Former PANTERA and current HELLYEAH drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott has released the following statement on the six-year anniversary of the death of his brother, PANTERA/DAMAGEPLAN guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott:

"I wanna thank you all for remembering and celebrating the life of my best friend and brother, Mr. Dimebag Darrell! His spirit and energy is always with us and inspires us to be the best we can be! His legacy lives on bigger than ever, so on this day of sadness let's crank up his tunes, watch his videos, do some blacktooth grins and carry on in his honor! That would put a smile on his face!

"I love and miss you, brother.

"This is one of my best memories on my birthday — March 11, 2004 in Las Vegas — when me and Dime got up and jammed with Sammy Hagar and THE WABORITAS.

"Growing up being huge VAN HALEN and Sammy Hagar fans, this was a huge honor and a blast for both of us. We played 'You Really Got Me' and 'Ain't Talkin Bout Love', which we knew inside out and nailed it, then Sammy yells, 'Dimebag, 'Wild Thing' in the key of E,' and we both looked at each other like, 'Uh, oh oh.' It was a song we have never played... So Sammy leaned over Dime and showed him the three chords and we faked our way through it and it was actually pretty kick-ass...

'It was a dream come true!

"This is a photo [see below] of us havin' some Cabo Wabo tequilla and shootin' the shit backstage after the show!"

Abbott, one of the most beloved and respected musicians in hard rock, was shot onstage during a DAMAGEPLAN concert at the Alrosa Villa club in Columbus, Ohio by a 25-year-old ex-Marine named Nathan Gale. Gale murdered a total of four people and wounded three others before being killed himself by police officer James D. Niggemeyer, who arrived on the scene minutes after Gale began his rampage.

While driving throughout the winter, watch out for black ice! It's advice ROSS THE BOSS vocalist Patrick Fuchs wishes he had heeded as he drove on the Autobahn after departing a Kaiser Slautern, Germany recording studio on Wednesday morning. Neither speeding, nor under the influence, Fuchs hit a patch of ice on a sharp turn and lost control of his car, flipping it over and totaling it. When first viewing photos of the horrific wreck at, Fuchs bandmates breathed a deep sigh of relief, realizing their singer could have, should have, been in worse shape, or even dead.

Fuchs remains hospitalized in serious condition with broken ribs and a punctured spleen, but hopes to be released soon.

The band has been celebrating the success of its recently released second effort, "Hailstorm", which includes the now ironically titled "Dead Man's Curve".

Fuchs will be fully healed and ready to get back into action when the band begins its spring and summer European festival tour.

For updates regarding Fuchs' condition, soon-to-be-announced tour dates and other band-related news, check out the band’s brand-spanking-new web site.

The inductees into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2011 will be announced on December 15 at 10:30 a.m. EST on the RockHall.com web site.

The list of nominees for this go-round includes legendary rocker ALICE COOPER, BON JOVI, BEASTIE BOYS, CHIC, Neil Diamond, Donovan, Dr. John, J GEILS BAND, LL Cool J, Darlene Love, Laura Nyro, Donna Summer, Joe Tex, Tom Waits and Chuck Willis.

Cooper released the following statement in response to the announcement that he is among 15 artists who were nominated for induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2011:

"On behalf of Dennis (Dunaway), Neal (Smith), Michael (Bruce) and the late great Glen (Buxton), we are honored to be nominated for induction in to the Hall. Anytime you are nominated in your chosen profession, it's definitely a compliment to be recognized.

"It's hard to fathom possibly being in the same club as artists who inspired us originally, like THE BEATLES, THE [ROLLING] STONES, THE BEACH BOYS, THE WHO, THE YARDBIRDS, and Chuck Berry, and to be nominated the same year as legendary artists like my personal favorite songwriter of all time, Laura Nyro, as well as Donovan, who sang on our 'Billion Dollar Babies' record, and our good friends in Bon Jovi, is a great feeling.
"Five guys starting a band, just hoping to meet girls and drink free beer, rehearsing and playing local bars five hours a night for the first few years — that was us. We came up with the theatrics and made every effort not to sacrifice the music one bit; we thought it was like our job to bring theatrics to rock 'n' roll. And then, amazingly enough, we were having a bunch of massive hit records which was proof that theatricality and rock 'n' roll could, in fact, be joined successfully. We've been told that we revolutionized the live concert experience and if that's truly the case and it's led to this nomination for induction into the Hall of Fame, the only thing to say is, of course, 'There's no business like show business!'"

The 26th annual induction ceremony will be held on March 14, 2011 at the Waldorf-Astoria in Manhattan.

To be eligible for nomination into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, an act must have released its first single or album at least 25 years prior to the year of nomination. This year's nominees had to release their first single no later than 1985.

Ballots were sent to more than 500 voters, who selected the artists to be inducted at the induction ceremony, which will be televised live on Fuse.

German thrash metal veterans SODOM have announced the addition of drummer Markus "Makka" Freiwald to the group's ranks.

Freiwald previously played for the German bands DESPAIR and FLAMING ANGER and was involved with the VOODOOCULT project. In addition, he played percussion as a session musician on the MOONSPELL album "Irreligious" and is featured on the 1996 LP "Triarchy Of The Lost Lovers" by Greek extreme metallers ROTTING CHRIST.

A photo of SODOM's new lineup can be found below.

SODOM last month parted ways with drummer Bobby Schottkowski due to "personal and private problems between Tom [bassist/vocalist Thomas 'Angelripper' Such] and Bobby," according to a statement released by the band.

SODOM's new album, "In War And Pieces", entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 64. The CD will be released in North America on January 11, 2011 via SPV/Steamhammer.

"In War And Pieces" track listing:

01. In War And Pieces
02. Hellfire
03. Through Toxic Veins
04. Nothing Counts More Than Blood
05. Storm Raging Up
06. Feigned Death Throes
07. Soul Contraband
08. God Bless You
09. The Art Of Killing Poetry
10. Knarrenheinz
11. Styptic Parasite

The "In War And Pieces" track is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page.

For Thomas "Angelripper" Such, his thrash metal band SODOM is a perfect vehicle to bluntly take a stand. Like few other musicians on this scene, he personifies — along with down-to-earthiness and honesty — a healthily critical position on political authorities and decision-makers from finance and industry. On their latest album, "In War And Pieces", SODOM focuses on the worst excesses of power: arrogance, greed, spotlight-seeking, fanaticism, corruption, cowardice and oppression. Tom strates, "I've always written about what's going on in the world, about the injustice and mistakes that happen everywhere. I know that you can't change anything politically that way, but I would like to at least comment on the situation and generate an awareness of this deplorable state of affairs. Being a singer in a metal band allows me to voice my anger to a large audience."

This uncompromising attitude marks the eleven songs on sodom's latest album which could hardly sound more dynamic and violent. "In War And Pieces" owes its bloodcurdling energy largely to producer Waldemar Sorychta (GRIP INC., ENEMY OF THE SUN), whose great skill and commitment were instrumental in creating the album's — as Tom calls it — "phat, brutal and open" sound. With Sorychta's support, Angelripper (vocals, bass), Bernemann and Bobby Schottkowski succeeded in adding new impulses to their music without watering down the band's long tradition. "Waldemar is a great musician himself and has done some brilliant work, especially on the guitar sound," Tom explains. "He knows how to get the absolute maximum out of a speaker."

As brutal as the production is the diverse songwriting on "In War And Pieces", a kind of tour de force through the whole history of thrash metal, featuring harsh arrangements, melodic solos and raging vocal attacks. "I feel that we sound more contemporary and structured than we did on our recent releases," Tom analyzes. "At the same time, there are also references to recordings such as 'Persecution Mania' and 'Agent Orange'. After VENOM, SODOM were the world's first angry band, and nothing has changed that." Tom lists as examples the impressive title track, as well as "The Art Of Killing Poetry" with its ultra-deep guitar atmospheres and the German-language song, 'Knarrenheinz', which holds up the tradition of classics such as 'Bombenhagel' and "Ausgebombt". "Knarrenheinz is the mascot on the album cover, that's why I felt he deserved his own lyrics," Tom grins. Talking of album covers: the artwork was designed by Eliran Kantor, who enjoys an excellent reputation on the scene thanks to his work for renowned acts such as TESTAMENT, GWAR and MEKONG DELTA.

The reunited original lineup of one of the most influential hardcore punk/metal bands, BIOHAZARD, has inked a deal with Nuclear Blast Records for the world outside North America. The group's tenth studio album is scheduled for an early 2011 release. The follow-up to 2005's "Means To An End" is being produced by Toby Wright, who has previously worked with KORN, SLAYER, MÖTLEY CRÜE, KISS, FEAR FACTORY, IN FLAMES, STONE SOUR and OZZY OSBOURNE, among others. Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Decay", "Screaming For Change" and "Vengeance Is Mine", the latter of which the band debuted during its 2009 European tour.

BIOHAZARD's new album marks the first time the four original members — Evan Seinfeld (vocals, bass), Billy Graziadei (guitar, vocals), Danny Schuler (drums) and Bobby Hambel (guitar) — have recorded together since 1994's breakthrough CD "State Of The World Address".

Comments Nuclear Blast A&R representative Jaap Wagemaker: "We at Nuclear Blast have been longtime fans since we first saw BIOHAZARD on tour with WARGASM and at the legendary Dynamo Open Air where they played no less than four times! Judging by the sheer power, enthusiasm and pleasure that I have seen them unleash live by playing their classics, the new album promises nothing less than another milestone in their career."

States Schuler: "Finally, we are in the studio recording our first record together with the original lineup since 1994! 16 years! Feels like a lifetime since we last did this together, and the experience has been amazing. We've recorded over an hour of music, and we are extremely excited and grateful to be able to share it all with you." Seinfeld says the new album will contain "bone-crushing riffs fused with dark melodies and uncompromising lyrics rapped at you like Only BIOHAZARD can deliver… the danger is back." Wright adds, "This is the BEST hardcore band in the world, and this is going to be a kick-ass record that proves that is a fact."

In a recent interview with AOL's Noisecreep, Seinfeld stated about BIOHAZARD's new material, "The music is the best we've ever written. I'm nervous, because it's almost too good."

According to Seinfeld, BIOHAZARD's forthcoming album is more "introspective" than the band's previous efforts. "We're hardened guys who seen a lot and have been growing toward self-actualization," Seinfeld told Noisecreep. "The song 'Decay' is about the environment. We will always address politics, inner struggles and dysfunction. And while this is not a brand new subject, it's still a new look."

In an interview with Gun Shy Assassin, Seinfeld described the new BIOHAZARD material as "big, nasty, metal and hardcore" with "melody and hooks, which we've never had before," and promised that the new stuff was heavy, with "moments that feel like 'Urban Discipline' [1991] or 'State of the World Address' [1994]." He said it was "pissed off and thrashy and there are a lot of those intense old-school moments."

BIOHAZARD last year finished a 22-month reunion world tour where the band played 100-plus shows on five continents.

Upcoming BIOHAZARD shows:

Dec. 16 - Best Buy Theater, New York, NY (w/ LIFE OF AGONY)
Mar. 18 - Colchester Arts Centre, Essex, UK
Mar. 19 - Hammerfest, Prestatyn Sands, UK
Mar. 20 - Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth, UK
Mar. 21 - W2, Den Bosch, Holland

The cover artwork for "Beast", the fifth album from Santa Barbara, California metallers DEVILDRIVER, can be viewed below (courtesy of Bloody-Disgusting.com). Due on February 22, 2011 via Roadrunner Records, the CD was recorded at Sonic Ranch studios in Tornillo, Texas with producer Mark Lewis (TRIVIUM, CHIMAIRA, ALL THAT REMAINS) and is currently being mixed by acclaimed British producer Andy Sneap (MEGADETH, EXODUS, MACHINE HEAD, NEVERMORE, ARCH ENEMY) at his Backstage studio in Derbyshire, England. The band recorded 14 songs during the "Beast" sessions, with 11 or 12 tracks expected to make the final cut.

Songtitles set to appear on the CD include:

* Dead to Rights
* Hardened
* Bring The Fight (To the Floor)
* Shitlist
* Talons Out (Teeth Sharpened)
* Blur
* You Make Me Sick (Sacred Secrets)
* The Blame Game
* Coldblooded
* Crowns of Creation
* Lend Myself to the Night

"The record is extreme," vocalist Dez Fafara told Revolver magazine. "And it attacks from start to finish. If you liked [2007's] 'The Last Kind Words', this is like that on steroids and crank, driving a Buick Skylark 200 miles an hour straight to Vegas."

"I felt like I was waking up and experiencing a moment of clarity that brought out all these pissed off, negative emotions," Fafara said of making the album. "It's an all-out release of pain.

"It's been a beast of a year and a half, and it's still going," he added.

Regarding the new album's musical direction, drummer John Boecklin stated, "It's interesting to me — it's not the fastest shit we have done, nor the slowest, [but it] just [has] lots of groove. But to me, when people say 'it's got groove,' I think it's a nice way of saying simple and boring these days. We wanted to avoid this.

"Our record has a great contrast of dark riffs, stomp bouncing drums with the right amount of blasts and double bass, and outstanding vocal delivery from Dez that takes it past your average approach of the metal attempt. I'm not talking about reinventing the wheel or nothing. I just think our new album sits in its own corner from any of our other albums."

DEVILDRIVER's latest CD, "Pray For Villains", sold around 14,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 35 on The Billboard 200 chart.