TOTAL GUITAR have opened up the voting for their upcoming awards and by Jimminey if Roadrunner artists aren’t up for a ruck of ’em!!!

The following RR artists can be voted for in the following categories:

GUITARIST OF THE YEAR- MIKAEL AKERFELDT (OPETH)
BEST NEW BAND- AIRBOURNE
BEST ALBUM- FOLKLORE & SUPERSTITION (BLACK STONE CHERRY), WATERSHED (OPETH)
BEST MUSIC VIDEO- ROCKSTAR (NICKELBACK), PSYCHOSOCIAL (SLIPKNOT)
BEST RIFF- HEIR APPARENT (OPETH), BLIND MAN (BLACK STONE CHERRY)
SOLO OF THE YEAR- PSYCHOSOCIAL (SLIPKNOT), HESSIAN PEEL (OPETH)
HOTTEST GUITAR- MATT HEAFY (TRIVIUM) for his DEAN MKH SIGNATURE and PHIL DEMMEL (MACHINE HEAD) for his JACKSON DEMMELITION KING V

If you would like to vote for your fave RR artist(s) in the awards you can head to THIS LOCATION aaaaaaaand you will be entered into a draw to win a Dean Dave Mustaine VMNT1 worth

STAIND have released THE ILLUSION OF PROGRESS this week, their brilliant new album featuring single BELIEVE.

The album can be picked up at all the usual outlets and even online right here at the ROADRUNNER ONLINE STORE.

The guys also recently announced they will be playing as part of the HARD ROCK CAFE series of gigs in aid of the Caron Keating Fundation, which supports cancer sufferers. The show will take place at London’s Hard Rock Cafe on September 17th and tickets are on sale NOW from TICKETWEB.

Check out the video for BELIEVE below, to give you a little taster of what you can expect from THE ILLUSION OF PROGRESS…

Today, in a very rainy Birmingham, 4 dudes from Wales entertained some very soggy comp winners over at KERRANG RADIO HQ! KIDS IN GLASS HOUSES put on a stellar accoustic set, signed shiz and posed for pics with their fans and generally had a cool afternoon!

There was another purpose to the proceedings however- the tracks that were recorded will be aired on Christian and Loz’s show from MONDAY 8TH SEPTEMBER, Monday-Thursday from 7pm. You can listen in online from THIS LOCATION.

In other news, the guys will be shooting the video for their new single FISTICUFFS in Wales tomorrow! More news on that plus pics from todays shenanigans coming sooooon!

Pick up KIGH’s debut SMART CASUAL HERE.

Roadrunner Records are happy to announce that the new album from multi-platinum rock powerhouse NICKELBACK is set for release on Monday 17th November. The band is currently recording the as-yet-untitled follow-up to 2005’s massively successful ‘All The Right Reasons’ with famed rock producer Mutt Lange (AC/DC, Def Leppard) in their home base of Vancouver, B.C.

Roadrunner and Nickelback have enjoyed unprecedented success during their ten-year partnership. The band has sold upwards of 26 million records worldwide, with current album, ‘All The Right Reasons’ accounting for 10 million of that total. In 2006, Nickelback was awarded a World Music Award for “World’s Best Rock Group,” a Billboard Touring Award for “Breakthrough Artist,” an American Music Award for “Favorite Pop/Rock Album” and a People’s Choice Award for “Best Rock Group” in the US.

WITHIN TEMPTATION have released a video snippet taken from their forthcoming DVD BLACK SYMPHONY, which will be released on the 22nd SEPTEMBER.

It’s OK! It’s here! No more need for the baited breath. The anticipation sweats. The constant checking of the time. The time is here. It’s part 3 of the Behind The Scenes of SLIPKNOT’s Psychosocial video!!!

Enjoy!!!!

In other Slipknot news, it has been confirmed that ALL HOPE IS GONE is number 1 in the Europe wide album chart scoring the following chart positions accross the continent:
No. 1 in Finland and Switzerland
No. 2 in Germany, Austria and the United Kingdom
No. 3 in France, Ireland and Norway
No. 4 in Denmark
No. 7 in Portugal
No. 9 in Spain.

Pick up your copy online at the ROADRUNNER STORE.

Hard Rock International today announce the launch of “Pinktober” – a month-long initiative to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research through a series of live music gigs featuring Beverley Knight, Starsailor, Melanie C and Roadrunner’s STAIND.

For the second year running, Hard Rock Cafes in the U.K. will donate proceeds to The Caron Keating Foundation, which offers financial support and grants to all types of cancer charities, professional carers, complimentary healing practitioners, as well as individuals and families who are affected by the disease.

Those who benefit range from hospices, professional carers and all types of support groups.

Founder of the foundation, Gloria Hunniford… “I am so thrilled that Hard Rock Cafe has chosen to support the Caron Keating Foundation again. We are very much a family run organisation, with our only expense being a part-time secretary. We have all in our working lives been involved in the music industry. Caron used to present a television rock programme as well as hosting occasionally ‘Top of the Pops’, and I know, she would truly approve of ‘Pinktober’ and how many people dealing with cancer will be helped through your efforts in raising money, in her name.”

Hard Rock’s ‘Pinktober’, which started out as ‘Rocktober’ in Europe in 2005 and grew into a global campaign, brings some of the world’s best live music to small and intimate surroundings. The series of events support local breast cancer charities across the world, and proceeds from each event throughout the month goes to the chosen charities. Last year saw Wet Wet Wet, Ghosts, Nerina Pallot, Lil’ Chris and Ross Copperman all perform for this worthy cause and this year’s line up is set to be just as exciting.

Kick starting the Pinktober series on SEPTEMBER 17TH will be STAIND, whose single ‘It’s Been A While’ was a Number 1 single on the Billboard charts and whose 10 year career has garnered 12 million album sales worldwide. Their last three albums debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Album Chart, earning their place as one of the most successful rock bands of the new millennium, with sixth studio album The Illusion Of Progress out Monday.

Tickets go on sale Friday 5 September and are available through TICKETWEB, or for London shows only, by calling Hard Rock Cafe London on 0207 514 1700. Tickets for Staind and priced at

On November 6th 2008 the Mtv EMA’s will be held in Liverpool, UK (chosen as it’s Europe’s City of Culture at the moment don’t you know?!) and NICKLEBACK and SLIPKNOT have been nominated for awards in the following categories! Yet more exciting news for both bands!!

If you are a fan of either band, you can show the love by voting online at WWW.MTVEMA.COM!!

The guys are nominated in the following categories:

Album Of the Year
Nickelback ‘All the Right Reasons’

Most Addictive Track
Nickelback ‘Rockstar’

Act of 2008
Nickelback

Rock Out
Slipknot
Nickelback

So here it is ya’ll- the last in the 3 part series of interviews with BLACK STONE CHERRY. In this one, they talk about how they feel about being categorised as a ‘southern rock band’ and what jolly nice chaps they are. And for the record, the are!

PICK UP FOLKLORE AND SUPERSTITION HERE (That’s the new album folks!)

If part