When Alice In Chains, Deftones, and Mastodon, 3 of the massive forces in heavy metal today announced the BlackDiamondSkye tour in support each of their recent releases, I knew this was going to be one awesome show. After catching the stop at Madison Square Garden last night, this ranks as one of the best tours of the year.  

From Billboard.com Billboard’s analytics manager (and avid gamer) Mike Kelly notices that the soundtrack to the science fiction video game “Halo: Reach” debuts on the Billboard 200 at No. 157, marking the franchise’s best ranking on the chart.  

In an announcement made today, Haunted Movies partner Jason Blum unveiled plans for the company’s next picture, The Lords of Salem, to be directed by Rob Zombie from a script by Zombie. Set in modern-day Salem, the film involves the demonic return of a 300-year-old coven of witches.  

Ibex Moon recording artists and death metal purists GRAVEHILL have been added to the already stacked lineup for next year’s Maryland Deathfest. Set to take place May 27 – 29 @ Sonar in Baltimore, MD, Maryland Deathfest is heralded as America’s biggest metal party of the year. The following bands have been confirmed for MDF 2011 thus far:  

The last few years have not been kind to Zakk Wylde. He was diagnosed with a severe blood clotting disorder that led him to quit drinking, longtime BLS drummer Craig Nunenmacher departed from the band, and Zakk was released from his long time duties as lead guitarist for Ozzy. Where most artists would fall apart or begin to self destruct, Zakk bounced back and wrote one of the best Black Label Society albums to date.  

Eulogy Recordings is very proud to announce the signing of Catalepsy. Formed in 2004, Catalepsy has been a giant in the Florida music scene for years. Signed to Jamey Jasta from HATEBREED’s label, Stillborn Records, in 2007, Catalepsy recorded an EP and full length album.  

Wayne Static will join the cast of rockers to honor Marky Ramone and slam-out some Ramones tunes with bassist Joey Vera (Armored Saint/Fates Warning) and ax-slinger Mike Stone (former Queensryche/Peter Criss), Lemmy Kilmister (Motorhead), Billy Sheehan (Mr. Big, David Lee Roth), Michael Graves (The Misfits), Jeff Duncan (Armored Saint), Marko DeSantis (Sugarcult), Andy Hilfiger (bassologist/Fashion Guru) and Marky Ramone himself for a full concert of The Ramones.  

Metal Mind Productions presents the exclusive re-release of self-titled album by Angelzoom. This album is a truly magical journey into the most beautiful corners of the mind…  

Soundgarden have just released their first new music video in over 10 years for the song “Black Rain,” which is available on the upcoming career retrospective album Telephantasm, in-stores 9/28. The sci-fi leaning animated video was directed by Brendan Small, creator of the animated metal show, Metalocalypse.  

  POWERGLOVE are pleased to announce their participation in a short run of tour dates with power metal titans FIREWIND led by the young guitar sensation Gus G (OZZY OSBOURNE) and THE ABSENCE. Dates are scattered through out the northeast and Canada.  

Philly-based rockers STYGIAN are set to kick off their first full-blown US tour in support of MUSHROOMHEAD. The tour, which also features FINAL TRIGGER and KOHELETH, gets underway tomorrow (9/17/2010) at The Intersection in Grand Rapids, MI. Tour dates are as follows:  

A Perfect Circle, who announced their return from hiatus last week, have announced a five-city, multi-night tour for this fall with ticket on-sales slated for this week.   Phoenix, Los Angeles and Seattle tickets go on-sale on Sept. 24 at 10 am pst.  Las Vegas tickets are on-sale the same day, Sept. 24, at 12 noon pst.