The nominations for the fourth annual Metal Hammer Golden Gods awards í¢ä‰åäó which this year takes place on Monday, June 12 at Koko in Camden, North London í¢ä‰åäó have been announced. In keeping with the “Valhalla” theme of this year’s awards, Metal Hammer magazine have teamed up with the crew of the “Hammer of the Gods”, an authentic full-size replica Viking longboat, to launch both the awards on June 12 and the team’s cross channel row, which takes place on the weekend of June 3 to raise money for charity Task Brazil. We are proudly leading the field for nominations are with a staggering total of 14 nominations. The full nominations list for the fourth annual Metal Hammer Golden Gods 2006 is as follows: Best UK Band: BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND SKINDRED BREED 77 DRAGONFORCE* Best Live Band: TRIVIUM* BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE COHEED & CAMBRIA IN FLAMES ARCH ENEMY Best International Band: LACUNA COIL COHEED & CAMBRIA TRIVIUM* AVENGED SEVENFOLD MASTODON Best Underground Band: BLEEDING THROUGH* CLUTCH CATHEDRAL MEADS OF ASPHODEL SATYRICON* Best Newcomer: AIDEN FALL OF TROY ENGERICA STILL REMAINS* MENDEED Best Video: AVENGED SEVENFOLD í¢ä‰åäóì “Bat Country” MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE í¢ä‰åäóì “Ghost Of You” WITHIN TEMPTATION í¢ä‰åäóì “Angels”* FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND í¢ä‰åäóì “History” H.I.M. í¢ä‰åäóì “Wings Of A Butterfly” Riff Lord: Slash (GUNS N’ ROSES, VELVET REVOLVER) James Hetfield (METALLICA) Jimmy Page (LED ZEPPELIN) Jerry Cantrell (ALICE IN CHAINS) Michael Amott (ARCH ENEMY) Shredder: GOD FORBID TRIVIUM* CHILDREN OF BODOM IN FLAMES AVENGED SEVENFOLD Best Drummer: Travis Smith (TRIVIUM)* The Rev (AVENGED SEVENFOLD) Igor Cavalera (SEPULTURA) Nicko McBrain (IRON MAIDEN) Dave Lombardo (SLAYER) Best Metal Label: Roadrunner* (hell yeah) Century Media SPV/Steamhammer Nuclear Blast Relapse Album Of The Year: OPETH í¢ä‰åäóì “Ghost Reveries”* DRAGONFORCE í¢ä‰åäóì “Inhuman Rampage”* AVENGED SEVENFOLD í¢ä‰åäóì “City Of Evil” BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE í¢ä‰åäóì “The Poison” COHEED & CAMBRIA í¢ä‰åäóì “IV” Icon: Zakk Wylde* Kerry King (SLAYER) Axl Rose (GUNS N’ ROSES) Eddie The ‘Ed (IRON MAIDEN) Cristina Scabbia (LACUNA COIL) Three further awards that carry no nominations, simply a winner, will be unveiled at the awards and include the prestigious “Spirit of Hammer” award and the revered “Golden God” award, the highest accolade to be awarded on the night. Celebrating its 20th anniversary, Metal Hammer magazine continues to pave the way and defend the faith for the alternative rock music scene. Daring to cover music genres and artists others fear to, Metal Hammer magazine has risen to become an institution in rock music over the years. The dedication of the magazine to its readers and its integrity sets it apart from the rest of the market, something that was reflected in the recent ABC announcement, which saw Metal Hammer magazine increase its year-on-year circulation a staggering 15%, which equates to a 50% circulation rise in the last two years alone. Chris Ingham, publisher of Metal Hammer and Classic Rock magazines said: “The Metal Hammer Golden Gods have always represented the year of music that the magazine has supported. We know what our readers listen to and we keep in close contact with their changes in taste and styles. The Golden Gods celebrates the bands and artists that are influencing lives, not bands and artists that have the most money to spend, the best clothes or the most adverts. The fourth annual Metal Hammer Awards promises to be a spectacular occasion and a real chance for the marginalised to finally have a say.” A spokesman from the Hammer of the Gods crew said: “Task Brazil Trust do fantastic work with the abandoned street kids in Rio de Janeiro and although rowing a 2.5 tonne wooden Viking boat across the busiest shipping lanes presents a bit of a challenge it’s nothing compared with the challenges faced by the kids living on the streets of Brazil.” For all the details of how to vote and where to get tickets see issue 152 of Metal Hammer magazine (available Wednesday, April 12) or visit the Metal Hammer web site: www.metalhammer.co.uk/gods SOURCE: BLABBERMOUTH

MACHINE HEAD have posted up the second part of the “Making Of Battery”. This track was ofcourse recently used on the KERRANG! METALLICA “MASTER OF PUPPETS” REMASTERED ALBUM featuring: Bullet For My Valentine, Trivium, Fightstar, Machine Head, Funeral For A Friend, Chimaira, Mastodon and Mendeed. CLICK HERE to go to MACHINEHEAD1.com and watch the “making of Battery”

This years Download Festival is heating up to be an absolute stormer, todays additions included the progtastic OPETH. With 12 Roadrunner bands already confirmed, the festival is shaping up to be the sickest one to date. FOR MORE INFO CHECK OUT THE OFFICIAL DOWNLOAD SITE

In anticipation of Boston’s punk duo The Dresden Dolls new release Yes, Virginia, we are teaming up with some cracking alternative club nights to celebrate the world’s most intriguing band and help them on their way to world domination! For your chance to hear some of the tracks off of the new album before anyone else, and to get your hands on some exclusive Dresden Dolls promo items, get your collective asses down to one of the nights below! 14/4 – EVOL, Liquid Room Edinburgh 14/4 – Generation X/Ramshackle Carling academy, Bristol 15/4 – Spiders Nightclub, Hull 15/4 – The leadmill Sheffield 15/4 – Blackout @ Dickens Inn, Middlesborough 15/4 í¢ä‰åäóì UEA, Norwich 15/4 í¢ä‰åäóì Smile @ Star & Garter, Manchester 17/4 – Sabotage alternative night @ Shout nightclub, Milton Keynes 18/4 – Blackout @ Fibbers, York 22/4 í¢ä‰åäóì Club Bohemia, London 26/4 í¢ä‰åäóì London Underworld

We have just uploaded the first track from the forthcoming 36 Crazyfists album Rest Inside The Flames. So goto our MUSIC section of the site to check out I’ll Go Until My Heart Stops. Enjoy!!! We certainly are.

Owing to phenomenal demand for tickets for their UK Tour, Iron Maiden/Trivium are pleased to announce that they have added a second Earls Court show on Saturday 23rd December 2006. Tickets are available now via Ticketmaster – www.ticketmaster.co.uk Reaction to the tour has been overwhelming with many of the shows selling out within hours of them going on sale, including a third extra date added in Stockholm as well as other additional shows across the Europe. This extra Earls Court show will be the last date on the European Leg of the bands new album tour before they head out in the New Year for selected dates around the World. Tour Dates December 2006 Monday 11 – CARDIFF, International Arena – 02920 224 488 – SOLD OUT Tuesday 12 – BIRMINGHAM, NEC – 0870 909 4133 Thursday 14 – MANCHESTER, MEN Arena – 0870 190 8000 Friday 15 – GLASGOW, SECC Hall – 0870 040 4000 Sunday 17 – NEWCASTLE, Metro Radio Arena – 0870 707 8000 Monday 18 – SHEFFIELD, Hallam FM Arena – 0114 256 56 56 Friday 22 – LONDON, Earls Court – SOLD OUT Friday 23 – LONDON, Earls Court – 0870 903 9033 source: IRON MAIDEN’s OFFICIAL SITE

Headbangers Ball- The Revenge compilation is out now! The tracklisting is as follows: Disc 1: 1. Slipknot – Before I Forget 2. Korn – Liar 3. Soulfly – Carved Inside 4. Hatebreed – To The Threshold * 5. Mudvayne – Forget To Remember 6. Avenged Sevenfold – Burn It Down 7. HIM – Vampire Heart 8. Trivium – A Gunshot To The Head Of Trepidation 9. Lamb Of God – Now Youve Got Something To Die For (live)* 10. 10 Years – Wasteland 11. Disturbed – Guarded 12. As I Lay Dying – Through Struggle 13. Lacuna Coil – Our Truth 14. Underoath – Its Dangerous Business Walking Out Your Front Door 15. Mastodon – Blood & Thunder 16. Killswitch Engage – A Bid Farewell (live) * 17. Black Label Society – In This River 18. Bleeding Through – Kill To Believe 19. In Flames – Take This Life Disc 2: 1. Chimaira – Nothing Remains 2. Bullet For My Valentine – Suffocating Under Words Of Sorrow (What Can I Do) 3. Arch Enemy – Nemesis 4. It Dies Today – Severed Ties Yield Severed Heads 5. Opeth – The Grand Conjuration (edit)* 6. Norma Jean – Liarsenic 7. DevilDriver – Hold Back The Day 8. Still Remains – The Worst Is Yet To Come 9. God Forbid – The End Of The World 10. Throwdown – Burn 11. From First To Last – The Latest Plague 12. 36 Crazyfists – Ill Go Until My Heart Stops* 13. Behemoth Slaves Shall Serve 14. A Life Once Lost – Vulture 15. High On Fire – Devilution 16. Bloodsimple – Sell Me Out 17. Haste The Day – When Everything Falls 18. Walls Of Jericho – A Trigger Full Of Promises * 19. Kingdom Of Sorrow – Buried In Black * (Jamey Jasta with members of Crowbar, Down & Seemless) * Previously unreleased. WOWZER!!! What a tracklisting, to help you get through these we asked the participants.Who are your 3 favorite bands on the CD and why? í¢ä‰åñAll the bands on this CD are cool.í¢ä‰åŒ -Zakk Wylde of BLACK LABEL SOCIETY í¢ä‰åñThis is a tough question. There are so many great bands on this comp…many of them friends. I have so many good things to say about them all. Iron Maiden would have to be one…enough said. Mastodon would have to be another. I’ve never heard a metal band so unique. HIM has been one of my favorites for a long time now…their dark, heavy rock is the shit!í¢ä‰åŒ -Joel Stroetzel of KILLSWITCH ENGAGE í¢ä‰åñI would have to say Iron Maiden : because they are Iron Maiden and I love them. HIM: I’m really big fan of theirs as well they write really great catchy yet miserable songs good stuff. Tied for 3rd, I would say: Kingdom Of Sorrow: cause anything Kirk Weinstein does I love, Dragonforce: probably one of my favorite Power-Metal bands right now, Motorhead: Lemmy is GOD, In Flames: their new record is amazing as is the majority of their catalog.í¢ä‰åŒ í¢ä‰åäóì Nick Brooks of IT DIES TODAY í¢ä‰åñSlipknot because they are the sickest maggots man! DragonForce, of course, because we are more intense and faster than everyone else. And ‘Bullet’ because that song kicks ass and they are also cool guys.í¢ä‰åŒ -Sam Totman of DRAGONFORCE í¢ä‰åñIron Maiden, Korn and Slipknot. Slipknot truly brought heavy metal to the masses, and they have always been loyal to their fans. Korn has stood the test of time. I love the first record and on the new one they reinvented themselves. Maiden is the reason 90% of the bands on the comp. are even bands…even if bands don’t know it, or refuse to believe it. Your favorite band has been influenced by Maiden, and they are the best live band around.í¢ä‰åŒ -M. Shadows of AVENGED SEVENFOLD í¢ä‰åñ#1 is gonna be Iron Maiden. I’m not even gonna waste anyone’s time on why they are on the list, but I can say they’d better be on everyone’s list that does this or I’m gonna personally hunt them down and set it straight. #2 Slipknot. they put on the best live show of any band I have ever seen. simply jaw dropping. #3 In Flames. great band, great guys. nothing more needs to be said.í¢ä‰åŒ – Mike Hasty of WALLS OF JERICHO í¢ä‰åñI’m gonna have to go with Killswitch Engage, Lamb of God, and Bullet For My Valentine, They are not only some of the sickest bands out there right now but they are also good friends of ours.í¢ä‰åŒ -Brock Lindow of 36 CRAZYFISTS í¢ä‰åñIron Maiden of course – with all their classics, Slipknot – they have played one of the best shows I퉌Çve ever seen and finally Hatebreed with some of the most brutal riffs and choruses out there!í¢ä‰åŒ – Bj퀌_rn Gelotte of IN FLAMES í¢ä‰åñIn Flames, Iron Maiden and Slipknot. í¢ä‰åñ -Mark Hunter of CHIMAIRA í¢ä‰åña- Slipknot- because they’ve set a great example for us younger Roadrunner bands. They’ve given us more to dream about. b-HIM- these guys have been an influence for me lyrically for the past 3 or 4 years. Plus I’m in love with Ville’s voice and song writing. c- haste the day- we have toured with these guys a ton. They are our best friends. Hearing them always brings back good memories.í¢ä‰åŒ -TJ Miller of STILL REMAINS í¢ä‰åñSlipknot í¢ä‰åäóì I like ’em and it’s the only music that quiets my baby, haha! Mudvayne and 10 Years are tearing it up on our tour right now í¢ä‰åäóì those guys bring it every night.í¢ä‰åŒ – Jonathan Davis of KORN í¢ä‰åñMastodon. Iron Maiden. Arch Enemy. They’re all really good bands.í¢ä‰åŒ -Peter Lindgren of OPETH í¢ä‰åñA Life Once Lost, God Forbid, and Mastodon. We’ve know God Forbid for almost 11 years now and their music has always been inspirational and well crafted, the Mastodon guys are friends as well and the talent in that band is unreal. The ALOL guys are from Philly and we’ve done a million shows with them and I’ve always loved their sound.í¢ä‰åŒ -Chris Adler of LAMB OF GOD í¢ä‰åñHigh On Fire — because they’re a three piece, first of all. They were the realest band on Sounds Of The Underground. Kingdom Of Sorrow – because I’m a huge fan of both Hatebreed and Crowbar. Combining elements of those two bands in one is a really cool thing. And Lamb Of God – because of Randy’s patch of hair on his back.í¢ä‰åŒ – Dave Peters of THROWDOWN í¢ä‰åñThe Trooper by Iron Maiden because more than 20 years later its still catchy and powerful. Motorhead’s Killers because any “metal”compiltation without Lemmy isn’t metal. My last pick is my band, Trivium’s A Gunshot to the Head of Trepidation because if I didn’t like it I wouldn’t wanna play it every night.í¢ä‰åŒ -Paolo Gregoletto of TRIVIUM í¢ä‰åñSlipknot, Korn and Norma Jean. Slipknot: their music is so brutal and innovative at the same time. I saw them live when I was 14, got my ass kicked and it was one of the best times ever. When I was 9 I went to a thrift store with my friend and there was a .25 cent that had 2 tapes with white slips that said Korn on them. It had the tracks “Blind” and “Clown”. My friend and I both got them and were both fucking floored. Norma jean is such an intense band. Just so messy and chaotic but so well thought out.í¢ä‰åŒ -Sonny Moore of FROM FIRST TO LAST í¢ä‰åñA Life Once Lost – Vulture / because they are bad as crap and one of my favorite bands. Mastodon – Blood and Thunder / great song from fellow Atlanta dudes. Motorhead – Killers / because I have too many friends on the comp to pick a top 3 so I’m going with Motorhead because you can’t go wrong when you go with Lemmy.í¢ä‰åŒ – Scottie Henry of NORMA JEAN í¢ä‰åñIt’s hard to say, but I can tell you what records I’m really digging right now. The new In Flames just rocks. I was disappointed with Soundtrack To Your Escape, but this one just has hits. The solos are back, and the choruses have gotten even catchier. I really like the new HIM record. I was a HIM hater for a long time because I thought all of the songs sounded the same. This one just hooked me in. The songs just get stuck in your head and live there. A tie for the 3rd goes to Avenged Sevenfold and Opeth. Those are the 2 records I’ve spun the most over the past year, and they are just brilliant. I’m down with epic prog metal. Keep it coming.í¢ä‰åŒ -Doc Coyle of GOD FORBID í¢ä‰åñIron Maiden, Opeth and Mastadon. Simply because these 3 bands have their own signature sound.í¢ä‰åŒ -Mike Arnott of ARCH ENEMY í¢ä‰åñSlipknot: ’cause I’ve always been a big fan, even before we had the chance to meet at Ozzfest 2004, and I think they’re one of the best live bands I’ve seen recently. Iron Maiden: do I have to explain why? Hahaha! Ok, is there really anybody who doesn’t like Maiden? I grew up listening to their music and they’ve always been a huge influence… Opeth: one of my favorite bands ever. Since we toured together in 2003 I got all their records and I think they’re simply amazing! The way they combine Death Metal with ’70s Progressive music is just pure geniusí¢ä‰åŒ_í¢ä‰åŒ – Cristiano Migliore of LACUNA COIL í¢ä‰åñWithout a doubt Maiden and Motorhead, cuz both had a part in making me who I am today, a drummer with a high school diploma and a drinking problem. 3rd would be Mastodon. I don’t think there is another band out there that I’ve shared a stage with more than them. Great band and great guys.í¢ä‰åŒ -Des Kensel of HIGH ON FIRE í¢ä‰åñDragonforce~ they are the best musicians and the new cd is to die for! Still Remains~ they write some of the catchiest metal out there. And they are some of my best friends. In Flames~ in flames is one of those bands that has been around for a long time mastering their music and changing with the time without compromising what they started out doing.í¢ä‰åŒ – Brennan Chaulk of HASTE THE DAY í¢ä‰åñWell, I’d have to say Hatebreed cause their new stuff kills, Mastodon is real cool and I also like Chimaira. I am not too well versed on new music but what I’ve heard I liked.í¢ä‰åŒ – Kirk Windstein of KINGDOM OF SORROW í¢ä‰åñHatebreed- To The Threshold Mudvayne – Forget To Remember Mastodon – Blood and Thunderí¢ä‰åŒ – Jesse Hasek of 10 YEARS í¢ä‰åñHigh On Fire, Dragonforce and Mastodon probably because they are all real different then what is out there right now and I think it’s refreshing to hear. I had heard from some friends about Dragonforce so I picked up their disc and was pleasantly surprised. That is some killer extreme power metal! High On Fire I have always liked. Here is a fun fact for you. Dezzy the drummer from High On Fire is my old roommate! When I was 15 I stole his car while he was on tour in Europe with his old band and his dad caught me! Mastodon is just good heavy rock. I back it.í¢ä‰åŒ – Jamey Jasta of HATEBREED REMEMBER Despit this being an awesome double CD it is available for around 퉌£11.99 from HMV, Virgin, Music Zone, FOPP and you local official ‘Roadrage’ store.

FEAR FACTORY are about to embark on their UK tour. If you’ve not got tickets yet, WHAT THE HELL are you doing. For everyone else we’ll see you in the pit. All those attending the Glasgow date should note that the venue has moved from Barrowlands to the Garage. ENJOY!

Roadrunner is happy to announce the signing of Atlanta-based extreme metal band, Daath.

Daath (pronounced like “Goth,” but with a “D”) were signed by longtime Roadrunner A&R man Monte Conner. Says Conner: “Daath fuses elements of cutting-edge death and black metal with expansive orchestral and electronic themes. I haven’t signed a death metal band since the early 90’s, when that whole scene reached a serious saturation and then stagnation point. But I never stopped following the genre and when Daath came along, I finally heard a new band who injected originality, excitement and fresh ideas back into that style of music.”

The band, featuring Sean Farber (vocals), Michael Kameron (synth, backing vocals), Eyal Levi (guitar), Emil Werstler (guitar), Jeremy Creamer (bass), and Matt Ellis (drums), were brought to Conner’s attention via colleague and friend, former Obituary/Disincarnate/Death/Testament guitarist-turned-producer, James Murphy, who took the band into the studio last year to co-produce and mix ten songs.

“The Daath song-writing team of Eyal Levi and his co-conspirator, composer/lyricist Michael Kameron, are on top of their game,” says Murphy. “After completing the work on these songs, I knew I had something innovative and genre-bending on my hands. These guys have something extra, something special… not your run-of-the-mill death metal formula, but something ‘beyond’ that transcends the norms for the genre. I can’t wait for the world to hear this band and hopefully feel the same renewed enthusiasm for extreme metal as a true art form that I now feel.”

According to Kameron, “Daath means ‘hidden knowledge’ in Hebrew and represents the tragic struggle between the instincts and the intellect, the doorway to the abyss of the unconscious mind.” Adds Levi, “We explore a vast array of emotional landscapes, at times aggressively exhilarating and at others inwardly reflective.” Continues Levi, “Since the beginning we’ve believed that Roadrunner was the most appropriate label for Daath. They are the torch bearers for the metal world and we are proud to be joining their family.”

Daath will re-enter the studio with Murphy in May to record five more songs to round out the pool of tracks they will choose from to unleash as their forthcoming Roadrunner debut album, The Hinderers – due out this Fall. Besides the title track, some other songs set to appear include “Festival Mass Soulform,”Ovum,” “Above Lucium” and “Who Will Take The Blame.” Murphy makes a guest appearance on the album as well as former Chimaira/Dying Fetus drummer, Kevin Talley, who tracked drums on two songs.

For more information on Daath visit www.daathmusic.com or www.myspace.com/daath

Many of you will remember the MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD – MERCILESS cover that caused a storm due to it’s graphic nature. Well now you can own your very own corpse suit. Sounds nice eh? There are only a 100 of these sick suits on ebay, I know what you’re thinking, you wish you knew before mothers day. But all is not lost there’s still easter. CLICK HERE to go to the bid.