of curse words. It should surface in either February or March, he said, and will be distributed throughout the U.S. by Inside Out; he'll also be selling it through his own label's Web site at HevyDevy.com.

Six of the album's 13 cuts, Townsend promised, will clock in at or just under 10 minutes. One even features a guest appearance by imperious guitarist Steve Vai; Townsend wielded the mighty ax and handled backing vocals on Vai's 1993 album, Sex & Religion, and later toured with the virtuoso. So Synchestra's the first time the two have worked together in 12 years.

"I love writing music and songs, but I'm getting more and more tired of playing guitar and singing," he said. "There's this big long part I'd written for this solo, and sometimes, I'm in the headspace for guitar and other times, I'm just not. Right now I'm not. I just couldn't give a f---. So I gave [Vai] a call."

But don't be fooled by Townsend's shiny, happy mien; Synchestra's still going to sound like a true metal record.

"It's super f---ing heavy — like bludgeoningly heavy," he said. "But they're all bludgeoningly heavy lullabies. This is a record you can put on that'll make you feel good. It's like a celebration — something you put on in the morning, or when you want to sing along and laugh and smile, but still have it so heavy that when you crank it up, it will level any of your death-metal competition."

The rest of the week's metal news:

Iron Maiden will release the triple-DVD set "Death on the Road" in February. The package will be a companion to the band's career-spanning double live CD, which came out October 4. ... The ink dried this week on In Flames' contract with Ferret Records. The label will release the band's forthcoming disc Come Clarity on February 7, 2006. The album will contain 13 tracks, including "Pacing Death's Trail," "Crawl Through Knives" and "Your Bedtime Story Is Scaring Everyone." ... Bury Your Dead have filmed a clip for "Magnolia" with director Dale Resteghini (Shadows Fall, Unearth); look for it to start airing next month. ... Allele, the band featuring ex-Cold guitarist Kelly Hayes and ex-Otep guitarist Lane Maverick, will release their debut album, Point of Origin, October 25. The disc was produced by Ben Schigel and features the songs "Fake," "A Different Someone" and "Closer to Habit." ... Director Joe Lynch (Strapping Young Lad, Devildriver) will soon follow the members of the Black Dahlia Murder around with a camera as they storm Las Vegas for an evening of debauchery. The footage will be compiled for a video for the band's track "Miasma." ... Mucus Membrane guitarist Jared Deaver has left the Sacramento, California, band because of family commitments. Between the time he joined in March 2005, Deaver has gotten married, had a child and was accepted to the police academy. The group is currently searching for a second guitarist, and interested players should e-mail mucusmembrane@blast7.com. ...

Canadian progressive power trio Rush will celebrate their 30th anniversary with the November 29 release of the double-DVD "R30." One disc will feature a Frankfurt, Germany, concert from September 24, 2004, and the second contains archival interviews, videos, performances and behind-the-scenes footage. A second edition of the package will feature two audio discs of the concert. ... German melodic death-metal band Fragments of Unbecoming will release their second disc, Sterling Black Icon, January 10. Tracks include "Scythe of Scarecrow," "Breathe in the Black to See," "Of the Darkest Dye" and "Stand the Tempest." ... The Red Chord have hired ex-Dead Water Drowning guitarist Jonny Fay to fill in for their upcoming tours. Fay replaces Kevin Rampelberg, who left the group in late July to pursue other ventures. The band will tour with Converge starting November 4 in Latham, New York; dates run through November 20 in Asbury Park, New Jersey. ... 3, a progressive-metal band from Woodstock, New York, that once featured Coheed and Cambria drummer Joshua Eppard (and still includes his brother, singer/guitarist Joey Eppard), will release their fourth album, Wake Pig, November 1. The disc includes the tracks "Alien Angel," "Dregs" and "Bramfatura." ... German metalcore band Caliban will reissue their third album, Shadow Hearts, November 15 with bonus material. The group is currently in Principal Studios near Munster, Germany, finishing up its next album, The Undying Darkness, with producer/ In Flames frontman Anders Fridén. Look for it early next year. ...

Syracuse, New York, political punk-metal band Ed Gein will release their second album, Judas, Goats and Dieseleaters, November 1. The record features "Small Towns, Small Minds," "Killing a Co-Worker" and "The Wool Is Pulled." ... Ohio and Pennsylvania-based From a Second Story Window have decided to name their second album Delanda. The disc will be finished by year's end, for release early next year. ... California's Will Haven have reunited after a three-year hiatus. According to the Sacto band's official statement, the original lineup's working on new material and will release a five-track EP with some B-sides, including the cut "Sammy." ... Reflux have been working on their next album, which will surface this spring through Prosthetic Records (Devin Townsend will produce the effort). The band's booked a spate of fall shows, too: October 28 in Lynchburg, Virginia, October 29 in Fredericksburg, Virginia; October 30 in Virginia Beach; October 31 in Harrisonburg, Virginia; and November 19 in Terre Haute, Indiana. ... Tomas Naslund, who plays bass for Swedish metallers Blindside, fractured his skull last month in a skateboarding mishap. He's expected to make a full recovery, according to the band's Web site; in the meantime, the band's recruited Aphasia's Will Peng, who's filling in for Naslund on Blindside's tour with Trapt. ... Power-metal menaces Silent Force have started writing for their next disc; no release date's been set for the as-yet-untitled outing. ... London extreme metallers Dragonforce will play their first U.S. gig on November 22 at New York's CBGB. The band's third disc, Inhuman Rampage, will hit stores January 9 and contain eight tracks including "Through the Fire and Flames," "Storming the Burning Fields" and "Trail of Broken Hearts."

• The Devin Townsend Band
• Ed Gein
• Caliban
• Iron Maiden
• In Flames

Hello fellow children of the grave, how's it going? Iann Robinson here. I just got back from L.A., and it's good to be back in NYC finally. I got a chance to check out the Led Zeppelin DVD, and it's amazing. Anybody who wants to know how rock should be played has to check this thing out. It looks and sounds really cool.

I got a copy of the In Flames EP, and it's really good. I know there was some split on the last record productionwise, but nobody can deny that In Flames are one of the best metal bands going right now. The new song on this EP and the cover of "Land of Confusion" are my two favorite things. I highly suggest you pick this up. I also finally picked up the Premonitions of War CD. I'd only seen them live, and it was a real treat. It's always nice to hear death metal done well.

I got to see a screening of "Hulk," and I can tell you this much: the Hulk looks really good. I know we all feared from the trailers, but he looks killer. I'll reserve my opinion on the film until it's out, to let you guys make up your own minds. Well, that's it for me, take care and enjoy the metal news:

Cradle of Filth frontman Dani Filth got into a fistfight with Murderdolls drummer Ben "Ghoul" Graves at a party following the Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards in London and was ejected from the club Sahara Nights. Winners at the awards ceremony, which was held at the Forum in Kentish Town, included Cradle of Filth's "Babylon AD" clip (Most Valid Reason for Wasting £100,000 ... The Award for Best Video), Murderdolls (Thank God It's Not Good Charlotte ... The Award for Best Newcomer), Amen (The Mosh and Go Award ... The Award for Mind-Blowing Live Act), Deftones (The Overpriced and Over Here Award ... For Best International Act), AFI (Music to Smack Your Best Mate to Award ... The Award for Best Album) and Audioslave's Tom Morello (The Flash Bastard Award ... The Award for Best Guitarist). The night's biggest honors went to Marilyn Manson (The Golden God ... The Award for Best Frontman) and Motörhead's Lemmy (The Spirit of Hammer Award ... For a Lifetime of Metal). ...

Metallica will be the focus of an upcoming car combat video game that will feature music, voiceovers and creative input from the band. The still-untitled game will be created by Vivendi Universal Games in collaboration with Segnana Inc. It's due in 2005. ... Singer Matt Barlow has left Iced Earth. He said he intends to study for a degree in criminal justice and then to pursue a career in law enforcement administration. ... Korn frontman Jonathan Davis won't just be singing about killers and mutants on this year's Ozzfest — he'll be bringing them out on the road. The tour will feature an exhibit of Davis' twisted art, rare artifacts, weapons and other memorabilia focusing on death and darkness. The exhibition, called "The End," will be housed in a mobile facility with almost 1,000 square feet of gallery space. Admission will be charged. ...

Former Judas Priest singer Rob Halford will film a show in Anaheim, California, on Sunday for release as a DVD. In an effort to make sure the house is full, tickets are being sold two-for-one to fans who provide the password "metal" at time of purchase via Ticketmaster. ... "Kings of the Road" Fu Manchu will release the double live album Go For It ... Live on July 22. The California quartet, with a decade of meaty, driving, stoner rock under their collective belt, recorded the disc in Stockholm, Sweden, and Los Angeles, two stops on their 2002 California Crossing world tour. ... New Jersey's God Forbid have just finished recording a rendition of the Guns N' Roses classic "Out Ta Get Me" with producer Chris Pearce. The track will join cuts from Dillinger Escape Plan, Unearth, Every Time I Die, Haste and Nora, among others, on a GN'R tribute album coming from Law of Inertia Records early this fall. ...

Type O Negative will begin a tour on July 25 in Worchester, Massachusetts, to support their new album, Life Is Killing Me, which drops June 17. Shows have been confirmed through August 9, but more dates will be announced soon. ... Static-X are working on their third album in Los Angeles with producer Josh Abraham. Drums on the album will be played by A Perfect Circle drummer Josh Freese, who filled in following the departure of Ken Jay earlier this year. Static-X begin a tour on July 3, with dates confirmed through August 2. ... Apparently Ozzfest isn't enough: Cradle of Filth will augment their summer schedule (which already includes a headlining slot on Ozzfest's second stage) with a headlining tour. The trek will run alongside Ozzfest and see the band playing shows on its days off. ...

Canadian female metal band Kittie will perform a benefit show in their hometown of London, Ontario, to help two sibling friends who have been battling cancer for several years. Proceeds will go to the family of Justin Wolfe from the band Acacia and Gregg Wolfe of Dam 13. ... Necrophagia will release an EP called Goblins Be Thine on Halloween. They also plan the release of a DVD titled "Nightmare Scenarios" on the same day. ... The Black Dahlia Murder will be hitting the road at the end of this month with the Red Chord, Premonitions of War and Dead Water. The highly anticipated two-week tour will start on June 20 and end on July 2. ... Swedish death metal stalwarts Grave are on tour with Immolation to support their album Back From the Grave. Opening the tour are Goatwhore and Crematorium. ...

—compiled by Iann Robinson, Jon Wiederhorn and Robert Mancini

• Motörhead
• Cradle of Filth
• Fu Manchu
• In Flames
• Rob Halford

Hey, what's up fellow metallers, how goes it? Iann Robinson here, still in L.A. finishing up some work for "Headbangers Ball," which we all know hits this Saturday at 10 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. PT on MTV2. Working Metallica's "mtvICON" was fun. They shredded through the old stuff and I gotta say, I thought Rob really brought it. I haven't had much time to listen to anything, but I'm hoping the new 16 record is waiting for me when I get back to New York. If you guys wanna do something cool for yourselves, then check out this month's Terrorizer magazine. It's the first magazine of two on the history of thrash metal, and it totally rules. Gotta give a shout-out to the Dark Realm record store in Downey, California (where James Hetfield once lived). They were really amazing to me when we shot some stuff there for "HBB." That is one of the greatest metal record stores ever. They have everything, so check it out if you're ever there or online. Well, enjoy this week's news, and hopefully I'll have some stuff to recommend to you next time. Stay metal and stay true:

In Flames will kick off their next North American tour, featuring Chimaira, metallic hardcore outfit Unearth and fellow Swedish metal merchants Soilwork as support, June 26 in Toronto. In July, In Flames will drop Trigger, featuring remixes, the video for "Cloud Connected," a new song called "Watch Them Feed" and a cover of the socially conscious '80s Genesis hit "Land of Confusion." ...

Skid Row bassist Rachel Bolan may be moonlighting as a 600 Racing Legends driver, but that's not gonna delay any of the band's summer plans. If anything, it'll mean they'll be able to get to their gigs faster. This summer the '80s metal band will release a new album, Thickskin, on their own Skid Row Records. The band will begin a tour with Poison and Vince Neil in Mankato, Minnesota, on May 23. ... Politically minded thrash metal band Nuclear Assault will release their first record in nine years, Alive Again, on July 1. The group is on tour through July 13 in Buffalo, New York. ...

Cattle Decapitation have parted ways with drummer Dave Astor, who was tired of touring. He has been replaced by Michael Laughlin from the group Creation Is Crucifixion. Cattle Decapitation will enter the studio at the end of May to work on a new song for the upcoming metal compilation album Uncorrupted Steel 2. ... Coal Chamber bassist Nadja is auctioning off several of her basses, including the one she played when she auditioned for the group. If you have the coin and the interest, head to nadjaonline.com. ...

Seattle's Himsa will support Courting Tragedy and Disaster (June 17), their first album through Prosthetic Records, with both their current tour with Bleeding Through and several dates with Eighteen Visions, Atreyu and Underoath. The metallic hardcore band will also appear at the New England Metal Fest in Worcester, Massachusetts, and the Syracuse, New York, Hellfest. ...

Dark Realm Records has announced plans to release several demos from Possessed on CD as well as a tribute record to the long defunct seminal California band, whose Seven Churches album helped shape the death, black and thrash metal genres. The tribute album will reportedly feature, among other artists, Cannibal Corpse, Vader, Marduk, Absu and Sadistic Intent with a guest appearance by Possessed's Jeff Becerra on vocals. ... Speaking of Sadistic Intent, they are in the studio working on The Second Coming of Darkness with Agent Steel's Bernie Versailles producing. ... Initial pressings of Arch Enemy's forthcoming Anthems of Rebellion will include a limited-edition bonus CD full of live songs recorded in 2002 and 5.1 surround sound mixes of album tracks. The album is scheduled for an August 27 release. ...

—Compiled by Iann Robinson, Ryan J. Downey, Jon Wiederhorn and Robert Mancini

• Metallica
• In Flames
• Skid Row
• Nuclear Assault
• Cattle Decapitation

What up, fellow metalists, how's it been going? Things are good here, lots of cool stuff to report here on "Metal File" this week. There's been so much going on that it's hard to figure out what to talk about first. I guess the biggest thing for me right now is that I'm going to listen to the new Metallica record, which by all reports is quite good — back to the old Metallica we all know and love. I'll fill you guys in on my feelings on it next week. As far as this week goes, I'm stoked on the new Cattle Decapitation album, that should be really good. I mean, with a title like "Humanure," how can you go wrong? The New England Metal and Hardcore Festival just added Superjoint Ritual and Meshuggah, kicking the festival up another notch. The whole thing will go down May 16-17, and it's gonna be huge. Definitely jump on over to www.metalandhardcorefestival.com and find out more about it. Another big tour to think about spending your hard-earned cash on is the North American Contamination Tour 2003, which kicks off May 2 in Memphis, Tennessee. This is the tour with Mastodon, Cephalic Carnage, Dysrhythmia and Uphill Battle — doubtful you'll find a more extreme tour happening this summer. Well, dig into the metal file and hopefully it'll turn you on to something cool. Remember, if metal for you is Linkin Park or Finch, this might be too extreme for you.

Napalm Death are putting together a two-CD set for release this summer on Earache. Noise for Music's Sake will feature one CD of tracks from the band's 10-album career with Earache and a second CD of rare recordings, including previously unreleased material from Napalm's early days. ... Swedish death/thrash metal outfit In Flames have finalized the track listing for their EP, Trigger, due June 17 on Nuclear Blast: "Trigger" (single edition), the new "Watch Them Feed," a cover of Genesis' "Land of Confusion," "Cloud Connected" (Club Connected Remix) and "Moonshield" (C64 Karaoke Version). In Flames are also gearing up to head out on a massive U.S. tour with Soilwork. ...

Killing Joke will now title their new album The Death and Resurrection Show. It's to be released on their own Malicious Damage label in June. As reported, Dave Grohl will guest on drums. ... Long-running Christian metal band Living Sacrifice have named Cory Putman as replacement for guitarist, vocalist and founding member Bruce Fitzhugh, who will exit amicably following a few more appearances. For touring commitments next month, the Blamed guitarist Bryan Grey will fill in for Rocky Gray, who is currently drumming for Evanescence. ...

Amorphis' long-awaited 10th anniversary CD, Chapters, will be issued by Relapse in deluxe packaging on June 3. In addition to the highlights of Amorphis' career, Chapters also contains some special surprises, extensive liner notes and a DVD-ROM. ... God Forbid have issued a statement saying that rumors about Byron Davis no longer singing for the band are false. God Forbid are currently writing new material for their next album. ... The two-day New England Metal and Hardcore Festival will be preserved for posterity on DVD and released later this year. Taking place May 16 and 17 in Worcester, Massachusetts, the fifth annual metal extravaganza features Superjoint Ritual, Meshuggah, the Haunted, Shadows Fall and Opeth. ...

Carnal Forge will release their new album, The More You Suffer, on April 22. ... In the wake of the successful inaugural Relapse Records Contamination Festival, the label has announced the North American Contamination Tour 2003, featuring Mastodon, Cephalic Carnage, Dillinger Escape Plan, Dysrhythmia and more. The 22-city tour kicks off May 2 in Memphis, Tennessee, and runs through May 23 in Lansing, Michigan. ... Following several dates with The Haunted and an appearance at the Syracuse, New York, Hellfest, Bleeding Through will enter the studio to begin recording the follow-up to last year's Portrait of the Goddess. The Orange County, California, metal band, which features former Eighteen Visions guitarist Brandon Schieppati on vocals, is eyeing an October release for the album, their first for the Trustkill label. ...

Almost a year after they were served with a cease and desist order from another band who shared the name, hardcore luminaries American Nightmare have changed their name to Give up the Ghost. Their 2001 album, Background Music, will be re-released this summer under the new moniker. ... Also on the name change front, Louisville, Kentucky's Black Widows — who count members of Endpoint, By the Grace of God and The National Acrobat among their ranks — have changed their name to Black Cross following a similar dispute with another band. The group recently completed its debut album with über-producer and former Jawbox frontman J. Robbins. ...

With their members now close to fully recovered from an early 2002 van accident, New Orleans metal merchants Soilent Green are kicking back into gear with newly added bassist Scott Crochet and second guitarist Tony White and hope to enter the studio by the end of the year to record a follow-up to 2001's A Deleted Symphony for the Beaten Down. ... In spite of last year's "farewell tour" in support of their Parade of Chaos album, the most recent lineup of the band Zao is discussing the possibility of recording at least one more album, as well as plans to appear at this summer's Cornerstone Festival. ... Veteran Seattle band Nevermore plan to mix Enemies of Reality,, the follow-up to 2000's critically well-received Dead Heart in a Dead World, next month for a late July release. The group enlisted Queensÿrche/ Dokken producer Kelly Gray for its latest effort. ...

—Compiled by Iann Robinson, Ryan Downey and Joe D'Angelo

• Metallica
• Napalm Death
• In Flames
• Killing Joke
• Living Sacrifice

In Flames
Photo: Nuclear Blast

If the Hives are the first offensive in a Swedish rock invasion, then In Flames were the early reconnaissance team, quietly spreading their supercharged melodic death metal in whatever North American clubs would take them. Reroute to Remain, In Flames' sixth album, is their latest missive, an album that's heavy and pummeling yet accessible enough to potentially crack the limiting ceiling of the extreme underground. And if that happens, in a way, they'll have Slipknot to thank for it.

"We met Slipknot in Italy a couple of years ago," vocalist Anders Friden relayed from a Detroit dressing room. "We just started talking and some of them said they were fans of our music. We were kind of surprised. We never thought that they would know about us."

As it turned out, Slipknot were well versed in the group's style, one built around contemporary aggressive guitar riffing juxtaposed with the catchy, melodic leanings of more traditionally minded heavy metal. It's a style that has developed consistently since In Flames released their appropriately titled Subterranean EP in the early '90s. 2000's landmark Clayman combined the most effective moments of previous records like Colony and Whoracle, placing In Flames firmly atop the heap of the so-called "New Wave of Swedish Death Metal," a sub-genre that includes Arch Enemy, the late and lamented At the Gates and, to some extent, Meshuggah.

"Some of [Slipknot] are huge metal fans in general," Friden explained. "They're all cool, all nine of them."

Cool enough, in fact, that the masked Iowans elected to take the road-hungry In Flames, already familiar with the backroads of Europe, the U.S. and Japan, on a short tour of the U.K. The trek was due to be followed by a full U.S. tour, until Shawn "Clown" Crahan's wife fell ill and the whole outing was postponed (see "Slipknot Postpone U.S. Tour").

The side-lining of the Slipknot/ In Flames tour proved to be a blessing in disguise for Friden, guitarists Jesper Stromblad and Bjorn Gelotte, drummer Daniel Svensson and bassist Peter Iwers, who used the downtime to craft Reroute to Remain.

"It's too bad that the tour got cancelled, that would have done a lot for us," the singer lamented. "But there's good things out of that as well. I don't know that we would have had so much time [to make this album] otherwise."

For one thing, the extra time allowed Friden to lyrically delve more deeply into his personal life than ever before.

"I came from a really self-destructive relationship," he said. "That was almost two years ago, [but] I'm still dealing with some of those topics. It takes a while to get it out. I think even the next album will still deal with some of these topics. I mean, it took me down really heavily, so to speak. But I'm out of that now and in a new, way healthier relationship and feeling better as a person."

The extra time also gave Friden an opportunity to experiment with a more melodic vocal approach, while the entire band dabbled with keyboards, larger arrangements and a more streamlined production. Reroute to Remain still draws liberally from the gallop of Iron Maiden and the crushing staccato of Florida death metal with equal reverence, but at the same time it expands In Flames' scope beyond the established sounds of their buddy bands in Gothenburg, Sweden.

"I'm afraid that [older fans] will judge this album upon if it's a 'Gothenburg death metal album' and already make up their minds," Friden said. "It's a new metal album."

So in 2002, what do In Flames have to offer the average American rock fan weaned on Limp Bizkit, Puddle of Mudd and Blink-182?

"The impression I get from people is that they like the mix between melody and aggression that we have," Friden offered. "I think that attracts a lot of people. It's just such a great record, it has a little bit of everything. It's a bridge between the '80s and 2000 and everything in between. There is a gap in between people that are kind of tired of the 'nü' sound and are ready for bands that they have never heard before. There is definitely a place for In Flames."

Indeed, In Flames have delivered an album that plays upon many of metal strengths while jettisoning all of its hair-sprayed, more Spinal Tap-ish baggage. It's a combination that seems to even be winning over fans of Slayer — an audience notorious for its singular devotion to the thrash titans.

"I've heard some scary stories [from support bands] about people chanting, 'Slayer, Slayer,' " Friden said of In Flames' current U.S. tour supporting Slayer and Soulfly. "But so far, so good. I guess the people enjoy a real metal band. They see us up there working really hard for half an hour and I think people can appreciate that. It's doing really good for us. Getting us out to a lot more people who haven't heard us before. It's kind of a dream come true. I never thought I would be here 10 years ago."

• Slipknot
• In Flames

After coming off of a holiday weekend, it's a sluggish week for new releases, but Ozzy and Co. are picking up the slack for everyone with the live recording of this year's Ozzfest. The album, Ozzfest 2002, features "Needles" by System of a Down, "Outkast" by P.O.D., "She Is Beautiful" by Andrew W.K. with Kelly Osbourne, and "War Pigs" (natch) by Ozzy Osbourne.

Also hitting the shelves this week are Aaron Carter's latest shake-up, Another Earthquake!, alongside new material by Bif Naked (Purge) and the Roots' crooning colleagues the Jazzyfatnastees (The Tortoise and the Hare).

You know what they say: Slow and steady wins the race.

Out Tuesday, September 3:

• Barry Adamson - King of Nothing Hill (Mute)
• Ben Allison - Peace Pipe (Palmetto)
• Amazing Transparent Man - Death of the Party (Hopeless)
• And Oceans - Cypher (Century Media)
• Atomic Babies - Unhyped! (X-Sight)
• Belles - Omerta (Lakeshore)
• Bif Naked - Purge (Megaforce)
• Bongzilla - Gateway (Relapse)
• Bouncing Souls/Anti-Flag - Split Series 4 (BYO)
• Djinji Brown - Sirround Sound (Seven Heads)
• California Guitar Trio - CG3+2 (Inside Out)
• Aaron Carter - Another Earthquake! (Jive) Read: "Aaron Carter Ready To Rumble With Another Earthquake"
   
• Hugh Cornwell - Footprints in the Desert (Track)
• Cradle of Filth - Live Bait for the Dead (Abracadaver)
• Element - Full Moon (EFA-CAR)
• Fessor's Big City Band - Swing Sessions (Storyville)
• Fish - Fellini Days (United States of Dist.)
• Gene Loves Jezebel - Heavenly Bodies (Robison/Conspiracy)
• Lisa Haley & the Zydekats - Talking to the Sun (Sin-Drome)
• Mary Hopkin & Sundance - Sundance (Cleopatra)
• Icons of Filth - Nostradamnedus (Go Kart)
• In Flames - Reroute to Remain (Nuclear Blast)
• Internecine - Book of Lambs (Hammerheart)
• Into Eternity - Dead or Dreaming (Century Media)
• Jazzyfatnastees - The Tortoise and the Hare (Coolhunter)
• Howard Jones - Peaceful Tour: Deluxe Edition (Cleopatra)
• Kovenant - In the Times Before the Light (Hammerheart)
• L.A. Guns - Ultimate L.A. Guns (Cleopatra)
• Messiah's Kiss - Prayer for the Dying (Steamhammer)
• Moistboyz - III (Ipecac)
• Nemesis - Eden? (Sensory)
• New Bomb Turks - Night Before the Day the Earth Stood Still (Gearhead)
• Joe Nichols - Six of One Half Dozen of the Other (Row Music Group)
• Nocturnal Rites - Shadowland (Century Media)
• Nostalgia - Arcana Publicata Vilescunt (Relapse)
• Opium Jukebox - Sticky Bhangra: A Tribute to the Rolling Stones (Underground Inc.)
• Ozric Tentacles - Live at Pongmasters Ball (Madfish)
• Jimmy Page - No Introduction Necessary: Deluxe Edition (Cleopatra)
• Alice Peacock - Alice Peacock (Columbia)
• Peanut Butter Wolf - Jukebox 45's (Stone's Throw)
• Raging Slab - Pronounced Eat S---t (Tee Pee)
• Random Inc. - Walking I Jerusalem (EFA-CAR)
• The Residents - Demons Dance Alone (ESD)
• Seldom Seen - Thug Fest (East Side Records)
• Severe Torture/Blood Red Throne - Taste for Butchery (Hammerheart)
• Sing-Sing - Joy of Sing-Sing (Manifesto)
• Spirit - Sea Dream (Acadia)
• Splender - To Whom It May Concern (J)
• Sunz of Man - Savior's Day (Riviera)
• Sweatshop Union - Sweatshop Union (Battleaxe)
• Tarwater - Dwellers on the Threshold (Mute)
• Chip Taylor and Carrie Rodriguez - Let's Leave This Town (Texas Music Group)
• Thee Human Ego Maniacs - Sin, Win & Grin (Electrovenus)
• Pam Tillis - It's All Relative: Tillis Sings Tillis (Lucky Dog)
• Today Is the Day - Sadness Will Prevail (Relapse)
• Mia Doi Todd - Golden State (Columbia)
• Tow Down - Chicken Fried Steak (Dime)
• Triggering Myth - Forgiving Eden (Lasers Edge)
• Tsunami Bomb - Ultimate Escape (Kung Fu)
• UFO - Sharks (Shrapnel)
• Various artists - Electronic Tribute to Pink Floyd (Vitamin)
• Various artists - Ozzfest 2002 (Columbia)
• Various artists - Songs of Pink Floyd (Cleopatra)
• Various artists - Steel Guitar Tribute to Garth Brooks (CMH)
• Various artists - String Quartet Tribute to Black Sabbath (Vitamin)
• Various artists - Tribute to Mary J. Blige (Big Eye)
• Various artists - Tribute to Shakira (Big Eye)
• Various artists - Voodoo Roux Deux (Waveform)
• Wuthering Heights - To Travel for Evermore (Sensory)

September 10:

• Tre Hardson - Liberation (Artist Direct)
• Speech - Spiritual People (IMusic)

September 17:

• Cassius - Au Rêve (Astralwerks)
• Distubed - Believe (Reprise) Read: "Disturbed's Draiman Battles Knuckleheads, Women, Death And Makes Believe"
   
• Disturbing tha Peace - Golden Grain (Def Jam South)
• Enrique Iglesias - Quizas (Interscope) Read: "Enrique Iglesias Lines Up Fall Tour, LP En Espanol"
   
• Ladytron - Light & Magic (Emperor Norton)
• Doug Martsch - Now You Know (Warner Bros.)
• Nine Days - So Happily Unsatisfied (Epic)
• OK Go - OK Go (Capitol)
• Shadows Fall - The Art of Balance (Century Media)
   Read: "You Hear It First: Shadows Fall"
• The Vandals - Internet Dating Superstuds (Kung Fu)

September 24:

• Ryan Adams - Demolition (Lost Highway)
• India.Arie - Voyage to India (Motown) Read: "India.Arie Takes A Voyage On Second Album"
   
• Beck - Sea Change (Interscope) Read: "Beck Living After Midnite Vultures, Rocking With New Album"
   
• Peter Gabriel - Up (Interscope) Read: "Peter Gabriel Pens Very Brady Single On Death-Inspired Up"
   
• Underworld - A Hundred Days Off (JBO/V2)

October 1:

• Floetry - Floetic (DreamWorks) Read: "Floetry Bring London Vibe To Philly Soul Movement"
   
• Good Charlotte - The Young and the Hopeless (Epic/Sony)

October 8:

• Bon Jovi - Bounce (Mercury) Read: "Bon Jovi Album Preview: The Real Meets The Ideal"
   
• Jennifer Love Hewitt - Barenaked (Jive) Read: "In Jennifer Love Hewitt's Latest Role She's 'Bare Naked' "
   
• Sinead O'Connor - Sean-Nos Nua (ARC)
• Soft Cell - Cruelty Without Beauty (Cooking Vinyl)

October 15:

• Nick Carter - Now or Never (Jive) Read: "Nick Carter Has Plenty Of Songs, Few Guests For Solo Album"
• Santana - Shaman (Arista) Read: "Carlos Santana Promises Guest-Packed, Vibrant New Album"
   
• Various artists - American Idol's Greatest Hits (RCA) Read: "'American Idol' Finalists Plan Arena Tour, Compilation Album"

October 22:

• Foo Fighters - One by One (RCA) Read: "Foo Fighters Cross The Rock Line On One By One1457188
• Toni Braxton - TBD (Arista) Read: "Toni Braxton Making 'Hit After Hit,' Rodney Jerkins Promises"
   

October 29:

• Tori Amos - Scarlet's Walk (Epic/Sony)

November 5:

• Björk - Björk's Greatest Hits (Elektra)

• Aaron Carter
• Cradle of Filth
• In Flames
• Jazzyfatnastees