HAIL! singer Tim “Ripper” Owens (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, BEYOND FEAR, ex-JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH) recently spoke with Michael Gallucci from the Cleveland Scene about the recent abrupt departure of bassist Dave Ellefson and trying to find a replacement (Ellefson has returned to MEGADETH for the band’s upcoming Rust In Peace 20th Anniversary Tour). Hail is the allstar metal band composed of Owens, Jimmy Degrasso on Drums and Andreas Kisser on guitar.  

South Bay punk pioneers Pennywise have announced that Zoli Teglas of Orange County’s Ignite, is the band’s new and permanent lead singer.  

Is former singer Jesse Leach returning to Killswitch Engage? The internet is setting the music world abuzz with the rumor that former Killswitch Engage singer Jesse Leach is returning for two New York on March 18th and 19th.  

Ibex Moon Recording artists Hod are proud to announce that they will be part of a mini tour of Texas with Gravehill starting at the end of the month! The band has issued the following statement on the Lone Star State assault:  

ALICE IN CHAINS has teamed with Popcult (in association with Devil’s Due Comics) for a promotion allowing fans to add their chapters to the controversial storyline depicted in the video for current single “Your Decision”  

This week, Black/Death Metal warriors ACHERON have officially added two new guitarists to the band. Lead guitarist Art Taylor, who has been working with the band for close to a year now, and guitarist Eric Stewart. Taylor came to ACHERON from WEHRWOLFE and Stewart was in MANGLED FAITH and INFERNAL FAITH. Years ago the two played in a KING DIAMOND/MERCYFUL FATE tribute band called THEM.  

Detroit, MI death metallers, AND HELL FOLLOWED WITH are looking forward to starting their tour with WITHIN THE RUINS. It begins today in Two Rivers, WI and commences at the end of the month. Here are the dates:  

Baltimore, MD’s MISERY INDEX has extended their February / March tour to cover the south-eastern United States. Joining MISERY INDEX on this leg will be Florida’s GIGAN. A listing of tour dates and cities can be found in the tour section.  

Artery Recordings has announced the signing of Attila to the label. The self-proclaimed “Atlanta party metal” band hail from, yes, Atlanta, GA and mesh “”their party attitude with death metal riffage and massive breakdown after breakdown. Speaking on their sound the band said “Our aim is to create heavy music that is extremely fun to listen to, and even more fun to enjoy at a live concert. Every show is a party, and we encourage our fans to get on stage, hang from rafters, crowd surf, head-walk, stage dive, and take the the mic.  

Swedish metallers MESHUGGAH have finally released their first official concert film DVD+CD to the world! Alive, was released on February 5, 2010 (Europe) and February 9, 2010 (North America) The MESHUGGAH Alive concert film DVD features 12 extreme live tracks along with tons of behind the scenes footage filmed throughout their 2008 obZen world tour! Best of all, it also includes a Live CD with tracks from the DVD!  

More than 38 bands will once again come together to celebrate rock at the fourth annual ROCK ON THE RANGE, set for May 22 and 23 at Columbus Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. The line-up includes first-timer “Rangers” Rob Zombie, Godsmack (in their first announced show of 2010), the return of Limp Bizkit and the festival solo debut of Slash.  

For the first time in his 40-plus year career, rock legend OZZY OSBOURNE has stormed onto on a non-music chart with his I AM OZZY (Grand Central Publishing) autobiography which has landed at #2 and #3 on the New York Times and Wall Street Journal’s non-fiction charts, respectively.