This year’s Metal Hammer Awards will soon be upon us! And, just like last year, a little closer to the time we’ll be giving away some tickets to some lucky folks so they can attend the awards in person! Meanwhile, you can now cast your votes for who you want to win! Entry forms are in the latest issue of the mag, or you can now VOTE ONLINE HERE. Roadrunner (utterly awesome) bands nominated include: Best International Act: Killswitch Engage Best Live Act: Machine Head Breakthrough Band: Chimaira Best of luck fellas! And remember, if you don’t vote, they can’t win!

A little more Slipknot news for you, revealed by Joe D’Angelo from MTV. Nine new masks apparently weren’t enough for Slipknot. A 10th was created for the band’s latest “member”: its fans. The cover of Slipknot’s forthcoming album, Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses), shows this new mask, created by the band’s visual and conceptual mastermind, Clown. The Slipknot percussionist conceived of the mask recently and continues to work on an actual version for fans while on the road headlining the J퀌_germeister Music Tour, which runs through May 14 in Sacramento, California. Upon its completion, the mask will be available at Slipknot shows, potentially providing the performing band with a view of a sea of homogenous maggots, as Slipknot fans are called. The grotesque, leathery, stitched-up and zippered headwear is the latest step in Slipknot’s quest to get closer to their fans. For this summer’s Ozzfest Slipknot opted to play the second stage instead of the main stage for the simple reason that the smaller stage has a mosh pit and allows for more interaction with the band. Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses) is set for a May 24 release. Its first single, “Duality,” is due for release June 14. A video for the track was shot last month.

In most honourable way, Killswitch Engage is currently touring in Japan. Many will come to hear the band play music from their most honorable upcoming May 11th release, The End Of Heartache. And speaking of said release, the good folk over at www.HitThePit.com have spoken. Their review is this upcoming KsE release is as follows: “Let’s face it, when Jessie left Killswitch Engage we all thought, “Well there goes another killer band!” Surprisingly, KsE was able to rebound and put forth a record that surpasses their previous works. Most of New England has been familiar with Howard Jones’ noted work in Blood Has Been Shed. But to the rest of the world he was basically an unknown dude that looks just like the lead singer from the Fine Young Cannibals. With The End Of Heartache, Howard will no longer live his life as an unknown. I am willing to bet his vocal work on “Rose Of Sharyn” alone will staple him on the minds of many metal heads worldwide. To sum it up…Jessie who? “One of the challenges associated with success is being able to follow up with material that is just as dynamic and moving. Having to add a new lead singer into the mix is a monumental task. Thankfully, KsE took their time and wrote 12 solid songs that each stand alone. Musically, TEOH is far more diverse than earlier works. The melody that KsE touched upon with “My Last Serenade” is magnified this time around. And the heavy parts with weaving riffs and plucky string whirlies are still apparent, only once again more deadly! Throughout the record extreme emotions are stuffed down your throat, all the while Howard pumps his own passion into the material. His charisma almost flows out of your speakers, especially during the opus “Rose Of Sharyn.” The lines, “It won’t be long we’ll meet again your memory is never passing. It won’t be long we’ll meet again, my love for you is ever lasting,” will move you enough to have the hairs on your neck stand straight up! “”Breath Life” is fuckin METAL! The guitars fly, the vocals bark like only Howard can. If you like the old Blood Has Been Shed shit, and the Overcast works, then this song is the perfect ode to their past. You can hear both bands, and the KsE influences. One of the best metal/hardcore efforts of the year. “”World Ablaze” is a song that taps the anger vein. Gigantic riffs and screams push this effort! Think Hatebreed riffs meets Killswitch Engage versatility! It is a diabolical effort that oozes with emotion and angst! “I have no doubt that “Rose Of Sharyn” is going to push this band to the stratosphere in popularity! Simply put, it is an amazing song that reminded me why I love this kind of music. Every element that you could ask for in a song is apparent. A myriad of sound and emotion is articulately crafted by Dutkiewicz to create a song that will be the means by which this band will be judged in the future. In conclusion, The End Of Heartache is a musical catharsis that demands to be heard! “Pit Scale: 10, an instant classic! Suggested Tracks: “A Bid Farewell”, “Take This Oath”, “Rose Of Sharyn”, “Breathe Life”, “The End Of Heartache”, “World Ablaze””

Have you checked out the WALLPAPER section of this site lately? We’ve just posted up 5 brand new Slipknot desktop walls, made exclusively for this site by one of our resident cartoonists Mik McDade. Head on in there now and grab your favourite from newies of Corey, Shawn, James, Chris, & Paul. Fret not, as new walls of Craig, Mick, Sid, & Joey are still to come… as well as brand new Slipknot drawings from acclaimed cult artist Dave Correia.

New Jersey Latino’s Ill Nino have confirmed a special one off London show at The Astoria for Monday June 7th. The band will co-headline (and close) the evening with Life of Agony before heading off to complete the European festival circuit. The band have been remained on the road since the close of last years European Road Rage tour that left the UK October time. Those last few months have seen an exhaustive run of headline dates across the US with Godsmack, Sevendust and appearances on the Jagermeister tour with label mates Chimaira and Fear Factory amongst others. Ill Nino hold on to their reputation as one of the hardest working bands in metal. For those who can’t make it to the big smoke the band can also be seen Sunday 6th June at this years Download festival. Tickets for The Astoria show are on sale now from www.ticketmaster.co.uk / Tel: 0870 154 40 40 priced at 퉌£14.00.

There will be new FF tracks on the following covermount CD’s – Metal Hammer (14/4), Rocksound (21/4), and Terrorizer (29/4). Fear Factory’s crushing new album ‘Archetype’ is available now for around 퉌£11.99 (ltd edition digipack + bonus DVD) & 퉌£9.99 (CD) from HMV, Virgin, MVC, Music Zone, & Roadrage stores.

Did you know you can hear new KSE tracks on the following covermount CD’s? Check out these issues of Metal Hammer (14/4), Rocksound (21/4), & Terrorizer (29/4)!

Do you want to buy your gig tickets for less? Of course you do!! Check out the site www.wegottickets.com… Here’s a few RR examples… 36 Crazyfists – Exeter Cavern on sale – http://www.wegottickets.com/gig.asp?3014 Oxford Zodiac on sale- http://www.wegottickets.com/gig.asp?2981 Killswitch Engage/Chimaira Exeter Lemon Grove – on sale http://www.wegottickets.com/gig.asp?2992 Oxford Zodiac – on sale http://www.wegottickets.com/gig.asp?2958

Did you know last weeks’ Scuzz TV video charts looked like this?? # 2 (NE) Fear Factory ‘Cyberwaste’ #10 (LW #18) Soulfly ‘Prophecy’ #17 (LW #65) D-AM ‘Strange Generation’ #22 (NE) Murderdolls ‘White Wedding’ #27 (LW 38) 36 Crazyfists ‘At The End…’ #46 (LW 70) Red Tape ‘Stalingrad’ So tune in and select your favourites to watch! Awesome!

“Greetings friends. Well, we are going over the pond once again. This time teaming up with some killer bands/friends. As you all know we have been busting our asses touring and it seems as there is no end to it….and we couldn’t be happier about that! We promise to bring the metal as we always do, the “New Wave Of American Heavy Metal” with Killswitch Engage, Shadows Fall and God Forbid will hitting 20 cities across Europe from June 4 through June 27 and we are also working on a killer/different set list for you all. Cheers everyone and we will see you this summer!” Mark Hunter/Chimaira