Watch the first episode of Afro Samurai for FREE in the PlayStation®Network HOME theater. Starting April 15th you can walk your happy little avatar into the virtual theater space to enjoy the intense action of Afro Samurai courtesy of FUNimation, GONZO and Sony.  It’s only available until April 21, 2010, so get your online friends together this weekend and have a virtual watching party.  

The Candles are proud to announce the release of their debut album “Between The Sounds,” which is the first album from singer/songwriter Josh Lattanzi.  The songs are based on the experiences and influences he’s picked up while recording and touring with the likes of Ben Kweller, Albert Hammond, Jr. (The Strokes) and Tinted Windows.  

Everyone wants to know who’ll join Earth’s Mightiest Heroes when they assemble in Avengers #1 on May 19th and now Marvel is proud to extend an official offer to join the Avengers! Visit www.IAmAnAvenger.com and submit your photo for a chance to have your picture appear in an upcoming issue of an Avengers comic book. This limited-time invitation is only open to those at least 18 years old and therefore old enough to join the greatest heroes in this universe—or any other!  

Slash made an album and enlisted the talents of various musicians across multiple genres.  

The heavy metal world lost an icon on April 14, 2010 in the death of Peter Steele. Unfortunately for Type O Negative fans that vividly recall the hoax of his death in 2005, this time it’s for real.  

Ratt’s highly anticipated new album Infestation can be streamed in its entirety exclusively on therattpack.com. Infestation is Ratt’s first album in 10 years from these kings of the Sunset Strip, the album finds Ratt tapping their early-day sound for a new generation.  

  MVD Visual is pleased to announce the release of “I Need That Record! The Death (or Possible Survival) of the Independent Record Store” for North American distribution on April 17 (Record Store Day). It will be offered exclusively to independent record stores for a period of 90 days. Afterwards, it will be available everywhere on July 27.  

Marvel is pleased to announce that, effective September 1, 2010, Marvel books will be sold and distributed into the worldwide book market by the Hachette Book Group. Additionally, Marvel is also pleased to announce an agreement with Diamond Comics Distributor to extend its exclusive Direct Market Service Agreement.  

  Washington, D.C. heavyweights DARKEST HOUR have signed with E1 Music in North America, joining artists such as Hatebreed, High On Fire, Overkill, among others. The band will enter the studio to record new material to be released early next year. “We couldn’t be more excited to announce that Darkest Hour has found a new home with E1 Music,” says founding guitarist Mike Schleibaum.  

Kylesa, whose 2009 album “Static Tensions” was one of the most critically acclaimed metal albums of last year, has signed with Season of Mist with work already underway on the follow-up to the album Revolver awarded 4 stars and Spin referred to as “Midnight in the garden of drop-tuning and evil.”  

Comicraft/Active Images is proud to announce the option of their Image Comics series ELEPHANTMEN by Zucker Productions for major motion picture development.   The treatment for the movie is being drafted by Richard Starkings, creator and writer of ELEPHANTMEN. Starkings shares, “I’m very pleased to be working with producer Janet Zucker and everyone at Zucker Productions.  

High On Fire stormed into the Gramercy Theatre in New York on April 9th and had a sold out crowd whipping with fury throughout their entire set.