HIM Cancel North American Tour, Mastodon Working on New Album & More — News Roundup

Unfortunately, Finnish rockers HIM have had to axe their North American tour due to frontman Ville Valo's health woes. The slew of dates were meant to kick off this week in Los Angeles, but it was announced in a press release that Valo has been diagnosed with a bout of severe asthma and presumptive pneumonia. HIM is expected to continue their tour later this summer. [Loudwire]

Heavy metal rockers Mastodon confirmed via the band's Facebook page that they are working on a new album, the followup to 2011's The Hunter. The band was also just confirmed to be playing this summer's Mayhem Fest. [MetalInsider]

The Maine released a lyric video today for "Love and Drugs," the second single off their forthcoming album Forever Halloween due out June 4. Watch the new video here. [AlternativePress]

Veteran heavy metal band Iced Earth drummer Brent Smedley has left the band to take more time for his family. Drummer Raphael Saini, also of Chaoswave and Ex-Emergency Gate, will fill in on the rockers' upcoming summer tour. [SMNNews]