Hey, what's up, metallions? How's it going? Iann Robinson here. There's lots going on in the Metal File this week, so I'll try to keep this short.

The big news I'm hearing about is Black Dahlia Murder pulling out of the Soilent Green tour. Now, Black Dahlia released one of the best metal records of the year with Unhallowed, and when they pulled off the tour it was followed by rumors that they'd broken up. From what I understand, drummer Cory Grady was arrested and half of the band stayed to get him out and half flew back to Detroit. Rumors have since flown that the band has broken up, but Metal Blade Records is adamant that the band is not breaking up and will make the Arch Enemy tour. No word from the guys yet, but I'll let you know as soon as I hear anything.

I did get to see the Soilent Green show that Dahlia missed, and it was amazing to see Ben Falgoust back up and being the amazing frontman he is, especially so soon after breaking both of his legs.

All right, everybody, I'm out of here. Stay metal, and I'll see you at the shows.

Jared Anderson, bassist of Hate Eternal, has left the band due to his struggles with substance abuse. "Due to a continuous ongoing drug problem for the last couple of years, I've committed myself to rehabilitation," Anderson said in a statement. "I will be leaving Hate Eternal due to the time and dedication it's taking to get myself back on the right track." Randy Piro has been filling in for Anderson and will continue to do so during Hate Eternal's U.S. tour. ...

Monster Magnet have just started work on their new album, tentatively titled Radiation Day. ... Neurosis have just started work on their new, still-untitled album. It's being recorded by Steve Albini and should be released early in 2004. ... Former Judas Priest singer Tim "Ripper" Owens has joined Iced Earth. ...

Southern rockers Throttlerod have finished their new album, Hell and High Water, for Small Stone Records. ... Orange Goblin have now finished work on their new album, Thieving in the House of God, and hope to have it in stores later this year on Rise Above. Produced by Billy Anderson, the album includes a cover of ZZ Top's "Just Got Paid." ...

The Crown have set an October 20 release for their new album, Possessed 13, which will be released in a special limited-edition double-CD Digipack. The package includes a bonus CD of demos -- including "Forever Heaven Gone," "Forget the Light" and "Rebel Angel" -- and a cover of Bathory's "Burnin' Leather." ...

Former Skinlab guitarist Scott Sergeant, currently the touring bassist for M.O.D., will reunite with his former band (sitting in for his replacement, Glen Telford) for a string of West Coast shows in late August before Skinlab begin a lengthy hiatus. "It's been a while since we jammed with Scott," frontman Steev Esquivel wrote on the band's Web site, "[but] if there's any guitarist who can pick up three albums' worth of material to play in three weeks, he's the man!" ...

Solid State Records and Metal Maniacs magazine are teaming up to sponsor a fall tour featuring Norma Jean, Figure Four, the Agony Scene and Beloved. The trek kicks off September 5 and takes the bands through the South, Midwest and West Coast. ... Time in Malta will open three West Coast dates for Thursday and Year of the Rabbit. The San Francisco Bay Area band is still searching for a replacement for drummer Eric Alexander, who recently announced that he'll be leaving. ...

The October release of My Ruin's The Horror of Beauty will be preceded by an EP called The Shape of Things to Come on August 18. The Los Angeles band is fronted by Tairrie B., the former Manhole vocalist and onetime gangsta rapper who was assisted by Eazy-E in releasing an album called The Power of a Woman in 1990. ...

The once more-metal-leaning Boston band Cave In must be looking to reacquaint themselves with their roots, because next month they're teaming up with the decidedly metalcore From Autumn to Ashes, Every Time I Die and Funeral for a Friend for a U.S. tour. The band is currently on Lollapalooza supporting their Failure-inspired major-label debut, Antenna. ...

Throwdown have been added to the West Coast dates of this year's Take Action Tour, which already featured Throwdown guitarist Keith Barney's other band, Eighteen Visions. A new outfit comprising ex-Botch members called These Arms Are Snakes has also been added to the shows in Seattle and Portland, Oregon. ...

Nevermore will join Hypocrisy, Children of Bodom and Norwegian black metallers Dimmu Borgir on a North American tour scheduled to begin in November. The Seattle band, whose Enemies of Reality recently hit stores, will support Type O Negative at a hometown show later this month. ...

—compiled by [article id="1453177"]Iann Robinson, [/article]Robert Mancini and Ryan J. Downey