Check out what everyone has been waiting for…Metallica has some news about a special performance… Watch live streaming video from metallica at livestream.com  

Today legendary death metal legion CANNIBAL CORPSE are pleased to announce their U.S. headlining tour. Brought to you by Metal Blade Records, Good Fight Entertainment and dB Drum Shoes, the U.S. Torture Tour 2012 will commence on April 5 in Jacksonville, Florida and level 23 stages before coming to a close on May 3 in Gainesville, Florida. Support on the near month-long trek will be provided by Exhumed, Abysmal Dawn and Arkaik.  

Taproot will release their sixth full length album, The Episodes, on April 10th, 2012. The forthcoming effort is produced by Tim Palatan who previously worked with the band on 2010’s highly successful Plead the Fifth.  

To celebrate the release of A Different Kind of Truth on February 7th, Van Halen has teamed up with ESPN.com for some very special promotions. As part of the takeover fans can now stream 6 new tracks off the album, enter a sports “Tattoo” contest conceived by David Lee Roth himself, and rank the best David Lee Roth Van Halen albums. Check out the takeover here: http://es.pn/AvG1PQ.  

  It is with maximum enthusiasm that we deliver this latest killer news from the Southern Lord Recordings headquarters; legendary hardcore icon HARLEY FLANAGAN, bassist/vocalist of CRO-MAGS and HARLEY’S WAR fame, has officially signed with the label for several upcoming releases! Southern Lord owner Greg Anderson released the following statement regarding this new alliance with Harley’s newest endeavors: “Harley Flanagan is one of the most revered, controversial and infamous musicians of the last 25 years of underground music. His resume and reputation speak equal amounts of vitriolic decibels as does his bass stack blaring in your face. I have personally been a huge fan of Harley and his work with... 

This is Abigail Williams’ third full length album.  Maybe a bit less technical than their previous efforts, but with much more emotion & atmosphere built in. The vocals in each song seem to just be another instrument. They don’t stand out, but they add to the feeling of each song. They’re a subtle addition that’s so important to the end result.  The music is melodic, raw, aggressive & thoughtful.  

So Metallica is about to make an announcement next week, February 5th. Wonder what it can be? Seems the band is hinting at some sort of festival tour or special show. Here’s a message from the bands website…  

Legendary Czech death metal legion MASTER have completed work on their eleventh studio offering. Entitled The New Elite, the 11-track work of deviance was again recorded at Shaark Studios and features cover art by German graphic designer Mark Bridgeman, viewable at THIS LOCATION.  

So, with news of Bill Ward speaking out to the public yesterday about him possibly not being a part of the up coming Black Sabbath reunion tour and recording, it is suffice to say now HE WILL NOT be a part of the reunion. This spat seems to be all about money and royalty percentages. Guess we know who’s pulling the strings on this gig (hint, hint: She’s a red head and I believe she really sucks the blood of bats).  

California’s BONDED BY BLOOD are due to enter the studio this weekend to begin recording their as-yet untitled new album.  

Wretched has entered the studio to record their third full-length album, Son of Perdition. The forthcoming effort is set for a March 27 release and will be produced by Jamie King (Between The Buried And Me, He Is Legend, For Today) at The Basement Studio in Winston Salem, North Carolina.  

Mexican metal powerhouse Chaos Records has set a date of February 27th for the worldwide release of FUNERAL WHORE’s Step into Damnation. The highly anticipated debut from the Dutch bruisers is as real as old school death metal gets; as terrifyingly crushing as it is 100 percent uncompromising.