Guitar slinger Zakk Wylde and his Black Label Society are set to follow up last year's Blessed Hellride with Hangover Music: Volume 1 on April 20. As the title suggests, BLS' third album will feature such softer, less head-jarring elements as piano and acoustic guitars. ...

After 1998's Chemical Wedding, Bruce Dickinson is ready to honeymoon with another solo album. The Iron Maiden frontman has penned a handful of tunes for an LP expected by late this year or early 2005. ... Metal memories and ripping recollections are corralled in "Choosing Death: The Improbable History of Death Metal & Grindcore," a new book by metal scribe Albert Mudrian due this fall. ... Lemmy Kilmister's rockabilly band, Lemmy, Slim Jim & Danny B, filmed their January 13 performance at the Cat Club in Hollywood for an upcoming DVD. The disc will include covers of songs by Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Holly, Jimmy Reed and Elvis Presley. ...

Testament, Symphony X, Joey Belladonna and Vital Remains featuring Deicide's Glen Benton are among the first crop of bands slated for March Metal Meltdown 6, set for March 12 and 13 at the Cricket Club in Irvington, New Jersey. ... Meanwhile, former Slayer drummer Paul Bostaph has joined Testament. Bostaph, who replaces John Tempesta, previously toured with the band in 1993. The new lineup will tour in March. ... The upcoming Queensrÿche DVD "The Art of Live" has been postponed from March 24 to April 6. The band will play two weeks of dates starting April 15 in Detroit. ...

Israeli death metal band Orphaned Land have resurfaced after seven years to record their third disc, Mabool -- The Story of the Three Sons of Seven, due April 6. The concept album tells the biblical tale of three sons who unite in an attempt to hold back God's wrath prior to the Great Flood. ... Poland's Vader were forced to delay the recording of their new album when drummer Doc injured his hand and leg during the band's third day in the studio. They will continue with Vesania drummer Daray, who'll play in the studio and tour with Vader until Doc recovers. The LP is due in September. ... Norway's Mayhem will release their new album, Chimera, on April 6. The disc was recorded at a mobile studio in the mountains of Norway and will include the tracks "Whore," "My Death" and "Slaughter of Dreams." Mayhem's previous studio disc was 2000's Grand Declaration of War. ...

Reunited New York female-fronted thrash band Crisis have completed work on Like Sheep Led to Slaughter, due in May. The disc was produced by Billy Anderson (Brutal Truth, Neurosis). ... Atlanta '80s thrash speed band Hallows Eve have decided to reform after being contacted for an interview by Steve Cannon, editor of an Internet fanzine, who they then invited to be their new singer. The resurrected group also features guitarist Skellator and bassist Tommy Stewart. Hallows Eve plan to record and play shows after hiring a drummer. ... Death Angel will release their new album, The Art of Dying, on May 4. The disc will include the songs "Thrown to the Wolves," "Thicker Than Blood" and "Famine." The Art of Dying will be the band's first release since 1990's Act III. ...

Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo recently spent a day in the studio with film composer Tyler Bates recording music for the upcoming remake of the George Romero 1979 horror film Dawn of the Dead. The original's creepy score was created by Italian prog-rock band Goblin. The film comes out March 19. ... Florida's Obituary have reformed and will perform in Tampa at the Sun N' Steel Festival on March 6. The band is writing new music and talking to its former label about a recording deal. ... New Orleans' Soilent Green will enter the studio next month to create the follow-up to 2001's A Deleted Symphony for the Beaten Down. The band recently completed a split 7-inch with Eyehategod, which is only available at www.incisionrecords.com. ... After sending a demo to M.O.D. frontman Billy Milano, 22-year-old Jon Aaron has been invited to join the band. M.O.D. are developing material for their next album. ...