If you’re near Northampton tonight we highly recommend you head down to the Soundhaus and check out the utterly crushing live show from Chimaira… and their very special US friends The Height Of Callousness in support. We’re sure it’ll be a night to remember.

We’re pleased to announce that Stone Sour will be doing 2 instore appearances during their upcoming UK dates. You can meet the band and get your stuff signed at these times and places: Tues July 8th 4pm Virgin Megastore, 6-8 Wheelergate Nottingham NG1 2NB Fri July 11th 4pm Virgin Megastore 52-56 Market Street Manchester M1 1PW

Happy 3-day weekend. What to do with it? How about a little new Type O Negative each day… Saturday: Download yourself a brand new MP3 of ‘I Don’t Wanna Be Me’ from the MUSIC section. Play it very loudly. Sunday: Check out the bands PHOTO pages.. more than a dozen new shots posted up from the official photo shoot with Daniel Moss. Monday: Head on over to Metal Hammer’s website, for a special Type O Negative LISTENING PARTY, where you can hear the entire new album ‘Life Is Killing Me’… not out until June 16th. Of course, if you don’t want to wait, you can do all those things today, right now.

A while back, a ‘ghost writer’ from Roadrunner Records US wrote a review of the New Jersey Skate And Surf Fest in Asbury Park, NJ which took place back on April 25th. Well, another glorious US music festival took place this past weekend. This time, the scene of the crime was The Palladium in Worcester, Massachusetts. The Roadrunner acts involved, Killswitch Engage and Chimaira. The name of the occasion, New England Metalfest. Now, while we do NOT have the luxury this time around of some unnamed Roadrunner employee writing an account of the event, we do have some ‘glorious’ photos from the weekend. Yes, more than a few of Roadrunner’s own attended Metalfest this year, and thanks to our very own “Marketing Matt”, we have pictures to show. Marketing Matt’s photos (and there actually is one truly CLASSIC shot) can be found in the Killswitch Engage and the Chimaira photo galleries. Enjoy.

Ever wonder what an A&R Rep does all day? The duties are grueling and endless and include the following…the following being an email sent out by Roadrunner’s VP of A&R yesterday, an email actually titled “I Love To Say Fuck.” Oh, it’s true…Monte’s “I Love To Say Fuck” email reads as follows: “According to my count, Murderdolls, in their new song ‘I Love To Say Fuck’ (which will debut on the European ‘White Wedding’ single), use the word the word fuck 81 times over the course of the 4:27 length of this soon-to-be-classic. That’s almost 20 fucks per minute. Is that a world record? I am proud to count this fuck-fest amongst my legacy of RR firsts and general cool accomplishments. Fuckin’ A.” An A&R Rep’s work is never done…

Remember we mentioned last week that Junkie XL would be over here in the UK for a couple days this week? It was no lie. Monday and Tuesday were spent doing a few select interviews, and here’s where and when you can catch them at. Kiss100 – Steve Smart – Tonight @ 9pm with 퉌_ hr mix Beat106 Glasgow – Amanda MacKinnon – Tonight 7-10pm Galaxy 105 Leeds – Andi Durrant – Friday 23rd 10pm-2am BBC Nottingham – The Beat – Saturday 24th 6-10pm (Syndicated to BBCs Derby, Lincolnshire and Leicester) BBC N.Ireland – Across The Line – Thursday 29th 8-10pm Note: all the above (excluding Kiss100) will also be running some cool competitions to win Junkie XL stuff.

Spineshank and Chimaira have confirmed 2 instore signing sessions during their upcoming UK tour. So, head over to the following 2 stores to meet the band and get your stuff signed! Tues 17 June – 1pm – HMV, 90 Market St, Manchester, M1 1PD Wed 18 June – 1pm – HMV, Lewis’ Building, Argyle St, Glasgow, G2 8AD

An eBay online auction is going to start come US Memorial Day (running 26 May thru 4 June) to benefit the City of Hope National Medical Center in the USA. What of it? Message from the City of Hope National Medical Center is as follows: “We have 25 exclusive or rare items of sheet music and memorabilia from, Chad Kroeger, Eminem, U2, Beck and BB King. Don’t miss this oportunity to own a piece of music history! Own framed and autographed sheet music by Chad Kroeger to the song “Hero”, Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” framed original handwritten lithograph, a BB King, limited City of Hope Holiday Edition Lucille Guitar. Each 1 of 9 in the world autographed by BB King, autographed sheet music to “Beautiful Day” from the album “All That You Can’t Leave Behind”. Just a preview of some of the items that are available to bid on and at the same time you can help save a life. “Proceeds benefit City of Hope National Medical Center. For 90 years, City of Hope’s medical discoveries have brought hope and healing to people everywhere. Many of the procedures used in medical centers throughout the world such as bone marrow transplantation were pioneered at City of Hope, a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. Recent advances in genetic research and molecular medicine, combined with state-of-the-art facilities and an environment that nurtures the best and brightest thinkers, foretell an even more promising future.” Check out http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/cohsoh2 for more info.

Tune into Virgin Radio’s Drivetime this Thursday for a chance to win a super cool Nickelback prize. Chad Kroeger has offered up one of his jackets, and signed it, for one lucky winner. Did you know? The national airplay chart this week shows a massive leap up for Nickelback, from #377 last week, to #77 this week! That’s a massive 300 places increase!

Thanks to Malcolm Dome over at Total Rock Radio, you can now download a brand new MP3 interview of Chimaira in the MUSIC section. Check it out. Did you know? Chimaira’s ‘Cleansation’ has been one of XFM DJ Ian Camfield’s Top Five Records of the week these past couple of weeks.